NORWICH — This month the Chenango Arts Council is set to host another unique performance: Mark Sands’ Realtime Dixieland Band on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Martin Kappel Theater in Norwich beginning at 7 p.m.

To the layperson the event might serve as just another show at the historic former high school auditorium, but for those grounded within the local music scene of past, it's anything but.

The special performance pays homage to longtime music educator and big band enthusiast Bob Arnell by retired music educator Mark Sands, who—like the late Arnell—has dedicated his life to the proliferation of the arts, specifically unique improvisational and traditional contemporary music.

Dixieland, sometimes referred to as hot jazz or traditional jazz, is a style based on the music that developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century. The four main influences were ragtime, military brass bands, the blues, and gospel music, and Sands found his ear for it early on.

“I started performing in bands in 1968 at the age of 15. Through the years I have played in groups performing everything from 1940s “Society Style” to folk and 50s-80s popular styles. When I moved to Norwich I met Bob Arnell and performed in several of his bands, including the Otselic Valley Dixieland Band,” said Sands. “From 2003 to 2013, I performed with my own group 'First Class.' We performed throughout this area including many summer music concert series,” he added.

While nothing gold can stay, First Class would eventually disband, giving way to some free time in which Sands would reflect. “I took some time to think about the style of music that is missing in our area,” said Sands; “I came up with Dixieland.”

Sometime later, Sands would purchase Bob Arnell's extensive Dixieland library and soon started rehearsing with a fresh set of faces. “We started out with several performances in the summer of 2017, and we are gradually picking up new bookings throughout central New York,” said Sands.