The Stardust Big Band, directed by drummer Bill Halbrook, is a 14-piece big band playing the great arrangements of the big band era such as Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, while introducing the big band music of today’s great arrangers such as Gordon Goodwin, Frank Mantooth and Pat Williams.
Rumba, Cha Cha, Polka, Foxtrot, and Waltz are just some of the dance tempos presented at each Arlington Sunday dance. Some of the contemporary songster’s whose great songs have been arranged for big band are Pharrell Williams, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, The Beatles and Neil Diamond.
The Stardust 17-piece sister band, the Arkansas Jazz Orchestra, performed at the 2018 Hot Springs JazzFest, their 4th such appearance. They have performed on two of the Pine Bluff Jazz Festivals. The Arkansas Jazz Orchestra performs in concert only.
Stardust is available for special occasions, conventions and fund raisers. They will repeat their 2017 performance at the Mt. Home Kindness Inc’s 3rd annual fund raiser on November 3 and will continue the 25-year tradition of their New Year’s Gala performance at the Arlington Hotel on December 31. The Arlington Hotel Sunday dances are November 25 and December 16. The Band starts at 3pm. Admission is $10. Free for students K-12. Visit www.stardustband.net for scheduling information.
