Frederick’s own Star Spangled Big Band (SSBB), a Basie-style big jazz band, began rehearsing on Sunday, September 24, 2000 at the Bentz Street Raw Bar in Frederick, Maryland. Hit the "Schedule/Calendar" button for details of this year's performance schedule. The SSBB's goal was and is to develop and maintain an affordable, performance-quality big jazz band to help keep the Big Band and Swing Dancing experience alive in our city. The SSBB is comprised of local musicians and singers. Another band goal is that all involved -- players and audiences -- have fun.

•	As Frederick, Maryland grows so does the pool of available musical talent. Tony Constable, a local amateur musician, aimed to tap this growing resource to populate his latest musical venture, the Basie-style Star Spangled Big Band (SSBB). From our first rehearsal on September 24, 2000 until today, the 20-piece big jazz band with vocalists has rehearsed most Sunday afternoons at Frederick’s premier music bar, The Bentz Street Raw Bar. Even at these rehearsals and our scheduled and calendared performances, musicians, swing dancers and other new and old patrons had always been welcome.
•	With the SSBB, Constable, a long-time Frederick-area resident who grew up in England outside of London, wanted to recreate the atmosphere he encountered as a late teenager playing with a rehearsal-only big jazz band on Sunday afternoons. The time was the late ‘50s, the venue was Birdland, a long-since defunct jazz club in Chadwell Heath, Essex, England, which was once headlined by the now world-famous George Shearing. Shearing’s composition, "Lullaby of Birdland", was named after this club, not its more famous cousin in New York City.
•	The band is allegorically named to suggest both the title of our National Anthem, and the author of its words, Francis Scott Key, who worked as an attorney in our fair city. Ironically, the National Anthem’s tune, which is described in most American encyclopedias as merely “an English drinking song”, is actually attributed to John Stafford Smith (1750-1836), an Englishman. To complete the band’s persona, our band book includes multiple big band jazz arrangements of said National Anthem.
•	The SSBB quickly developed under the musical direction of Andy Leech and Dan Sisco, and began accepting prime time dates in early 2001. In early 2004, Constable turned over the ensemble to Studio Sisco, Inc., a management company run by the SSBB’s current Musical Director, Dan Sisco. Over the past few years, this group of dedicated musicians has grown together as an ensemble to a level that captivates audiences and gets them dancing! Our purpose continues to be the same -- to have fun while entertaining audiences with quality music that’s played well. If your next event could benefit from spectacular, yet affordable entertainment, please click here or go to the "Book An Event" section of the Welcome Page to contact our Band Manager.

•	Rehearsals are not Jam Sessions. The Musical Director appoints players to open seats/chairs and reserves the right to substitute seat players at any time without appeal. Band chairs belong to the band, not to individuals.
•	Copies of specific chart parts can be provided -- books and original charts are the band's property and will remain with the Band Manager between rehearsals.
•	Players who are assigned specific band chairs are expected to attend rehearsals regularly and show up on time for band engagements and in the appropriate attire.
•	The band actively seeks engagements and expects to compensate its members at some level for each paying gig we perform.
•	Players who cannot make scheduled band rehearsals or engagements should call or e-mail the Band Manager at least 48 hours beforehand.
•	To facilitate contact by the Band Manager concerning rehearsal and/or event cancellations, and the like, please furnish and maintain your availability and contact information (home & work telephone, e-mail).
•	The costs of the Musical Director, band attire, music, and other equipment will be borne by the SSBB out of the proceeds from functions.
•	Players that cannot/do not use SSBB music stands should bring music stands to both rehearsals and performances.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact a band manager.