Decked out in their crisp dress blues, the U.S. Air Force's Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble may not look the part of a swinging jazz band at first glance. This 18-piece big band which calls Illinois' Scott Air Force Base home, does, however, blow everything from bebop to swing and modern jazz. And they have done so with musicians around the world from Bobby Shew and Sammy Nestico to Jeff Jarvis and Shelley Berg.

Shades of Blue will bring its range of sound to Racine on Sunday, May 17, to perform a free concert at Memorial Hall. And its visit will be a homecoming for one of the band's trombone players, Senior Airman Robert Hyatt. A Racine native, Hyatt has played with the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America - of which the Shades of Blue Ensemble is a part - since 2008. He also performs with the Band of Mid-America's Concert Band and Ceremonial Band, and prior to joining the Band of Mid-America he was with the USAF's Band of the Reserve at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

Hyatt's musical studies include a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a masters of music in jazz studies/performance from DePaul University. He has also studied with trombone great Steve Wiest - who now heads the University of North Texas' famous One O'Clock Lab Band - and toured with Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouvea. And Wyatt's background just scratches the surface of the wealth of jazz experience this ensemble brings to the stage.

Individually, this group of musicians has studied and toured with a variety of big-name artists including Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Stanley Jordan and Eric Marienthal. The band's leader, Master Sgt. Rick Thorp, has performed for four presidents - Carter, Clinton and both Bushes - and his professional music credits include appearances with Natalie Cole, Mannheim Steamroller and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, among others.

Makin' Whoopee

The Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble's Racine show will feature selections composed by Buddy Rich, Tower of Power, Nat King Cole, Al Jarreau, Harry Connick Jr. and more. Hyatt will be featured on an arrangement of "Makin' Whoopee" by Shaun Evans.

The audience on Sunday will also be treated to a Patriotic Celebration featuring the Kenosha Military Academy Color Guard, as well as presentations by the Academy's Armed and Unarmed Drill Teams, under the direction of Sergeant Bill Hasley.

The Color Guard will open the afternoon program and the drill teams will perform during intermission.

Some musicians from the Shades of Blue ensemble performed in Monument Square last summer when the Air Force Band of Mid-America's Concert Band played to an audience of thousands here.

Sunday's concert will mark the first time, however, that the jazz ensemble has played here, according to Jean Garbo of the Downtown Racine Corp. It will kick-off an eight-stop Midwest tour for the band.

"Members of the Concert Band had such a good time last year, they told me that if we'd have them they'd come back every year," said Garbo.

If You Go

WHAT: The U.S. Air Force's Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble in concert.

WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17. Doors open at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Memorial Hall, 72 Seventh St.

COST: Admission is free, but does require a ticket. Tickets are available in advance at the Downtown Racine Corp. office, 425 Main St., as well as at the door (limit of six per person).

INFO: Call (262) 634-6002 for ticket information.

For more about Shades of Blue, go to: http://www.bandofmidamerica.af.mil/