Forte Jazz Band is all about sharing the love
The group has been playing together with passion and pizazz for more than10 years.
   by Sam McDonald (written for dailypress.com)

For members of the Smithfield-based Forte Jazz Band, love of music runs deep.

"I've been passionate about music for a long time, even before I knew how to play an instrument," said Brian Pinner, saxophonist and the band's leader. "When I was in second grade the teacher asked the class to make up a sentence using the name of a person in the class. My person was named Georgia. My sentence was 'I'm leaving on the midnight train to Georgia.' My teacher laughed until she cried and showed it to all the teachers on the hall."

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Smooth Sounds Downtown
   by E. David Vida (written for Soundings)

Hampton Roads always offers up a good mix of music and shows to satisfy all tastes.

Whether it’s the grand stage of the mega amphitheaters, or the smaller stage of the Norva, or the even smaller stages of the bar circuit around town; there’s always a good band playing somewhere. Music festivals also pop up with regularity, and the summer months brings a diverse bunch of acts to the area....

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   Jazz Band to Play Free Concert for
   200 of Their Closest Friends
   by Frank Roberts, Staff Writer, The Virginian-Pilot

FORTE HAS plenty of slogans to go around: "Smithfield's well-crafted jazz band,'' "Music no less than the best,'' and their favorite, "Musical strength for the mind, body and...

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