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David Levin Entertainment
Big Bands
David Levin Entertainment has hands down the best Northern California and Southern California big bands. DLE also has the top East Coast big band, The DLE NR Orchestra--the top Nelson Riddle-style big band in the U.S. We now offer Las Vegas big bands, most notably The DLE Las Vegas Big Band (a 17 to 19-piece) along with the finest Los Angeles big bands, Southern California swing orchestras, East Coast big bands, San Francisco big bands--as well as a Southern California headliner Sinatra-style vocalist with either a 20-piece Nelson Riddle-style Orchestra (with strings) or a 17-piece big band. We also offer our Southern California clients The DLE O.C. Big Band (a 14-piece with one of the top Sinatra-style vocalists and/or a female big band vocalist) which plays Benny Goodman-style late 30s to early 40s big band arrangements like "Let's Dance" exactly as they were played by The King of Swing as well as performing Nelson Riddle and Billy May arrangements of Sinatra's hits. We also feature one of the best Southern California big bands out of the Desert, The TH Orchestra (a 14 to 16-piece). DLE's East Coast swing orchestra, The DLE NR Orchestra (whose tracks can be heard below), plays outstanding Nelson Riddle-Sinatra early 50s Swing arrangements and features the East Coast's top Sinatra vocalist, a great Harry James-style trumpeter, one of the great Swing drummers in the U.S., a phenomenal lead (jazz) trumpeter and much, much more. Our San Francisco Swing orchestras, Southern California Swing orchestras and East Coast big bands range from 13 to 24 pieces and have years of convention, corporate event and wedding reception experience. One of the keys to the high quality of the "big band sound" we offer are the superb female and male vocalists found in these bands as well as many "A" players at the key positions. These vocalists range from Sinatra vocalists to Bobby Darin-style vocalists to Ella Fitzgerald-style "scatting" jazz vocalists to 40s commercial Swing vocalists to cabaret jazz vocalists. All DLE big bands travel, so the big bands featured below are available on the West Coast and East Coast, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, the Washington, D.C. area, Northern Virginia, New York, Philadelphia and Connecticut. DLE big bands provide sound and back-line within their rates for local performances. Our 14-piece Southern California Swing orchestra, The TH Orchestra, covers the Desert cities of Palm Springs and La Quinta as well as Las Vegas. Our Northern California band, The DLE Northern California Big Band, does events in Northern California including Reno, Squaw Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey, Sonoma, Napa and Sacramento. The DLE Las Vegas Big Band covers Las Vegas and all of Nevada and Arizona. Our Southern California Swing bands cover all of Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Riverside, etc. Our East Coast swing orchestra, The DLE NR Orchestra, covers the entire East Coast including the Washington, D.C. area, New York, Philadelphia and Boston.
For more Big Bands not seen on this page, please contact DLE |
DLE East Coast Big Bands
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The DLE NR Orchestra
The DLE NR Orchestra (an 18 or 19-piece) is the answer to those who want "a great big band", featuring THE best Sinatra vocalist in the country, outstanding Nelson Riddle arrangements along with one of the nation's premier big band drummers. The Band has done events at the prestigious Rainbow Room in New York, overseas events, cruise ships, large fundraisers and many D.C. events. Besides Billy May's and Nelson Riddle's arrangements of Sinatra hits, they play authentic arrangements of songs made famous by The Benny Goodman Band, The Glenn Miller Band, The Harry James Band, The Artie Shaw band and many others. The Band's phenomenal male vocalist has been written up in major newspapers. He is also an excellent emcee. A female vocalist is available (making the Band a 19-piece). Continuous music is available with this band, with a trio or quartet taking over on the Orchestra's breaks. The following tracks are all "live" recordings. The DLE NR Orchestra is available in Washington, D.C., Bethesda, Maryland, Northern Virginia, New York, New Jersey and anywhere in the U.S.
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DLE Southern California Big Bands
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The TH Orchestra
The TH Orchestra (a 14 to 16-piece with vocalists) is one of Southern California's most talented 40s commercial Swing big bands. The leader has performed with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Elvis Presley, Eydie Gormé, Sarah Vaughan, Harry James, Johnny Guarnieri, Stan Kenton and Boyd Raeburn. He toured with Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole. In Reno, he worked with Billy Eckstine at Harrah's and later at Harvey's as bandleader. The TH Orchestra has some of the best sidemen in the business, including a superb Harry James-style trumpeter. The TH Orchestra is available for events in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, Reno, Sacramento and virtually anywhere in California.
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The DLE O.C. Big Band
The DLE O.C. Big Band (a 13-piece without vocalist, a 14-piece with vocalist and a 15-piece with male and female vocalist) is a Los Angeles swing orchestra that specializes in the Swing Era and also plays music from the 50's, 60's, 70's, etc. They also play "ballroom" styles such as Latin, polkas, waltzes, quicksteps, etc. As you'll hear from the superb mp3 tracks below, the arrangements used by this Los Angeles big band are the authentic Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Harry James and other great big bands' arrangements--including Nelson Riddle/Sinatra big band arrangements. The DLE O.C. Big Band offers one of Southern California's top Sinatra-style vocalists and as well as an excellent female big band vocalist. The band's leader is an experienced emcee. It is also possible for continuous music to be played during the Band's breaks. The DLE O.C. Big Band is available throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara and all of California as well as Las Vegas, Santa Fe and virtually anywhere in the U.S. Please note that Track 12 showcases the Band's new Sinatra vocalist singing to a recording from the great Billy May Orchestra.
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The DLE Sinatra Vocalist
A first-rate entertainer, Sinatra look-alike and sound-alike, The DLE Sinatra Vocalist performs either as a solo vocalist to Nelson Riddle and Billy May orchestra arrangements on CDs, with two of our small swing bands or with one of our big bands (The TH Orchestra) or with his own 20-piece Nelson Riddle-style orchestra with strings. We have been receiving a lot of inquiries for "a Sinatra vocalist with a big band or orchestra", and this man is it! A same-day rehearsal will almost always be required. This incredible performer is Sinatra! The DLE Sinatra Vocalist is available in S.F., L.A., N.Y., D.C., Las Vegas and virtually every city or getaway site in the U.S.
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DLE Las Vegas Big Bands
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The DLE Las Vegas Big Band
The best commercial Swing and jazz big band in Las Vegas, The DLE Las Vegas Big Band's leader-founder toured with The Glenn Miller Orchestra (under four leaders, Buddy DeFranco, Peanuts Hucko, Buddy Morrow and Jimmy Henderson), The Harry James Orchestra, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (Leader Lee Castle) and a Tom Jones South Africa tour. He has performed with the house bands at the many hotels on and off the strip (including The Silver Slipper, Desert Inn, "Lido de Paris" at the Stardust and the musical "Chicago" at Mandalay Bay). The Band was founded in 1981 and still features great musicians as you will hear on the following (17-piece) mp3 tracks. The inception of this band brought a freshness, creativity and ingeniousness to the Las Vegas band scene. The Band performs for shows as well as private and public functions (including conventions, weddings and concerts). A 17-piece instrumental big band, they can add a female or male vocalist or both for a 19-piece. The DLE Las Vegas Big Band is available in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada and Arizona.
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DLE San Francisco Big Bands
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The Rex Allen Big Band
Now in its 30th year, the 14-piece (pianist-vocalist), 15-piece (female scatting jazz vocalist) to 16-piece (with stand alone male vocalist and scatting jazz female vocalist) Rex Allen Big Band is the only nationally known Swing band headquartered in the Bay Area. It has performed three national tours, including its 1993, 75-city "Salute To Glenn Miller" tour that played before 160,000 people. Bay Area appearances have ranged from the Governor's Ball to KGO-TV's 40th Anniversary, and in locations ranging from Santa Cruz's famed Coconut Grove Ballroom to the Fairmont Hotel's Venetian Room. The Rex Allen Big Band has headlined "theme" cruises for Royal Cruise, Admiral and Sun Line cruises and has shared stages with singing stars Connie Haines, Helen Forrest, Andy Russell, Dick Haymes, Jr. and vocal groups The Modernaires and The Pied Pipers. John Hoffman (Tommy Dorsey Band vocalist) is still performing and is often available with The Rex Allen Big Band. PSA Magazine describes trombonist, vibist, drummer, percussionist Allen as, "One of the brightest young stars of jazz." and Los Angeles Times jazz writer Leonard Feather calls Allen, "a splendid trombonist." KCSM Radio host and producer Bud Spangler says, "A+ to you for programming and presentation. A 'killer-diller' show!". Mr. Allen plays four instruments in concert--drums, trombone, vibes and congas--and is a huge hit at every DLE private dance party and convention event. The Rex Allen Big Band features outstanding pianist-vocalist, Tom Lyles. They are available in Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, the San Francisco Bay Area, Lake Tahoe and anywhere in the U.S.
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The DLE Northern California Big Band
The DLE Northern California Big Band is one of Northern California's most experienced 40s commercial Swing big bands. The band has some of the best sidemen in the business, including a Harry James-style trumpeter, a Dorsey-style trombonist and a great tenor sax. The Band also backs the headliner vocal group The Modernaires for special shows. An instrumental 14-piece without vocalists up to a 16-piece with a male and female vocalists, The DLE Northern California Big Band is available for events in San Francisco, Reno, Sacramento and virtually anywhere in California and the United States.
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