“It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)”
Composer: Duke Ellington (1931)
Lyricist: Irving Mills (1931)
Arranged by: Jerry Nowak (1995)
Performed by the Columbia Big Band
Director: Robert Miller
Columbia Bands, Inc.
Performed: June 23, 2017
Columbia Lakefront Stage, Columbia, MD, USA


Columbia Big Band began its 2017 summer season with a performance on the shores of Lake Kittamaqundi in the Town Center area. The late-June evening performance drew young and old alike to the People Tree, including impromptu swing dancers! Presenting a set that bridged from traditional spirituals and Duke Ellington to Lee Greenwood and Gordon Goodwin, this lively performance was a “Swing Night” collaboration with the Columbia Association in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Columbia by James Rouse on June 21, 1967.

Few Jazz Standards have the near-universal recognition enjoyed by Duke Ellington & Irving Mills’ “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)”. Despite its mouthful of a title, this tune encapsulates the essence of Swing tunes, especially from the early big-band era. Ellington wrote the tune during a residency in Chicago, with Mills contributing the lyrics based on a saying that Ellington credited to trumpeter Bubber Miley.

Setlist:
Go Tell It On The Mountain - Traditional / Arr. Alan Baylock (2011)
It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) - Duke Ellington (music) & Irving Mills (lyrics) (1931) / Arr. Jerry Nowak (1995)
Summertime - George Gershwin (1934) / Arr. Eric Richards (1996)
Caravan - Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, and Juan Tizol (1936) / Arr. Dave Wolpe
In The Mood - Joe Garland (1939)
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive - Johnny Mercer (lyrics) & Harold Arlen (music) (1944) / Arr. Rob Berry (1990)
Skylark - Hoagy Carmichael (music) & Johnny Mercer (lyrics) (1941, 1942) / Arr. Jerry Nowak (1985)
Opus One - Sy Oliver (music) & Sid Garris (lyrics) (1943) / Arr. Lennie Niehaus
Witchcraft - Cy Coleman (1957) / Arr. Sammy Nestico (1993)
(Meet) The Flintstones - William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, and Hoyt Curtin (1960, 1967) / Arr. Dave Barduhn (1985)
Basie, Straight Ahead - Sammy Nestico (1968)
Here, There and Everywhere - John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1966) / Arr. Bob Lowden (1987)
Hi-De-Ho (That Old Sweet Roll) - Gerry Goffin and Carole King (1968, 1970) / Arr. John Berry (1991)
Birdland - Joe Zawinul (1977) / Arr. Larry Kerchner (1980)
Spain - Chick Corea (1973) / Arr. Paul Jennings (1982)
Higher Love - Steve Winwood and Will Jennings (1986) / Arr. Roger Holmes (1991)
God Bless The USA - Lee Greenwood (1984) / Arr. Jerry Nowak (1986)
The Jazz Police - Gordon Goodwin (2004)


The Columbia Big Band (CBB) is an ensemble formed in October 2015. Our repertoire covers genres such as traditional Big Band, Bebop, Fusion, Swing and Latin, among others. We are members of the community who enjoy performing for all audiences. Though some members play and teach music professionally, the members are volunteers employed in a wide variety of professions who share a love of music. CBB is one of several bands within the Columbia Bands non-profit organization. The Columbia Big Band hopes to bring the enjoyment of big band music to a wide audience. We look forward to seeing you at our concerts!

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