Big Lucky

Biography

Big Lucky is a Los Angeles-based swing and jazz band fronted by vocalist Val Peterson and led by composer, arranger, and saxophonist Paul Frederick. The band was formed when Peterson and Frederick met at a vintage swing night in Hollywood, where Frederick's clarinet playing complemented Peterson's torch singing style. Inspired by classic songwriters and performers including Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Ella Fitzgerald, and Artie Shaw, they bonded instantly and set out to evangelize the greatest music of the past while infusing it with their own hipster chic aesthetic. The band performs nostalgic music spanning from the 1920s to the 1960s, blending retro-lounge swing with glamorous arrangements and original compositions featuring jazz, Latin, and European influences.

Fun Facts

• Big Lucky was born when Paul Frederick walked into a vintage swing night in Hollywood with a weathered black clarinet case and sat in with Val Peterson's band; their musical connection was instant, with Peterson thinking 'Who plays clarinet anymore?' before being won over by Frederick's playing.
• The band's debut album 'The Venture Capital Follies of 1929' was meticulously researched, with Val Peterson studying hundreds of period recordings to capture the authentic sass and flavor of the 1920s speakeasy era.
• Big Lucky's music has been commercially placed on major television shows including HBO's 'Entourage' and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' as well as 'Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,' 'Dancing With The Stars,' and 'Last Ship.'
• The band is remarkably flexible in size, performing anywhere from a trio to a full 18-piece orchestra, and has performed internationally from their native Los Angeles to Paris and Budapest.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Cole Porter - Classic songwriter and major stylistic influence on Big Lucky's musical direction (Porter's standards and compositions) [Historical influence]
• Irving Berlin - Classic songwriter and major stylistic influence on Big Lucky's musical direction (Berlin's standards and compositions) [Historical influence]
• Ella Fitzgerald - Vocal and performance influence on Val Peterson's singing style (Fitzgerald's jazz standards and recordings) [Historical influence]
• Artie Shaw - Musical and stylistic influence on the band's swing aesthetic (Shaw's swing compositions and arrangements) [Historical influence]

Key Collaborators

• Val Peterson - Co-founder and frontwoman, torch songstress and vocalist (All Big Lucky albums and performances) [2000s-present]
• Paul Frederick - Co-founder, bandleader, composer, arranger, and saxophonist/clarinetist (All Big Lucky albums and arrangements) [2000s-present]
• Nick Ariondo - Virtuoso accordionist featured on recent recordings (Around the World with Big Lucky album) [2020s]
• Erica Bushner - Vintage and rare Gatsby-era jazz connoisseur who commissioned the band's debut album (The Venture Capital Follies of 1929) [2000s]

External Links

• Spotify