The Swing Legacy
Request Information On Booking
857-222-4795
The Swing Legacy is a Boston-based swing band, six pieces plus singer, presenting the repertoire, polish, and powerful beat of the great black big bands of the swing era (1934-1945). They are what was known in the 30’s and 40’s as a jump band - a small group playing arranged, riff-oriented, hard-driving four-beat swing music. They are essentially a little big band. Their exciting original arrangements produce a big band sound and make the group sound larger than six pieces. The band's consists of Boston's finest and most experienced big band swing jazz musicians who play trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax, piano, bass and drums. These exceptionally high quality performers ensure that the ensemble is musically extremely tight and professional sounding.
The Swing Legacy performs either as the basic six-piece instrumental unit or with an added female vocalist. As with the purely instrumental numbers, the numbers featuring the singer also employ Henry’s original written arrangements, so all of their repertoire is unified in the same unique style. The vocalist provides an additional timbre in the band sound and gives an extra dramatic dimension to the overall presentation.
Their repertoire concentrates on classic big band swing music, including many Duke Ellington and Count Basie numbers. The Swing Legacy is acclaimed for its impeccable musicianship and powerful swinging beat. The band's swing music is both great dance music and interesting concert jazz, and it fulfills many different functions including wedding reception, swing dance, jazz concert, fundraisers and corporate events. Swing music is universally popular because it is high-energy, danceable, and accessible without sacrificing musical quality. Each member of The Swing Legacy has extensive experience in a wide variety of musical situations, and a large repertoire of standard songs. So in addition to their library of written arrangements, the band can improvise a version of practically any request (excluding contemporary pop and rock).
The band works hard, and plays with a lot of fire. While many jazz and swing bands seek to sooth their audience, The Swing Legacy prefers to arouse its listeners. This is definitely hot jazz, not cool!
Have played swing dances for Swing City (Cambridge), First Night Boston, First Night Providence, Mechanics Hall (Worcester), Harvard Business School, Lake Winnipesaukee Cruises, Hooked-On-Swing Society, and Boston Swing Dance Network.
In concert settings, the band have performed for the Boston Globe Jazz Festival, First Night Boston, the Stockbridge Summer Music Series, the Mall at Chestnut Hill.
Have also played at the Regattabar, Boston’s premier jazz club, and have appeared live on Ron Della Chiesa’s WGBH radio show, The Jazz Songbook.
Customer Comments:
“Thank you so much for your contribution to the evening. The band was wonderful and appropriate for all ages. The students and alumni loved the music and had a great time dancing.” Marney Hupper, Alumni Office, Groton School
“I would like to thank you so much for helping to make our 2nd annual July 4th American Celebration a fabulous success! The enthusiasm and energy you brought to the Museum that day made all the difference. I look forward to working with you again. You were fantastic!” Kathleen Churchill, Strawbery Banke Museum
“Once again, I must compliment you and your band for such a wonderful performance on our wedding day. How fabulous you all were! We are still receiving compliments on how wonderful and full the band sounded.” Patrick & Jodie Shea
"Henry “thins” Francis, has provided the band with arrangements to make the group sound much larger than it is. The band captures perfectly the essence of what it is supposed to do" Russ Chase, IAJRC Journal,
"The Swing Legacy brings an exceptional understanding to the music of the Swing era. Henry “thins” Francis and his band appreciate the repertoire and the musicianship behind these great compositions, and they honor the full range of emotions that underpinned what is too often misrepresented these days as merely facile, good-time music. This is one of the rare class acts of 21st Century jazz classicism." Bob Blumenthal, Boston Globe