The Austin Big Band is alive and well and playing music to last a lifetime of memories.

The 17-piece orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin.

All seats are $12.

Music fans who remember the Cedar River All-Stars will recognize the Austin Big Band’s sound.

The former disbanded, and the latter is its new version.

“Bed Bednar and some of our top musicians in the Cedar River All-Stars retired, but we decided to keep the band going and added some new musicians,” said band director, Tim Davis. “We’re just a group of musicians who enjoy this kind of music and don’t want to see it die.”

The Austin Big Band performs swing, jazz, big band, oldies, waltzes and polkas.

Alice Holst will serve as master of ceremonies for Saturday night’s performance. Holst will also sing “I Get a Kick Out of You.”

The audience will hear instrumentals from the local musicians as well as a long list of vocals.

The star-studded list of soloists included current Miss Austin Mandie Mickelson and former Miss Austins Taylor Carlson-Bliese and Angie McDermott, who is the current Miss Minnesota.

Paul Oelfke will sing the classic “Misty” and Brad Weber will perform “New York, New York.”

Erin Schumacher will sing the unforgettable “Unforgettable” and Michael Veldman will perform “Summer Wind.”

Maynard Hanson, legendary bass player in the Cedar River All-Stars and other groups, will lend his vocal talents to the show, singing “Mack The Knife.”

Leslie Meyer will perform a Latin number, “Sway.”

There will be new arrangements to old standards and covers “just the way they did it years ago,” said the band’s director.

Kristin Iverson, Bradley Carlton and Andrew Conway round out the roster of vocalists.

Of course, all eyes and ears will be on the Austin Big Band.

Austin’s appreciation for big band and swing music is undying thanks to the likes of Davis and the Austin Big Band members.

“We feel it’s our duty to share this music that audiences still love so much,” he said.

The Austin Big Band has performed at area venues, including the Albert Lea Elks Club, private parties and public concerts and is available for private bookings for holiday and year-ending parties.

Until then, the swinging and swaying, the foot-tapping and — Who knows? — dancing in the aisles takes place Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre in Austin.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at Hardy Geranium, Hy-Vee Food Store and the Paramount Theatre box office in Austin.

Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, call 434-0934.

For more information about the Austin Big Band, call 433-3470 or go online at www.austinbigband.com.