It's Swing Time on the Pier Thursday Night

By Lookout Staff

August 18 -- It's guaranteed to be a swingin' old time when Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band takes the stage at the free Twilight Dance Series concert on the pier Thursday night.

Lead by Goodwin, an Emmy-winning composer, the Big Phat Band features some of the Southland's finest musicians and has established itself as one of the Los Angeles area's most exciting groups.

Special guest clarinetist Eddie Daniels will join in as the band celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the Swing Era.

"The Big Phat Band provides potent testimony to the sheer exhilaration of big band jazz...a combination of crisp accuracy and fiery soloing," said L.A. Times jazz critic Don Heckman.

Their debut album "Swingin' For The Fences" (Silverline Records) received two Grammy nominations and is a best-selling jazz item in the DVD 5.1 surround-sound format.

The Big Phat Band -- which performs regularly to standing room only crowds at the world-renowned Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles -- has appeared with such notable musicians as Arturo Sandoval, Kevin Mahogany and Maureen McGovern.

Members of the Big Phat Band have performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including Madonna, Celine Dion, Billy Joel, Diana Krall*, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Paul McCarney, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, Diana Ross, Supertramp, Patti Austin, Brian Setzer, Paul Anka, and many others.

So bring your family, spend the day and relax the night away while enjoying the best music in town with some special Big Phat surprises!

Prepare to arrive early for the best "seat." Bring a blanket, some chairs, a picnic and a friend to share the good times of summer. This is your chance to be a part of Big Phat history as Gordon continues the tradition and progression of Big Band jazz.

The free concerts -- which start at 7:30 p.m. -- are held for ten consecutive Thursday nights on the historic pier.

For information visit www.santamonicapier.org or www.twilightdance.org or (310) 458-8900.