Big Band Express is on track

"I dance to everything but samba and tango, but that's just because no one can keep up with me," said the 73-year-old Balagna.

"It's my kind of music. It's old school from our time."

The Big Band Express originated in Tucson more than 12 years ago and has played at the casino for the past four. The band performs once a month for seven months, stopping between May and November when business at the casino slows down.

"When the snowbird season goes, we go with it," said Tom Patrick, 69, founder of what is now a 16-piece band.

Patrick grew up making music and always dreamed about playing in a swing band. He plays the drums and sings.

The band practices twice a month and plays throughout Tucson. In addition to the monthly performances at Desert Diamond, it also plays at private parties and at the Gaslight Theatre.

Patrick is retired, but many of the other players have other jobs. They include teachers, a nurse, a chiropractor and an engineer.

Six, including Patrick, are professional musicians.

"It's been my life," said Lloyd Bartlett, 82. "Professional piano player is my gig. I have played with Johnny Carson and Sinatra."

Bartlett has come up with about 12 arrangements for the band.

"He takes the original piece of music already written and rearranges it for the band — he doesn't compose new music, just rearranges it," Patrick said. "It's important because if we want to play a song that is not good for dancing, he fixes it and makes it danceable. He's just wonderful. He has so many skills."

Bob Martin, 52, has played the trumpet with the band since 1999. He has played with more than 25 bands — but he thinks this one is the best.

"There is some magic here that can't be explained," he said. "The camaraderie is hard to find. We all have great chemistry — everyone is upbeat and fired up about playing. It just gets better and better every time we play."

The band focuses on swing and jazz music from the 1940s and '50s. Most songs are purely instrumental, but vocals are added to the mix now and then.

"We play all of the styles (of the era) and when we play for dancing, we play for the dancers. We know what they like and work hard to produce the quality music to fit their needs," Patrick said.

Though lots of folks are drawn to the show to dance, some come just for the music.

One of those is Angela Jamison, 61, who brought her brother, John Allchorne, to the show last Sunday.

Jamison, who lives on the South Side, sat back and listened and talked with Allchorne, who is visiting from England.

"They are pretty good. It provides a nice, relaxing atmosphere and it's just fun," said Allchorne, 57. "But most of all, I love this place because people here make me feel young."

"It's my kind of music. It's old-school from our time."

Don Balagna, 73, Big Band Express fan