The early 1970's saw some new faces on the band, and it was becoming apparent the composition of the Note was beginning to change. Some four-year enlistees continued to pass through the band, but an increasing percentage of members were career musicians, who found in the Airmen of Note one of the few remaining opportunities to earn a livelihood playing the type of music that they loved. Eight of the musicians on the band at the end of 1970 were destined to spend at least ten years with the Airmen of Note.

By the time Bob Bunton retired in mid-1971, Ernie Hensley was playing lead alto, Steve Wright and Ken Smukal were splitting the trumpet lead, and Dave Steinmeyer continued to head up the trombone section. The featured jazz soloists were Tim Eyermann on alto, Gary Scott on tenor, Dick Reitan on piano, Brent McKesson on bass, Rick Whitehead on guitar (and vocals), Scott Waller and Kenny Smukal on trumpet, and Jerry Johnson on trombone. Danny Garcia introduced the soprano sax to the band as a solo instrument during this period.

Chris Dedrick continued to write for the Note, along with the new second tenor, Roger Hogan, who was to become one of the mainstays of the arranging staff during the 1970's. Dave Napier, Jerry Johnson, and Steve Wright also contributed charts, and Bunton brought in charts by well-known jazz arrangers such as Paul Kondziela, Phil Wilson, Bob Florence, Billy Byers, and Thad Jones.

Alto Sax Ernie Hensley Danny Garcia (69-71) Tim Eyermann (71-) Tenor Sax Gary Scott Jim Towsey (--70) Roger Hogan (70--) Baritone Sax Dave Napier Piano Dick Reitan (70--) Bass Brenk McKesson Drums Gary Gauger (--70) Jim Nolan (71) Guitar Rick Whitehead (70--)	Trumpet Steve Wright Scott Waller Jimmy Lay (70--) Ken Smukal (70--) Trombone Dave Steinmeyer Jerry Johnson (69--) Gary Ross (--70) Tom Streeter Dave Boyle (70--) Staff Arrangers Chris Dedrick (69--)

The band didn't make it back to California during this period, but Walt Skees, Della Reese, and The Arbors visited Washington to record for the Serenade in Blue. By this time, the Note was also committing a fair number of jazz numbers to tape for the program. Besides the usual spring and fall tours, the band travelled to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan for the Kinsman Band Festival, the Mid-East Music Educator's Conference at Pittsburgh, and to the Memphis State and Atlantic City Jazz Festivals.

One of the high points of Bob's tour as leader was the "Music of Black America" concert at Constitution Hall on March 7, 1971. Performing with the Note were jazz artists Clark Terry and Donald Byrd, singer Marian Love, and the Howard University Choir. General "Chappie" James paid an emotional tribute to Bob and the band for undertaking this performance.

Shortly thereafter, Bob decided to retire, and on July 1st he turned the baton over to Lt. Ken Green, closing a very eventful period in the band's history. Under Bob's leadership, public performances had become a very important part of the Airmen of Note's mission, and the band was now playing concert jazz almost as much as dance music. Furthermore, the Note had gained recognition as one of the finest big bands in the country. From the standpoint of both music and performance schedule, the band was firmly established in the direction that they would follow for many years to come.

One of Bob's last actions before leaving the Note was to lay the ground work for redesignating the Airmen of Note as the "Official Air Force Jazz Ensemble." The name change was intended to give recognition to the band's jazz capabilities, and it also served to open the door for many new performance opportunities.