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The Ladies First Big Band, with singer Peggy Farrell, performing at Jamestown Community College.
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The Ladies First Big Band is a 16-pc. all-female group formed by bassist Jennifer May. The band has its roots in a six piece ensemble, started in 1994, by Jennifer, saxophonist Jennie Jones, and drummer Peggy Scalzo.
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An early version of the band performing at the Colored Muscians Club in Buffalo.
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In March of 2003, Jennifer assembled a Big Band around this original septet for a show she was producing in celebration of Women's History Month. The show, "An All Female Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald," was performed at Allen Hall on the University of Buffalo South Campus and was very successful. Encouraged by this success, Jennifer and the other musicians decided to stay together as a big band.
Since that first appearance, the Ladies First Big Band has celebrated Women's History Month every year with a new production of "Women of Jazz by Women of Jazz", a tribute to female jazz performers. The band perfoms at area venues such as the Tralfamadore Music Hall and Riviera Theatre as well as events such as the M&T Noontime Summer Concert Series, Canal Fest, and Taste of Buffalo.
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At the Tralfamadore Cafe.
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The musicians in the Ladies First Big Band are based in the Western New York area, and many of them perform in other local bands. A now-retired band member, 85-year old alto saxophonist Fran Scharrett, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2004. Fran also had the distinction of being a member of one of the 1940's-era original "All-Girl Bands", the Phil Spataulny Orchestra.
The Ladies First Big Band rehearses every Sunday at the historic Colored Musicians Club in downtown Buffalo. At the request of encouraging fans, the band is currently in production on their debut CD.
To read about the individual members of the Ladies First Big Band, click on the link below: