WESTFIELD – Jeff Gavioli is passionate about music, and credits city music teachers in his youth and participating in Westfield Theatre Group productions, for his ultimate formation of the Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra (BNJBO).

Gavioli grew up in Westfield and lived “just down the street” from the Westfield Woman’s Club, home to the Westfield Theatre Group. He attended Abner Gibbs Elementary School, South Middle School, and Westfield High School, class of 2002.

“My original fifth grade music instructor, Walter Gladwin, played trombone in my band for many years, and my Westfield High band director, Patrick Kennedy, joined the group on trumpet in 2016,” said Gavioli.

The orchestra will be featured during a public open house event, hosted by members of the Westfield Woman’s Club and the Westfield Theatre Group, on Sept. 18.

Gavioli noted he started participating in Westfield Theatre Group (WTG) Christmas shows after high school, under the musical direction of “local theater legend” Marion Dunk.

“Momma Dunk is responsible for most of the music associated with writer/director extraordinaire Kathi Palmer’s show adaptations,” said Gavioli, adding, “In 2013, I began also playing some spring and fall shows under music director George Garber Jr.”

Gavioli said the productions are original Broadway scripts and music, and are a “fun challenge” to take on. He has been a part of productions including “Guys and Dolls,” “South Pacific,” “Anything Goes,” “Singing in the Rain” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”

“I chose not to pursue a music degree after high school, instead taking a job working for my father’s business, and therefore playing shows at WTG once a year in those early years can be considered what kept me going musically, and what eventually led to the formation of the orchestra,” said Gavioli.
In 2008, Gavioli said he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“It was life-changing news,” he said.

Shortly thereafter, Gavioli attended a concert by the Greater Westfield Community Band, led by his former middle school band director, Gene Bartley.

“It was there and then that I was inspired to get back into playing on a regular basis,” he said. “I can still remember thinking, ‘Do it now, while you still can.’ Little did I know, the journey which I was able to embark on would take me places I never thought I’d go.”

Over the years he joined community-based bands in the area, “making plenty of friends along the way.” In 2010, he secured a spot playing alto sax and clarinet in a local big band based in Southampton, the Jack Kowal Swing Band.

“That band was exactly what I needed at the time, as it reinvigorated my love for big band jazz, which was instilled into me by my grandfather as a youth,” said Gavioli. “There’s something about all those horns playing that beautiful harmonious music mixed with a killer rhythm section that you just can’t replicate in other types of bands.”

By early 2012, Gavioli was talking with “an old high school band mate” and they soon decided to take their passion for big band music to the next level.

“It started out slow, as many bands do,” said Gavioli. “I ended up taking over sole leadership of the band in early 2013 when my partner left to pursue other musical opportunities. I set out to learn on the fly and away we flew, playing our first concert in August of 2013.”

Gavioli said after a lot of “blood, sweat and tears,” as well as money, he owes a “great debt” to his wife, Ashley, who encouraged him to pursue his dream.

Gavioli said that the band is thriving and was recently voted “Best Live Jazz” in a Hampshire County newspaper’s Readers Poll for 2021, after being voted a finalist in 2020.

“When people come to a Bad News Jazz show, they can expect to hear something for everyone’s liking,” said Gavioli, adding they play classics from the likes of Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, and others.

“We like to make our way up through the decades with samples from artists like the Beatles, Maynard Ferguson, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, and the Blues Brothers, right on up through more contemporary names like Natalie Cole, Brian Setzer, Michael Bublé, and Bruno Mars,” he added.

Gavioli said it can be difficult to find establishments to accommodate a large band.

“It can often be difficult to find places to play that are able to offer the compensation necessary to satisfy the needs of all 19 band members, all of whom contribute to such a high level final product,” he said.

Gavioli credits resources including the Massachusetts Cultural Council grants to assist in these situations.

“These Mass. Cultural Council grants are a perfect way to receive financial recognition for not only each individual performance, but for the hours upon hours of hard work spent in the rehearsal hall, for instrument upkeep, gear and travel,” said Gavioli. “Even still, it can be difficult to do much more than break even after all is said and done, and therefore, the sheer love of big band jazz is what keeps this type of music alive and well.”

Gavioli credits band manager Ken Longstreeth for assisting in these grant efforts.

“This year, the BNJBO has been scheduled to play 21 concerts from June through October throughout Western and Central Massachusetts, and much of that would not be possible without Ken Longstreeth, who joined the band in 2017 after retiring from teaching music in local schools,” said Gavioli.

Gavioli cited Longstreeth’s “vast experience” with grant applications and booking concerts, and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to preparation and performance, that has taught him more about leading a band than he ever thought possible.

“Together, we have taken the BNJBO to great heights, and we’re very excited to bring our show to the WTG stage at the Westfield Woman’s Club on Sept. 18,” said Gavioli, adding he has looked forward to the band performing on that stage “for most of its existence.”