Tech. Sgt. Grant Langford, a saxophone player for the Airmen of Note

Tech. Sgt. Grant Langford, a saxophone player for the Airmen of Note, plays a solo with jazz legend Butch Miles, at a show in San Marcos, Texas, April 23. Langford and Miles were band mates in the Count Basie Orchestra before Langford joined The Note. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Bolinger)

during a show by the Airmen of Note

Retired Air Force Master Sgt. James D Square, who spent 24 years, 7 months as a loadmaster on C-123s, C-119s, and C-130s, salutes during the national anthem at Ponchatoula High School in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, during a show by the Airmen of Note April 26. Square is the father of the high school band director, and was sharing his Air Force story with members of the band after the show. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Bolinger

The Airmen of Note, the Air Force’s premiere jazz ensemble

The Airmen of Note, the Air Force’s premiere jazz ensemble, performs for nearly 1,200 veterans from WW II, Korea and Vietnam at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Texas. The vets were part of an Honor Flight. “It’s an honor,” said Chief Master Sgt. Tim Leahey, the flight chief for the Airmen of Note. “You can see them reliving memories through the music that we are playing.”

The Airmen of Note, the Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble

The Airmen of Note, the Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble, perform at the National WW II Heritage Museum in New Orleans, April 27. The show was the last of a 10-day tour that started in Dallas, Texas. The band wore their “pink and greens” a WW II era costume that looks like the uniforms worn by the Glen Miller Army Air Force Band. Nearly 600 people came to watch the show. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Bolinger)

Airmen of Note wrap up tour with show in New Orleans

Published May 18, 2016
By Technical Sgt. James Bolinger

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Airmen of Note, the Air Force's premier jazz ensemble, wrapped up their 10-day tour of Texas and Louisiana with a show at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

The concert followed shows at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas and a special night with legendary drummer Butch Miles in San Marcos, Texas.

The small town of Ponchatoula, Louisiana even made the band a dinner of pastalaya - a takeoff of jambalaya with pasta instead of rice -- after a long bus ride made longer by a broken crew bus.

Air Force band tours are designed to reach the general public across the nation, said Capt. Haley Armstrong, an Air Force Band flight commander.

Less than 1 percent of Americans will serve in the military, she said. When the band visits a town far away from a base it provides an opportunity for average Americans to interact with Airmen.

It reminds them of the service and every day sacrifice of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen, which helps keep American's view of the military so favorable and encourages the next generation to serve.

The tour had many amazing and unique stops.

For example, when The Airmen of Note stopped in Houston to play a concert at the University of Southern Texas, the show happened during the recovery from severe flooding that was stranding people in their houses all over southern Texas. It was by far the smallest audience, due to the weather. Still, many enthusiastic high school and college students came to hear the band.

The show was immediately followed by a trip to the Houston Astros stadium where Technical Sgt. Paige Wroble, the vocalist for group, sang "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch.

It's difficult to select a specific concert or event as a favorite, said Senior Master Sgt. Tyler Kuebler, the musical director for the band. "Each mission we undertake is unique and special in its own way."

It was the combination of events on this tour that made it special, said Armstrong. The band played for so many World War II vets in Dallas and New Orleans, honoring them for their service.

The Dallas show was followed by clinics and a concert with the top collegiate jazz ensemble in the country at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

"Seeing the future of music both in the civilian world and in the military at UNT was one of the highlights for me," Armstrong said.

The tour included three stops in Texas to instruct young musicians at Boswell High School in Saginaw, the University of North Texas and Lamar University in Beaumont.

"I believe the most successful aspect of this TDY, and of any event we take part in, is the teamwork, professionalism and flexibility of our entire team," said Kuebler. "I'm extremely proud of my fellow Airmen and our ability to get the job done under any circumstances. I am honored to serve alongside each and every one of them."

Fans who didn't get to see the Airmen of Note during this tour will have another chance when they perform local outreaches in Washington D.C. throughout the summer.

"The performances in the nation's capital are a great way for us to reach people from all around the world who come to the monuments and museums," said Armstrong. "It is an opportunity to deliver the same messages that are delivered while on tour."

The Airmen of Note will also be playing during a three-stop trip through Oklahoma in June.