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Skatch Anderssen Orchestra

  • Home
  • About
  • Media
  • Upcoming Shows
  • Music
  • Who Is Skatch Anderssen?
  • Bio

About

Skatch Anderssen Orchestra

your weekly dose of big band jazz therapy

In the tradition of the great large Jazz ensembles of the last half of the 20th century, the Skatch Anderssen Orchestra began carving its own niche into the Northeast Ohio area musical landscape around 1990. This powerhouse 17-piece big band is the premiere big band performing music of Basie, Ellington, Buddy, Thad & Mel, Maynard, Kenton, Woody and many more.

For more information, contact Eric Dregne: SAOBigBand@gmail.com 

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Upcoming Shows

    Apr 3 2023

    The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Cleveland

    SAO with Special Guest Bay HS Jazz Band @ The Union House Tavern @ The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Cleveland
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    May 1 2023

    The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Cleveland

    Skatch Anderssen Orchestra @ The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Cleveland
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    Feb 17 2023

    The Goodyear Theater, Akron

    Vegas After Dark featuring Russ Mascia and the Skatch Anderssen Orchestra! @ The Goodyear Theater, Akron
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    Feb 16 2023

    The Bop Stop and the Music Settlement, Cleveland

    SAO plays The Bop Stop! @ The Bop Stop and the Music Settlement, Cleveland
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    Feb 6 2023

    The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Cleveland

    SAO @ The Union House @ The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Cleveland
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    Dec 19 2022

    The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Cleveland

    Skatch Anderssen Orchestra Annual Christmas Show!! @ The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Cleveland
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    Nov 28 2022

    The Union House, Cleveland

    Skatch Anderssen Orchestra @ The Union House, Cleveland
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    Oct 24 2022

    The Union House, Cleveland

    Skatch Anderssen Orchestra @ The Union House, Cleveland
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    Sep 26 2022

    The Union House, Cleveland

    Skatch Anderssen Orchestra @ The Union House, Cleveland
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    Jun 6 2022

    The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Parma OH

    SAO LIVE @ The Union House @ The Union House Bar & Restaurant, Parma OH
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    May 16 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    May 9 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    May 2 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Apr 25 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Apr 18 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Apr 11 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Apr 4 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Mar 28 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Mar 21 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Mar 14 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Mar 7 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Feb 28 2022

    Facebook Premiere, Cleveland

    Monday Night Jazz Online w/the SAO @ Facebook Premiere, Cleveland
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    Music

    0:00/???
    1. 1
      Just a Closer Walk (arr. by Mark Mauldin) 2:13
      0:00/2:13
    2. 2
      The Chicken 6:55
      0:00/6:55
    3. 3
      Three And One 7:22
      0:00/7:22
    4. 4
      Yesterdays 7:18
      0:00/7:18
    5. 5
      Bemsha Swing 7:26
      0:00/7:26

    Who Is Skatch Anderssen?

    Olaf "Skatch" Anderssen

    Founding bandleader and tusselfloyte

    Born in a small town in Norway, Olaf “Skatch” Anderssen had a passion for music and sound. As a child, he would drive his neighbors crazy with the constant whistling and pounding on everything in sight. As he got older, he dreamed of becoming a drummer in a couple of local bands that frequented through the area. He would stay up late into the night, drumming on anything in the barn he could find until very late hours. Olaf’s Mother and Father gave up getting him to bed when they realized he seemed to never need to sleep.

    By the middle part of the 20th century, Olaf had become an accomplished "Tusselfloyte" (Norwegian flute) player, but still played percussion instruments with passion long into the night. His wife gave him an ultimatum: either settle down and give up music, or get a divorce. Alone and penniless at age 27, Olaf left his native land and made his way to the New England area of the United States.

    In fits of depression, he frequented a town bar in Massachusetts on the corner of the street he was living on. There, he was introduced to Scotch Whiskey. Because of the strong accent of the people in the area, Olaf learned the word as "Skatch" instead of "Scotch". Since the locals were fond of nicknames, and he said the word so often, his nickname became "Skatch".

    One fateful night, Skatch stumbled into a new bar and heard a group playing swing band music. He immediately fell in love with the music and asked if he could sit in and play. When they heard about his musical background in Norway, the guys in the band eagerly gave him a seat. Skatch started to play and was awful. Everyone in the bar turned around and stared at him in stunned silence. Sheepishly, Skatch returned to his seat and ordered another Scotch. How he wished he could play like those cats!

    Skatch was nothing if not determined. He visited the bar every week and listened to the greatest music he had ever heard in his life. Afterward, he would spend the week practicing what he heard on his street corner. As time went by, he decided he was going to start a band like that of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. He assembled the best local jazz players he could find and worked on creating his own jazz orchestra. Thus, the Skatch Anderssen Orchestra was born.

    Skatch had booked his first gig in a local hall in the New England town where he lived. All of the townspeople eagerly awaited the show, which was completely sold out in advance. But on the weekend before the first performance, tragedy struck. He had been talked into flying back to Norway for a quick family get-together. While on that flight, the weather became very bad. Skatch's plane crashed into the ocean, and the band never got to play that first gig.

    We now keep the dream alive of a man that put together a band that no one heard: the Skatch Anderssen Orchestra.

    Bio

    The SAO

    Monday Night Big Band Jazz

    Bandleader Eric Dregne's intention is to enlist the finest musicians for the SAO to guarantee you will hear a high-powered, high quality performance of many of the tunes you know (and some you may not but are sure to enjoy).

    Not content with playing only the standards of the big band golden era, the SAO features many compositions of local composers and arrangers, along with more recent popular artists such as Gordon Goodwin and Alan Baylock.

    When the band is in full swing, it's easy to see why the SAO has gained a steady following in Cleveland and surrounding areas.

    Eric "Girth" Dregne

    Bandleader and bass trombone

    Eric "Girth" Dregne has been a Northeast Ohio musician for over 30 years. A graduate of Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music, he became an established leader in big band, Jazz and Latin music as a bass and tenor trombonist, arranger, bandleader and educator - a true "Jazz Ambassador". Girth's eclectic resume includes Jazz groups, big bands, Latin bands, R&B outfits and even some rockers, including Aretha Franklin, Tommy Tune, the Four Tops, Frankie Valli, Nancy Wilson and others. Eric's low-brass bass trombone sound has been woven into the music over many local area bands. He's an avid performer with a true love of all things trombone, and a master of varied musical styles. As such, you are likely to run into Eric quite often as a guest artist during live Latin and Jazz performances in the greater Cleveland area.

    Scott McKee

    Lead Trumpet

    Scott McKee is a seventh-generation Cleveland musician who began his trumpet career at age 5, playing at church with his father Jack. At age 19, he played and recorded with Aretha Franklin in a performance that led to others with renowned bands. Scott received his undergraduate degree in Trumpet Performance from Cleveland State University. He returned to Cleveland after attending grad school at the University of Colorado in Boulder (Jazz Trumpet). Scott can be seen all over the Cleveland area, backing up major artists and off-broadway musicals as their shows run through town, and featured on many big band and salsa gigs.

    Current Roster

    John Orsini – Lead Alto

    Jimmy Redmond – Lead Trombone

    Scott McKee – Lead Trumpet

    Darren Allen – Drums

    Rich Rollo – Alto Sax

    Nolan Plunkett – Trombone

    Garrett Folger – Trumpet

    Ed Stephens - Bass

    Tom First – Lead Tenor

    John Faieta – Trombone

    Mark Russo – Trumpet

    Pete Greco - Piano

    A.J. Kluth – Tenor Sax

    Eric "Girth" Dregne – Bass Trombone

    Tommy Lehman – Trumpet

    Chuck "Shooz" McHenry – Baritone Sax

    Exclusively for Composers & Arrangers

    The Sound of Music
    • The Sound of Music

    The Sound of Music

    In cart Not available Out of stock
    $200.00

    Does this sound familiar? You've written a brand-new composition or arrangement. You play it on your music software, and it just doesn't sound right. But, you don't have access to a pro group to get a good recording.

    What if you did? Well...now you do!!

    The members of the SAO are highly skilled readers. New music is introduced to the band from our

    Does this sound familiar? You've written a brand-new composition or arrangement. You play it on your music software, and it just doesn't sound right. But, you don't have access to a pro group to get a good recording.

    What if you did? Well...now you do!!

    The members of the SAO are highly skilled readers. New music is introduced to the band from our extensive library at least a couple times a month. Each weekly performance is recorded with digital equipment and saved in full uncompressed .WAV format.

    Sound interesting? Here's the process:

    You send the chart We review the chart to determine rehearsal time needed We rehearse the chart We play the chart during the 1st set on the free live stream We send you a recording of the performance You evaluate the recording and provide feedback We play the chart again on the free live stream We clean up and produce the recording for you (fade in/fade out. Spoken description about the chart (provided by you)

    Read more…
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    All Content ©2019 - 2021 Skatch Anderssen Orchestra

    All Rights Reserved


    For more information, contact Eric Dregne

    440 346 5242 • SAOBigBand@gmail.com

    Monday Nights At Brother’s Lounge

    11609 Detroit Ave • Cleveland, OH 

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    notes
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    1. 1
      Cherry Juice 9:39
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    2. 2
      And That's That 5:25
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    3. 3
      The Moontrane 5:56
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    4. 4
      Kids Are Pretty People 6:31
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    5. 5
      Back Home 5:01
      Info
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