by Allyson Lipkin

The United States Air Force's Band of the West performs at the 11th annual Austin Jazz and Arts Festival with its newest specialty group, The NightHawk Jazz Ensemble. NightHawk will perform the classic sounds of the 1940s Glenn Miller Army Air Corps Jazz band. NightHawk plays the tunes and wears the suits of the '40s to faithfully reproduce the music of the World War II era. Where space permits, the band includes a slide show.

The NightHawk Jazz band includes twelve excellent musicians who perform about 100 performances annually, entertaining over 500,000 people. They have performed with some of the biggest names in the music business -- Lou Rawls, Dizzy Gillespie, Rich Matterson, Mike Vax, Bobby Shew, Frank Mantooth, Ed Shaunessey, Bill Watrous, Marvin Stamm, Louie Bellson, Bob Hope, and others.

Commander/Conductor Captain Gena R. Stuchbery has a Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Education from North Texas State University. She has served as Deputy Commander/Associate Conductor for the Air Force Band of Liberty, Hanscom, AFB, Massachusetts, as well as Deputy Commander/Associate Conductor of the United States Air Force Band of the Rockies. She also participated in the 1984 Olympic All-American College Marching Band at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In 1942 Alton Glen Miller wrote to the Army expressing his desire to provide support for the troops with music. For 34 months Captain Miller's Band enhanced the sounds of military music. Glen Miller wrote, "I should like to go into the Army if I could be placed in charge of a modernized Army band. I have an idea that might put a little more spring into the feet of our marching men and a little more joy into their hearts."

He was commissioned into Special Services and built 30 Technical Training Bands and one "special modern" band. He served his country by writing original jazz compositions that are now part of our national heritage. Now, in 1999 the NightHawk band tours to entertain and rekindle the spirit of Glenn Miller. As Air Force Bandsmen they are full-time professional musicians in peace or war.

The NightHawk Jazz Ensemble will perform at the Clay Pit's Bombay Room, 1601 Guadalupe, at 8pm on September 14. Admission is free.