Before back-to-back Utah concerts this weekend, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy took a break just long enough for Glen "The Kid" Marhevka to work his lips into shape.

Marhevka plays the trumpet for the band. He said they play pretty demanding 90-minute sets.

"I gotta work to keep my muscles in top shape," Marhevka said.

As does the rest of the jumpin' swing style band, this summer is full of live shows. Many will be tribute shows preceding the release of their next album — a tribute to the late jazz artist Cab Calloway.

"I have a special place in my heart for for Cab," Marhevka said.

When he was 12 years old, Marhevka saw the jazz icon perform in L.A. "I was blown away," he said.

Marhevka has been playing trumpet since he was 10 years old, but at the time he never would have thought he would be playing in tribute concerts to Calloway.

"If he were alive," Marhevka said, "he would have turned 100 years old last Christmas."

Marhevka said it didn't seem anybody did much as far as celebrations for Calloway's life at his would-be century mark. And since making a Calloway tribute album had been on the back burner for BBVD, according to Marhevka, it seemed like a perfect time to honor the American icon. Marhevka said doing the album was not intimidating but exciting.

"He's been a big influence on the band," Marhevka said. He also said the band does not do many covers in general, but BBVD put one of Calloway's claims to fame, "Minnie the Moocher," on its first album.

"It's been fun listening to his music," Marhevka said. "I didn't realize how complex his music is; I have learned a lot."

All the members of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy seemed to have taken something from Calloway's example.

"He was an entertainer," Marhevka said. "Really wacky."

The band is set to entertain tonight in Layton at the Kenley Centennial Amphitheatre and Saturday in Sandy at the Sandy Amphitheater.

"We're excited to come," Marhevka said. He said the band has enjoyed coming to Utah for the Salt Lake City Jazz Festival in past years.

"Crowds are great in Utah," Marhevka said. He said audiences can expect mainly Calloway covers with BBVD originals thrown in the mix. The fans can also expect to enjoy the musical product of nine guys who have stuck together for more than a decade.

Marhevka said he knew from the beginning that BBVD had a special connection.

"We all love what we do," Marhevka said, "and we're all really good friends."

If you go

What: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Where: Kenley Amphitheater 445 N. Wasatch Drive, Layton

When: Today, 8 p.m.

How much: $18-$28

Phone: 546-8575

Web: tickets.davisarts.org

Also: Saturday, 8 p.m. Sandy Amphitheater , 9400 South and 1300 East, $15-$25 (568-2787 or www.sandyarts.org)

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E-mail: mbennett@desnews.com