U.S. Navy Band, The Commodores
The United States Navy Band Commodores jazz ensemble performs a free concert March 17 at 4 p.m. at the University of Virginia, Old Cabell Hall, in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The performance will feature the music of Duke Ellington as 2024 marks what would have been his 125th birthday, as well as the centennial anniversary of the birth of legendary jazz vocalist and pianist Sarah Vaughan. The Commodores will be joined by John D’earth, acclaimed trumpeter, recording artist, band leader, educator and UVA's director of jazz performance. A prolific composer and arranger D’earth’s most recent album, Coin of the Realm, was released in 2023. He has written for the Kronos Quartet, the Kandinsky Trio, Bruce Hornsby, the Dave Matthews Band, the orchestras across the nation.
As the Navy's premier jazz ensemble, the Commodores have been performing the very best of big band jazz for the Navy and the nation for more than 50 years. Formed in 1969, this 18-member group continues the jazz big band legacy with some of the finest musicians in the world. The Commodores' mission includes public concerts, national concert tours, ceremonial support in honoring our veterans, jazz education classes and clinics, and protocol performances for high-level military and civilian government officials.
Quotes
"For many years, Navy bands have been where it matters, when it matters, just like the rest of our Navy. Today, we have Sailors performing around the world, improving relations with our allies abroad as well as telling the Navy story here at home."
– Capt. Kenneth Collins, U.S. Navy Band commanding officer.
Quick Facts
- The U.S. Navy Band is the flagship musical organization of the Navy and one of 11 Navy bands located around the world.
- The U.S. Navy Band is based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.
- There are six performing ensembles in the Navy Band: the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Sea Chanters chorus, Commodores jazz ensemble, Country Current country/bluegrass ensemble and the Cruisers popular music group.
- Almost all of the Sailors in the Navy Band have undergraduate degrees in music, and most have graduate degrees.
Old Cabell Hall is located on the south end of UVA’s historic lawn, directly opposite the Rotunda. (map) Parking is available in the central grounds parking garage on Emmet Street, in the C1 parking lot off McCormick Rd, and in the parking lots at the UVA Corner. Handicap parking is available in the small parking lot adjacent to Bryan Hall.
Links
Commodores Press and Photos Kit
About the Commodores
U.S. Navy Band
U.S. Navy
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All programs are subject to change.
For more information, please call the Department of Music at 434.924.3052 or send a message at music@virginia.edu.