Breaking in the new rehearsal director

You remember what it's like when a new man takes over. The band needs to assert itself, to let the new guy know how it's done.

And the new guy needs to make it clear who the boss is and how he's gonna do it. It can be a battle royale.

But not this morning. At 0915 our new director, John Branam, stood in front of the big band for the first time, surveyed the situation and made the right decision.

"Number 151 in the book," he said. "'Li'l Darlin.'"