ASMAC Hang Social Mixer Held at The Mayflower Club, 4 Jun 2025

Milton Nelson on keys with John Mitchell’s Flight 584 Big Band

Last Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 7–10pm PDT, ASMAC Vice Presidents Milton Nelson and Jeff Kellem hosted an ASMAC Hang Social Mixer during Flight 584 Big Band’s rehearsal night. We provided 10 large pizza pies from Victorio’s Ristorante. Some highlights:

• Great to see the room full with our ASMAC community.
  • HB Barnum, who was part of the recent Motown Arrangers panel, popped by. Turns out one of the players also went to school with HB.
• Milton played piano during the first set and for a few pieces in the second set, including playing his arrangement of Doxy by Sonny Rollins.
• A few chart read-downs:
  • Ed Trimmis brought his Samba Solana piece, written and played once through 40 years ago. Tonight was the second time he’s ever heard it played.
  • Dan Ferguson brought one of his dad Allyn Ferguson‘s arrangements, Sweet Pea.
  • Vocalist Dave Berges had a new chart read.

I dropped by another big band rehearsal earlier that morning and received an offer to bring charts for future read-downs.

We’re aiming to host these ASMAC Hang social mixers more regularly, first Wednesday of the month. Next one will be Wednesday, 2 July 2025, 7–10pm PDT. Keep an eye on our mailing list and upcoming events.

—Jeff Kellem