Jeff Solon Swing'n Big Band: "Music at the Museum Concert"

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On July 12th, step back in time to the 1940s Big Band Era! Join us for
a FREE concert in the Aztec Pioneer Village with the Jeff Solon Swing’n
Big Band at 7pm. Featuring eight fantastic musicians, this
Durango-based band brings the era back to life with beloved classics
like In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade, Sentimental Journey, Stardust,
Take the “A” Train, and many more!

Jeff Solon has led this traditional swing’n dance band since 1993. The
band was conceived and arranged by Rollie Rustad. Mr. Rustad came to
Durango, from Minneapolis in 1979, and could not find enough musicians
to make up the normal 16-18 piece dance band, nor were there enough
venues for that size of a band. He painstakingly, took the time to
condense the arrangements from the large band, to the current
eight-piece swing band. After Mr. Rustad passed away, his widow Pat
Rustad, gave Mr. Solon the music thereby passing the baton on to another
generation!

Mr. Solon is a self-taught musician, who plays saxophone, clarinet,
flute, harmonica, and piano. He is immersed in the music of jazz as a
soloist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and teacher. He began his
professional musical adventure as a street performer, playing his way
through Central and South America (1980–1985), and has continually
performed extensively throughout the southwest since 1985, with his
duets, groups, and 8-piece swing band. He has been a yearly grant
recipient (1993–2020) from the Durango Friends of the Arts for his
public school assemblies and workshops, and has won several awards from
the Colorado Council on the Arts, and The Fort Lewis College Foundation.
He has led three tours for the U.S. Embassy in Latin America, produced
and released 16 recordings, and teaches jazz studies at Fort Lewis
College.

“I am thrilled to be leading this band, arranging the music, and keeping
this great era of music alive for dancing and listening. The big
surprise is that swing music is the rage again across the county, and
everyone is dancing and enjoying the sounds of swing,” shares Mr. Solon.
The Aztec Museum & Pioneer Village is thrilled to welcome Jeff and the
band for the first time performing for our Music at the Museum Concert
Series.

Please enter via the West gate by the Aztec Splash Pad off Park Ave.
Gate opens at 6:30pm. Service animals only, please. This concert is made
possible thanks to the generosity of the Connie Gotsch Arts Foundation
and ALL of our 60th Anniversary Sponsors.

Dates

The event runs from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on the following dates.
Select a date to add this event to your calendar app.