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Dave Banks

The Dave Banks Big Band is a powerhouse, 17 piece, swingin’ big band based out of Akron, Ohio and is in its 17th year of making music. The band includes some of Ohio’s top jazz musicians and is led by Ohio native and 20 year Las Vegas veteran trumpet artist, Dave Banks. They have performed across the Midwest, including The Palace Theatre, Music Box, and The Bop Stop in Cleveland, BLUJazz, The Tangier Cabaret, The Carousel Dinner Theatre in Akron, the Kent Stage in Kent, the Packard Music Hall in Warren, the Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown, as well as many jazz clubs and major conventions in Northeast Ohio. Their vast library of music ranges from standard big band swing, to contemporary big bands, Sinatra to Buble, and even Big Band rock and soul. Dave fronts the band with his soaring trumpet, reminding audiences of the sounds of Doc Severinsen, Maynard Ferguson and Harry James. They also feature compositions by several arrangers that are associated with the band including Don Turoso, Chas Baker, Paul Ferguson, Chris DeMarco, Jeremey Poparad and Dave Banks. While they have been busy backing entertainers such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City Rat Pack Shows, The Temptations, Michael Sonata, and The FlyGals in themed shows, they are also at home presenting programs that pay tribute to the top big band arrangers from both yesterday and today. The band’s ongoing mission is to provide the audience an exciting, uplifting dose of big band music, which challenges our musicians, yet keeps our audience tuned in and turned on!

Dave Banks has returned to the Northeast Ohio area after a twenty-year career in Las Vegas, Nevada. He performed in over 4000 shows there including numerous top production shows including six years with the "City Lights" Show at the Flamingo Hilton and the "Moulin Rouge" at the Las Vegas Hilton. He worked with virtually every major entertainer in show business on the famous Las Vegas Strip and also was a member of the renowned Lou Elias Relief Orchestra. He also found time to perform with the Nevada Symphony Orchestra, The Las Vegas Philharmonic, and the Nevada Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Banks was on the faculty of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas serving as Trumpet Instructor and also was Assistant Director of Bands as well. His educational experience also included 10 years as the Director of Music at Bishop Gorman High School.

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