Upcoming Gigs

Friday - 09/12/2008

Private Event

 

Mark Martin - Keys

Andy Mertens ? - Bass

Mike Underwood - Drums

Friday - 10/17/2008

Private Event

 

Mark Martin - Keys

Andy Mertens ? - Bass

Mike Underwood - Drums

Past Residencies

9/22/2005 - 1/25/2007

Thursdays

Fusion

527 W. College

Appleton, WI

920.882.7432

9/27/2005 - 1/31/2006

Tuesdays

The Awlo Show

Washington Mall

Green Bay, WI

920.???.????

10/5/2004 - 5/31/2005

Tuesdays

Big Band Reunion

Frank's Pizza Palace

815 West College Ave.

Appleton, WI 54914

920.734.9131

2/4/2004 - 10/20/2004

Wednesdays

Ravens Lounge

215 E. College Ave.

Appleton, WI 54911

920.832.8230

3/5/2003 - 4/9/2003

Wednesdays

Fusion

23 S. Main St.

Fond du Lac, WI 54935

920.907.8003

Stephen Cooper began the study of the saxophone in 1987 at the age of 12. After two years of formal study, he began studying jazz after attending the University of Wisconsin Green Bay summer jazz camp. While still in high school, he delved into the works of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Michael Brecker. During his senior year of high school (1994), Stephen performed with the Fond du Lac Goodrich High School marching band for a Green bay Packers half time show, was a featured soloist with the school's concert band during its successful Mexico tour, and also held the position of lead alto in the 1994 Wisconsin State Honors Jazz Band, one of only two seats for the entire state. Upon high school graduation and prior to entering college, Stephen held the lead alto chair for the UWGB Jazz 1 ensemble for its tour of Europe, which included performances at the world famous Monteaux Jazz Fest in Montreaux, Switzerland and the North Sea Jazz Fest in Den Haag, Netherlands.
The fall of 1994 began Stephen's attendance to the University of Wisconsin Green Bay towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Studies. While there, he had the opportunity to perform along with many jazz greats, including Joshua Redman, David Liebman, Nelson Rangell, and Bryan Lynch.

It was during this time that Stephen's professional career really began to pick up as well. He began performing with The Groove Hogs at the age of 17, a blues based horn band that he still performs with today. With them, he has performed at countless blues festivals in the U.S. and Canada, including the London, Ontario Bluesfest and the Windsor, Ontario Bluesfest, where they opened for guitar legend Buddy Guy on consecutive nights, for crowds of 8,500 and 13,700 people respectively.
It was during this time that Stephen began to sing lead vocals professionally. Taking what he had learned from his training on the saxophone, he began singing songs by R&B greats such as Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway, and Stevie Wonder. Progressing with time, Stephen has recently begun singing songs in the vocal style of King Pleasure.

Over the years, he has had the opportunity to also open for Kool and The Gang, Three Dog Night, The Beach Boys, Hootie and The Blowfish, Canned Heat, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bob Newhart, Walter Trout, Little Milton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mountain, Common, Steppenwolf, Rod Piazza, Debra Coleman, Eddie King, Tabenoi, Janiva Magness, Survivor, America, Fountains of Wayne, Douglas Spotted Eagle, Blair and Herman's Hermits.

He has had the chance to play or sit in with: Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Brian Lee, Larry McCray, John Lee Hooker Jr., Unity, Hot Sauce, Big Poppa Boogie, Big Mouth, Soul System, Aja, Rockin' Jimmy and the Blues Weasels, East Side Earl and The West Side Horns, Clambake, The Presidents, Unified Soul, The Sweet Baby Rays and the Groove Merchants among others.

2008 has already seen much success for Stephen, as he has taken on a larger role of booking The Jazz Orgy, along with being nominated for a WAMI award for the Reeds/Brass category. As of August 3rd, he has just recently attended the exclusive Saxophone Masterclass with David Liebman in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He continues to press forward, writing and performing throughout the United States.

Mark Te Tai plays the sax athletically. He's highly sought after as a sax player throughout the Fox Cities, primarily due to his stints with uduudu, The Arrangement, and the Matthew Golay band. You'll remember him from recent performances at the Paper City Pub with The Jazz Orgy on Monday nights in Neenah, WI.

John Daniel is an Associate Professor of Music at Lawrence University where he teaches trumpet. He received the Bachelor of Music from Ball State University, a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Iowa, and a Specialist in Music degree from the University of Michigan.

John previously taught at Penn State University for nine years and Abilene Christian University for eleven years. He also won the graduate concerto award and was principal trumpet of orchestras while attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Saginaw... on full scholarship.

Mr. Daniel served as principal trumpet with the San Angelo Symphony Orchestra and Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra for nine years and has performed with the San Antonio Symphony, Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, Palm Beach Opera, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and Music at Penn's Woods Orchestra, as well as for the Broadway revivals of "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Gypsy". He has played recitals in Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, throughout South Korea, and as a jazz musician has appeared with Lionel Hampton, Bill Watrous, Carl spanana, Jon Faddis, Allen Vizzutti, Marvin Stamm, Ernie Watts, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra and many others. Mr. Daniel is a member of the Brass Band of Battle Creek and a clinician/artist for Selmer-Bach musical instruments.

In the spirit of The Jazz Orgy, let's set credentials aside.

In the recent past, John has just returned from a university tour including Julliard in New York, Curtis in Philadelphia, and many more. Plan on hearing John's original compositions and obscure tunes from his vast repertoire.

Stephen Cooper began the study of the saxophone in 1987 at the age of 12. After two years of formal study, he began studying jazz after attending the University of Wisconsin Green Bay summer jazz camp. While still in high school, he delved into the works of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Michael Brecker. During his senior year of high school (1994), Stephen performed with the Fond du Lac Goodrich High School marching band for a Green bay Packers half time show, was a featured soloist with the school's concert band during its successful Mexico tour, and also held the position of lead alto in the 1994 Wisconsin State Honors Jazz Band, one of only two seats for the entire state. Upon high school graduation and prior to entering college, Stephen held the lead alto chair for the UWGB Jazz 1 ensemble for its tour of Europe, which included performances at the world famous Monteaux Jazz Fest in Montreaux, Switzerland and the North Sea Jazz Fest in Den Haag, Netherlands.
The fall of 1994 began Stephen's attendance to the University of Wisconsin Green Bay towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Studies. While there, he had the opportunity to perform along with many jazz greats, including Joshua Redman, David Leibman, Nelson Rangell, and Bryan Lynch.

It was during this time that Stephen's professional career really began to pick up as well. He began performing with The Groove Hogs at the age of 17, a blues based horn band that he still performs with today. With them, he has performed at countless blues festivals in the U.S. and Canada, including the London, Ontario Bluesfest and the Windsor, Ontario Bluesfest, where they opened for guitar legend Buddy Guy on consecutive nights, for crowds of 8,500 and 13,700 people respectively.
It was during this time that Stephen began to sing lead vocals professionally. Taking what he had learned from his training on the saxophone, he began singing songs by R&B greats such as Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway, and Stevie Wonder. Progressing with time, Stephen has recently begun singing songs in the vocal style of King Pleasure.

Over the years, he has had the opportunity to also open for Kool and The Gang, Three Dog Night, The Beach Boys, Hootie and The Blowfish, Canned Heat, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bob Newhart, Walter Trout, Little Milton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mountain, Common, Steppenwolf, Rod Piazza, Debra Coleman, Eddie King, Tabenoi, Janiva Magness, Survivor, America, Fountains of Wayne, Douglas Spotted Eagle, Blair and Herman's Hermits.

He has had the chance to play or sit in with: Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Brian Lee, Larry McCray, John Lee Hooker Jr., Unity, Hot Sauce, Big Poppa Boogie, Big Mouth, Soul System, Aja, Rockin' Jimmy and the Blues Weasels, East Side Earl and The West Side Horns, Clambake, The Presidents, Unified Soul, The Sweet Baby Rays and the Groove Merchants among others.

2008 has already seen much success for Stephen, as he has taken on a larger role of booking The Jazz Orgy, along with being nominated for a WAMI award for the Reeds/Brass category. As of August 3rd, he has just recently attended the exclusive Saxophone Masterclass with David Liebman in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He continues to press forward, writing and performing throughout the United States.

Water City Grill