The South Wind Jazz / Pop Ensemble (SW/JPE) is a polished, professional 19-member Concert Jazz & Pop Big Band with 5-saxes (who also double on clarinet and flute), 4-trumpets, 3-4-trombones, 1-tuba, bass, keyboard, 1-2 guitarists and drums, + vocal(s) based in Indian River County, Florida. South Wind JPE performs various genres of jazz, swing, bebop, blues, Dixie, Latin, pop, rock, and even a touch of soul/funk.

South Wind JPE is an exciting aggregation of pro and semi-pro musicians who have had distinguished careers in music education, performance with major orchestras and bands, and all members are A-list, 1st-chair musicians.  

South Wind / JPE draws on a music library of more than 3000 arrangements. In concert mode, SW/JPE features primarily the "post WW2 era" modernist, latter day swing and jazz of Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Lenny Niehaus, Don Menza, Dave Barduhn, and many more. On the pop side, South Wind / JPE also covers Chicago, BS&T, EW&F, ToP, Carlos Santana, Brian Setzer, and many others -- all music arranged for full big band.  

According to Ben Greene, SW/JPE’s leader and drummer, “When we perform the Jazz & Swing classics, this band truly sounds like the originals -- whether it’s Artie Shaw’s ‘Begin the Beguine’, Stan Kenton’s ‘Eager Beaver’ or Count Basie’s ‘Corner Pocket’, one gets immediately moved by the rich sound that only a live and accomplished, 14-horn, 5-rhythm big band can deliver.”

SW/JPE also performs a retro-showcase set of the Glenn Miller / Benny Goodman / Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and Dorsey brothers music of the WW2 swing era. Greene adds, “We suggest that potential event sponsors think of SW/JPE as a multi-generational big band, in repertoire and membership, with a truly unique concert, dance & memory-lane capability.”  So whether the event is a society dinner-dance, a charitable fund-raiser, or a large-audience concert, the South Wind Jazz / Pop Ensemble is the premium choice for excitement and astute musical taste.