Dear Editor:

The Jazz Ambassadors, the U.S. Army’s premier jazz band, wowed a packed hour April 5 at the Opera House in Boothbay Harbor.

Using the standard big band five saxophone, four trumpet, three trombone, four rhythm format, the band navigated Quincy Jones’ arrangement of “I Believe in You” with the precision of the Air Force’s Blue Angels. They flawlessly played a program that ranged from an updated standard, “Avalon,” to the breakneck, post-bebop “Fingers” by Thad Jones. The mood ranged from the warm lush orchestration of “It Had To Be You,” to the freewheeling improvisation by Sergeant Mercedes Beckman in Mary Lou Williams’ “Knowledge,” with the romping, tailgate Dixieland, “A Visit to New Orleans” thrown in to celebrate jazz’s roots.

A salute to the Greatest Generation came with the band’s rendering of Glenn Miller’s immortal “American Patrol” and Sergeant Wess Anderson’s deft drum work powered Benny Goodman’s ever popular “Sing, Sing,Sing.” The band brought the enthusiastic audience to its feet with the “Armed Forces Salute,” and vocalist Randy Wight capped the evening with a soulful Ray Charles inspired “America the Beautiful” to rousing applause.

The Jazz Ambassadors highlight the U.S. Army’s performance excellence.

David Reed

West Rockport