Big Al’s Big Band is an 18-piece instrumental swing/jazz/dance band with a jazz vocalist. They have performed for concerts, weddings, dance events, and many other occasions for the past 42 years. In 1982, the band originally was called the Tuesday Night Jazz Band under the direction of Erv Ely and rehearsed at Bismarck Junior College. Three of the original band members (Rex, Mark and Steve) are still in the group. Once Erv retired, the band turned to Al Bertsch who invested in buying music, plays Tenor Sax for the band, provided a rehearsal space for the group, this brought about the bands current name and was directed by Rex Waddingham. After Covid, Big Al moved to an apartment and the band almost called it quits. Shawn Boehm decided to direct the band and found a place to rehearse at Mandan High School and is still going today.

The group performs mostly classic swing/dance music of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s with such titles as “In The Mood”, “Jersey Bounce”, and “As Time Goes By”. Big Al’s BB also plays a few waltzes and polkas for the german dancer in all of us, like “Beer Barrel Polka” and “Blue Skirt Waltz”. Standard vocal tunes are also provided by the band from “Fly Me To The Moon” to “Blue Skies” and “I Only Have Eyes For You” to “Gentle Rain”.