It’s time for some jazz
515 Big Band set to perform November, December concerts
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The 515 Big Band plans to wrap up 2026 with a combination of cool jazz and old-style swing.
The Fort Dodge-based band has two concerts planned -- one on Friday and another on Dec. 19.
Both will be held in the Historic Phillips Auditorium, 1015 Fifth Ave. N.
On both nights, the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the music will start at 7 p.m.
Admission is $15 for adults. All students are admitted free. Beverages will be for sale at the venue.
Established in 2023, the 515 Big Band consists of five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, a guitar, a bass guitar, trap set and keyboard player -- all musicians from both locally and around the state of Iowa.
Unlike more traditional music groups, where all music is selected by the director, in the 515 Big Band, any member can bring a chart to rehearsal for the group to play and see how it sounds.
"The band as a whole decides if they like it," Director Tiffany Nelson told The Messenger.
If not, then the piece will not be added to the group's repertoire.
However, Nelson ultimately makes the final set list for each concert, chosen from the approximately 100 songs or so that the group has in its library.
"The people who have never been to our concerts, they are absolutely floored at the amount of talent on the stage," Nelson said. "They're hearing old-time jazz all the way up to contemporary jazz."
She said most of the band is featured during the concert through solos and full ensemble playing.
"We have a great group of musicians," Nelson said. "They're not only great musicians, but they're great people."
One unique feature of 515 Big Band performances is the interaction with the audience.
"When we're on stage, we have a good time while we play," she said. "We try to go back and forth with the audience and make it entertaining, too."
If you go
What: 515 Big Band
When: Doors open at 6:30 p.m.;
music starts at 7 p.m. Friday and Dec. 19
Where: Historic Phillips Auditorium,
1015 Fifth Ave. N., Fort Dodge
Tickets: $15 for adults;
students admitted free.