Jazz, Funk, Hip-Hop, Rock and Soul – The Sounds of Raider Nation Return to the Gameday Experience

By Christian Wissmuller • News • August 25, 2021 • Jazzed Magazine

​The Raiders’ gameday experience has historically combined the cacophony of action on the gridiron, the roar of the crowd and soul-stirring live band music.

Synchronized Raiderette routines have been paired with live band musical stylings dating back to the 1960s in the Bay Area, when Del Courtney and his band matched the intensity on the field with their orchestral performances. That tradition continued in Los Angeles when Horace Heidt Jr. led an equally symphonic group of some of the finest musicians in the world, who roused Coliseum crowds for over a decade.

Jazz, funk, hip-hop, rock and soul – the sounds of Raider Nation.

Those live symphonic stylings are being renewed in Las Vegas as an 18-piece orchestra led by award-winning trumpeter, composer, and Phaeton artist David Perrico will entertain the Raider Nation. This large ensemble is a high-energy, diverse, unique, innovative and dynamic group featuring a six-piece acoustic string section, five-piece horn section, four singers and a rhythm section.

Over his career, Perrico, a resident of Las Vegas for more than 17 years, has performed with legends including Gladys Knight, Toni Braxton, Natalie Cole, Frankie Valli, Michael Feinstein, Frankie Avalon and The Temptations. The house band is comprised of world-class Las Vegas musicians who have performed with the likes of Celine Dion, Santana, Beyoncé, Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Shania Twain and Diana Ross.

“It is a great honor to be the conductor as the 18-piece band is absolutely fantastic, and it is a pleasure to entertain Raider Nation,” Perrico said.

Given the experience and versatility of the ensemble, they can perform an array of musical selections across a variety of musical genres, particularly arrangements influenced by the Raiders and Las Vegas, as well as the Silver & Black institution, The Autumn Wind.

The ensemble’s pit will span the length of the Coors Light Landing near the Al Davis Memorial Torch, with the world-famous Las Vegas Strip serving as a backdrop. “We have a lot of exciting new rocking-themed arrangements for the Silver and Black,” Perrico said. “We’re looking forward to an amazing Raiders season in the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World.”

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