Vocalist Anaïs Reno and the Compaq Big Band performing "Whatever Lola Wants"

Whatever Lola Wants (mp3, 5MB) -- This is an unedited MP3 recording. We'll be posting more tracks from that evening soon.

Anaïs was – as always – STUNNING! This is "Whatever Lola Wants" as popularized by Carmen McRae; words and music by Richard Adler & Jerry Ross; arranged by Jack Pleis.

In addition to Anaïs out front, the band personnel on this recording:
Alto 1: Mark Stanaford
Alto 2: John Finocchiaro
Tenor 1: Chris Hildebrand
Tenor 2: Tom Nutile *
Bari: Jerry Griep
Bone 1: Scott Taylor
Bone 2: Kurt Thaller
Bone 3: Russell Bogartz
Bone 4: Leslie Havens *
Trumpet 1: Tom Borning #
Trumpet 2: Bruce D. McLeod
Trumpet 3: Zoey Murphy *
Trumpet 4: Kyle Emmie
Trumpet 5: Bijon Watson (split lead) *
Drums: Bruce Hanahan
Bass: Gil Bristol
Piano: Dennis Cecere
Guitar: Dave King

* Guest Performer
# Alumnus and Guest Performer

As far as the recording goes, as a matter of course our talented, full-time sound engineer Jeff Hagan captures 32-track recordings of every gig using the band's Allen & Heath Qu-32 board – data transfer of all tracks via USB to a stripped down, customized Linux laptop.
Inputs/mics as follows:
* Vocalist: Shure ULXD2 handheld wireless with Shure KSM11 capsule
* All 14 x horns: Shure Beta 98 H/C's
* 4 x Shure SM57s for woodwind doubles
* Bass: Direct XLR
* Guitar: Direct XLR
* Piano: Direct XLR
* Overheads on Kit: 2 x Shure SM81's
* Snare/Tom: 1 x Shure SM57
* Kick: Shure Beta 52A

Thanks for giving Anaïs and the band a listen!

Sanctuary's Big Band Christmas

Andres Institute of Art Fundraiser Jazz Concert

Pictures: 2024 Andres Institute of Art Fundraiser Jazz Concert (Brookline, NH - September 21, 2024)

Compaq Big Band at The Park Theatre

Our special guest vocalist Anaïs Reno, from New York City, was – as always – STUNNING! This is a transcription of the Anita O'Day version of Cole Porter's "I Love You." The original arrangement was by Billy May, from the 1959 "Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter with Billy May" album.

Here is a public Dropbox link that provides a WAV and MP3 version of the recording. A website link to the MP3 is also available: Anaïs sings Cole Porter's "I Love You" (mp3).

In addition to Anaïs out front, the band personnel on this recording:
Alto 1: Andrew DiCicco (solo)
Alto 2: John Finocchiaro
Tenor 1: Chris Hildebrand
Tenor 2: Scott Tringali
Bari: Jerry Griep
Bone 1: Scott Taylor
Bone 2: Rick Copeland *
Bone 3: Russell Bogartz
Bone 4: David Bresnahan #
Trumpet 1: Bryan Hilliard
Trumpet 2: Bruce D. McLeod
Trumpet 3: Peter Sokolowski
Trumpet 4: Kyle Emmie
Trumpet 5: Joe Heffernan (split lead)
Drums: Michelle Hirsch
Bass: Gil Bristol
Piano: Dennis Cecere
Guitar: John Baboian *
* Guest performer
# Alumnus and guest performer

As far as the recording goes, as a matter of course our talented, full-time sound engineer Jeff Hagan captures 32-track recordings of every gig using the band's Allen & Heath Qu-32 board – data transfer of all track via USB to a stripped down, customized Linux laptop. In this instance, we were using the Park Theatre's installed Allen & Heath SQ-6 board 48-channel board (*NICE* console) instead – very similar user interface to ours. Jeff did a quick mixdown of the 30ish channels we used that night – no editing.

Inputs/mics as follows:
* Vocalist: Shure ULXD2 handheld wireless with Shure KSM11 capsule
* All 14 x horns: Shure Beta 98 H/C's
* Bass: Direct XLR
* Guitar: Direct XLR
* Piano: Barcus-Berry Planar Wave 4000 (Mason & Hamlin 7' concert grand, lid closed)
* Overheads on Kit: 2 x Shure SM81's
* Snare/Tom: 1 x Shure SM57
* Kick: Shure Beta 52A

Thanks for giving Anaïs and the band a listen!

Anaïs Reno with Quintet from the Compaq Big Band at WICN 90.5 FM

Compaq Big Band at Boston College

The event was the Spring Social swing dance presented by our longtime client, BC Full Swing - always GREAT swing dancers and TERRIFIC hosts! The chart is "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" from the Woody Herman Orchestra (arr. Dave LaLama).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwm6ZCWJK6w

Video courtesy of bassist Eric Pantalone's mobile phone, operated by Vocalist Cara Campanelli. Personnel in the video are as follows (horns left to right):
Michelle Hirsch - Drums; Eric Pantalone - Bass; John Kramer - Keyboard; Dave King - Guitar
Chris Hildebrand - 1st Tenor/clarinet; Tom Nutile - 2nd Alto; Ken Gable - 1st Alto; Scott Tringali - 2nd Tenor; Jerry Griep - Bari
Kurt Thaller - 2nd Trombone; David Bresnahan -1st Trombone; Russell Bogartz - 3rd Trombone; Ofer Cohen - Bass Trombone
Bruce D. McLeod - 2nd Trumpet; Dan Fleury - 5th Trumpet (Split Lead); Bryan Hilliard - 1st Trumpet; Kyle Emmie - 4th Trumpet; Daniel LePage - 3rd Trumpet
Al Saloky - Director
Not in video: Cara Campanelli - Vocalist; Jeff Hagan - Sound Engineer

Compaq Big Band at Newburyport Yankee Homecoming

Almost Like Being In Love
Hey Good Looking
I Love Being Here With You
Lost In The Memory
L-O-V-E
Sir Duke
Smile

Compaq Big Band at the Rex Theatre

Fever

Compaq Big Band at the Vermont Burlesque Festival

Gonna Fly Now
I've Got A Lot Of Livin' To Do
L-O-V-E
Lost In The Memory
Rhapsody In Blue
Sir Duke

Wayne Bergeron performing MacArthur Park with the Compaq Big Band. (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band concert June 3, 2007 at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, NH.)

Pictures: 2021 Antonio F. Gentile Summer Concert Series at Stage Fort Park (Gloucester, MA - August 15, 2021)

Pictures: 2019 City Winery Boston Holiday Concert (Boston, MA - December 23, 2019)

Pictures: 2008 Concert with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (Manchester, NH - May 31, 2008)

Pictures: 2007 Concert with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (Manchester, NH - June 3, 2007)

Pictures: 17th Annual CMHA Holiday Concert at Tuckerman Hall (Worcester, MA - December 1, 2006)

Pictures: 16th Annual CMHA Holiday Concert at Tuckerman Hall (Worcester, MA - December 2, 2005)

Pictures: Big Band Matinee at the Palace Theatre (Manchester, NH - April 18, 2004)

Pictures: Valentine's Day Swing Dance at Martha's Exchange (Nashua, NH - February 14, 2003)

Pictures: Swing Dance at the Muddy River Smokehouse (Portsmouth, NH - January 11, 2003)

Pictures: Swing City Dance Club (Cambridge, MA - December 6, 2002)

Pictures: Evening of Stars Gala Fundraiser (Manchester, NH - November 16, 2002)

Pictures: Swing Dance at Redhook Ale Brewery (Portsmouth, NH - March 23, 2002)

Pictures: Wedding Reception at Nashua Country Club (Nashua, NH - October 20, 2001)

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