Big Band Death and Taxes to Play Valentine's Day on Alameda's Hornet

A brief swing dance tutorial will precede the evening set aboard the former U.S. Navy ship.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 6:23pm by Ben Kaplan

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The swing band Death and Taxes, led by classical cellist Rebecca Roudman and her husband Jason Eckl, will return to the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum in Alameda on Valentine's Day 2026 for a concert. A 15-minute swing dance lesson will precede the band's evening set, allowing newcomers to get a taste of the dance moves before the music starts.

Why it matters

The Death and Taxes band was formed to provide a platform for young jazz musicians after the Cal State East Bay jazz band was in danger of being cut. The concert on the historic USS Hornet ship continues to bring the classic sound of big band swing music to new audiences, keeping the genre alive.

The details

Death and Taxes is a mix of seasoned professional musicians and energetic up-and-coming players. The band was formed by Roudman, a classically trained cellist, and her husband Eckl, the band's guitarist and arranger, when they became concerned the Cal State East Bay jazz band might be eliminated. The 15-minute swing dance tutorial before the concert is led by the Sacramento-based dance instruction group Rags 2 Rhythm, with the goal of giving newcomers a taste of the dance style without overwhelming them.

  • The Death and Taxes concert will take place on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2026.
  • The swing dance tutorial will begin at around 7:15 p.m., right before the band takes the stage aboard the USS Hornet.

The players

Rebecca Roudman

The sultry lead singer of Death and Taxes, Roudman is a classically trained cellist who is the orchestra director at her alma mater, Cal State East Bay.

Jason Eckl

Roudman's husband, Eckl plays guitar and is the main musical arranger for the Death and Taxes band.

Death and Taxes

A swing band formed by Roudman and Eckl to provide a platform for young jazz musicians after the Cal State East Bay jazz band was in danger of being cut.

Rags 2 Rhythm

A Sacramento-based dance instruction group that will lead the 15-minute swing dance tutorial before the Death and Taxes concert.

Yoni Magallanes

An instructor with Rags 2 Rhythm who says the goal of the tutorial is for attendees to have an enjoyable time, not become expert dancers.

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What they’re saying

“We don't expect you to know how to dance this dance, and we don't also want to give a very long one-hour lesson. We like to just give an appetizer of how to do it.”

— Rebecca Roudman, Lead Singer, Death and Taxes (mercurynews.com)

“We want to gauge it by, 'Did you enjoy yourself? Did you have a good time?' That's our basis of how we see if it's successful or not. Because as a beginner, you're not going to be proficient, but did you at least enjoy your time?”

— Yoni Magallanes, Instructor, Rags 2 Rhythm (mercurynews.com)

What’s next

The Death and Taxes band plans to continue performing swing music concerts, introducing the classic genre to new audiences through events like the Valentine's Day show on the USS Hornet.

The takeaway

The enduring popularity of swing music, even decades after its initial revival, shows the timeless appeal of big band sounds and energetic dance styles. Events like the Death and Taxes concert on the historic Hornet ship help keep this musical tradition alive and accessible for new generations of fans.