JAN is a featured program of Kansas City Area Youth Jazz Inc.
We interview Master Sergeant Ben Patterson, the director, and lead trombonist. We have a conversation about the band, its latest release and what it is like to have a job playing music with the United States Air Force Band.
Professional military jazz bands have long been a source of employment for instrumental artists and singers. A more modern portion of this music history goes back to World War I when James Reece Europe‘s military band traveled thousands of miles performing for English, French and U.S. troops, along with civilian audiences while touring around the continent of Europe.