When the Jazz Arts Group Big Band takes the stage this afternoon to play music from Lawrence Welk's TV show, the tunes will be a blast from the past, not only for the audience but also the players.

The year was 1955. Ike was in the White House, Disneyland had just opened, and rock and roll was starting to rattle the rafters. But you wouldn’t find any swiveling hips or hound dogs howling on ...