News>Air Force Band of the Pacific's "Greatlanders" Bid Farewell to Alaska
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U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific Greatlanders perform on stage at the 2012 Sitka Jazz Festival in Alaska. The US Air Force Band of the Pacific’s Greatlanders are being relocated to Yokota Air Base, Japan during the summer of 2012 as a part of a unit reorganization directed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj Michael Willen)
U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific’s Greatlanders perform on stage at the 2012 Sitka Jazz Festival in Alaska with guest artists Bob Athayde, trumpet, and members of the Native Jazz Quartet: Reuel Lubag, piano, Christian Fabian, bass, and Jason Marsalis, vibes. The US Air Force Band of the Pacific’s Greatlanders are being relocated to Yokota Air Base, Japan during the summer of 2012 as a part of a unit reorganization directed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj Michael Willen)
U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific Greatlanders’ vocalist, Staff Sergeant Clint Whitney, serenades a young listener during a school assembly at Blatchley Middle School in Sitka, Alaska as a part of the 2012 Sitka Jazz Festival. The US Air Force Band of the Pacific’s Greatlanders are being relocated to Yokota Air Base, Japan during the summer of 2012 as a part of a unit reorganization directed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj Michael Willen)
U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific Greatlanders’ drummer, Staff Sergeant Mike Henrie, and drummer Jason Palmer of the Randy Porter Quartet give a joint clinic on the art of playing the cajon as a part of the 2012 Sitka Jazz Festival in Alaska. The US Air Force Band of the Pacific’s Greatlanders are being relocated to Yokota Air Base, Japan during the summer of 2012 as a part of a unit reorganization directed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj Michael Willen)
U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific Greatlanders’ guitarist, Staff Sergeant Ryan Manzi, listens to a student following a performance at Mount Edgecumbe High School in Sitka, Alaska as a part of the 2012 Sitka Jazz Festival. The US Air Force Band of the Pacific’s Greatlanders are being relocated to Yokota Air Base, Japan during the summer of 2012 as a part of a unit reorganization directed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/SMSgt Gail Tucker)
U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific Greatlanders’ bassist, Senior Airman Jordan Kimble, plays along with a student during a clinic at Harrigan Centennial Hall in Sitka, Alaska as part of the 2012 Sitka Jazz Festival. The US Air Force Band of the Pacific’s Greatlanders are being relocated to Yokota Air Base, Japan during the summer of 2012 as a part of a unit reorganization directed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/SMSgt Gail Tucker)
U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific Commander, Major Michael Willen, discusses Air Force career options with two students following the Greatlanders performance at Blatchley Middle School in Sitka, Alaska. The US Air Force Band of the Pacific’s Greatlanders are being relocated to Yokota Air Base, Japan during the summer of 2012 as a part of a unit reorganization directed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/SMSgt Gail Tucker)
by Major Michael Willen, Commander
Air Force Band of the Pacific-Alaska
6/13/2012 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific's Greatlanders Jazz Band from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson has played its last notes in Alaska. The 14-member little big band is being relocated to Yokota Air Base, Japan as part of a unit reorganization directed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. The purpose of the reorganization is to better posture the manpower of the Air Force Band of the Pacific so that it may more efficiently handle the increasing focus of partnership building missions throughout the Asia-Pacific region which is line with current national security strategy.
The Greatlanders held a heritage concert on March 5, 2012 at Bartlett High School's auditorium in Anchorage to celebrate the legacy of Air Force jazz which has been a part of the Alaska scene for nearly seven decades. Several of the band's retired alumni who still live in Anchorage showed their support by attending the concert. The Greatlanders have performed regularly at the Sitka Jazz Festival for the last decade, playing on stage with some of the world's best jazz musicians and giving clinics to Alaskan jazz students.
When the band stands up operations in Japan in August, it will be known as Pacific Showcase, one of two performing groups that will comprise the Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia. Pacific Showcase is the name of the jazz band whose manpower was eliminated in 2007 as a part of force reductions.
The Air Force Band of the Pacific-Alaska's two other ensembles, Top Cover and Alaska Brass, will continue to perform throughout the coming year. However, these two groups along with the Alaska detachment of the Air Force Band of the Pacific will be deactivated in the summer of 2013 as a part of the recently announced Fiscal Year 2013 Air Force manpower force structure changes directed by Headquarters Air Force. More information on the FY2013 force structure changes can be found at: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123292694. The Air Force Band members currently stationed in Alaska will be reassigned to other Air Force Band locations at that time.
