Hinesburg musician hits high note with Little Big Band Concert

Hinesburg trombonist Dan Silverman arranged for some of the area’s finest jazz musicians to join him onstage for a performance on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 7pm in Hinesburg Town Hall.

He even persuaded his sister, Judi Silvano, to sing as a special guest in the concert.

“This performance is all about the music that I want to play,” Silverman informed. The show features the music of jazz legends  Slide Hampton, Charles Mingus, and Carla Bley, performed by veteran musicians Ray Vega (trumpet), Chris Peterman (saxophone), Jake Whitesell (saxophone), Peter Krag (keyboard), Clyde States (bass), Jeff Salisbury (percussion), and Silvano (jazz singer), with arrangements by Silverman on trombone. “Even though we are only a septet, it will sound like a Big Band rhythm section,” Silverman boasts.

“I have been a musician all my life,” Silverman commented. “I made a living playing music though really never as a jazz musician, my most passionate goal and dream.” By necessity, Silverman took some breaks from the trombone to raise a family and pursue graduate degrees and a career as a psychologist. “I’m a musician with a day job,” he proclaimed. “I love being a musician but it’s not how I was able to make a living.”

More recently Silverman has developed a second career in the genre. “I play as much as I can. Some of it is classical music, but for the most part, I play jazz,” he admitted. “And I still dream about making it professionally.” In fact, it is this long held fantasy that led him to record “Silverslide,” a CD he released in 2007.

“It has been like herding cats,” Silverman said of his directorial debut. “Everyone is so busy. Getting together for a rehearsal has been a nightmare.”

Nightmares aside, Silverman’s lifelong passion for jazz is evidenced by his sentiments regarding this performance. “One of life’s greatest pleasures is to play music that you love with musicians that you respect.”