44th Army Band Ballistic Brass and Street Procession
A Band With Brass
The 44th Army Band plays a free all-ages gig at the Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater on Friday, July 5 at 7:30pm and going means joyfully exploring another genre within the great framework of American music—one that hasn't gotten so much attention of late. There's been a decent band music and culture revival going on for a couple years, mostly featuring psychedelic, rainbow-colored Left-Coast bands (see MarchFourth for deets) but American roots luminaries like the recently departed Dr. John experimented with a Nola variation of the genre in the '60s and '70s. The music comes from multiple sources, including traditional military bands, which were a big deal, pop-culture wise, in pre-modern America. Composers like John Phillip Souza further popularized the genre with memorable tunes that have patriotic themes. Maybe that's why we tend to hear about this musical tradition around the first of July. In any case, this outfit, led by Captain Silas N. Huff, blows your mind without destroying your wallet, so do enjoy, Burqueños; it's a brassy blast! (August March)
Friday July 5, 2019
Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
Albuquerque, NM 87104-1459
US
Phone: 243-7255
Website: Click to Visit
Cost:
FREEAges:
ALL-AGES!More events at Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
Hear the renowned band play with vigor in this march.
Celebrate Independence Day Weekend with us! Family friendly, fun and FREE!
The 44th Army Band is “New Mexico’s Own” Army National Guard Band and the state’s musical military ambassador. The band’s roots can be traced back to 1590, and the band served during significant periods of the nation’s history, most notably during World War II as the 200th Coast Artillery Band. On April 9, 1942, the band was surrendered to the Japanese and forced to march in Corregidor and on the Bataan Peninsula, thus earning their nickname “The Battling Bastards of Bataan.” The band was deactivated in the 1960s and remained inactive until the late 1970s when it was re-activated as the 44th Army Band. In 2011, the band deployed a team to Kosovo where they performed over 60 missions in five months.
Today, the 44th Army Band performs in support of military, civic, and diplomatic events across the state of New Mexico. The band currently consists of the “44th Army Band Jazz Orchestra” 1940s-style big band; “Brass Street Boys” brass band; “Mariachi Adelante” traditional mariachi ensemble; “M-9 Sax Pistols” saxophone quintet; “Green Chile” rock band; and any other formation required to accomplish any musical mission.
LEADERS:
Captain Silas N. Huff, Commander
First Sergeant Fidel Archuleta, Enlisted Bandleader
