United States Air Force Band of Liberty

United States Air Force Band of Liberty
Logo
Active	1978–2013
Type	Military band
Garrison/HQ	Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts
Motto(s)	"The Air Force's Musical Ambassadors for the Northeast"

The United States Air Force Band of Liberty was a United States military band of forty-five active duty members, based at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. It entertains audiences in New England, New York, and New Jersey. The band was inactivated in summer 2013. Some of its personnel joined the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, which took up some of its functions.^[1]

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History

The band is a select group of professional Airmen-musicians who support the global Air Force mission by providing musical products and services for official military, recruiting, and community relations events, and by fostering America's rich national heritage. Originally known as the 541st Air Force Band of the Southwest, stationed at Luke AFB, Arizona, the unit relocated to Pease AFB, New Hampshire in 1978. Renamed the Air Force Band of New England, the band brought its musical message of pride, patriotism, and professionalism to concerts and events throughout New England. In 1991, the band received its current name and was assigned to Electronics Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, in Massachusetts. This change fostered another new name: the United States Air Force Band of Liberty.

The Band of Liberty consists of forty-five active duty personnel assigned to two primary ensembles—the Concert Band and the Afterburner popular music group. The organization has several subgroups, including the Ceremonial/Marching Band, Liberty Big Band, Colonial Brass, New England Winds woodwind quintet, and the Bay State Winds clarinet quartet. The band performs around four hundred engagements a year, and has appeared at such venues as Lincoln Center in New York City and the Hatch Shell in Boston. On 20 January 2009, the Band of Liberty's Colonial Brass provided musical support at the Farewell Ceremony of President George W. Bush. On 3 January 2007, members of the Ceremonial Band performed at Grace Episcopal Church in East Grand Rapids, Michigan for the state funeral of Gerald Ford, 38th President of the United States.

As part of larger restructuring of and cuts to military bands, the band was disbanded in mid-2013.^[2]

Mission statement

Support the Global Air Force Mission—by fostering our national heritage and providing professional musical products and services for official military, recruiting, and community relations events

Vision

World Class—Mission Ready Air Force Music Professionals
using the power of music to:
– Inspire our Air Force and the great nation we serve
– Produce innovative musical programs and products
– Communicate Air Force excellence

Performing Ensembles

The Air Force Band of Liberty's Marching Band participated in the Patriot's Day parade, Lexington MA, 17 April 2006

Concert Band
The Ambassadors Big Band
Liberty Big Band
Afterburner pop music group
Ceremonial/Marching Band
Colonial Brass
New England Winds Woodwind Quintet
Bay State Winds Clarinet Quartet
Liberty Saxophone Quartet
Protocol Jazz Combos

Discography

The New England Winds/The Colonial Brass—January 2008
On Silver Wings—Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force—July 2007 (Concert Band)
Sampler—May 2007 (Afterburner)
The Most Wonderful Time—November 2006 (Concert Band/Liberty Pops)
Rock Rhythm & Blue—July 2005 (Afterburner)
Ain't Nothin' Nu—December 2004 (Liberty Big Band née Ambassadors Jazz Ensemble)
New England Holidays—December 2003 (various ensembles)
Salute to the American Spirit—July 2003 (Concert Band)

Musician Education/Experience

41% possessed Master's degrees
45% possessed Bachelor's degrees
The members of Afterburner had over 30 years combined professional music experience beyond their Air Force careers, and performed with Lee Ann Womack, Lee Greenwood, Ben Vereen, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Rita Moreno, Phyllis Diller and Joel Grey.

Guest Artists and Collaborations

The American Belles—singing/dancing trio
Frank Battisti—Conductor Emeritus, New England Conservatory of Music
Mike Brignola—jazz baritone saxophonist, Woody Herman and Jaco Pastorius big bands
Ann Hampton Callaway—Broadway singer (Swing!)
Charlie Daniels—country music artist
Gregg Edelman—actor (Spider-Man 2) and Broadway singer (Camelot)
Colonel (ret) Arnald D. Gabriel—Conductor Emeritus, United States Air Force Band
Crystal Gayle—country singer
Greg Hopkins—jazz trumpeter/composer/educator, Berklee College of Music
Jack Jones- Jazz singer
Darlene Love—actress (Lethal Weapon movies) and Broadway singer (Hairspray)
Michael Maguire—Broadway singer (Les Misérables)
Maureen McGovern—actress (Airplane! and The Towering Inferno) and Broadway singer (Little Women)
The Mills Brothers vocal group
Bill Pierce—jazz tenor saxophonist/educator, Berklee College of Music
John Pizzarelli—jazz guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader
Helen Reddy-Australian-American singer
Byron Stripling—trumpet virtuoso
Jiggs Whigham—jazz trombonist/educator
Phil Wilson—jazz trombonist/composer/educator, Berklee College of Music
Sharon "Zee" Zeffiro—classical-crossover singing sensation

References

^ "The US Air Force's Band of Liberty, based at Hanscom, prepares to play its final notes - News - Boston.com". Archived from the original on 8 March 2013.
^ Svan, Jennifer H. (7 March 2012). "Air Force cutting number, size of stateside bands". Stars and Stripes.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Air Force Band of Liberty.

United States Air Force Band of Liberty Home

United States military bands

U.S. Army

Premier ensembles	Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps U.S. Army Band U.S. Army Field Band West Point Band
Specialized units of premier ensembles	Downrange Hellcats Jazz Ambassadors U.S. Army Blues U.S. Army Chorus U.S. Army Herald Trumpets U.S. Army Soldiers' Chorus U.S. Army Strings Six-String Soldiers
Unit bands	13th Army Band 25th Army Band 76th Army Band 77th Army Band 78th Army Band 100th Army Band 191st Army Band 338th Army Band I Corps Band 323rd Army Band
Former bands	The Jazz Knights Signal Corps Band Military Intelligence Corps Band
Civilian bands	U.S. Army All-American Marching Band

U.S. Navy and
U.S. Marine Corps

Premier ensembles	U.S. Marine Band U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps U.S. Naval Academy Band U.S. Navy Band
Specialized units of premier ensembles	Commodores Country Current Cruisers Sea Chanters
Naval fleet bands	Naval Forces Europe Band Seventh Fleet Band Pacific Fleet Band Navy Band Northwest Navy Band Great Lakes Navy Band Southwest Navy Band Northeast Navy Band Mid-South Navy Band Southeast U.S. Fleet Forces Band
Marine wing/division bands	United States Marine Band Quantico Marine Corps Band Parris Island Marine Band Marine Corps Band San Diego 1st Marine Division Band 2nd Marine Division Band 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Band Marine Forces Reserve Band
Former bands	Navy Band New Orleans Navy Band South III Marine Amphibious Force Band Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms Band

U.S. Air Force

Premier ensembles	U.S. Air Force Band U.S. Air Force Academy Band
Specialized units of premier ensembles	Max Impact
Regional bands	Air Force in Europe Band Air Force Band of Flight Air Force Band of the Golden West Air Force Band of Mid-America Air Force Band of the Pacific - Asia Air Force Band of the Pacific Air Force Band of the West Air Force Heritage of America Band Air Force Heartland of America Band Air Force Academy Drum and Bugle Corps
Former bands	Air Force Band of Liberty Band of the Air Force Reserve Tops in Blue U.S. Air Force Pipe Band