CENTAF Band performs unscheduled concert at Bagram

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Craig Seals
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  The U.S. Central Command Air Forces Band held an impromptu performance June 19 for servicemembers at Bagram Air Base when their travel through the country was delayed.

With the assistance from members of the 455th Expeditionary Services Squadron, the band was able to put together an "open mic" night in the recreation tent at Camp Cunningham.

"We had about five hours notice to get this thing set up," said Master Sgt. Steve Grim, the 455th ESVS flight chief. "This is what the recreation center is for. We had a great turnout."

The show opened with a few dedications to the audience. After that, the band changed it up with some swing and Latin music followed by more contemporary songs such as Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville."

Audience participation was encouraged as Airmen played instruments along with the band. Audience members also were encouraged to sing along and some were even brought up to sing with the band during several songs.

"This is what it's all about," said Maj. Chad Steffey, the CENTAF band commander and percussion player. "It's about interacting with the deployed Airmen and getting their story to the folks back home."

Music from the evening's concert ranged from jazz to salsa and from country to disco. At one point in the performance, the band switched gears and cleared the floor to make room for dancers. During the salsa performance, Airmen who had been taking salsa lessons took to the dance floor to practice their moves.

At another point in the band's performance, Master Sgt. Scott Gunn, the CENTAF Band tenor saxophone and bagpipe player, performed several fast paced bagpipe-centric tunes with rousing results.

Staff Sgt. Marcel Marchetti, the CENTAF Band's music director and emcee for the evening, kept the audience entertained between songs with backgrounds of the different members of the band.

The CENTAF Band consists of three vocalists, a trumpet player, a trombone player, a tenor saxophone player, two guitarists, a keyboarder, a bass player, and a bagpipe player.

The CENTAF Band is assigned to the Combined Air Operations Center in Southwest Asia, and is touring throughout the area of responsibility.

"This is the first time we've had a fully formed band assigned to the CAOC," Major Steffey said. "We've been on tour for about five days and we are just getting started on the Afghanistan portion of the tour."

The band plans to play at locations throughout Afghanistan.

"As security allows, we'll play at the forward operating bases, Provincial Reconstruction Teams and even schools," the major said.

Even though the band's short visit here was not on their tour schedule, they will be coming back through Bagram AB again July 3.

The CENTAF Band is a bridge-building tool aimed at fostering positive relations between nations.

"We are a non-kinetic weapon system," Major Steffey said. "Through the universal language of music, we bring a message of peace and hope."

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