Navy Band Northwest’s show should offer range

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, December 14, 2006

The boss is in charge.

And when the boss is in charge, expect a wide variety of music, said Senior Chief Jane Hoffman, second in command of Navy Band Northwest.

“It’s an eclectic program with some jazz tunes and vocals, some comedy,” Hoffman said. “It’s a very entertaining show. It’s certainly not run of the mill at all. It will keep people awake.”

Not that any of us were worried.

The show, billed as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” is Navy Band Northwest’s holiday music concert Sunday afternoon at Everett Performing Arts Center.

The variety of the show is enhanced because the audience will hear several different musical units of the Navy band, including its big band, brass quintet and jazz combo.

The band’s director, or boss, is Lt. Chuck Roegiers. He wasn’t available to talk, so Hoffman spoke about the upcoming performance in a phone interview from Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Silverdale.

Hoffman said she and her boss select what will be played during the holiday concert, though he has the final word. So far, the choices of music and the reputation Navy Band Northwest has for delivering that music has kept people coming back.

“We have a very good following,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman has a master’s degree in trumpet performance and has been playing the instrument all her life.

Hoffman said being a Navy musician is a good job. She recalled trying to make it in New York, working at odd music jobs, like for local theater companies, but still having to work a non-music job during the day. Finally, Hoffman had had enough and enlisted at age 26. That was 15 years ago, in 1991.

Though Navy band members have to go through boot camp, their sole responsibility after passing that assignment is to play music, Hoffman said.

Navy Band Northwest is one of 14 Navy bands in the United States, Italy and Japan. Navy Band Seattle was the band’s official name when it was based at Naval Air Station Sand Point. When the band moved to Silverdale, the name changed to Navy Band Northwest in 1999, according to the Navy Band Web site.

The band’s 35 musicians are primarily responsible for providing music for official Navy functions and Navy recruiting efforts, the Web site said. The band performs throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.

Standing by at Sunday’s Everett concert will be the Marines with their Toys for Tots program, so guests are welcome to bring an unwrapped toy.

Arts writer Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.

Navy Band Northwest photo

Navy Band Northwest’s Show Band, Cascade, specializes in the performance of modern big band compositions and the classic hits of the 1940s.