SEQUIM — Sequim’s summer series of free outdoor concerts starts with a splash this week as two big military bands strike up at the James Center band shell beside Carrie Blake Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.
The 2010 Music & Movie in the Park lineup is slimmer than usual, though, so organizers hope to inspire a little more support from residents and business owners.
The 35-member Air National Guard Band of the Northwest, to perform Tuesday at 6 p.m., just might put us in the mood for a good season of open-air shows by attracting a bigger-than-usual crowd, said Bobbie Usselman, Sequim’s deputy city clerk.
She’s coordinator of the series and a bass clarinet player in several bands herself.
To keep up the rhythm and tempo, the 133rd Army Band will come out Friday night for a 6 p.m. concert at the band shell.
Bands have history
Both military bands have storied pasts both recent and distant.
The Air National Guard Band of the Northwest was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar last summer to entertain the troops there.
And the 133rd Army Band, formerly called the 41st Infantry Division Band, was the only all-African American Army National Guard band in the United States until President Harry S. Truman integrated the military in 1948.
These days, the 133rd “proudly serve as musical ambassadors” for the state of Washington, the band’s statement says.
Master Sgt. Michael Baker, a trumpet player in the Air National Guard Band of the Northwest, said his bandmates live all over the region – from Spokane to Oregon — and get together one weekend a month to rehearse their repertoire.
It includes ” Americana, stirring patriotic favorites, current movie themes and, of course, a classic Sousa march or two,” he noted.
“I love coming to small towns, towns that are out of the way,” Baker said. “In a big city, there isn’t as much excitement, as much community spirit.”
At Tuesday’s show, members of the Sequim City Band will sit in with the Air National Guard Band, added Usselman.
Both the Air National Guard Band and the 133rd Army Band are playing for free, she said. The city is providing dinner for the Air National Guard players, but “the 133rd didn’t ask for anything.”
Musical variety
Sequim’s summer series of concerts has just about everything: original jazz fusion with Electric Blue Sun on July 6, classic rock from Big Fine Daddies on July 13, acoustic folk with the Late Bloomers on July 20; big-band swing with Stardust on July 27 and horn-driven eclectic rock with Locust Street Taxi on Aug. 3 — which is also free movie night at the park.
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” a family comedy, is the single movie booked so far because, Usselman said, that’s all the sponsorship money paid for.
The concert will go from 6 p.m. to about 9 p.m. and “Meatballs” will light up a giant inflatable screen beside the band shell.
Donations sought
“We are still seeking donations to hopefully present another movie or two,” Usselman said. Paying for the movie rights and for setup of the big screen costs $2,200 — and the city foots that bill strictly from community contributions.
Because of the funding shortage, this summer’s music series is just 10 weeks instead of the 12 weeks of previous years, but the final four concerts round out the gamut of genres: “island, swing and originals” will be dished out Aug. 10 by Howly and da Boyz, MLR will play multigenerational classic rock ‘n’ roll Aug. 17, the Olympic Trombone Orchestra brings standards and jazz to the park Aug. 24 and the final show features Ranger and the Re-Arrangers’ gypsy jazz Aug. 31.
The sponsors who have stepped up so far to support the season of concerts are Olympic Ambulance, Jarmuth Electric, 7 Cedars Casino, Clark Land Office, First Federal, Gray & Osborne, the Brokers Group, Dungeness Courte Alzheimer’s Community, Pacific Office Equipment and Sequim area residents Jerry Levine, Robert and Becky Hanna, James and JoAnn Roberts and David and Sandra Marsh.
Mayor Ken Hays’ architecture firm is also a sponsor, as are City Attorney Craig Ritchie, City Council member Ted Miller and Mayor Pro Tem Laura Dubois.
For information on supporting the series and contributing toward an additional movie night, phone Usselman or City Clerk Karen Kuznek-Reese at City Hall at 360-683-4139.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
