Samson Trinh & The Upper East Side Big Band is made up of the finest musicians in the capital of Virginia. A majority of the members from this 10 to 22-piece organization honed their craft from the prestigious jazz studies music department at Virginia Commonwealth University. The band was formed in November 2003 by composer and saxophonist, Samson Trinh, when his parents, Vi & Phoenix, decided to open up a jazz club in Richmond, VA. They called the venue Upper East Side in the spirit of NYC. Trinh respectfully gave the same name for his new group and thus began a regular Thursday performance. With their horns blasting, rhythm section diggin’, and vocalists swingin’, The Upper East Side Big Band continues to entertain and excite audiences all over!
Influenced by their schooling from VCU, UESBB began performing the jazz and big band swing repertoires of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. As the years went on, original modern compositions and arrangements from Trinh followed with the help of member, vocalist and pianist, Adrian Duke. These works included songs by The Beatles, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Nina Simone, Prince, and Cake. Along with Duke on vocals, siblings Allyson Mills-Steele and Curtis Mills as well as Terri Simpson and Laura Ann Singh were brought in the mix. Stylistically, each vocalist helped UESBB grow into a hip and unique original sounding big band.
Whether it’s concerts, schools, non-profit organizations, or festivals, the goal of Samson Trinh & The Upper East Side Big Band is to make big band music sound phenomenal. Professionalism is what listeners will always hear from this group.
Most recently, Samson Trinh & The Upper East Side Big Band won Best Ensemble for Richmond Magazine’s 2011 Theresa Pollak Prize for Excellence in the Arts! They are also touring artists for the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
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Samson Trinh: founder, musical director, composer, arranger, saxophone
Members who have played and/or are currently in the band -
VOCALISTS: Adrian Duke (also arranger, piano, organ), Allyson Mills-Steele, Curtis Mills (also guitar), Terri Simpson, Laura Ann-Singh, Desiree Roots Centeio, Bryce McCormick (also piano and organ)
GUITARS: John Conley, Chris Vasi, Karl Morse, Scott Burton
BASS: Rusty Farmer, Jay Calabro, Brian Cruse
DRUMS/PERCUSSION: Aaron Thompson, Andy Brockmann, Mike Boyd
SAXOPHONES: Kevin Simpson, John Wittman, Emily Avesian, Suzi Fischer, Jonathan Gibson, David Hood, John Lilley, Jason Mathius
TRUMPETS/FLUGELHORNS: Rob Quallich, Scott Frock, Bob Miller, Jonathan Greenberg , Chaz Gregory, Brian Noel, Marcus Tenney, Taylor Barnett, Mark Ingraham, Dave Allam
TROMBONES: Pete Anderson, Ben Anderson, Toby Whitaker, Stefan Demetriadis, Bryan Hooten, Reggie Chapman
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”Samson Trinh is going to make it. I can feel it. One would think this musical ingénue wouldn’t attract listeners outside his native Richmond, Va. But he proves that his style of jazz and orchestral standards is original, hip and represents his youthful mind. He sounds like he’s been doing this for ages.”
Music-Reviewer.com
“The Upper East Side Big band takes the listener on a musical journey that ranges from Twenties torch songs to Big Band Swing to Jazz Fusion, with a few more surprises in between.”
Southbound Beat Magazine