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Sonny LaRosa

Sonny LaRosa, formerly a trumpet player with Sam Donahue, among others, is the director, arranger and nurturer of America's Youngest Jazz Band. It's a big band and the players are from six to 12 years old.

Sonny's band is one of the most unique and undoubtedly the only professional sounding SWING and JAZZ bands of its kind in the world. Not only did they recently win a gold medal at the International Music Festival, they were also the youngest jazz band ever to be invited to perform at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

The 23 piece band contains full Sax, Brass, and Rhythm sections with vocalists reminincent of the Big Band Era. Special arrangements for the youngsters are done by Sonny. The Band is seeking further national and world attention to encourage all children of this age group to get involved in jazz music.

Other accomplishments include opening The World Trade Center Plaza Show in N.Y.C. for the Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival on June 13th, and an appearance on the NBC's Today Show. For more information on the band and obtaining their latest video contact Sonny Larosa.

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On and Off the Grid

All About Sonny

Read "All About Sonny" reviewed by Dom Minasi


I bet you thought I meant Sonny Rollins. When you hear the name Sonny, it's usually synonymous with Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Fortune or even Sonny Sharrock; all of them jazz heroes. But there is a Sonny you probably have never heard of before who is a super hero.Who is he? His name is Sonny LaRosa. He is an 87 year-old retired jazz trumpeter who lives in Florida and has done more for jazz than anyone I ...

172
Album Review

Sonny LaRosa and the World's Youngest Jazz Band: 28th Anniversary

Read "28th Anniversary" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Nearly thirty years ago, trumpeter Sonny LaRosa, a transplanted New Yorker living in Florida, decided to use some of his spare time to do something productive. Gathering around him a handful of young wannabe musicians, the former professional trumpeter established America's Youngest Jazz Band, which has been growing in size and talent ever since. The band, whose upper age limit is thirteen, has recorded a number of CDs, with the aptly-titled 28th Anniversary marking its 28th year and the indefatigable ...

95
Album Review

Sonny LaRosa and America's Youngest Jazz Band: Live at the March of Jazz 2002

Read "Live at the March of Jazz 2002" reviewed by Jack Bowers


How does one review the debut album by Sonny LaRosa and America's Youngest Jazz Band (which, by the way, is no exaggeration)? It's not enough merely for the reviewer to observe that it leaves him grinning from ear to ear. He must also describe the music. But would that be fair to the musicians or their audience? What standard should be applied to performers whose average age is less than eleven with an “upper limit" of twelve? This ain't Basie, ...

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