Hi,
Jazz in Vermont is thriving, and The Dick Forman Jazz Group is a key part of the state's vibrant music scene. Thanks for checking out the website. I'd like to tell you about us.
About the Dick Forman Jazz Group:
Based in Vermont, we've delighted regional audiences with our sparkling, straight-ahead jazz for almost 20 years. Equally at home on the concert stage or tucked into the corner of an intimate club, we also particularly enjoy helping to create elegant wedding receptions and memorable parties - live jazz is just the right icing on the cake.
The core of the DFJG is a quartet - sax, piano, bass and drums - to which I like to add either a guitar or trumpet, depending on the nature of the event and the size of the venue. With this flexibility, we tailor our music to the occasion, whether it's an outdoor festival or a sophisticated dinner party.
Our fans say they love our music; they also mention it's obvious we have a great time playing. It's true. We enjoy working together, making great music, and sharing our enthusiasm with our audiences. It's infectious; the dance floor is always busy, and even at concerts, we see fingers snapping and toes tapping.
About our music:
We are masters of mainstream, straight-head jazz: the music that's been called America's National Treasure - the kind of exuberant music that was popularized by people like Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz and Ella Fitzgerald. It's still bringing pleasure to people worldwide, as recent Grammy winners Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Charlie Hadden and Nancy Wilson can attest.
While we enjoy playing "jazz standards" and the occasional tune from the Great American Songbook, our repertoire is much larger. I've spent quite a bit of time over the past few years digging up the gems that got away. So although we might serve up delicious favorites like Take the A Train or The Nearness of You, we play a number of wonderful but less-familiar tunes by jazz greats and forgotten treats from Tin Pan Alley. Our performances are a mix of new and old; of ballads, blues, bebop and swing which delight, excite and intrigue our audiences. Check out the DFJG Playlist and see how many tunes you recognize.
You can also listen to our demo material. Joining me in the studio were Don Stearns, sax, Paul Asbell, guitar, Dave Ellis, trumpet, Jim Daggs, bass, and Bob Lemnah, drums. I'm grateful to have them in the band.
And finally...
In addition to leading the Dick Forman Jazz Group at concerts, on club dates or at receptions, I create enjoyable, entertaining piano-bar sing-alongs and even play the occasional cocktail-piano gig. Please contact me by email or phone if you're interested in adding live jazz to your plans. I look forward to chatting with you.
Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed the music.