Ray Abrams Big BandJazz 966 April 7th

The Ray Abrams (18-piece) Big Band,

under the direction of Ervin Simpson, featuring the vocal stylings of

Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch,

appearing at Jazz 966 on 966 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11238

8 to 11 PM, Information: 718-638-6910 x 23 or 25 /website: jazz966.com

Donation $15.00

Friday, April 7, 2006,

On this occasion, the band appears in a program entitled:

Billie's Bounce- A Billie Holiday Birthday Celebration.

This event is part of

The 7th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival,

Jazz: A Music Of The Spirit

(March 29 Th“ April 30, 2006)

"...and in the center of it all was the hard-swinging 18 piece Ray Abrams Big Band."... 24/7

"With toes tapping and fingers snapping, residents filled the park and swayed the night away."... Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald

"The solos were deft and complex, veering off the melody into zones of time, space and sound."...24/7

This highly professional swing band, which actually started in the 50’s under the vision of Hank Dougherty, was acquired by Brooklyn’s famous jazz saxophonist and prolific arranger, Ray Abrams. Ray passed on in 1997, but the band continues to entertain lovers of swing and classic-jazz. The 18 members of the band consistently recreate the unforgettable love ballads-- that Donna sings wonderfully-- and the hard swinging, finger-snapping, toe-tapping instrumental tunes of the greatest swing-bands of the 40’s and 50’s, many of which feature the band’s soloist and Donna’s swinging vocal stylings.

The band’s library of musical arrangements is lengthy and well rounded, ranging from the still modern sounding charts created by Ray Abrams, to the swinging big-band charts from the minds of arrangers like Sam Nistico, Quincy Jones, Sy Oliver, Neal Hefti and so many others. This valued musical library supports the bands ability to create a well-rounded program of classic-jazz as played by the bands of Basie, Ellington, Herman, Hawkins, Eckstine and Hampton, etc.

The band's unique ability to perform to the spirit of the music and to swing at the drop of a hat is consistently nourished by the very dedicated skills of the band’s leader, Ervin Simpson, who has led the band since 1998. No doubt, this ability to swing the most beloved songs from The Classic American Jazz Songbook, explains why the band continues to maintain a growing presence in the tri-state area.

Of late, the Band has appeared at an increasing number of venues in the five boroughs and on Long Island.

Upcoming appearances:

*Eisenhower Park, LI-- June Afternoon Swing Concert at the Lakeside Theatre

*Valley Stream, L I, Town Park, -- August 23, Swing Concert/Dance in the Park Series

*Bronx Central Library-- August 26, Swing Concert

*Freeport Public Library, LI—Swing Concert in tribute to Black History