Electronic Press Kit

M&J Big Band

We Play It All!

The M&J Big Band, based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, is an 18-piece ensemble bringing new energy to the big band sound. Founded in 2010, the band draws from Schuylkill County’s deep jazz heritage (home to icons such as Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey of Shenandoah and Les Brown of Reinerton) while also exploring the music of today.

Our music library covers a wide range: swing, pop, rock, funk, polka, patriotic tunes - whatever fits the moment. Some shows lean into the classics with tributes to Les Brown, the Dorsey Brothers, or Frank Sinatra. Other themes are about mixing things up, such as our You Can’t Play That With a Big Band! show- a crowd favorite that bends the rules by mixing heavy rock with John Philip Sousa in the same set.

With 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, a full rhythm section, and a variety of vocalists, the M&J Big Band delivers high-energy performances that entertain, inspire, and connect with every audience. Whether you’re after nostalgia, innovation, or both, the band has a setlist for any occasion.

"With a blend of nostalgia, musical excellence, and creative innovation, M&J Big Band's 2025 season showcases why they remain one of Pennsylvania's premier big bands."

-Skook News

M&J Big Band has been recognized by the community with the 2024 and 2025 Republican Herald Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Live Entertainer and has released a 2017 live album, "Live at the Big Swing Thing".

Rooted in the Great American Songbook, the band regularly performs classics by Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Les Brown, Doris Day, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, Doc Severinsen, Maynard Ferguson, and more. But M&J doesn’t stop there—they seamlessly transition into the sounds of today, performing hits by artists like Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Adele, Norah Jones, Bruno Mars, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and many others.

The M&J Big Band also features original arrangements written by bandmembers as well as charts from prominent local arrangers such as Andrew Neu, Jon Gardner, Rick Hirsch, and Marko Marcinko.

"A modern day rebirth for an age of music many assume lives only in warm and happy memories."

-Republican & Herald

The M&J Big Band offers custom-themed performances tailored for concerts, dances, weddings, ballrooms, and entertainment venues of all kinds. Some of their popular themed shows include:

🎩 Sinatra Tribute – a heartfelt show dedicated to Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra
🎤 A Swingin’ Tribute to Vocalists – an entire performance celebrating the great vocals of the Great American Songbook and beyond
🎺 Tributes to Les Brown, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey – honoring and keeping Schuylkill County’s rich big band heritage alive