New Hampshire is full of some pretty famous mountains.
There’s Mount Washington, the tallest of the state’s peaks, the Old Man of the Mountain (which was actually just a series of cliff ledges and not really a mountain, but it was technically attached to a mountain) and one of the most frequently climbed rock structures in the world, Mount Monadnock.
And what are most of those said mountains made of? Well, we aren’t called the Granite State for nothing here, people.
Now you might be wondering why there’s all this talk about mountains when the pictures with this story are of people playing instruments. Well, it’s because when the trio of David Dustin, Bob Maccini and Tim Wildman wanted to name their newly created band in honor of our state’s nickname, they settled on the Tall Granite Big Band. We guess Large Rock Instrument Players was taken. The name is also not that different from another band the three are in called the Tall Granite Jazz Band, so remembering the name won’t be all that difficult. The tall granite part obviously has to do with the mountains, while the big band is a direct result of the sheer size of this specific musical grouping. The picture is becoming a lot clearer now, isn’t it?
The Tall Granite Big Band is a 17 member instrumental concoction with five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpeters, a pianist, bassist and drummer. Inpidually they’re all good musicians, but together they make a jazz-inspired sound that can only come from a big band. There are three Tims, three ordained clergy, a student, a lawyer and the head of the Concord Chamber of Commerce. The band’s music director is Scott Thibodeau, who also doubles as the band director at Pembroke Academy for his day job.
“It’s really a rare opportunity to play in a band this size,” said Tim Sink, who plays second tenor and is the aforementioned head of the Concord Chamber.
Have we sparked your interest yet? Well good, because it just so happens that the Tall Granite Big Band is set to make its concert debut this week – and consider this your personal invitation. On Friday, at 7:30 p.m., at the First Congregational Church of Concord, the good old big band will take the stage for the very first time for a live audience to play a selection of 12 songs, which will equate to about a little over an hour of listening pleasure. And then on Sunday at 2 p.m., they will do it all again at the South Congregational Church.
“This is not a junior high school band, we’ve got some good musicians,” Sink said. “Every time we play, we sound better and better.”
Admission to the concerts are by donation, but a crisp Alexander Hamilton – that’s a $10 bill for those who don’t know the faces on your paper money – is suggested, because all the proceeds from the shows go to Concord’s Cold Weather Shelter Program that runs at the two churches. And just for the record, they’ll take a crumpled up bill as well.
“We’re not in it for the money. We’re in it for the music and the opportunity to play swing jazz together,” Dustin, who plays second trombone, said. “And what better outreach program to benefit.”
The birth of the Tall Granite Big Band is a bit of a whirlwind. Dustin, Maccini and Wildman have created musical fusion together for several years. After one of their performances with the Tall Granite Jazz Band, they began talking about how great it would be to have the kind of music to sustain more musicians.
And it was almost as if Dustin’s old friend from Houston had supersonic hearing, because in January, he was informed that big band legend Johnny Dyson was looking to sell his music collection. By early February, Dustin had a stack of music that stood about five and a half feet tall.
“I got in touch with Johnny and he sent me an index of what he had,” Dustin said. “One thing led to another and we were able to strike a deal and acquire all of his library.”
As a member of First Congregational, Wildman, the band’s second chair trumpet, knew of a room upstairs that used to be reserved for the church’s choir and would be perfect for a rehearsal space. It wasn’t long before the space was theirs to use. All they needed was 14 more people to round out the band.
They talked to friends and spread the word in the music community, and even posted some openings on Craigslist.
“Before we knew it, we had all 17 spots filled,” Dustin said. “Johnny’s band had music arranged for 17 parts. It makes for a very rich, full sound.”
“It all kind of just happened at the same time,” said Wildman. “All the pieces fell into place.”
But no one knew what they would sound like. Bringing 17 musicians from different backgrounds together can be a cause for skepticism – although it turns out there was no need.
“It was really kind of a crapshoot, but from the very first rehearsal we knew we had something special,” Dustin said.
Rehearsal began in late May and has been two Mondays a month ever sense. For the most part, the band members make it to each practice, but there have been a few fill-ins along the way. A big band can’t be a big band without all its parts.
“We’ve got 17 people who like to get together twice a month and play those big band charts,” Dustin said.
And while they’ve never played in front of a live audience, the band has been acquiring fans from day one after the opening practice was heard by a State Street resident. It’s pretty safe to say they’ll have a few more after this weekend.
“Probably what I love about jazz and making music is that it’s just this sense of community,” Wildman said.
In addition to the 17 members of the band, the Rev. Emilia Halstead of the First Congregational Church, who is also a trained jazz vocalist, will join in for a few songs.
There’s no need to go online or dial a phone number for tickets.
“Just show up at the door. There’s going to be plenty of room,” Dustin said.
And with the cold weather shelters about to open for the winter, any extra funds will help greatly.
“Those cold weather shelters are so needed,” Sink said.
“It just seemed natural to have our first concert be for the shelters,” Wildman said.
But this won’t be the last time you’ll enjoy the sweet sounds of the Tall Granite Big Band.
“We’re going to look for opportunities to bring our music to the community,” Dustin said. “This is by no means the only time the community will hear from the Tall Granite Big Band.”