High Sierra Jazz Band to Say ‘Farewell’ at Jazzaffair

Around five o’clock on Sunday, April 14, 2019, in the Three Rivers Lions Arena in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, when Earl McKee sings “We’ll Meet Again,” the song that has concluded the final set of so many of their appearances over the past four decades, the High Sierra Jazz Band will bring to a close 42 years of performing as one of the country’s top traditional jazz bands. And in all probability, there won’t be a dry eye in the hall. The band made its first appearance at the annual Jazzaffair in 1976 and decided that’s where it all should come to an end. Their retirement announcement stated, “Even though the band sounds as good as ever, we have decided to disband while we still perform at our peak. It is clear that advancing age and associated aches and pains are making it more difficult to continue the hectic pace of travel to and from festivals, concerts, and cruises.” “Not only have we been regulars at all the traditional jazz festivals in the United States and Canada, we have enjoyed numerous tours of Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand and had the pleasure of performing on numerous jazz cruises around the world.” Asked for highlights, Stan Huddleston, the band’s historian, recalled “appearing on the main stage of the Sydney Opera House as well as in a wool shed in the Australia Outback, cruising the Sea of J