Upcoming concert will honor band’s founder

Big Band Theory is planning its 14th show in Washington for Dec. 28. While the free performance promises entertainment, this year’s show has particular meaning for the group’s founder, John Kessel.

“Some are worried it might be my last show,” Kessel said. “I don’t know, everything is different every day. I’m trying to manage esophageal cancer and everything, and my energy level is just not like it was … But I don’t know, hopefully it’s not my last show.”

Kessel was diagnosed with the cancer two and a half years ago. After surgical options failed, he has stepped up chemotherapy treatment.

“I’m in that part of the management phase now and it’s pretty exhausting,” he said. “But I’m not in any pain or anything like that.”

Big Band Theory is Kessel’s brainchild, born of a tradition formed during his return visits from the east coast to his hometown of Washington.

“When he would come back to town here over the last dozen years, we would get together and play and have our friends over,” said band member Randy Swift, a guitar player and one of the group’s show coordinators. ”That kind of grew into one time, he said ‘Hey, next time I come into town, instead of a small jazz group, let’s have a big band.’ So he came to town and I made a bunch of phone calls to some good friends and we got 20 people together.“

The band has grown in popularity since then, branching out from home basement shows to performances at Washington’s central park and the high school auditorium.

As a result of its size and informal roots, the group’s membership is in constant flux.

“We have a little nucleus of people that always play, and then everybody else is kind of rotating,” Swift said. “I set a date when we’re going to play, when people from the east coast can come back … and then we just start calling people and say, ‘Can you make it on this date?’ … every band is slightly different, we always have somebody new playing.”

Participation in the group, while something of an honor, is not for the faint of heart. The group does not rehearse before shows, with performers sight reading the music on stage.

“It’s all about having fun, that is our definition of success,” Swift said. “It’s a testament to the level of musicianship of the people in the band, because as you can imagine, it could fall apart at any moment. This will be our 14th concert, and it never has, we’ve never had that disaster. I always explain to the audience exactly what we’re doing, so they’re kind of riding that knife edge with us.”

While that may sound like a recipe for disaster, Kessel said it was a key point of appeal.

“The best way to record is to get it on the first take, so this is a live first take,” he said. “I’m sure the band would be maybe a couple of notches tighter if we were able to rehearse, but I don’t miss it, the audience loves it, and it’s just a wonderful feeling to be able to sit down and play.”

As the drummer, Kessel’s role in keeping the band on the rails is more than symbolic.

“John is the heartbeat of the band, literally and figuratively,” Swift said. “He sets us up, he sets the tempo, he dictates the emotion. Without him, the band would not be the same, he elevates everybody around him. Not only is it fun to play in the band, it’s fun to play with John, he really is an amazing talent.”

Whether it’s his last show or not, Kessel said he hoped the group carried on. While Big Band Theory is scheduled for another show this summer, the calendar is unclear after that.

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

In any case, Kessel said he was humbled by the chance to play with such a talented group.

“I am honored beyond words that people are doing this for me,” he said. “It’s something that we’ve done with a few phone calls and we’re good for a date, but for people from far and wide to be there that I’ve played with is so meaningful.”

Big Band Theory will perform at the Washington high school Auditorium Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. Admission is free but freewill donations are requested to help pay for the venue. Masks are strongly requested.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com