The Jim Widner Big Band - When You're Smilin'

[bass68144]

I get to take a week long jazz clinic with Jim every summer, hes a great player

[TorchTaylor21]

Ah you guys taught me so much at Drury. I love your music!

[thejazzman8]

ken keener (piano) is my jazz instructor....hes incredible..

[TorchTaylor21]

Oh man I know! Have you seen him start plucking the strings on the piano?

[EwiekeuKlavier]

God, nice swing!

[ilikedrumming]

i was just a sac state jazz camp and they hosted (yeah i am super cool). They are incredible and Gary Hobbs is a beast.

[FitzHorns]

Hey i went to it too which band were you in i was lead trumpet for the eifner band

[robin17171]

@FitzHorns MEh that was a horrible music week for me. I played trombone... first time. Not playing trombone again, I'm sticking with Saxophone. I'm going to their camp in San Jose this year.

[twitch0sparks]

jim widner just gave a clinic to my jazz band, he have me tips for my bass :) it was great

[martha2244]

i studied with gary hobbs in some summer camps like 3 years in a row, the guy is just a beast and rediculously talented as an instructor and player...man i love his playing

[ilikedrumming]

like my friend said, he has just so much drum knowledge

[escagad]

very good, you have a lot of swing,the orchestra sounds very good.

[shastabob123]

ohh myy i'm doing a jazz solo for when you're smiling. i'm in 7th grade, and i've been looking EVERYWHERE for a jazz trombone solo on when you're smiling. i can't find any. that soli was the best thing i got.

any ideas??

i have to improvise, or transcribe. and right now i'm trying to transcribe.. ://

helpp :]

[SephirothxAngel]

Just superb and flawless

[sloberslobe]

I only got to work with these guys once, but wow! I learned more that month than in a year of school. Thanks for posting and thanks to the Jim Widner Big Band!!!!

[SunDragon93]

They were our teachers at the Simpson College Jazz Camp

[sigmaclass]

When did you go to that camp? I went twice a few years back. It was really fun.

[rainydog]

Jim Widner's band members were our music teachers at Drury College Jazz camp in Springfield Ill. They run a Jazz camp at Drury and at othr college sites. Great band, one of the best.

[NickSorbello]

Fantastic band. Great playing all around. Being a trumpet player, I know how good Andy Tichenor really is at leading that band.

[stlmike05]

good stuff... I'm sure glad Jim Widner is my band director, he's magical. He can take a bunch of ordinary college kids and turn them into outstanding jazz musicians

[Tubslapper]

I've seen these guys on numerous occassions, and have all four of their albums. I've also heard the Count Basie Orchestra and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra among many other world class jazz ensembles. They all scream, but Widner's band has a musical "touch" you don't get with the others. This is the best big band on the scene today, bar none. For the life of me, I can't figure out why NARAS hasn't yet awarded them a Grammy.

[SaxMonkey]

Saw these guys in November. Awesome!