(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Enjoy the music of the Greatest Generation when the Sentimental Journey Big Band presents "It Might as Well Be Swing" at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Showtime is 3:00pm.
“It Might as Well Be Swing” takes audiences on an inspired journey through the classics of swing and the melodic gems of other styles that have been transformed by jazz. You can always count on Sentimental Journey Big Band to bring you the best of the Swing Era, while vocalist Altha Morton sings the jazzed-up versions of country, pop, and R&B hits.
What makes this year’s program unique is a vibrant celebration of the enduring dialogue between classical music and jazz. From Bizet to Verdi, and Paganini to Rimsky-Korsakov, composers have long inspired jazz artists with their timeless themes and harmonic structures. This performance explores how classical compositions are transformed through jazz arrangements—whether in the smooth sophistication of a big band, the daring freedom of improvisation, or the rhythmic vitality of swing. Artists like Glenn Miller, Les Brown, the Dorsey brothers, and Benny Goodman took these compositions to the top of the charts!
Whether you’re a lover of pop, classical, or swing, this program promises a foot-tapping, soul-stirring ride through music that refuses to stay in one lane.
Tickets are $28 for adults and $24 for seniors. Tickets are available for purchase online, by phone at 732-255-0500; or in person at the Grunin Center Box Office, Tuesday to Friday, 12:00pm to 5:00pm. Grunin Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Ocean County College in Toms River, New Jersey.
Sentimental Journey Big Band was formed in 1991 by Frank Richetti, who gathered some of the very same musicians who played in the well-known bands of the 30’s and 40’s. Frank played trumpet with the 2nd Marine Air Wing Band during World War II; he toured and performed with local bands until he was 96. Frank organized a group of players who really love the music; he truly carried on the tradition of the “Swing Era.”
Vocalist/Director Altha Morton has appeared throughout the East singing big band, jazz, country, gospel, and pop music. Some of her career highlights include national record releases, opening for Johnny Cash, Bobby Bare, Johnny Lee, and Mel Tillis. She is a professional songwriter belonging to ASCAP and has performed at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame celebration in New York City. Altha taught music in two public school districts and had award winning bands.
Music Director Curt Morton brings to life the swing and jazz that lifted the spirit of a country facing tremendous challenges. His long journey as clarinetist, saxophonist, singer and conductor has visited many genres of music, but the path has led him back to a place where music is partly arranged and partly improvised! His education included a study of Big Band Music with Tommy Tucker and Jazz with Gary Burton. Curt says “The Sentimental Journey Big Band brings a fresh approach to our music, yet still shows respect for the stars of the past.”
For 60 years, Ocean County College, a public two-year community college sponsored by Ocean County and the State of New Jersey, has provided area residents with the opportunity to benefit from higher education. OCC is an innovative academic leader offering affordable, student-centered, high-quality educational experiences that empower diverse learners to achieve their goals while enriching the communities they serve.
