(bright music) (jazz music) - [Announcer] Tonight on "Expressions", enjoy the vintage swing sound of the Blue Velvet Big Band.

(jazz music) Funding for this program is provided in part by the New York State Education Department and by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(attendee clapping) - Hello and welcome to "Expressions".

I'm your host, Adara Alston.

For this episode, we are featuring a swing band that has kept the Southern tier dancing for over 35 years.

The Blue Velvet Big Band was founded by music educator, Joe Diorio, and is still going strong thanks to the work of current director, Melanie Valencia.

Named after the famous Bobby Vinton song, this 12-piece ensemble boast an eclectic setlist that will take you back in time.

We begin the show with a rollicking rendition of Glen Miller's "In The Mood".

- [Band Member] Two, three.

("In The Mood") ("In The Mood") ("In The Mood") ("In The Mood") ("In The Mood") ("In The Mood") ("In The Mood") ("In The Mood") (attendees clapping) (jazz music) ♪ When marimba rhythms start to play ♪ ♪ Dance with me, make me sway ♪ ♪ Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore ♪ ♪ Hold me close, sway me more ♪ ♪ Like a flower bending in the breeze ♪ ♪ Send with me, sway with ease ♪ ♪ When we dance, you have a way with me ♪ ♪ Stay with me, sway with me ♪ ♪ Other dancers may be on the floor ♪ ♪ Dear, but my eyes will see only you ♪ ♪ Only you have that magic technique ♪ ♪ When we sway, I go ♪ ♪ I can hear the sounds of violins ♪ ♪ Long before it begins ♪ ♪ Make me thrill as only you know how ♪ ♪ Sway me smooth, sway me now ♪ (jazz music) (jazz music continues) ♪ Other dancers may be on the floor ♪ ♪ Dear, but my eyes will see only you ♪ ♪ Only you have that magic technique ♪ ♪ When we sway, I go ♪ ♪ I go weak ♪ ♪ I can hear the sounds of violins ♪ ♪ Long before it begins ♪ ♪ Make me thrill as only you know how ♪ ♪ Sway me smooth, sway me now ♪ ♪ Like a flower bending in the breeze ♪ ♪ Send with me, sway with ease ♪ ♪ When we dance, you have a way with me ♪ ♪ Stay with me, sway with me ♪ (attendees clapping) - One, two, three, four, one, two.

("Woodchopper's Ball") ("Woodchopper's Ball") ("Woodchopper's Ball") ("Woodchopper's Ball") ("Woodchopper's Ball") ("Woodchopper's Ball") (attendees clapping) ♪ When all the world is a hopeless jumble ♪ ♪ And the raindrops tumble all around ♪ ♪ Heaven opens a magic lane ♪ ♪ When all the clouds open up the skyway ♪ ♪ There's a rainbow highway to be found ♪ ♪ Leading from your window pane ♪ ♪ To a place behind the sun ♪ ♪ Just a step beyond the rain ♪ ♪ Somewhere over the rainbow ♪ ♪ Way up high ♪ ♪ There's a land that I heard of ♪ ♪ Once in a lullaby ♪ ♪ Somewhere over the rainbow ♪ ♪ Bluebirds fly ♪ ♪ Birds fly over the rainbow ♪ ♪ Why then, oh, why can't I ♪ ♪ Someday I'll wish upon a star ♪ ♪ And wake up where the clouds are far behind me ♪ ♪ Where troubles melt like lemon drops ♪ ♪ Away above the chimney tops ♪ ♪ That's where you'll find me ♪ ♪ Somewhere over the rainbow ♪ ♪ Bluebirds fly ♪ ♪ Birds fly over the rainbow ♪ ♪ Why then, oh, why can't I ♪ ♪ Where troubles melt like lemon drops ♪ ♪ Away above the chimney tops ♪ ♪ That's where you'll find me ♪ ♪ Somewhere over the rainbow ♪ ♪ Bluebirds fly ♪ ♪ Birds fly over the rainbow ♪ ♪ Why then, oh, why can't I ♪ ♪ If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow ♪ ♪ Why, oh, why can't I ♪ (attendees clapping) - One and two.

("Liechtensteiner Polka") ("Liechtensteiner Polka") ("Liechtensteiner Polka") ("Liechtensteiner Polka") ("Liechtensteiner Polka") (attendees clapping) ("Kansas City") ("Kansas City") ("Kansas City") ("Kansas City") ("Kansas City") ("Kansas City") (attendees clapping and cheering) ♪ And now the end is here ♪ ♪ And so I face that final curtain ♪ ♪ My friend I'll say it clear ♪ ♪ I'll state my case, of which I'm certain ♪ ♪ I've lived a life that's full ♪ ♪ I traveled each and every highway ♪ ♪ And more, much more than this ♪ ♪ I did it my way ♪ ♪ Regrets, I've had a few ♪ ♪ But then again too few to mention ♪ ♪ I did what I had to do ♪ ♪ And saw it through without exemption ♪ ♪ I planned each charted course ♪ ♪ Each careful step along the byway ♪ ♪ And more, much more than this ♪ ♪ I did it my way ♪ ♪ Yes, there were times I'm sure you knew ♪ ♪ When I bit off more than I could chew ♪ ♪ But through it all, when there was doubt ♪ ♪ I ate it up and spit it out ♪ ♪ I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way ♪ ♪ I've loved, I laughed and cried ♪ ♪ I've had my fill, my share of losing ♪ ♪ And now, as tears subside ♪ ♪ I find it all so amusing ♪ ♪ To think I did all that ♪ ♪ And may I say, not in a shy way ♪ ♪ Oh no, no, not me ♪ ♪ I did it my way ♪ ♪ For what is a man, what has he got ♪ ♪ If not himself then he has not ♪ ♪ To say the things he truly feels ♪ ♪ And not the words of one who kneels ♪ ♪ The record shows I took the blows and did it my way ♪ (attendees clapping) - I think Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, would be proud of that rendition of "My Way".

That was Tony DeLousia with the lead vocals.

If you want more Blue Velvet Big Band, then visit wskg.org/expressions where you can see performances that we didn't have time for in this half hour.

Until next time, I'm Adara Alston.

Thanks for watching and goodnight.

(jazz music) (jazz music continues)