Event

George Gee Swing Orchestra

9:00 Beginning Swing Lesson (included in ticket price)
9:30-1:00 Dance
You may reserve a table for an additional $50. When you purchase your ticket with a reserved table you will specify whether you want one on the balcony or the main floor. Main floor tables are located around the perimeter of the dance floor. Each table reservation includes one ticket. Others sitting at the table would need to purchases tickets individually.

Dinner reservations are available at The Tin Table (206 320-8458)

A native New Yorker, George always loved music. He grew up with rocknroll and R&B but in his teens, he also developed a powerful passion for jazz especially the big band styles of the pre-World War II era. This passion continued into his time at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Already a jazz musician himself (demonstrating a flair for showmanship on his stand-up double bass!), George successfully created a big band music hour for the schools radio station. Off-air, he often spoke of his true long-time dream: leading his own big band.

The station manager asked George to interview William Count Basie before a campus concert in 1979. This inspiring conversation changed Georges life the very next day, he reached out to fellow jazz players to create a 17-piece big band, which quickly became a darling of the campus community.

Throughout the 80s, with the blessing and counsel of Mr. Basie himself, George honed his craft, spreading the gospel of swing throughout the Pittsburgh tri-state region. He returned home to New York City in 1990, and gathered top New York-based musicians including veterans of the worlds most legendary big bands to continue living his dream.

Part of Century Ballroom's 20th Anniversary celebrations!