Metro Swing Band

Larry Barr, bandleader

Larry Barr ... Larry has been playing trombone locally all his life. He is the senior member of the Metro Swing Band, having been a band member since its inception. Each week, Larry leads the band through rehearsal pieces and shares his vast experience to benefit the group.

The Sax Section

Dale Peterson, Lead Sax/Vocalist/Asst. Band Leader... Dale has played professional music since the age of 15 and has been a member of the Metro Swing Band for 35 years. He has played around Vancouver for over 60 years in numerous concert bands, military bands, and dance bands. For 12 years he performed with his own 10 piece swing band and has had a trio for the last 19 years, entertaining Seniors in the lower mainland. He enjoys the camaraderie in the Band.
	Peter Findlay ... Peter has been playing sax since his high school days in Kitsilano, although rather sporadically during his 33 years of teaching band to elementary school students. Now retired, Peter has picked up his sax again for the Metro Swing Band. In addition to playing sax, he can be found playing hockey or softball or driving one of his 100+ year old vehicles in local events.
Robby Anchant ... Robby has played with the Metro Swing Band for 4 years, originally on the trombone before moving to the tenor sax. He used to be a bodybuilder and an entertainment wrestler but now spends his time concentrating on playing many different musical instruments.
	Bob Gusola ... Bob holds down the bottom end of the sax section with his big baritone sax tones.

The Trumpet Section

Al Ketcheson ... Al has been playing the trumpet since he was 13. He played through high school and then joined the Vancouver Firefighters Band after he graduated. One of the highlights of his career was playing God Save The Queen for the Queen’s son Edward as he disembarked from the HMCS Calgary. Al joined the Metro Seniors Band 14 years ago and has thoroughly enjoyed playing music with them. "Playing in the community for our seniors and others is a way for me to give something back to the community." Outside of music, one of Al's hobbies is owning collector cars. He currently has a 1975 Duster.
	Lock Gibbs ... Lock has played the trumpet for 75 years and has been in the Metro Swing band for 10 years. He is a former commodore at the Viking Sailing Club and has built a cabin in Whistler and skied for 20 years. He loves to improvise jazz and swing music.
Garry Lees ... In his early life Garry served in the RCAF for 7 years, after which he obtained a university degree and worked with Agriculture Canada until retirement. He has been playing trumpet on and off in different music genres since he taught himself to play the instrument as a teenager. As a retiree, being involved, motivation and self improvement are important to him. Belonging to the Metro Band satisfies these needs as he very much enjoys the music and appreciates the fellowship, camaraderie and encouragment offered by other band members.
	Larrie Forbes ... Larrie's musical career began with enrollment in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) School of Music at age 16, and graduated into the Naden Band for the following 12 years. He was assigned as a Flute player, which led him to playSax in later years. Upon leaving the Navy, he and his brother John formed a duo called “The Brothers Forbes” with John on Piano, and Larrie on drums and vocals. The Brothers Forbes (& Friends) were the house dance band at the Empress Hotel and other Victoria clubs for many years. and in 2009 they were inducted into the Victoria Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Years later, Larrie joined the Vancouver Naval Vets Band on trumpet and Euphonium, and continued as Bandmaster. Currently, he enjoys playing in 2 swing bands and 3 concert bands, and performs individually on vocals for different events.

The Trombone Section

Larry Barr ... What's A Trombone? When I was 8 yrs old I was made to take piano lessons. My teacher was at least 100 yrs old and hated little boys. I still have the large wooden knitting needle that she hit my knuckles with. At 10 yrs old my grade 5 school teacher started a school band and I tried out for it. He said, "no piano player, but you have long arms you could play a trombone" so I hurried home and told my mother I was a trombone player. She said, "What is that?" I said, "I don't know." After many years belonging to many bands and playing many places around the world, my wife said I was in too many bands. The writing was on the wall, - one month later I was down to 3 bands, mainly The Vancouver Fire Dept Band and the Metro Swing Band. I still don't know What's a Trombone?

Ray Radke ... Ray learned to play euphonium many years ago in the Kitsilano boys band. After a long period of not playing, he was inspired to pick up his horn and start playing again after watching his two sons play with the West Vancouver Youth Band. At that time he joined the Vancouver Firefighters band and learned to play trombone. Currently, he plays in the Metro Swing Band as well as a jazz big band.

The Rhythm Section

	Jacynthe Beaudoin ... 'JC' is from a little village called St-Julie between Quebec City and Montreal but she's been living in Vancouver since 1979. She started studying classical piano in her late teens. For the past 20 years she's been playing and singing in bars and restaurants around town and also plays in 2 big Bands, the Metro Swing Band and The Nightshift with Max Todd. JC is passionate about music and has recently released a CD of songs she's written based on her life experiences.
Steve Britten ... Retired publisher, television presenter, high school teacher, and photo-safari tour guide Steve has been passionate about the guitar for over 60 years. He plays in a number of bands covering a variety of genres: Jazz, rock, folk, bluegrass, ukulele, and sings in a 150-member choir. When he's not playing music Steve travels to far-flung countries to photograph wildlife - especially birds.
	Art Liestman ... Art is a retired SFU Professor. He's played music all of his life but took up electric bass about 15 years ago. He's played in a blues band, a Jacques Brel tribute band, a jazz trio, and two big bands. He regularly attends a jazz jam session. When not playing music, he's an active wood artist making small sculptures and teaching and demonstrating his methods internationally.
Tony Di Pietrantonio ... Tony's dad bought him a drum set when he was 10 years old and he has loved playing drums ever since. He has played different genres of music such as ballroom, Latin, contemporary, marching band and swing in numerous local bands over the years.
	Frank Lussier ... Frank has been a member of the Metro Swing Band since 1986. For most of those years he played trombone but recently he has put his trombone away and now complements Tony's drumming with his auxilliary percussion parts.