LUMBERTON — A rapt audience watched as Sgt. 1st Class Todd Harrison pounded on his drum kit for what seemed like a small eternity.
The Texas-born virtuoso unleashed his mesmerizing solo about halfway through the Jazz Ambassadors’ rendition “Sing, Sing, Sing” — the big band staple by Benny Goodman. It was one of several highlights from the military group’s free concert at Lumberton High School on Thursday.
Stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, the 19-soldier ensemble pulls from a deep repertoire of swing, Latin, bebop, contemporary jazz, Dixieland and patriotic music.
The concert struck a chord with Pamela Carlson, an Air Force veteran and band director at South Robeson High School.
“It was very enjoyable,” she said. “Even though Fort Bragg is close by, any time we have an opportunity to hear a band like this it’s well worth going. If I didn’t have a parade tomorrow, I would follow them to Myrtle Beach.”
Founded in 1969, the group is one of four branches of the U.S. Army Field Band, which also includes The Concert Band, The Soldiers’ Chorus and The Volunteers. Every four years, the bands join forces to score the presidential inauguration.
The hour-long concert was sponsored by The Robesonian.
“It was The Robesonian’s pleasure to bring this highly talented group of military men and women to Lumberton for this special event,” said Kent Kilpatrick, the newspaper’s publisher. “We were very pleased with the well-rounded turnout for this special concert. We had both young and old in attendance, which was great to see.”
Kilpatrick was among the many audience members who clapped along to the Jazz Ambassadors’ rousing arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” — one of several pop songs from the band’s set.
“The audience was very enthusiastic and many showed their appreciation for the soloists with ovations throughout the different songs,” he said.
The largest ovation came when Master Sgt. Marva Lewis, the group’s vocalist, led the audience in a moving salute to the armed forces. As the band played a medley of fanfares from each branch of the military, Lewis asked audience members to stand when they heard the tune associated with their favorite leg of the armed forces.
After the show, the singer said that Lumberton reminded her of home.
“I’m from a small town,” said Lewis, who was raised in Denison, Texas. “It’s been great here; there’s a nice energy and it’s always good to play for people who want to hear the music.”
Other members of The Jazz Ambassadors’ lineup include saxophonists Master Sgt. Andrew Layton, Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Shook, Sgt. 1st Class Bradford J. Danho, Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Fox and Staff Sgt. Dustin Mollick.
Trumpet players are Sgt. Maj. Kevin Watt, Master Sgt. John Altman, Master Sgt. Michael Johnston, Sgt. 1st Class Liesl Whitaker and Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Davis. Trombone players are Sgt. Maj. Michael Buckley, Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Adams and Staff Sgt. Luke Brimhall.
Staff Sgt. Jonathan Epley plays guitar and Staff Sgt. Hamilton Price plays bass guitar. Sgt. 1st Class Howie Smith is its audio engineer.
To learn more about the group, visit armyfieldband.com.
