Our Story
Since 1991, Beasley's Big Band plays big band jazz with power, drive, and a whole lot of swing.
We've been playing at the Wabasha Street Caves and O'Gara's Bar & Grill for more than 20 years. At the historic Wabasha Street Caves, you can swing dance to Beasley's Big Band on the third Thursday of just about every month. If you'd like to listen to Beasley's Big Band in an intimate club setting, stop by O'Gara's. We also play for corporate parties, swing dances, charity balls, wedding dances, and summer concerts in city parks.
We're known for playing classic big band jazz in the style of the Count Basie Orchestra. We also play many tunes using the same arrangements made famous by Glen Miller, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, and Stan Kenton. In addition, we play many tunes arranged specially for our band by Charles Beasley. You won't hear those arrangements anywhere else.
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Just how big is Beasley's Big Band?
We're a 18 piece collection of people who love to play swing. From front to back:
- 5 saxophones: 2 altos, 2 tenors, and 1 baritone
- 4 trombones
- 4 trumpets
- 4 rhythm: drums, bass, guitar, piano
- 1 vocalist
Compared with typical pop music today, we're huge. But from the 1920's to the early 1950's, this was how popular music was performed. We strive produce an authentic sound that your grandparents would quickly recognize.
Beasley’s Big Band Members Emeritus
Sax
- Glen Gruye RIP 2012
- Charles Beasley RIP 2010
- Harry Ballard RIP 2011
- Jeri Zwack RIP 2017
- George Ross RIP
- Mark Gladding
- Warren Wiese
- Greg Bannister
- Doug Svendsen
- Mike Svendsen
Bone
- Ray Peterson RIP 2003
- Tim Domka
Trumpet
- Bill “Froggy” Halgren RIP
- Stuart Lane
- Eric Moonen
- Larry Foyen
- Dave Mantini
- Jason Karsten
- Jeff Rudoy
- Mel Carter RIP 2017
- Dave Haberman
- Nicole Young
- Peter Elliot
- Peter Davis
- Leo Fine RIP 2021
- Tim Meyer
Drums
- Glenn Martin RIP
- Ryan Abrahamson
Bass
- Rodger Bartlett RIP 2011
- John Kaplan
- Maureen Williamson Schwartz
- Mark Browning Milner
- Carl Priest
Piano
- Art Weflen RIP 2003
- Bill Karnik RIP 2009
Vocals
- Christine Rosholt RIP 2011
- Barbara Joyce
- Rochelle Randy-Larson