Big Band Theory prepares for heartfelt concert

WASHINGTON — In the closing days of 2021, the rotating cast of musicians that forms Big Band Theory reconvened in Washington for a show featuring the group’s founder and drummer John Kessell, over two years into his battle with esophageal cancer.

That night was the last time he would play.

“We did that concert knowing he was going to lose his ability to play very shortly,” said longtime band member Randy Swift, the only other member to have never missed a show. “He gave his all that night, he didn’t ever pick drumsticks up again after that. It was a wonderful thing for the people in the band … it gave us all a chance to play for him one last time.”

Kessell died in late February. The group’s July 16 show at the Washington Area Performing Arts and Events Center will be the first it’s ever played without him keeping the rhythm.

“I think it’ll be emotional,” Swift said. “We’re really trying to do what we always do, what John and I started the band to do, and that is getting people together for the love of playing. And I think that’s how we’re going to honor his legacy.”

Swift said he was still excited for the show, despite the emotional time.

“It’ll be different for all of us, it’s hard to replace John’s energy and love of music and compassion that he gave all of us,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. I have some mixed emotions, John was a good friend. Big Band started out as a thing where he called me up and said, ‘Hey, can you get some people together,’” and that’s how it always was. We’d get friends together and have a really good time.“

It’s what Kessell said he wanted, in an interview before the December show.

“I hope that it continues, it is kind of my legacy,” he said about the band. “I hope that people continue to get together to play and continue to have the joy of this whole experience.”

The legacy is more than he gave himself credit for. His wife, Krista Kessell, said his impact on music was tremendous wherever he went.

“He was involved in lots of music events,” she said. “Getting the Big Band Theory together (was) doing his part to bring more joy to the community. Music was joy to him, music was his passion and music education was his passion.”

The concert is free with good will donations that will continue to spread that passion in the community. Krista Kessell said proceeds would go to the newly established John Kessell Legacy Music Education Fund, which will go to the Washington Music Boosters.

“Music education was very big to him personally, so his kids and I and his mother thought that was the best way to honor him with a memorial,” she said. “We’ve set this fund up to be a gift to the community, I think it’s going to be a perpetual thing.”

More personally, Kessell’s legacy will live on with Iris Dahl, a student he taught in his last months of life.

“It was something he needed at the end of his life, kind of like passing along to the next generation, his abilities and his knowledge of drumming and his style,” Washington Middle School Band Director Craig McClenahan said. “If you hear her play, she definitely has his style.”

Dahl played a solo at a jazz festival shortly less than a week after he died. The performance that won her the day’s outstanding soloist award.

“We kept working with her, and built on everything he had worked with her on,” McClenahan said. “We got to the first weekend in March, and that Monday before that, unfortunately, John had passed away … She had this great performance, and got that award, it was kind of magical.”

Dahl is set to play a solo with the band at their July performance, for a song fittingly called “Drumming Man.”

“We had this song that we kind of designed around Iris’ drumming, it’s a drum feature, and it would really show off what John taught her,” McClenahan said. “It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime stories, with the passing of a torch, so to speak, from one generation to the next, it doesn’t happen very often … to hear one of John’s students play this concert, it’s very special.”

Krista Kessell said the show would be emotional for her as well.

“I know that John would be incredibly honored by this band going on without him, and I am too,” she said. “What I want everyone to remember … is his ability to stay positive in any situation, and find the positives all the time. I am going to try to live the rest of my life with that in mind.”

Big Band Theory will perform Saturday, July 16 at the Washington Area Performing Arts and Events Center at the high school at 7 p.m.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com