It was a vintage swing night in Hollywood, and the freewheeling, speakeasy spirit of the roaring ‘20s was making the dancers crowd the floor. On the stand, torch songstress Val Peterson was at the mic, singing a tune that would have made the Great Gatsby proud. That’s when he walked in. Paul Frederick: composer, arranger, musician. In his hand, a weathered, black case. In the case, a clarinet.

“Who plays clarinet, anymore?” Peterson thought as she watched Frederick assemble his axe to sit in with the band. “Who sings like that, anymore?” Frederick thought to himself as he put a reed on his horn and listened to Peterson finish a chorus. They nodded at each other, and he started to play. With just a few notes coaxed from the licorice stick, Peterson had her answer.

In such moments bands are born. Call it lucky. Call it Big Lucky…

As fans of classic songwriters and performers – Porter, Berlin, Fitzgerald, Shaw – Peterson and Frederick bonded instantly that night in Hollywood, and Big Lucky was born. From there, they set out to evangelize the greatest music of the past, but with a hipster chic style that’s all their own.

Whether performing as a trio or tearing the roof off with a full, 18-piece orchestra, Big Lucky has been wowing audiences and critics from their native Los Angeles all the way to Paris and Budapest with their unique, retro-lounge swing and glamorous sound.

In 20xx they caught the well-tuned ear of NAME, a vintage and rare Gatsby-era jazz connoisseur who commissioned the band to create their album, “The Venture Capital Follies of 1929.” To summon the speakeasy flavor of the roaring ‘20s, Frederick drew upon his skills as a composer/arranger to create original arrangements for a full dance band while Peterson studied 100s of period recordings to capture just the right sass and flavor.

Critics praised the album’s attention to detail, its superlative sound quality, and the excellent musicianship. The album led to Big Lucky’s first appearance at the famed Biltmore hotel in downtown Los Angeles and guest spots on HBO’s hit shows, “Entourage” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Recently, the band inked a deal to create original songs with their patented, vintage ‘20s lounge flavor for international music library XYZ. They’re also hard at work recording their follow-up album. “Around the World with Big Lucky.” Blending the band’s love of 1950’s and ‘60’s movie themes, Peterson’s unique ability to sing in five languages, and the virtuoso accordion stylings of Nick Ariondo, the new album promises music fans a whirlwind tour of continental, folk, and gypsy sounds served up ala “martini chic.”

With the finest touring and studio musician in Los Angeles behind them, Peterson and Frederick’s Big Lucky brings the best in jazz, standards, swing, pop, and lounge to discriminating music fans the world over.

GUEST: SPENCER WEST

After losing both legs from the pelvis down at the age of five, Spencer tackled challenge after challenge, learning to navigate in a world set against those with disabilities. As a global speaker, he has captivated hundreds of thousands with his keynote address, Redefining Possible. Spencer West is the author of the best-selling book Standing Tall: My Journey, and star of the 2012 documentary film Redefine Possible: The Story of Spencer West. He has shared the stage with luminaries such as former U.S. vice-president

Al Gore, Dr. Jane Goodall, Rick Hansen, Mia Farrow, Martin Sheen, Martin Luther King III, former president Mikhail Gorbachev, and musicians such as Macklemore, Jason Mraz, The Kenyan Boys Choir, Jennifer Hudson and Nelly Furtado. Spencer has been featured countless times in the media, including on 60 Minutes, ABC News, BBC, CNN, CTV and TMZ.

Spencer has accomplished many amazing things throughout his journey to redefine his own possible. In 2012, he was the featured keynote speaker at the YPO/WPO Global Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands and in his wheelchair to bring the world’s attention
to the devastating drought in Kenya. In 2013, Spencer completed an epic 300 km (187 mile) trek by wheelchair and on his hands from Edmonton to Calgary, Canada to raise awareness and money for Free The Children’s clean water projects.

Just because the world tells us something is impossible doesn’t mean we have to believe them.

Spencer is also the 2011 recipient of the Fervent Global Love of Lives Medal from Taiwan’s Cultural and Education Foundation, and served as the Man in Motion Medal Bearer for the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay of Difference Makers. Spencer regularly visits the Maasai Mara region of Kenya to continue his outreach in Free The Children communities. He also serves as an international leadership facilitator, teaching others how to transform lives where the need is greatest.