The Sounds of Swing brings the classic sound of big band swing at the Guilford, CT VFW- POST 7666.

Come out and sing and dance to your favorite hits from the Great American Songbook and beyond!

Downbeat is at 7pm, and we'll play until 8:30pm.

The VFW offers a wonderful venue with perfect acoustics for a big band, a large dance floor, a bartender, and the atmosphere of a cabaret. Bring your friends, bring your family. Bring a snack or your dinner - just don't bring alcohol, the cash bar is available!

VFW doors open at 6:00 PM. The band plays from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.

This group plays every Monday, but Val joins in only once a month - usually the First Monday of the Month, but due to some inclimate weather Val will be with Tuxedo Junction the second Monday, on January 13, 2025.

Join the email list and stay in touch.

We asked Val a few questions - read on!

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US: You live in Willington, CT and this band plays in Guilford, CT. What motivates you to drive over an hour one way to sing with this band?

VAL: "Well, yes, it is a drive. But I find that drive provides me with space and time to rehearse the pieces I will be performing that night, so it's really not that horrible to drive an hour or so one way to do something you love."

US: You say you "rehearse", what does that look like?

VAL: "I am constantly trying to be better than I was. (laughs). I'm not exactly sure why, or where I got that from, but I suppose you can call it a work ethic. I like to work at music. I strive to do it well and understand my craft. I take my singing and performing very seriously, whether it's for Tuxedo Junction and the VFW, or an impromptu singing at Saint Francis Hospital with the guy (George) playing the piano- which I recently did. But I'm rambling. You asked about what my practice looks like to me. Well, most times, when I perform, I audio record myself using my phone app. I than have audio of my singing and the band playing and I can analyze and use this audio to play back and hear what I did well, and also learn what needs to be done better. I don't record every song now, as I do know the charts and music. But when there is a new piece, I will absolutely record it and replay it over and over to learn the nuances of the piece. I also like to YouTube or use Spotify to hear artists perform the song too. Even though these versions may not be the same arrangement that I'm doing, I do find it helpful and inspiring to hear other artist interpretations. "

US: That raises any interesting question then, who do you find inspiring to listen to?

VAL: Well, I guess it depends on the style of music I'm learning and doing. (Pause) For instance, I constantly listen to the Frank Sinatra SiriusXM station because I really am drawn to the Great American Song Book - that is my niche . Frank just has a way with tone, quality, interpretations, timbre and phrasing that no one else, yet, has... I love Barbra Streisand - I grew up listening to her. She has such a romantic tone to her style that I simply adore. Then there's Barry Manilow (but he was not in my vocal range, so he was harder for me to sing to..) Karen Carpenter - LOVE her... But if I'm learning a new song... oh - I just learned Joleen. We had a request at an Assisted Living Center, in Willimantic, CT. So my pianist, Bil Groth, said, lets learn Joleen. So I listened to Dolly Parton doing it, then I heard Beyonce's version and loved it. All of that research helps me mold my version. It's an art. I could listen to Ella Fitzgerald all day long. The way she worked her craft is definitely inspiring"

To learn more, check out Val's World at: ValRogers.Net