BBJM Leader Ira B. Liss
Ever since the early 1970's, when he was an
award-winning Drum major
at Patrick Henry High School and voted most valuable band
member his
senior year, Ira was destined in life to be a band leader.
Since then,
he has had extensive experiences in all phases of the music
and
entertainment industry, from the local to regional and
national scenes,
from music management, retail/wholesale products, talent
acquistion,
concert production & promotion, music education, record
company
producer, saxophonist and bandleader.
Ira B. Liss, at 6 feet 9 inches tall, is Southern CA's
most imminently
watchable Bandleader and Baritone Saxophonist of San
Diego's favorite
Big Band, The Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine, his
18-piece jazz
orchestra which he started in 1979.
His performance credits include work with such world
reknown artists
as Bobby Caldwell, Harry Connick, Sr., Rob McConnell,
Barney Kessel,
Stan Kenton, George Shearing, Peter Sprague, Charles
McPherson, The
Temptations, The Four Tops, Pete Barbutti, Bill Acosta,
Holly Hofmann,
The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Thad Jones, Blue Mitchell,
Chuck Findley,
Bob Summers, Gary Foster, Don Menza, John Guerin and The
Jimmy Maxwell
Orchestra to name several. His productions skills in the
recording studio
have produced 2 compacts discs that have received kudos and
recognition
both locally and nationally, with "First Impressions" in
1995 and then
"Everything Under The Sun" in 1999. That CD was nominated
as Best Jazz
CD by the San Diego Music Awards.