Mike Ficco and the LI Jazz Orchestra

All that Jazz on Main Street is pleased to present Mike Ficco and The Long Island Jazz Orchestra live in the Patchogue Theatre Lobby, Thursday, April 21at 7:30 pm.

The Long Island Jazz Orchestra (LIJO), recognized as one of the most exciting and versatile 16 piece jazz big band in the New York Metropolitan area, was formed by Mike Ficco with the areas finest and most accomplished jazz musicians to make quality big band jazz available to the local public. 

The Long Island Jazz Orchestra, unlike other big bands of the day, specializes in performing the original distinctive arrangements of the big band jazz and swing orchestras of the 40's to the present, along with original contemporary arrangements and premier compositions. 

Performances have featured The LIJO in concert settings, cabaret settings, clinical settings for students of jazz as well as social settings such as weddings, birthdays, swing dances and cocktail parties. Each musician is a conservatory trained music specialist that has a deep and sincere love for the art of jazz. All members of The LIJO are experienced professional musicians who love to play jazz for their own satisfaction and ultimately for the audience to enjoy.

The LIJO takes great pride in being capable of playing the original compositions and arrangements of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey,Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Rob McConnell, Tokishi Akiyoshi, Les Hooper, Thad Jones and many others with the wonderful vocal stylings of Linda Catania. 

Throughout the years, Mike Ficco has arranged and composed various types of music for local performing groups, nationally known artists and major music publishers. Many of his arrangements for school stage bands, concert bands, and orchestras are widely used by educators nationwide. 

Mike Ficco is best known for his work as a jazz saxophonist, jazz ensemble clinician, NYSSMA jazz adjudicator and recording musician. After a two-year stint as stage band director and professor of jazz studies at Five Towns College, Mike is currently jazz ensemble director at Suffolk County Community College. Mike continues to remain busy playing with and promoting his jazz groups, The Mike Ficco Jazz Quartet, The Mastercraft Jazz Quartet, and The Mike Ficco Jazz Alliance Jazz Orchestra.

In it's first season, All That Jazz, Live on Main Street, has become a feature presentation of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts. Every month the volunteers convert the beautiful art deco lobby into an intimate Jazz Club recreating the ambiance of the legendary Sonny's Place. The room is comfortable, the acoustics are extraordinary, and the bar is always open. The Grand Lobby of the Patchogue Theatre has become recognized as one of the finest venues for acoustic jazz on Long Island. A "venue within a venue", The Grand Lobby is an alternative performance space to the 1200 seat Theatre--Suffolk County's largest theater--the finest acoustic music hall of its size remaining the Metropolitan New York area. The Main Stage of the Patchogue Theatre has been host to a wide variety of performances and performers and lights up Main Street more than 200 nights a year.