New 'Big Band' to Play First Show in Swissvale

When Dan Lindey began looking for opportunities to play big band music in the area, he never dreamed he would end up as the founder of a 19-piece group that plays its first show March 30.

“I moved here with my wife in the summer of 2008 from Minneapolis and I just had not done any playing since moving and I just wanted to play,” Lindey of Point Breeze said. “I wasn’t really interested in seeking a group—I wanted to play the baritone sax so I put an ad on Craigslist and got a number of responses.”

That group, “Jazz Conspiracy,” is now preparing for its first performance at 7 p.m. March 30 at the in . The band’s first rehearsal took place in October at the .

The event has been dubbed the “All That Jazz Dinner Dance.”

Lindey has been pleasantly surprised by the whole experience.

“I didn’t have too high of expectations,” he said. “I am a music teacher and wanted to be able to possibly lead the group—adults who maybe just wanted to get back into playing and it developed into one of the members bringing in a number of high quality players as we were filling spots. This could be a group that gets some pretty high-paying gigs.”

Paul Martin, a member of the band, has created the set list. A dinner will be served before the performance starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the dinner and dance. Tickets for children under 10 are $5 and they can be purchased at Showclix.

The songs to be performed include, “When You’re Smiling,” “A Tisket a Tasket,” “Black Coffee,” “Night and Day,” and “Sway” as done by Michael Buble.

“That’s one of the more recent arrangements that we are doing,” Lindey said.

Lindey, who teaches AP music at North Allegheny Senior High School in Wexford, said big band music is especially fun to play and he looks forward to the event.

“As it’s our first live performance, there are the butterflies in making sure everything goes well,” he said. “The caliber of musicianship and the energy is high, so we are just excited to be able to finally play in front of a group of people.”

For tickets, click here.