In this post on the Smithsonian Eye Level blog, Public Programs Assistant Laurel Fehrenbech talks with Sergeant Kevin Burns of Airmen of Note. The military jazz group performed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum on July 3rd and 4th. An excerpt:

“Laurel Fehrenbach, public programs assistant here at American Art, spoke with Sergeant Kevin Burns from Airmen of Note. The jazz group will be performing Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. as part of our celebration for the opening of our exhibition, Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

Airmen of Note will be performing at American Art’s Kogod Courtyard on Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4, from 1–3 p.m.

Eye Level: The Airmen of Note is the premiere big band of the U.S. Air Force, and your repertoire and sound have been influenced by the Glenn Miller Orchestra of the ’30s and ’40s. Can you give us a little history of how the “Note” came to be?

Kevin Burns: Back in 1950, one man recognized the need for a group like the Airmen of Note and made the idea a reality: Brigadier General Sydney D. Grubbs, the Bolling Air Force Base Commander. The United States Air Force Band was one of the units under his command, and he was justifiably proud of that unit. The Band was made up of a number of highly regarded ensembles, including the Concert Band, the Air Force Symphony, the Strolling Strings, and the Singing Sergeants, as well as a variety of smaller groups that could be put together to fit special occasions. But Gen. Grubbs felt that something was still missing—a dance band to bring first-class entertainment to the officers and men of the Air Force, just as the Glenn Miller Army–Air Force Band had done so effectively during World War II. Although the Airmen of Note was formed to carry on the musical traditions of the Miller AAF Orchestra, the relationship had another aspect as well: it was at Bolling Field that the Miller AAF Orchestra made its final broadcast on November 17, 1945. So the Airmen of Note picked up exactly where the Miller AAF Orchestra had left off, geographically as well as musically.

EL: You have a big anniversary this year! How is the Note celebrating sixty years of music?

KB: We have several events that celebrate this landmark year for the Airmen of Note. We have an exciting and unique summer concert series this year . . . in which we are taking a “historical journey” through the various eras of the group. Our musical director SM Sgt. Joe Jackson has been listening to old recordings and digging through our music library to put together entire concerts that focus specifically on the music played with each of the Note’s band leaders.
This will all culminate with a great weekend of events that include as many alumni of the Note as can make it back to D.C. We are having a private alumni dinner and jam session with former members. We are also dedicating our first Jazz Heritage Series concert in early September to our sixtieth year, and will be featuring several alumni at that concert.”

Click here to read the complete post. For more details on Airmen of Note, visit the group’s site here.

Image in the post was taken during an Airmen of Note performance, from the Eye Level post.