AWESOME!
Accommodating, sweet, personable band members-and fantastic musicians to boot-what more could you want? They showed up on time (1 pm) and gave a wonderful performance. Even my musician guests were impressed.
–Lea I, Austin, TX
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About Us
Big Night Quartet is a highly acclaimed Austin-based Jazz and Blues band that offers a unique mixture of true talent, soulful energy, and polish. With a faithful and growing following, Big Night Quartet captivates audiences with musicianship, effortless style, and a singer that other vocalists in town drop in to listen to.
Intimate when it needs to be and entertaining when it’s time to dance, Big Night Quartet is perfect for your wedding or corporate event and can adapt to your specific taste, budget, and volume / space limitations. In any configuration, from a trio to an 8 piece band, Big Night Quartet delivers unforgettable performance and a timeless sense of elegance.
Big Night Quartet calls upon an eclectic and meticulously crafted music library that mixes jazz standards made famous by artists like Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, Louis Jordan, Chet Baker, Madeleine Peyroux and Blues and Soul tunes made famous by Ray Charles, Etta James, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Taj Mahal, Freddie King, Bonnie Raitt, Little Walter, Bill Withers, and George Benson.
Big Night Quartet is a bridge between the old world and new world. Their passion, versatility, and professionalism will delight you, and your guests will rave about the music for years to come.
Meet the Band
Andy Boutot
Regarded by many as one of the finest vocalists in Austin, Andy’s smooth, rich, soulful voice and distinctive style can flow over you like honey or powerfully soar and take you out of your seat. He’s a singer for whom you stop everything you’re doing and just listen.
Chris Jones
Chris Jones learned to play upright and electric bass while growing up in Portland, Oregon. He then earned a degree in music performance from New School University in New York City, where he performed with Robert Glasper, Jeremy Pelt, Joe Chambers and many others. His next stop was in Tokyo, where he spent eight years playing on the Japanese jazz and rock scenes. Since 2008 he has lived in Austin, where he keeps busy performing and recording with Andre Hayward, Pamela Hart, Marco Santos, Honeybee Jazz Band, and the Unanswered Questions trio, as well as Big Night Quintet.
Aaron Parks
After moving to Austin, TX in 2005, always a passionate drummer, Aaron Parks started taking jazz combo classes and lessons. Ever since, Aaron has been a freelance drummer on the Austin music scene. He has played with groups/artists with a wide range of styles and influences. These include – Big Night, Andre Hayward, Gil del Bosque, Paul Klemperer, Tommy Howard, Cat Clemons, Mente Clara, Wilson Marks, Bruce Saunders, Ben Balmer, Sam Arnold, and many more. In 2018, he released his debut album, Space Jazz. The 2020 sequel, Parks & Wreck, was recognized as one of The Austin Chronicle’s top 100 albums of the year.
Tommy Howard
Tommy Howard is a veteran of the Austin music scene and an in demand guitarist, playing regularly for several of the top Jazz acts in town, including Elias Haslanger and Church on Monday.
Ross Margitza
Born in Detroit, MI, Dr. Ross Margitza is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator. He is a top-called musician who performs frequently in the Austin, Texas area. As an educator, he serves as the Upper School Instrumental Music Director at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. He received his Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. He has toured nationally and internationally and performed with some the most reputable names in Jazz today.
Steven Vague
Steven is an accomplished saxophonist who has also been featured in bands led by Mitch Watkins, Brannen Temple, Ernie Durawa, and Henry Brun. Currently, he freelances, performs dance music with the Pictures, and is featured in the jazz groups Baker’s Dozen, and Los Jazz Vatos.
Joey Colarusso
Dr. Joey Colarusso is the Coordinator of Instrumental Music at St. Edward’s University. He directs the University Jazz and Mariachi Ensembles. Additionally, he teaches Music Theory and Counterpoint. Dr. Colarusso has performed and/or recorded with Frankie Valli, Aretha Franklin, 10,000 Maniacs, and The Temptations, and more.
Rick White
A graduate from the University of Texas School of Music, Rick White has performed in the Austin music scene in a variety of musical settings, including The Monster Big Band, Little Joe Y La Familia, Tish Hinojosa, Dale Watson and many others. In addition to his work with Andrew Boutot, Rick can be heard at Parker Jazz Club where he performs regularly with The Copa Kings, as well as with his vocalist daughter, Barbara White
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