| Peyton,
Way to take things into your own hands!!! I remember complaining about the poor quality of my high school music program, but it sounds like your doing your best to make a pretty good situation even better. Bravo!!!
Do you improvise? Are you interested in imporvising? If yes, you might consider thinking not of a "little big band" but rather of a "big jazz combo." If you are more interested in ensemble playing, check out the classic rhythm and horns groups, Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, etc. You might also check out the band that play on late night talk shows (Letterman with Paul Schaffer, Leno with Kevin Eubanks, Conan Obrian with Max Weinberg). Good luck!!!
-Jimi
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