Big band ready to swing into action on Thursday

The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra will perform at the Rotorua Civic Theatre this Thursday. Photo/File

Travel back in time to an era where shoulder pads and swing music reigned supreme, when the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra performs in Rotorua.

One of the great American big bands from the 1940s, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra will perform a concert featuring 25 musicians, singers and dancers at the Rotorua Civic Theatre on Thursday.

Tommy Dorsey's band is recognised as one of the major bands of the swing era and this concert will feature songs such as I'm Getting Sentimental Over You, Opus No1, Bugle Call Rag and Song of India.

The concert will also feature songs of other great American musicians and composers, such as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Harry James, and Woody Herman.

Swing dance group the Hollywood Jive Dancers will also feature in the two-hour show, along with singer Bryan Anthony, who is expected to serenade the audience with vintage Sinatra classics like This Love of Mine, I'll Never Smile Again and Blue Skies.

Anthony said he was thrilled to be travelling to New Zealand and couldn't wait to perform in Rotorua.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I've heard New Zealand is a beautiful country," he said.

Anthony studied for a masters in jazz and studio music at New York University, before going on to sing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

The Swing Sisters will feature in the show and will perform the greatest hits of the Andrews Sisters.

The show will run from 7.30-9.30pm.

Tickets are available from ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.co.nz.