The STARDUST BIG BAND got its start in 1982 when a group of high school band directors and some former professional musicians, all from the Hot Springs area, realized a need to perpetuate the classic sound of swing and jazz music.
Their priority was to play good, solid arrangements of traditional sounding tunes and to play them with finesse and proper musicianship. They set weekly rehearsals as a prerequisite, realizing all the while this would require extensive travel for some members from as near as Hot Springs Village and from as far as Benton, Malvern, Little Rock and even Fayetteville. Harvey Haley, an accomplished trombonist and a secondary public school band director highly regarded in his field, was persuaded to accept directorship of the band, and with his zeal for perfection the band reached a pinnacle of power and consistency in performance standards.
Over the years, the band has accumulated a portfolio of over 200 arrangements that include big band swing and jazz from such greats as Miller, Dorsey, Goodman, Ellington, Basie, Shaw and Herman. They also play a variety of Dixieland, Country, Blues, Latin, Pops, Soft Rock and yes, even Polka.
Stardust Big Band consists of 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 5 saxophones, piano, guitar, bass, drums, and a vocalist.
STARDUST MUSIC LIST
|
TUNES |
STYLE |
ARRANGER |
|
AFTER THE LOVIN’ |
BALLAD |
D. WOLPE |
|
AH WANSOME MUNEE |
SHUFFLE |
X. CHAVEZ |
|
ALL OF ME |
SWING |
B. BYERS |
|
ALL OF ME |
SWING |
L. NIEHAUS |
|
ALRIGHT, OKAY, YOU WIN |
SHUFFLE |
S. NESTICO |
|
AMAPOLA |
SWING |
|
|
AMERICAN PATROL |
SWING |
P. LAVANDER |
|
ANGEL EYES |
BALLAD |
F. FOSTER |
|
ANOTHER STAR |
CLYPSO |
D. WOLPE |
|
APRIL IN PARIS |
SWING |
B. LOWDEN |
|
AS LONG AS I’M SINGING |
SWING |
J. NOWAK |
|
AS TIME GOES BY |
BALLAD |
C.STROMMEN |
|
AUTUMN IN NEW YORK |
BALLAD |
S.KENTON |
|
BANDSTAND BOOGIE |
SWING |
P. KOREY |
|
BASICALLY BLUES |
SWING |
P.WILSON |
|
BASIE, STREIGHT AHEAD |
SWING |
S.NESTICO |
|
BASIN ST. BLUES |
DIXIE |
J. NOWAK |
|
BEAUTIFUL FRINDSHIP, A |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
BEGIN THE BEGUINE |
SWING |
SHAW/HEST |
|
BIG SWING FACE |
SWING |
B.POTTS |
|
BILL BAILEY |
SWING |
D. BARDUHN |
|
BIRTH OF THE BLUES |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
BLUE SKIES |
LATIN |
M.BARONE |
|
BLUE SUEDE SHOES |
SWING |
R. HOLMES |
|
BLUES IN HOSS FLAT |
SWING |
M.TAYLOR |
|
BLUES IN THE NIGHT |
BLUES |
P. JENNINGS |
|
BOOGIE EXPRESS |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY |
SWING |
M. SWEENEY |
|
BOOT SCOOTIN’ BOOGIE |
COUNTRY |
P. BLAIR |
|
BRAZIL |
SAMBA |
D. WOLPE |
|
BROADWAY |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
BYE BYE BLACKBIRD |
SWING |
K. BERG |
|
C.B. EXPRESS |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
CANDY |
SWING |
K. BERG |
|
CAREFREE |
CHA CHA |
S. NESTICO |
|
CENTERPIECE |
BLUES |
F. MANTOOTH |
|
CHA CHA CHA FOR JUDY |
LATIN |
M. BROWN |
|
CHERRY PINK |
CHA CHA |
R. MALTBY |
|
CHICA DE ESPANA |
LATIN |
|
|
CHILD IS BORN, A |
WALTZ |
T. JONES |
|
CLEAR DAY |
SWING |
|
|
COME IN FROM THE RAIN |
BALLAD |
J.NOWAK |
|
DANCING MEN |
ROCK |
J.LaBARBERA |
|
DARN THAT DREAM |
SWING |
M. TAYLOR |
|
DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES |
BEGUINE |
J. KINYON |
|
DEEDLES BLUES |
SWING |
F. FOSTER |
|
DO NOTHIN’ TILL YOU HEAR FROM ME |
BALLAD |
S. NESTICO |
|
DOMINOVA |
LATIN |
B. LOWDEN |
|
DREAM |
BALLAD |
F. COMSTOCK |
|
EAGER BEVER |
SWING |
D. WOLPE |
|
EARLY AUTUMN |
BALLAD |
BURNS/HERMAN |
|
EASY TO LOVE |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
88 BASIE STREET |
SWING |
S.NESTICO |
|
EMBRACEABLE YOU |
BALLAD |
|
|
EVERY DAY |
SWING |
R. HOLMES |
|
EVIL WAYS |
LATIN |
R. HOLMES |
|
FANCY PANTS |
BLUES |
S. NESTICO |
|
FEELINGS |
BALLAD |
D. WOLPE |
|
FEVER |
SWING |
R. HOLMES |
|
FLIGHT OF THE FOO BIRD |
SWING |
N. HEFTI |
|
FLY ME TO THE MOON |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
FOOLS RUSH IN |
SWING |
N. RIDDLE |
|
FRED |
LATIN |
N. HEFTI |
|
FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR BOSSA |
LATIN |
F.MANTOOTH |
|
GENTLE RAIN, THE |
LATIN |
D. WOLPE |
|
GEORGIA ON MY MIND |
SWING |
D. BARDUHN |
|
GEORGIA ON MY MIND |
SWING |
D. WOLPE |
|
GIRL FROM IPANEMA, THE |
LATIN |
R. HOLMES |
|
GO DADDY-O |
SWING |
J. BERRY |
|
GOD BLESS’ THE CHILD |
BALLAD |
J. NOWAK |
|
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE |
ROCK |
P. JENNINGS |
|
GROOVIN’ HARD |
SHUFFLE |
D.MENZA |
|
HAPPINESS IS JUST A THING CALLED JOE |
BALLAD |
P. LOPAZ |
|
HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN |
SWING |
M. TAYLOR |
|
HARD HEARTED HANNAH |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
HARLEM NOCTURNE |
BALLAD |
E. HAGEN |
|
HAVE A NICE DAY |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL, THE |
ROCK |
P. JENNINGS |
|
HELLO AGAIN |
BALLAD |
J. NOWAK |
|
HELLO DETROIT |
SWING |
D. WOLPE |
|
HERE’S THAT RAINEY DAY |
BALLAD |
D. BARDUHN |
|
HONEYSUCKLE ROSE |
SWING |
T.HEATH |
|
HOT JAVA JUMP |
SWING |
L. NEECK |
|
HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN |
LATIN |
J. NOWAK |
|
HOW HIGH THE MOON |
SWING |
J. NOWAK |
|
HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON |
SWING |
M. TAYLOR |
|
I CAN’T STOP LOVIN YOU |
SWING |
D. WOLPE |
|
I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU |
SWING |
I. McDOUGALL |
|
I GOT YOU |
ROCK |
J. NOWAK |
|
I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT LOVE |
SWING |
D. MENZA |
|
I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO |
SWING |
B. BYERS |
|
I REMEMBER CLIFFORD |
BALLAD |
M. VAX |
|
I REMEMBER STAN |
BALLAD |
L. NIEHAUS |
|
I WISH YOU LOVE |
BOSSA NOVA |
L.BROWN |
|
I’AM BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
I’VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE |
SWING |
R. FOTE |
|
IMAGINATION |
BALLAD |
B. LOWDEN |
|
IN A MELLO TONE |
SWING |
F.FOSTER |
|
IN THE MOOD |
SWING |
J. TYZIK |
|
INTERMISSION RIFF |
SWING |
R. WETZEL |
|
JA-DA |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
JERSEY BOUNCE |
SWING |
P. LAVENDER |
|
JOHNNY B. GOODE |
ROCK |
P. LAVENDER |
|
JUMP, JIVE AN’ WAIL |
SWING |
R. HOLMES |
|
KANSAS CITY |
SHUFFLE |
B.LOWDEN |
|
KILLER JOE |
SHUFFLE |
J. COOPER |
|
LA BAMBA |
LATIN |
P. JENNINGS |
|
LA CUMPARSITA |
TANGO |
A. DEDRICK |
|
LA PARGUERA |
SALSA |
J. FEDCHOCK |
|
LADY IS A TRAMP, THE |
SWING |
D. WOLPE |
|
LET’S DO IT |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
LET’S FALL IN LOVE |
SWING |
D. WOLPE |
|
LI’L DARLIN’ |
SWING |
N. HEFTI |
|
LITTLE BROWN JUG |
SWING |
B. FINEGAN |
|
LONELY STREET |
BALLAD |
S. NESTICO |
|
LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
LOVE FOR SALE |
SWING |
|
|
LOVE SHACK |
ROCK |
R. HOLMES |
|
MACK THE KNIFE |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
MAKIN’ WHOOPEE |
SWING |
D. BARDUHN |
|
MAMBO JAMBO |
MAMBO |
D. WOLPE |
|
MAMBONE |
b=120 |
B. MINTZER |
|
MAN I LOVE, THE |
BALLAD |
D. WOLPE |
|
MEAN TO ME |
SWING |
F. MANTOOTH |
|
MEMORY |
BALLAD |
B. LOWDEN |
|
MERCY, MERCY, MERCY |
ROCK |
P.WILSON |
|
MISTY |
BALLAD |
D. BARDUHN |
|
MOON RIVER |
WALTZ |
H. MANCINI |
|
MOONDANCE |
SWING |
R. PHILLIPPE |
|
MOONLIGHT SERENADE |
SWING |
PARISH/HEST |
|
MOST ROYAL COUNT |
SWING |
|
|
MOTEN SWING |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
MR. PAPI |
MERENGE |
V.LOPEZ |
|
MY FAVORITE THINGS |
WALTZ |
R. HOLMES |
|
MY FUNNY VALENTINE |
LATIN |
J. NOWAK |
|
MY ROMANCE |
RUMBA |
M. TAYLOR |
|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK |
SWING |
J. NOWAK |
|
NICE GIRL LIKE YOU, A |
WALTZ |
S. NESTICO |
|
NICOLE |
BALLAD |
S. NESTICO |
|
NIGHT AND DAY |
SWING |
J. BERRY |
|
NIGHT TRAIN |
BLUES |
J. HIGGINS |
|
NORWEGIAN WOOD |
WALTZ |
M. SWEENEY |
|
OLD TIME ROCK AND ROLL |
ROCK |
|
|
ON BROADWAY |
ROCK |
J.NOWAK |
|
ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
ONE NOTE SAMBA |
LATIN |
J. NOWAK |
|
OPUS IN CHARTREUSE |
SWING |
L.NIEHAUS |
|
OPUS ONE |
SWING |
L. NIEHAUS |
|
ORANGE SHERBERT |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
OYE COMO VA |
CHA CHA |
P. LAVENDER |
|
PEANUT VENDOR |
LATIN |
S.KENTON |
|
PENNSYLVANIA 6-5000 |
SWING |
GRAY/HEST |
|
PENNSYLVANIA POLKA |
POLKA |
W. SCHAEFER |
|
PICK YOURSELF UP |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
POLKA DOTS AND MOONBEAMS |
BALLAD |
B. LOWDEN |
|
PROUD MARY |
ROCK |
D. WOLPE |
|
QUEEN BEE, THE |
SWING |
S. NESTICO |
|
ROYAL GARDEN BLUES |
DIXIE |
B. LOWDEN |
|
‘S WONDERFUL |
SWING |
D. WOLPE |
|
SAMANTHA |
BALLAD |
S. NESTICO |
|
SAMBA DEL CROW |
SAMBA |
F. MANTOOTH |
|
SATIN DOLL |
|