Relive the enchantment of the Swing Era! Award-winning vocalist Kimberly Hawkey returns to the Walton Theatre stage to pay tribute to the legendary voices of Helen Forrest, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, and more. Her stunning vocals, combined with the orchestra's powerful harmonies, create a truly magical experience. Kimberly’s voice is a time machine. Jazz, Broadway, folk-she effortlessly blends genres, transporting audiences to worlds of beauty with each crystalline note. Carrying the torch of timeless Big Band magic, Kimberly’s velvety voice has soared alongside some of the greatest names in vintage jazz.
In 2021, she made her debut with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, fulfilling a long-held dream. It was on that legendary bandstand where she met New England trombonist, arranger, and bandleader Dan Gabel. Their collaboration, backed by Dan’s powerhouse Abletones Big Band, blossomed into their joyful Christmas album, Snowed In!
Dan Gabel's orchestra, renowned for its rich, authentic sound, will transport you to a bygone era in a breathtaking performance featuring an all-star ensemble of musicians. Hailed by the Boston Globe as “the real deal, [a bandleader] that looks and sounds like the 1940s” and by the Syncopated Times as “the champion of Big Bands and vintage jazz,” Dan Gabel is a trombonist, arranger, bandleader, historian, and educator. His popular Big Band, Dan Gabel and The Abletones, has played throughout the United States and is featured on numerous recordings and video/television programs. The band features a vintage look and sound, and “transports audiences to another time through the sights and sounds of the Big Band era.”
Sway to the timeless rhythms of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Harry James, and other iconic bandleaders. The American Big Band Experience is a celebration of the Great American Songbook, filled with elegance, romance, and pure musical joy. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of live big band music!