Skip to content

Swing Shift an enthusiastic collection of professional and amateur musicians

School visits by the band keeping the jazz tradition alive with young people
15117570_web1_Derrick-Milton-pic
Derrick Milton leads the famous 17-piece band, Swing Shift. (Photo submitted)

Swing Shift, Salt Spring Island’s 17-piece big band, has set toes a-tappin’ up and down the coast for almost 30 years.

With the timeless swing of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Horace Silver, with a little Latin, pop and funk thrown in, the band returns to Pat’s House of Jazz in Crofton’s Osborne Bay Pub on Sunday, Jan. 20.

Leader and trumpeter Derrick Milton says the infectious music of this enthusiastic collection of professional and amateur community musicians will make you smile, dance and clamour for more.

The band has worked with many great musicians over the years, including Monik Nordine, Ian McDougall, Hugh Fraser and Nick LaRiviere.

Recently, Milton has been taking the band to schools in an effort to keep the jazz tradition alive by bringing it to young people.

“The band has been successful in helping band teachers keep their band programs vibrant,” he said.

Reservations are recommended, as the band, with five saxes, four trombones, four trumpets and a rhythm section, is a big draw at the pub.

Call 250-324-2245 or visit http://osbornebaypub.com for more information. Tables will be held until 1:30 p.m. Admission is $20 for this show.



Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
Read more