Blue Sky 5
Established in 2000 at the height of the swing dance craze, Craig Gildner and The Blue Sky 5 has been rolling though the years since then with classic small group ensemble jazz that evokes the great groups of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.
Along with musical partner Tommy Greco, Craig formed a quintet that went in a different path than the myriad of neo swing bands forming overnight at the time. The idea was to bring back the classic sounds of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey and their small groups…plus go outside of the usual swing era period of 1939-1945 to present gems earlier and later (such as the wonderful Verve sessions of the 1950’s) for dancing or listening.
As an added bonus, there would be original instrumental and vocal tunes that sounded like the real deal, devoid of cliches and parodies.
In the quarter century since then, the band has played numerous swing dance events up and down the eastern seaboard and the midwest, The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Blues Alley in DC, Blu Jazz in Akron, OH, Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center Plaza, and a host of private parties and weddings.
The music of Craig Gildner and The Blue Sky 5 has recently been featured on episodes of Lessons in Chemistry (Droppin’ In at Donna’s Place), and the English cartoon Sarah and Duck (Waiting for O’Brien).
Blue Sky 5
Choose your date and let the Blue Sky 5 bring the music and energy to your event, making it one to remember!
