It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing): The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra
The sounds and songs of a bygone era float through the audience, some of whom are dancing, some of whom are watching—all of whom are being transported in time to the 1920s and ‘30s by Sammuel Murry-Hawkins and his 11-piece band, The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra. Wearing retro-style suits and using art deco music stands, the band’s vision is clear: keep historic jazz music alive, not just on old records, but in living, breathing live performance. Murry-Hawkins’s love and knowledge of music runs deep, from playing flute in middle school band to studying music and theatre in college and performing as a professional actor and vocalist. Now, decades of classical training and experience have culminated in a mission that goes far beyond jam sessions and side gigs. I connected with Murry-Hawkins soon after his band’s Holiday Spectacular performance at Kiggins Theatre to learn more about his commitment to preserving historic music, his new partnership with The Historic Trust to bring more of that music to Clark County, and of course, why he insists on spelling it “jass.”
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Watch The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra perform at Kiggins Theatre:
