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# Dean Thiessen Big Band follow-up
- URL: https://www.rhythmchanges.ca/dean-thiessen-big-band-follow-up/
- Published: 2022-05-19T13:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-10T22:10:05.000Z
- Description: Emphasis on the social aspect
- Author: Will Chernoff
- Tags: Free Weekly

This past Saturday, **Dean Thiessen** put on the social event of the year so far for my generation in this scene.

A bunch of my friends **hung out in the venue for two hours** after the set.

It was the **Stranger Friends Orchestra**: previously covered in my free weekly article, [The Dean Thiessen Big Band debut concert](https://www.rhythmchanges.ca/dean-thiessen-big-band-brentwood/).

### Band lineup

- Saxophones: Brent Mah (alto), John Nicholson & Ardeshir Pourkeramati (tenors), Sofia Avelino (bari)
- Trumpets: Rory Hislop (lead), Thad Bailey-Mai & Feven Kidane
- Trombones: Gregory Dent & Janine King, George McNally (bass)
- Rhythm: Chris Fraser (guitar), Suin Park (piano), Jen Kim (bass), Jamie Lee (drums)

### Set list

*All compositions by Dean Thiessen*

Click the links to hear older versions of four tunes; one of them is by the Hard Rubber Orchestra!

1. "[Where The Trees Are](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhQdy2gv3Cc&ref=rhythmchanges.ca)"
2. "Sweet Thursday"
3. "[Purple](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OuKud6lTNM&ref=rhythmchanges.ca)"
4. "Yellow"
5. "Thou Art a Foolish Chicken"
6. "[Four Days](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMDiPiA0-Xw&ref=rhythmchanges.ca)"
7. "Watermelon Sun"
8. "[Freddy C](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK%5Fu4sljwcs&ref=rhythmchanges.ca)"
9. "Places"

Dean **is influenced by John Steinbeck**; his two titles "Sweet Thursday" and "Thou Art a Foolish Chicken" reference the author. 

But I didn't know until now that **Duke Ellington also honoured "Sweet Thursday"** on the B-side of this record:

[Duke Ellington And His Orchestra - Selections From Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 & 2 And Suite ThursdayExplore songs, recommendations, and other album details for Selections From Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 & 2 And Suite Thursday by Duke Ellington And His Orchestra. Compare different versions and buy them all on Discogs.![](https://catalog-assets.discogs.com/1c4f3a21.png)Discogs![](https://i.discogs.com/6Es7LJjfLotHAnPGTGrbxrn6TubMtdTIxMUwKquQ5U4/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:598/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTQ3MDIy/NzQtMTQyNDI0MTE5/NS0xODEzLmpwZWc.jpeg)](https://www.discogs.com/master/304474-Duke-Ellington-And-His-Orchestra-Selections-From-Peer-Gynt-Suites-Nos-1-2-And-Suite-Thursday?ref=rhythmchanges.ca)

Good company!

**The most dramatic composition was "Yellow"**, and the best thing about it was the clapping. 

After a cool intro with hand drumming on the kit and flute doubles, some band members started clapping as a middle section built to a climax. Then, the whole band left space for a single, synchronized clap to ring through the church.

The full band picked up again after that clap. Turns out it was foreshadowing – the arrangement's finale was another single clap. Steinbeck would be proud.

Dean and the Stranger Friends Orchestra **rehearsed over five separate times** leading up to this show. Watch out for any group of young musicians willing to team up, work hard, and devote that much time to a project.