Founded in 2017 by drummer Joel Baer and guitarist Chris Parsons, the Blueshift Big Band builds upon the rich legacy of Big Band music found in Chicago. Having missed the thrill and energy that could only come from playing in an ensemble of this size, Baer and Parsons put together a book of their favorite charts and called upon friends and fellow musicians who enjoyed the style just as much as they did.

Initially, the bands repertoire included selections from the likes of Count Basie, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Buddy Rich, and the Clayton-Hamilton Big Band - all the greats that Baer and Parsons hold in high reverence. These groups are famously hard-swinging and ubiquitous for unique compositional voices and originality. Performing material from this canon helped lay a solid foundation for the band, providing a clearer vision for where the leaders would want to go next.

The focus of the band quickly changed from a serious reading band to one that concentrated on original music and arrangements. Armed with a number of great writers and arrangers in the band (and an emphasis on commissioning material from Chicago-area writers) the book grew quickly. With a wealth of originals in the book, it didn’t take long for the band to begin to develop their own unique voice and sound. While inspiration for these arrangements may come from Jazz Standards, Blues, and the Great American Songbook, the band has also tapped into a wealth of material a whole generation has been raised on - Video Games.

Popular music has always found a way into the greater Jazz lexicon. From the music of Tin-Pan alley influencing early Jazz, the songs of Broadway being used as compositional vehicles for the Be-Bop Era, or Rock music affecting the sound of Fusion groups of the 70’s, the music found in Video Games have been impressed on many of us who are products of a certain age. Baer and Parsons felt that in the past, there have been “tongue-in-cheek” approaches to how these songs have been presented. With Blueshift’s unique arrangements and approach, the band hopes to present this music in a serious, but still fun way, that acknowledges the largely unsung composers of this genre.

The Blueshift Big Band is just that - A band. Something greater that just a collection of musicians reading notes off of a page, but a group of friends tasked with one goal; making the best music possible. The greatest lesson learned from the best Big Bands in the world is to treat the band like family. If everyone in the band enjoys being with each other and shares a common dedication to the craft, making great music is inevitable. Joel and Chris, along with the rest of the band, hopes that feeling of camaraderie comes through to you, the listener.

Enjoy the music!