The U.S. Navy Band Commodores marched into the Theater at Lackawanna College in Scranton for a concert on Thursday, Oct. 30, providing a night of free jazz music to the public.
First formed in 1969, the Navy’s premier jazz ensemble, currently made up of 18 members, has been performing big band jazz across the nation for over 40 years. According to a press release:
Led by Master Chief Musician Philip Burlin, the Commodores’ mission includes public concerts, national concert tours, ceremonial support in honoring our veterans, jazz education classes and clinics, and protocol performances for high-level military and civilian government officials.
All of the band’s primary performing units embark each year on concert tours throughout specified regions of the country, allowing the band to reach out to audiences in areas of the country that do not have opportunities to see the Navy’s premier musical ensembles on a regular basis.
“America’s Navy has only recently adopted the motto, ‘Being There Matters,’ but it’s been a part of what we do for many years – through music – and therefore Navy bands are integral to our national security,” said Capt. Brian O. Walden, the Navy Band’s commanding officer.
“Today, Navy bands are still performing around the world, acting as agents of public diplomacy for the American government, improving relations with our allies and winning the hearts and minds with the universal language of music.”
Scranton was just one of 18 cities in four states on the Commodores’ 2014 tour. Photos are presented here courtesy of Lackawanna College.
