Jazz band to perform live monthly at the State Room starting Sept. 14

QUINCY — The Big River Swing Machine, a big band jazz orchestra from Quincy, will be back on stage Sept. 14 after a five-year absence from the public.

The 18-piece jazz band, under the direction of Les Fonza, has been signed by the State Room, 434 S. Eighth, for performances on the second Wednesday of each month from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The State Room’s bar will be open for beverage service. There will be no cover charge.

The Big River Swing Machine plays a wide variety of swing band standards and modern jazz tunes. It
was organized in the late 1990s and has played at different locations around town over the years. The
band stopped performing in 2017 when its last performance venue closed, and it remained inactive
during the COVID pandemic.

The State Room, with its classic movie-theatre facade, operates as an event space. Manager Brian Stitt, who also operates the adjoining Calftown Café, says he plans to open the space to the public more often in the future as a live music performance venue.