About MCBB

On a Sunday morning in November 2002 several worship band members gathered around the coffee pots at Hillcrest Covenant Church. After topping off his cup, bassist Mike Brockman expressed an interest in pursuing other playing opportunities outside Hillcrest. Many cups of coffee later we agreed it might be fun to start our own band. The question was what kind of band it would be. We all had different likes and dislikes but there was one style we all had an affinity for: Big Band Jazz.

The task of building a library and finding personnel fell on the shoulders of the band’s current leader Brian Oehlert. Music was purchased and the first rehearsal was scheduled. It was a disaster. Rehearsing music written for a 17 piece band is difficult to do when only eight people show up. After playing through several tunes a few of the guys wondered if starting a big band was such a good idea; stating they felt the success of this venture was doubtful. That ended our first rehearsal. Somehow though, word spread that we were trying to get the project off the ground and needed bodies to fill the chairs. After a few phone calls and some networking with other local musicians we found enough people to fill the band and scheduled our first full band rehearsal on Saturday, February 15, 2003.

Moon City Big Band is an 18 piece big band that plays standard and original jazz arrangements written/arranged by the industries top composers and arrangers. Our library contains the works of Michael Abene, John Clayton, Bob Curnow, Gordon Goodwin, Thad Jones, Don Menza, Sammy Nestico, Mark Taylor and Chris Walden just to name a few. You’ll hear the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Gordon Goodwin, Bob Brookmeyer, John Fedchock, Charles Mingus, Stan Kenton and many others. Click on the library tab for a complete listing of charts and their arrangers.


We’re not on a mission to expose the world to Big Band Jazz; we play because we have a passion for the music. We want to share that passion with you so click on our schedule tab and make arrangements to come see us at our next public event. You’re gonna love what you hear.