1 Brass Band Hightlights: Second Line, Down by the Riverside, Do Whatcha Wanna, Second Line 03:08

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2018 MS Swing! Brass Band

30 volunteers comprised the 2018 Mississippi Swing! Brass Band

2018 Mississippi Swing! Brass Band

This year's band was comprised of 30 musicians, bead throwers and a leprechaun! Thanks again for another great year! Chameleon was a hit! Fine musicianship throughout! Soloists were fantastic! While the planetarium will be missed, we did get to play at Hal and Mal's...which is pretty cool stuff! A special thanks goes to Jeff Carter for staking out our territory at 10:30 this morning! And hats off to Keith Buccola (trumpet), who drove all the way up from New Orleans to perform in the parade. Keith plays professionally with many bands down in New Orleans including the Victory Big Band at the World War II Museum. Thanks is also in store to Lorinda and Cora DesRoches, who designed and attached instrument drive promotional tags to 500 beads that were thrown today! Great teamwork everyone! And THANK YOU to the MCSB, and our friends at Ardenland Entertainment and Hal and Mal's for supporting this worthwhile endeavor!

Trumpets: Ryan Coffey, Stephen Buccola, David Schommer, Scott Britton, Lorinda DesRoches, Keith Buccola, Jeff Carter, Trey Bennett (slide trumpet), Titus Taylor, Addie Elliott. Trombones: Jay Bennett, Mike Weidick, Todd Taylor, Troy Taylor, David Miller, Trey Bennett, Oscar Dunaway. Tuba: Andy Johnson, Robert McGee, Tenor: Jim Logan; Clarinet: Tom Riley, Cathy Wilson; Melodica: Carter Elliott, Snare: Jeremy Hilton; Bass Drum: Tim Dunaway; Leprechaun: Caty Coffey; Banner Holders: Caty Coffey, Elizabeth Schommer; Cart / Bead Throwers / Auxiliary Percussion: Cora DesRoches, Kathy Clem. Dawn Mackie

Jackson Convention Center!

The award winning Mississippi Swing Brass Band! performed for the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service AmeriCorp Event at the Jackson Convention Center, on June 2nd. The 12-piece brass band included Scott Britton, Stephen Buccola, Jeff Carter, David Schommer, Jeremy Hilton, Lindy Harris, Maurice Hillman, Jim Crosthwait, Jim Logan, Jay Bennett, and Andy Johnson. Not Shown: Elizabeth Schommer.

2017 MS Swing Brass Band!

The Mississippi Swing Brass Band was the lead band in the 2017 St. Paddy Parade! A special thanks goes to Ardenland Entertainment and our friends at Hal and Mals for giving us the opportunity! Thirty-five volunteers strong, the band took the streets for its 12th year in Downtown, Jackson. Tunes included Second Line, When the Saints Go Marching In, This Little Light of Mine, Down by the Riverside, You are My Sunshine, and Do Whatcha Wanna! What a great group of volunteers! We blew 'em out with Do Whatcha Wanna under the planetarium! It amplifies the sound! A special thanks is also in store for our friends in the Epic Funk Brass Band - Jackson's newest all professional brass band for their participation in today's parade and last night's Marching Malfunctions Parade! Way to go Jackson!

Trumpets: Ryan Coffey, Stephen Buccola, David Schommer, Scott Britton, Lorinda Kress, Trey Bennett (slide trumpet).
Trombones: Jay Bennett, Mike Weidick, Todd Taylor, Troy Taylor, David Miller
Tuba: Andy Johnson
Tenor: Maurice Hillman, Jim Logan
Alto: Michael Payne
Clarinet: Tom Riley, Cathy Wilson
Snare: Jeremy Hilton, Steve Cook
Bass Drum: Richard Vineyard
Leprechaun: Caty Coffey
Banner Holders: Caty Coffey, Elizabeth Schommer
Cart / Bead Throwers / Auxiliary Percussion: Kathy Dougan, Rhonda Pearson, Sara Harper, Debra Martin, Jess Bennett, Terry Foreman, Linda Foreman, Cora DesRoches, Anthony Anderson, Rachel Anderson, Heather Marx, Gay Logan, .Lynn Dickerson

2016 Brass Band a Hit!

The 2016 Mississippi Swing Brass Band was a hit! 21 volunteers strong, the band took the streets for its 11th year in the St. Paddy Parade in Downtown, Jackson. Tunes included Second Line, When the Saints Go Marching In, This Little Light of Mine, Down by the Riverside, You are My Sunshine, and Do Whatcha Wanna! Best place to play Do Whatcha Wanna? Under the planetarium! It amplifies the sound! We blew 'em out!

Trumpets: Ryan Coffey, David Schommer, Jeff Carter, Stephen Buccola, Keith Buccola, Scott Britton.
Trombones: Jay Bennett, Trey Bennett, Mike Weidick, Hale Byrd
Tuba: Andy Johnson
Snare: Jeremy Hilton
Bass Drum: Richard Vineyard
Tenor: Jim Logan
Alto: Jim Crosthwaite
Clarinet: Tom Riley
Leprechaun!: Caty Coffey
Banner Holders: Caty Coffey and Elizabeth Schommer
Bead Throwers: Gay Logan, Jamie Logan and Jacob Logan

Brass Band Celebrates 10 Years!

Winner of the 2015 Arthur Mahoney Spirit Award!

Even rain would not stop the Mississippi Swing Brass Band from participating in the Mal's St. Paddy Parade for the 10th straight year!

2015 Mississippi Swing Brass Band!

Trumpets: David Schommer, Scott Britton, Zane Warren, Ryan Coffey, Keith Buccola, Stephen Buccola, Lee Schilling, Cal Horlings.
Trombones: Todd Taylor, Troy Taylor, Jay Bennett, Mike Weidick.
Tubas: Bryant Thaxton, Brandon Whitten.
Baritone: Cody Spurlock
Snare: Steve Cook

Bass Drum: Richard Vinyard
Leprechaun!: Caty Coffey

Auxiliary Percussion, Bead Throwers, Banner Holders: Elizabeth Schommer,Caty Coffey, and Styler Ginger

20 members strong, The Mississippi Swing Brass Band celebrates 10 years in the 2015 Mal's St. Paddy Parade!

St. Paddy Parade 2014!

The Mississippi Swing! Brass Band
just WON the
2014 Otha Turner Award!
Congratulations to all our volunteers!
This is the 5th Otha Turner Award in our 9 year history having previously won in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and now 2014! In 2013, the band was recipient of the
O.C. McDavid Award.

A record 40 volunteers - including musicians, banner holders, bead throwers and dancers - participated in this year's brass band! This year's selections included Second Line, Saints, Down by the Riverside and Do Whatcha Wanna! The Mal's St. Paddy's Parade brought an estimated 80,000 people to downtown Jackson. People come to the parade from as far away as California.

This year's band was 28 musicians strong, with an additional 12 volunteer auxiliary percussion, bead throwers, banner holders and dancers! Not shown: Maurice Hillman and Cal Horlings.

Enjoy the 2014 Slideshow!

The 2014 Mississippi Swing! Brass Band

Trumpets: David Schommer, Scott Britton, Andrew Speegle, Zane Warren, Emily Walker, Savanna Walker, Ryan Coffey, Anne Berthold, Stephen Buccola, Jeff Reiter, Lee Schilling, Brandon Avdoyan, Josh Foster, Cal Horlings.
Trombones: Todd Taylor, Troy Taylor, Jay Bennett, Mark Dickerson.
Tubas: Andy Johnson, Bryant Thaxton, Brandon Whitten.
Sax: Maurice Hillman, Jared McCann
E-Flat Horn: Trey Bennett
Baritone: Cody Spurlock
Drum Line: Steve Cook, Bobby McClellan
Auxiliary Percussion, Bead Throwers, Banner Holders, Dancers: Elizabeth Schommer, Greg Mitchell, Mary Mitchell, Katelyn Foster, Buffy Murphy, Madelyn Banks, Graycen Wright, Hettie Walker, Lisa McCann, Hayley McCann, Amber Speegle, and our two swing dancers Jack Magee and Conner Perkins!

Mississippi Swing Brass Band! member Bobby McClellan along with other brass band members was seen in this year's Jackson Free Press!

St. Paddy Parade 2013

Mississippi Swing! Brass Band
Wins
Clarion-Ledger / O.C. McDavid Trophy
and
$200 cash prize!

Winning it's 5th award in the past 6 years, the Mississippi Swing! Brass Band claimed The Clarion Ledger / O.C. McDavid Trophy at the 2013 Mal's St. Paddy Parade, in Downtown, Jackson. The award came with a $200 cash prize! This year's brass band was a whopping 29 volunteers strong - tied for largest in the band's history. This was the band's 8th appearance in the Mal's St. Paddy Parade, which is one of the Top 10 in the nation! This is the band's first time winning the O.C.McDavid Trophy. The band won the Otha Turner Marching Award in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. An estimated 75,000 attended the parade, with funds raised to benefit Blair E Batson Hospital for Children. Congratulations to all our volunteers! Audio tracks were recorded live at the event.

Mississippi Swing Brass Band 2013

Trumpets: David Schommer, Jeff Reiter, Jeff Carter, Lee Schilling, Cal Horlings.
Trombones: Todd Taylor, Troy Taylor, Jay Bennett, Wayne Miller
Tubas: Andy Johnson, Bryant Thaxton
Sax: Maurice Hillman, Jared McCann
E-flat Horn: Trey Bennett
Banjo: Adam Chapman
Drum Line: Steve Cook, Greg Mitchell, Bryce Upshaw, Bobby McClellan, and Dustin Nugent.
Photographers: Elizabeth Koskie, Becky McClellan and Wayne Miller
Bead Girl / Hoola Hoops / Security / Banner Holders / Wagon Puller: Becky McClellan, Annette Reiter, Taylor Volz, Mary Mitchell, Elizabeth Schommer, Azha Sanders, Ken Coleman, Mystery Lady I, Mystery Lady II.

O.C. McDavid, was former managing editor of The Jackson Daily News, who actively pursued a second career as an artist and sculptor after retiring from journalism.

Photos by Elizabeth Schommer, Becky McClellan and Wayne Miller

Enjoy the 2013 Slideshow!

The Mississippi Swing Brass Band
WON the 2012 St. Paddy Parade
Otha Turner Award!
The band previously won in
2008, 2009, & 2010.

St. Paddy Parade 2012

Twenty-one volunteers strong, the Mississippi Swing Brass Band celebrated its 7th year in the St. Paddy Parade and won the 2012 Otha Turner Marching Award! Thousands of people lined the streets as floats and marchers made their way along the parade route! For the 30th year, revelers screamed for beads and waved to passing floats during the annual street party. This year's parade attracted an estimated 70,000 people and brought millions of dollars into the metro area. The band has won the Othar Turner Award 4 out of the past 5 years! The Mal's St. Paddy Parade is one of the Top 10 in the nation!

This year's volunteers included -

Trumpet: David Schommer, Jeff Reiter, Jeff Carter, Anne Berthold, Lee Schilling, Cal Horlings
Trombone: Jay Bennett, Bill Lumpkin, Mike Weidick
Sax: Maurice Hillman
Tuba: Philemon Nelson
E-flat Horn: Trey Bennett
Banjo: Adam Chapman
Drum Line: Bryce Upshaw, Brian Upshaw, Bobby McClellan, and Dustin Nugent.
Percussion / Photographer: Elizabeth Koskie
Bead Girl / Security: Becky McClellan, Annette Reiter, Taylor Volz

Enjoy the 2012 Slideshow!

The Otha (Othar) Turner Award

Blues fife and drum musician Otha (Othar) Turner was born in 1909 in Rankin County, Mississippi and grew up near the Mississippi Delta. Fife and drum music is a traditional genre that has its roots in the northern Mississippi hill country and is based on African-American work songs and spirituals. Turner worked as a farmer in Como, Mississippi, where he also led the Rising Star Fife and Drum Corps for sixty years. The band eventually made it to Chicago, where for years they opened the city's legendary Blues Festival. Even in his nineties Turner was still recording and preserved his historically significant music. Turner also appeared every year at the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival in Mississippi, where his Fife and Drum Corps was the opening act. His band in his later years included his daughter, grandchildren and nephew. He received a National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Award, the Smithsonian Lifetime Achievement Award and the Charlie Patton Lifetime Achievement from the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival. Most recently his music was heard as part of the soundtrack of the movie Gangs of New York, which included his song "Shimmy She Wobble." Othar Turner died in February 2003 aged 94.

St. Paddy 2011!

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Band Celebrates 6th Year in St. Paddy Parade!

Seventeen volunteers strong, the Mississippi Swing Brass Band Celebrated its 6th Year in the St. Paddy Parade!Thousands of people lined the streets as floats and marchers made their way along the parade route! For the 29th year revelers screamed for beads and waved to passing floats during the annual street party.The parade reached its maximum capacity for floats, which is 50. Last year's parade attracted about 60,000 people and brought $6.5 million into the metro area, according to the Jackson Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The band won the Otha Turner Marching Award in 2008, 2009, & 2010. This year's winner was Amir Gwirtzmann.

Mississippi Swing Brass Band Video 2011

This year's volunteers included -

Trumpet: David Schommer, Jeff Reiter, Jeff Carter, Anne Berthold, Cal Horlings

Trombone: Todd Taylor, Jay Bennett, Bill Lumpkin, John Retherford
Tuba: Philemon Nelson
E-flat Horn: Trey Bennett
Percussion: Bryce Upshaw, Brian Upshaw, Bobby McClellan, and Dustin Nugent.
Bead Girl / Security: Becky McClellan and Taylor Volz .

Brass Band 2011

Enjoy the 2011 Slideshow!

The Mississippi Swing Brass Band
Wins Otha Turner Award for
3rd Consecutive Year!
A record 29 volunteers participated in this year's band!
This year's repertoire included a rousing rendition of the
New Orleans contemporary brass band classic
Do Whatcha Wanna!

The homegrown phenomenon now in its 28th year draws a crowd that's been estimated between 50,000 and 60,000 and generates an economic impact of $6.8 million for Jackson.The 2010 edition rolled with the theme "It Ain't Easy Bein' Green," and boasted a 30-foot-tall inflatable Kermit the Frog as its grand marshal.The unique event often toasts Mississippi endeavors (state native and Muppets creator Jim Henson this year) and also serves as a fun public venue for political wit and outrageous costuming.As parade founder Malcolm White says, "It has a sense of place. And it has a sense of humor."

- The Clarion Ledger

Mississippi Swing Brass Band!

What started out as a one man band in 2005 grew to a record 40 volunteers in 2014 and 5 time winner of The Otha Turner Award as well as the O.C. McDavid Award (2013) - The Mississippi Swing Brass Band! brings a robust, local musical flavor to the ever popular Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade. A spinoff of Mississippi Swing! and the Mississippi Community Symphonic Band, the group plays New Orleans old school brass band favorites like When the Saints Go Marching In, Second Line, and Down by the Riverside as well as contemporary brass band classics like Do Whatcha Wanna. Click on the podcast link at the bottom of the page to see the video clip when they won the Otha Turner Marching Band Award at Hal and Mals in 2008. When you get to the site - click on the Parade Awards video. Scroll to the 3 minute 30 sec spot in the video - that's when the award was given. In 2009, the Mississippi Swing Brass Band! was invited to lead the Red Hat Parade at the new Renaissance, in Ridgeland.

An all professional version of the brass band is available upon request. For more information, contact Bandleader David Schommer at 601-951-9091...

Theme 2010

The March 20th parade, the capital city's 28th, march and rolled to the theme "It Ain't Easy Bein' Green," which honors Jim Henson's legacy and creative spirit. The theme is a nod to the song It's Not Easy Being Green.

Mississippi Swing Brass Band! -
Winner of The
Otha Turner Marching Award
2008, 2009, 2010, 2012

Brass Band 2010

Trumpets: David Schommer, Anne Berthold, Luke Ratcliff, Jeff Carter, Cal Horlings
Trombones: Mike Weidick, Jay Bennett, Bill Lumpkin, Don Kilborne, Todd Taylor
Tuba: Fred Bailey, Tellis Moaton, Matthew Bear
E-Flat Horn: Trey Bennett
Drums/Percussion: Shuan Stamps, Eddie Newton, Bryce Upshaw, Brian Upshaw, Bobby McClellan, Elizabeth Koskie, Chris "The King" Blount, Revanth Sanne
Sax: Maurice Hillman
Banjo: Ron Welch
Washboard: Greg Mitchell
Bead Girl / Security: Becky McClellan, Mary Mitchell, Taylor Volz
Photographer: Jamie Volz

Enjoy the 2010 Slideshow!

Clarion Ledger 2009

Enjoy the 2009 Slideshow!

Theme 2009

Photos 2005-2008

Enjoy the 2005-2008 Slideshow!

St. Paddy '07

St. Paddy Parade!

Paddy Podcast '08

"Your Mississippi Swing! Brass Band just made our Red Hat Parade the best ever. Thank you very much for marching and playing in the parade. The band has been a missing element, and I hope you will make this an annual event. Ya'll are wonderful!"

Charla Jordan, Queen (2009)

"Thank you so much for participating in the Red Hat Parade. You guys added such class! You are an awesome band!"

Diane Vanlandingham (2009)

Ridgeland Welcomes Red Hat Society Members

Erin Jones
WJTV, Jackson
Published: March 24, 2009

Red Hatters from around the Southeast will flock to Ridgeland March 27th – 29th to enjoy a Red Hot Red Hat Weekend. Festivities include a High Tea, three performances of HATS! The Musical, and a Red Hat Parade with Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee serving as Grand Marshal. Attendees will also participate in Fashion in Bloom; a fashion show with a health and fitness expo at Northpark Mall. “We’re thrilled to host a Red Hat Weekend in Ridgeland,” said Rochelle Hicks, Deputy Director of the Ridgeland Tourism Commission. “We hope to make this an annual event.”

The weekend’s events center on HATS! The Musical, which tells the story of MaryAnne, a woman unhappy about turning 50 until she meets several remarkable red hatted women. They teach her about fun and friendship after age 50 and about forgetting things that simply don’t matter. Members of the Center Players Community Theatre will perform the musical directed by Robby Scucchi. “We literally cannot wait for you to experience this production! It is going to serve as a vastly-entertaining inspiration and encouragement to everyone who is anywhere near mid-life to believe in life’s possibilities and in themselves!” says Scucchi. “The women all have stories to tell — some are joyful and some are sad. And so, gradually, MaryAnne starts to realize that there’s much to look forward to in the years ahead. The performances are in real time, with MaryAnne telling us that she can still be forty-nine for a little more than an hour. As things wind to a close, she turns fifty, just in time for the finale in which she faces the ticking clock with a newly acquired sense of adventure.”

RED HOT RED HAT WEEKEND, MARCH 27th – 29th

Friday, March 27, 2009
Red Hat High Tea from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Embassy Suites
Tickets are $22.50

HATS! The Musical at 7:30 p.m. at Ridgeland High School
Presented by the Center Players Community Theatre
Tickets are $20/adult or $15/Red Hat Member

Saturday, March 28, 2009
Fashion in Bloom from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Northpark Mall
Fitness & Health Expo - 9:00 a.m.
Fashion Show - 10:00 a.m.

Two $250 Simon gift cards donated by Northpark Mall to be drawn after the fashion show.
Spring Flowerscapes by Green Oak Nursery

Red Hat Parade at 2:00 p.m. at Renaissance at Colony Park
Featuring Mayor Gene McGee as Grand Marshal and the Mississippi Swing! Brass Band.

HATS! The Musical at 7:30 p.m. at Ridgeland High School
Presented by the Center Players Community Theatre
Tickets are $20/adult or $15/Red Hat Member

Sunday, March 29, 2009
HATS! The Musical at 2:30 p.m. at Ridgeland High School
Presented by the Center Players Community Theatre
Tickets are $20/adult or $15/Red Hat Member

Red Hat Parade 2009!

Red Hat Parade 2009

Enjoy the Red Hat Slideshow!