Pygmy Big Band dance and fundraiser Nov. 20

Get your dancing shoes ready.

The second annual Pygmy Big Band Dance takes place at Bowen Park Auditorium in Nanaimo on Nov. 20.

“This will be a delightful evening of music and dancing featuring four different big bands,” said Greg Bush, music professor at Vancouver Island University (VIU). “It will be the event of the season.”

Last year’s dance sold-out and generated $6,000 for music scholarships for students in VIU’s jazz program. “We’re hoping to do just as well, if not better this year,” said Bush.

Hosting the evening is the 17-piece Nanaimo Musicians Association (NMA) Big Band directed by VIU music teacher Bryan Stovell. Formed in 1967 under the leadership of Stovell, the band has been in continuous operation for over 40 years. University music instructor Steve Jones directed the band for 20 years, but it is now once again under Stovell’s baton.

The Pygmy Big Band Dance is named after the legendary Pygmy Ballroom.

According to local writer Amy Campbell, big band music was introduced to Nanaimo at the Pygmy, a dance hall built in 1932 next to a miniature, or ‘pygmy’ golf course in downtown Nanaimo. The dance hall with its sprung floor and a hot band attracted dancers from all over the Island in the 30s, 40s,and early 50s.

“The Pygmy Ballroom was at the height of its popularity during the years of World War 2, when Nanaimo had a large population of armed forces personel at the army camp just south of town,” said Campbell. “On Saturday night The House Band, our answer to the American big bands, would play all the popular music of the day. The hall would be filled to capacityand literally bounce the night away. In the parking lot there would be "tailgate" parties because liquor was not allowed in the hall.”

Many famous performers, such as Thelma Middleton and Louis Armstrong along with Johnny Lester, a top BBC Radio Band, his piano and orchestra from England appeared on the Pygmy stage while on world tour. Top Canadian bands such as The Niosi Brothers Band from Toronto, The Horrace Lapp CBC Radio Band from Toronto and many Service Bands performed at the Pygmy as well.

In the 10-year period between 1942 and1952 many musicians, at various times, took a chair in the Pygmy House Band.

As a teenager, Al Campbell of Nanaimo performed at the Pygmy Ballroom along with retired Judge Stan Wardill. After the Pygmy closed, Campbell gathered several musicians together to form his own dance band that performed regularly at the downtown Branch #10 Legion in the 1950s.

Stovell, an aspiring teenaged musician, was a fervent admirer of Campbell’s band, and eventually persuaded Campbell to give him his first professional gig playing bass. But rock and roll was taking its toll on the big band genre, and Campbell’s band gradually shrank to eight members.

After music studies at UBC, Stovell returned to Nanaimo with an urge to keep the big band flame burning. Collaborating with Campbell he formed the NMA by adding musicians to Campbell’s band. He booked student musicians from the developing bands in the local high schools and VIU (formerly Malaspina College) as needed. The band’s impressive alumni list includes Diana Krall, Phil Dwyer, Ingrid and Christine Jensen.

“Big band jazz in local schools rose to national prominence in the 1980s and Nanaimo is known throughout Canada as a hot bed of musical talent,” said Stovell.

Over the years, the NMA big band has performed for many community functions – Bathtub Races, RCMP Ball, service club installations, school band fund-raising dances, the Festival of Trees, and even in the penalty box at the old arena for celebrity hockey.

Stovell and other local musicians are looking forward to performing once again on Nov. 20 at the Pygmy Big Band Dance. Besides the NMA Big Band, two big bands featuring 32 VIU students will perform under the direction of Bush and John Capon. Special guest is the Georgia Strait Band, also directed by Bush. The bands will play a mix of swing era music and various ballroom dances.

Doors open at Bowen Park Auditorium (500 Bowen Road, Nanaimo) at 6 pm. Dancing and music runs from 7 to 11 pm, with a no-host bar and appetizers at 6 pm.

Tickets are $25 each and available at Fascinating Rhythm and More Than Movies. For further information, please contact Greg Bush at Gregory.bush@viu.ca.