Liberty Big Band

“The tour was truly one of the best weeks of my career! The band played like angels...”
     —renowned jazz trombonist Jiggs Whigham with the Liberty Big Band, March 2006

The Liberty Big Band presents top-flight, big band jazz throughout the Northeast. Audiences enjoy the group’s varied repertoire, which spans from the great Glenn Miller, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington orchestras to the modern sounds of Matt Catingub, Rob McConnell, and Matt Harris. These talented musicians bring together the skills and experience gained from years of study and performance. Some members are jazz improvisers and some arrange music for the band in their own personal style. People of all ages will find a concert by the Liberty Big Band an exciting and entertaining experience.

 

Technical Sergeant Jon Linker
Trumpet/Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Technical Sergeant Jon Linker is a trumpeter with the United States Air Force Liberty Big Band, Ceremonial Band, Concert Band, and Liberty Pops.

A 1988 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sergeant Linker earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism. He then attended Northern Illinois University, where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance in 1994.

Sergeant Linker joined the United States Air Force in June 1995 and received his first assignment with the United States Air Force Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. In October 1998, he received a three-year assignment with the United States Air Forces in Europe Band, Sembach AB, Germany and has been assigned to the Band of Liberty since October 2001.

In addition to being a featured soloist throughout his Air Force career, he has performed with many civilian professional groups to include the Boston Players Band, Main Attraction, Rockford Symphony, the Moonlight Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Central Big Band, and the Dayton Jazz Orchestra. He has studied the trumpet with Vince Di Martino, Ron Modell, Mark Ponzo and Steve Emery.

His military awards and decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. In addition, Sergeant Linker was recipient of the Academic and John L. Levitow Awards at Airman Leadership School.