Bigbands: The power of real, human synergy

There is nothing on earth that sounds better to my ears than a great big band.

It’s so much more than a group of hardworking, talented musicians. I may not have a formal music education, but what I do know is this: A great big band is like a living organism. A beating heart that pumps energy through every measure, that breathes, sweats, and swings as one.

Dennis with the DvA Bigband in TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht - 2024

A great big band is a true musical partner. An equal force in the story being told. And when such a band comes together with the right vocalist or soloist, someone who doesn’t try to rise above the band, but instead dives into it, something magical happens. Something you simply cannot recreate with samples, computers, or AI.

That chemistry between voice and band is hard to define, but impossible to miss. You feel it instantly. Every trumpet hit, every gentle brush stroke on the drums, every trombone glide or walking bass line, it’s not just sound. It’s communication. Reaction. Tension and release. And it all happens live, in the moment, in a room full of people who feel that same electricity, or in a studio, where it’s captured by carefully placed microphones.

The sections of a big band are like links in a chain:

• The rhythm section holds everything up and keeps it moving, with both precision and feel.

• The horns bring energy, drama, light and shade, sometimes subtle, sometimes explosive.

And the arrangements? They’re the blueprint for that magic. They create space—for silence, for suspense, for that perfect open chord where the voice can land.

What makes it so special is this: a big band is, by definition, human. Every sound is born from breath, muscle, timing, and emotion. And that tiny bit of imperfection, that warm, rough edge is what gives the music its soul. It’s craftsmanship. It’s heart. It’s human.

When I’m on stage with the DvA Bigband, I feel that synergy every night. No two shows are the same. Because what happens, happens then and there, between us, in the moment, and with the audience as our witness. It’s not playback. It’s not a trick. It’s real.

During my upcoming theater tour, we want to share that feeling with you. Come listen. Watch. Feel. Let yourself be immersed in the sound of real people making music together in a way that can’t be replicated anywhere else. Tickets and tourdates for my upcoming 'Keep The Great Crooners Alive' tour are available here. Because some things, the best things, can’t be programmed. You just have to experience them!