Bristol Reunion Jazz Band to Play Farmington Gardens Tonight

Bob Marsh’s job as youth services coordinator is to keep Farmington kids happy, healthy and occupied in a positive way. But by night, he’s a trumpet-playing jazz musician, blowing big band music with the Bristol Reunion Jazz Band.

The 19-piece band, made up of Bristol Eastern alumni and led by the school’s former director, Richard Theriault, has been playing together at special events and Thursdays at Marinelli’s Supper Club for about 13 years.

But since the Burlington facility closed, the band has homeless. Tonight, the band will try a new facility on for size, Farmington Gardens.

“Jim [Marinelli] and the family were really good to us,” Marsh said. “They let us play in their lounge and we did second Thursdays.”

After the Marinellis retired and closed the business, the band struggled to find a new home. They tried the Carousel Museum, a veteran’s hall, but never found a place with the right atmosphere.

But when a relative of Marsh’s attended a wedding at Farmington Gardens, he told the band to check it out.

“Greg [Hahn] and I went down there and they said ‘yeah, we’d love to try some big band music on Thursday nights,” he said.

The recently opened family banquet facility agreed to open tonight as a trial, to see if the arrangement would suit the band and Farmington Gardens and to see if people would come.

Greg Hahn, a Farmington resident and trumpeter in the band, said people will be surprised if they do.

“These guys are professionals. We’re a top-notch band. It’s not just a bunch of guys getting together to have fun,” Marsh said, adding that they do have fun playing.

State Rep. Frank Nicastro is also among the band’s members.

Hahn said the band has developed a following and those hearing them for the first time are often surprised both by the band’s quality. And Theriault, an accomplished alto sax player, has been a great leader and has drawn great players to the band, he said.

Theriault’s also helped them compile a huge and varied repertoire.

“We play a broad cross-section of big band repertoire, something everybody will like, not all crazy fusion-type jazz. It’s stuff that will resonate with people,” Marsh said.

"It would be great to see this turn into a permanent home," Theriault said. "This would make a great little jazz venue."

The band will set up at 7 p.m. tonight and start at 7:30, then play two sets with a break in between, ending before 10 p.m. There will be a cash bar and menu available.