Archive of Guests at Peabody's
Sunday Nights at 9:30pm
544 North Main Street
Oshkosh, WI 54901
920.235.4004

Sunday - September 5, 2010 - 9:30 pm
Kurt Shipe - Trumpet
Mark Martin - Keys
Andy Mertens - Bass
Michael Underwood - Drums

Trumpeter Kurt Shipe is currently student at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Kurt has had a very active musically throughout his high school and college years. Mr. Shipe was a member of the Wisconsin School Music Association’s State Honors Jazz Ensemble, the Fond du Lac Area All-Star Jazz Ensemble, the Fox Valley South Honor Band, the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band and the Lighthouse Big Band. He has had the privilege of performing with such outstanding conductors, educators and performers as, Bob Mintzer and the Yellow Jackets, Tom “Bones” Malone, Maynard Ferguson, Mike Vax and the Stan Kenton Alumni Band, the Empire Brass, Bob Washut, Fred Sturm, Kenni Holman, Nicholas Payton, and Grammy award winning artist Nachito Herrera. Kurt’s private trumpet instructors include Dr. Randall Sorensen, Dr. Marty Robinson, and Mr. Robert Baca.

During his senior year in high school, Mr. Shipe received the Outstanding Soloist Award at UW Green Bay’s annual Jazz Festival, and was the recipient of the Woody Herman Herman Scholarship, given by the Greater Milwaukee Area Foundation. He was the first person outside the greater Milwaukee area to have been awarded this scholarship. In addition to his school and performance activities, Kurt is a member of the Wisconsin National Guard 132nd Division Army Band, and is currently playing with the 2 time Grammy nominated, 6 time best college big band in Downbeat Magazine, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire’s Jazz 1.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

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.

Chris Brown & Chris Felts's's' melodies will shower you with petals of cherry and apple blossoms as they whimsically descend from trees of life throughout the cool and crispy spring breezes of sax.

Ryan Schiedermayer is a highly respected and recognized percussionist/drummer with fifteen years of performance experience. He has taught extensively and performed on numerous recordings. Ryan has also studied Latin percussion in Puerto Rico and played on several international tours.

He was influenced early in his career by the soulful funk sounds of performers such as James Brown and Tower of Power. Other inspiring artists were Stevie Wonder, Giovanni Hildalgo, Mario Bauza, and Arturo Sandoval. Collectively, these influences would steer him into the musical worlds of R&B, Jazz, and Latin.

In a quest to learn more about Latin music and culture, Ryan studied abroad in Puerto Rico in 1998 and 1999. While working with his teacher Jesus Cepeda of the internationally famed group Los Hermanos Cepeda, he focused on traditional folkloric music of Puerto Rico, such as Bomba, Plena, and Salsa. With a flare for travel, Ryan had an opportunity to perform overseas, touring on multiple occasions for the U.S. Department of Defense and USO. These tours traveled throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and the Mediterranean.

Ryan has toured with the acclaimed Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans, and has performed with Janet Planet, Madisalsa, and Grammy nominee Jeff Lorber. Ryan has opened up for many national acts, his most memorable being Spyro Gyra, Arturo Sandoval, Tower of Power, Nestor Torres, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

In addition to his busy schedule with Streetlife, Ryan teaches drum set and Latin percussion to students at Milwaukee’s Interstate Music Company. He also conducts clinics at schools and with youth groups. Ryan has academic staff member status at UW Milwaukee and works in the department of Dance and Theatre as an instructional specialist accompanist. Ryan is currently working on his first solo recording project, scheduled for release this fall.

Erik Bertaud was born on May 19th, 1967 in Redwood City, California and spent most of his life in the Oakland, California area. He started playing saxophone in school at the age of 9 and was a featured soloist from his first concert throughout high school. At the age of 15 he was playing lead alto in the Chabot College 3rd Jazz Band as well as lead in the Community Concert Band and the 1st Concert Band at the same college.

After graduating high school, he went to study Jazz Theory, History and Performance at Chabot College full time under renowned jazz pianist Frank Sumares. While at Chabot, Erik was a featured soloist and played with such clinicians as: Milt Jackson, the Phil Woods Quintet with Tommy Harrell, the Gary Burton Project, Mondré Moffett and Delfeayo Marsalis, the Larry Vucovich Quartet, the Charlie Shoemake Group, Al "Tootie" Heath on Multiple occasions and many others. It was also during this stretch that Erik became involved with the Bay Area Salsa scene, playing soprano and tenor with Salsa Radianté. While in this band they opened concerts for the Peter Escovedo Orchestra and Tito Puente.

After 4 years at Chabot he seasoned himself by showing up regularly to sessions lead by guitarist Bruce Foreman as well as the jumping East Bay sessions on the Okaland - Berkeley border at the famed "Bird Cage" on 28th and Telegraph avenue where he was a member of the East Bay Jazz Historical Society and was regularly featured along such greats as Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson, Bob Porter, John Henderson, E.W. Winwright and Herschel Kennedy among others.

Erik was also involved in the Oakland, CA blues and R&B scene where he regularly played with singer/guitarist/bassist Gail Muldrow (Sly and the Family Stone, Graham Central Station, the Johnny Otis Review and Prince) and the Soul Power Posse along with saxophonist Leroy Harper (James Brown's Band Painted Man Group) and members of Confunkshun, Tony! Toni! Toné!. With Gail Erik also played with notable blues greats such as Curtis Mayfield and Curtis Lawson.

The saxophonist was also a stalwart in the San Francisco Bay Area's "Acid Jazz" scene of the early nineties and sat in regularly with groups such as the Mo'Fessionals, Alphabet Soup and the Charlie Hunter group, He performed in his own band Whatever that played concerts with such groups as Weapon of Choice, the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, the Limbomaniacs and Fungo Mungo, He was also fortunate enough to play weekly with the Brian Melvin Trio which included not only drummer Brian Melvin (Jaco Pastorius) but the brilliant and innovative pianist Dred Scott (Alphabet Soup, the Dred Scot Trio) and virtuoso bassist Wilbur Krebbs. This session lasted over a full year.

It was during this time that Erik also recorded with the controversial rapper Paris. He is the featured soloist and horn section player on multiple tracks from the "Sleeping With the Enemy" and "Guerilla Funk" albums. He also recorded on the rap album "Silenced by the Greed".

It was while touring with the Tony Nieto salsa group that he was reunited with renowned and Bammy winning/Grammy nominated trombonist Michael Rinta (Carlos Santana, Avancé) and ended up in the nationally touring R&B group, the Dynatones. Rounding out the "Hi-Fi Horn Section" with Erik Bertaud and Mike Rinta was trumpet/flugel horn player Mike Rose (Todd Rundgren, Lydia Pense & Cold Blood). While touring in the Dynatones Erik played multiple dates at Summerfest, the House of Blues in Chicago, The Zoo Bar in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Black Diamond on Memphis, Tennesee's famed Beale Street, the Hop in Houston and any other hot spot in any state in the lower 50 states. While touring with the Dynatones they played dates along with Tommy Castro, Otis Clay, Room Full of Blues and Robert Thomas Jr. among many others. During Erik's time with the band they were also the touring band for such great composer/performers as Sir Mac Rice (composer of: Mustang Sally, Cadillac Assembly Line and Cheaper to Keep Her), Syl Johnson (composer of: Take Me to the River and Any Way the Wind Blows) and Buddy Miles.

Erik Bertaud has been living in Green Bay since moving here from Oakland, CA in 1998. He has played with such local groups as Big Mouth (baritone sax), Slick Monkey, Hyptonite, TNT, Cold Hard Cash, the Swingin' Johnsons and Michael's Saints. His new contemporary jazz group WDKY includes drummer James LeFevre, guitarist Tommy Reynolds, Keyboardist/Pianist Dennis Vandenberg and bassist Justin Zopel. He has recently been featured alongside highly acclaimed and award winning local saxophonist Steve Cooper in Wisconsin's premier jazz group, the Jazz Orgy.

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.

Flat out, this chick has a set of pipes. Her vocals bring forth images of smoky bars with drunk yet good-looking admirers cheering on from the back of the room at the close of every phrasing... which, by some strange coincidence, is exactly the place where you can see her next.

Heavily into older standards, Erin can change at will and at whim midstream to either the classic rendition of a song to something more modern and forceful. Federal officials have banned her from performing in the state of California, as her raspy beltings consistently rate a 4.2 on the Richter scale.

FOXY INDEPENDENCE FEDERAL BREAKDANCE
FOXY INDEPENDENCE FEDERAL BREAKDANCE
FOXY INDEPENDENCE FEDERAL BREAKDANCE
FOXY INDEPENDENCE FEDERAL BREAKDANCE
Scott Marishcen on guitar!

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

Erik's biography is on its way, travelling at nearly the speed of light through cyberspace.

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.

Some say he blew in from the Southwest ridin’ a dust devil, like some dark omen of an even darker future. Others say he was sent as a mystical messenger of peace and hope. Still others realize he’s just another honky muh’fuddah lookin’ for love. Born on a mayonaise farm in Central California, Byron Trammell a.k.a. Leon Laughlin, a.k.a. King Mellow, a.k.a. PsiPhiKon, a.k.a. "the screen door killer" somehow survived a middle-class upbringing in New Mexico, and somewhere along the line, learned how to make a guitar go ‘twang-boo-ba-doot’. He opted for jazz after his hip-hop career fizzled (couldn't keep his baseball cap on sideways).

At the tender age of 40, he took to the nomadic life which led him in to Oshkosh, where he has resided as a legal alien since ‘06. His musical resume includes lots of stints with lots of people you’ve never heard of, including several incarnations of combos and swing bands led by the legendary Lloyd Lamar...blah, blah, blah,......zzzzzzzzz.

Born under the sign of “No Parking” his turn-ons include fried foods, beer, and anti-coagulants.

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.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

Erik's biography will be posted here soon ...

Some say he blew in from the Southwest ridin’ a dust devil, like some dark omen of an even darker future. Others say he was sent as a mystical messenger of peace and hope. Still others realize he’s just another honky muh’fuddah lookin’ for love. Born on a mayonaise farm in Central California, Byron Trammell a.k.a. Leon Laughlin, a.k.a. King Mellow, a.k.a. PsiPhiKon, a.k.a. "the screen door killer" somehow survived a middle-class upbringing in New Mexico, and somewhere along the line, learned how to make a guitar go ‘twang-boo-ba-doot’. He opted for jazz after his hip-hop career fizzled (couldn't keep his baseball cap on sideways).

At the tender age of 40, he took to the nomadic life which led him in to Oshkosh, where he has resided as a legal alien since ‘06. His musical resume includes lots of stints with lots of people you’ve never heard of, including several incarnations of combos and swing bands led by the legendary Lloyd Lamar...blah, blah, blah,......zzzzzzzzz.

Born under the sign of “No Parking” his turn-ons include fried foods, beer, and anti-coagulants.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

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.

Chris Felts employs his jazz saxophone skills at every available opportunity. While he clearly exhibits a deep respect for the instrument and its history, he frequently chooses to stray from what would be considered 'traditional' saxophone. This departure is evident in his performances with Taco and the Baja Marimba Band, an ensemble that encourages him to explore the saxophone's funky side, revealing an esoteric insanity that has become a signature of his style.

Currently, Chris studies and performs the works of the great masters who have come before him in the Oshkosh-based jazz quartet "Becky and the Guys" and the folk-rock group the "Amy Phillips Trio". Additionally, Chris has been both a guest and frequent "jammer" at the Jazz Orgy. Chris intends to reveal his heart, soul, and funkitude to all those who are daring enough to be in attendance.

Rick Maki's biography will be posted soon ...

Some say he blew in from the Southwest ridin’ a dust devil, like some dark omen of an even darker future. Others say he was sent as a mystical messenger of peace and hope. Still others realize he’s just another honky muh’fuddah lookin’ for love. Born on a mayonaise farm in Central California, Byron Trammell a.k.a. Leon Laughlin, a.k.a. King Mellow, a.k.a. PsiPhiKon, a.k.a. "the screen door killer" somehow survived a middle-class upbringing in New Mexico, and somewhere along the line, learned how to make a guitar go ‘twang-boo-ba-doot’. He opted for jazz after his hip-hop career fizzled (couldn't keep his baseball cap on sideways).

At the tender age of 40, he took to the nomadic life which led him in to Oshkosh, where he has resided as a legal alien since ‘06. His musical resume includes lots of stints with lots of people you’ve never heard of, including several incarnations of combos and swing bands led by the legendary Lloyd Lamar...blah, blah, blah,......zzzzzzzzz.

Born under the sign of “No Parking” his turn-ons include fried foods, beer, and anti-coagulants.

Flat out, this chick has a set of pipes. Her vocals bring forth images of smoky bars with drunk yet good-looking admirers cheering on from the back of the room at the close of every phrasing... which, by some strange coincidence, is exactly the place where you can see her next.

Heavily into older standards, Erin can change at will and at whim midstream to either the classic rendition of a song to something more modern and forceful. Federal officials have banned her from performing in the state of California, as her raspy beltings consistently rate a 4.2 on the Richter scale.

Scott's biography will be posted here soon ...

Rick Maki's biography will be posted soon ...

Larry Darling has been actively touring throughout the United States giving concerts and music clinics at hundreds of colleges and universities. This includes appearances at the Monterrey, Telluride, Newport, Reno, Galveston, Chicago and Milwaukee's Summerfest Jazz Festivals. He is a former member of the Fox Valley's own MATRIX Jazz group based out of Appleton, WI. His resume also includes a seemingly endless list of concert sound engineering jobs for musicians like Gerry Mulligan, Bobby McFerrin, Dizzy Gillespie, Zoot Sims, The Hi-Lows, Diane Schurr, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby Shew, Carl Fontanna, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Jon Hendriks, John Faddis, John Scofield, Tim Hagans, and more.

Currently, Larry Darling is Director of Recording at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Supervising a recording crew of 20 student engineers and recording assistants, Mr. Darling oversees the recording and archiving of more than 250 ensemble, student, and faculty music recitals and concerts each academic year.

Brian's biography will be posted soon ...

Ken Skitch, Trombone/Bass Guitar (Sometimes)/Vocals, was born and raised a "canuck" (FYI...that's American for he's Canadian) in Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada. Ken graduated from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Music in composition and Trombone performance. While in Canada, he played with the Kingston symphony, recorded for the CBC on trombone and played bass guitar with The Revolving Parts band in Toronto.

Ken moved to the U.S. in 1987 (long story-ask him on a break) and began playing bass with the No Outlet Band, Nearvana, Former Members band and anyone else who needed a bass player for the night (or anyone else who would have him for that matter!). He has been a member of Bacchus Lotus, Russ Allen and Swingtown, Clambake and the Mother Shuckin' Horns, Big Band Reunion and has performed with various groups including the Temptations. He is currently in the band Fat Brass Inc. In addition to his many playing obligations, Ken has written, recorded and produced his own Jazz CD entitled "Springtime In The Valley". Ken is also a sought after session player and has many recording credits to his name.

When not playing in Fat Brass or any of the other dozen bands he is in, Ken can be found managing the instrument repair department for Heid Music. Ken has been repairing instruments since 1982, and has been heard to say, while on stage with Fat Brass, "I can fix that".

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.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

Dr. Marty Robinson, Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, directs the jazz ensembles and teaches jazz history in addition to applied trumpet students. He holds degrees from Lawrence University (B.M. in trumpet performance), the Eastman School of Music (M.M. in jazz studies), and Florida State University (D.M. in composition). Prior to his appointment at Oshkosh for the fall of 2004, Dr. Robinson served for 10 years as Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” in 2001.

Dr. Robinson’s interests cover the broad spectrum of music as a performer, composer, musicologist, and educator. As a trumpeter, he performs with the Oshkosh Symphony, several brass quintets, and leads his own jazz quartet in regional and national performances. His jazz CD, “Standards – Vol. 1,” was released in 2003. As a pianist, he has served as accompanist for his own students’ trumpet recitals and he is also in demand as a jazz pianist.

He is the composer and trumpeter on numerous recordings that have been aired in recent years on national television and radio, including music for ABC’s 20/20, Fox’s NFL Films, PBS’s National Geographic, and CBS’s U.S. Open Tennis Coverage, as well as ad campaigns for NBC’s ER, Hershey’s Chocolate, ADT Security, and Burger King. His television music has been heard internationally in Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Robert Levy, trumpet, is one of this country's more diverse musicians. He has thirty recordings on more than ten labels to his credit as soloist, chamber musician, with jazz groups, and as conductor. A frequent guest soloist and clinician, he has performed and conducted throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Portugal. He has served as guest artist and on the faculty for many summer music festivals and camps, including Interlochen, Empire Brass Symposium at Tanglewood, Red Lodge (Montana), Tidewater Music Festival (Maryland), Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (Michigan), Encore/Coda (Maine), Northwest College (Wyoming), and numerous others. In 1991 he was guest artist-in-residence at the Western Academy of Performing Arts, performing a solo recital and presenting trumpet master classes.

Locally he performs with the Lawrence Brass, Extempo, and Flex and is co-leader of the 17 member Big Band Reunion (BBR), which recently produced its first CD following performances with Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, Marlena Shaw, and Eddie Daniels. He holds membership in the International Trumpet Guild, and Wisconsin Alliance for Composers. Robert Levy holds degrees from the Ithaca College School of Music and North Texas State University.

Scott's biography will be posted soon ...

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.

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.

Pronounced "Dee-Rone", D-Ron fuses many styles of music throughout their improvisational live performances. The music consists of mostly improvised creations derived from preconceived original compositions. Some of D-Ron's tunes are fabricated from the soldering of autoschediasms that are later listened to, edited, and then named. This process is repeated, resulting in a veritable plethora of "Funk Frenzies".

Aside from the four main members, D-Ron is lucky enough to be graced by the presence of a variety of special guests and superstar DJs: Electro-Cute (Pretty Tony), Short Fuse (J-Ran), Jimmy-O (Jimmy Ohm, cousin of Cody Ohm).

The success of the band would not be possible without the diligent devotion of the House Cabinet Members: Dick Hertz (T-Rav), KC/DC (Eddie), Parnellious Turbine (Parnell), Trance Sister (Sarah), Killa' Hertz (Katie, no relation to Dick). If you weren't listed, post hate messages on the D-Ron MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/ronies

...

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

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.

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.

Flat out, this chick has a set of pipes. Her vocals bring forth images of smoky bars with drunk yet good-looking admirers cheering on from the back of the room at the close of every phrasing... which, by some strange coincidence, is exactly the place where you can see her next.

Heavily into older standards, Erin can change at will and at whim midstream to either the classic rendition of a song to something more modern and forceful. Federal officials have banned her from performing in the state of California, as her raspy beltings consistently rate a 4.2 on the Richter scale.

more info coming soon ...

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

Biography coming soon...

Robert Levy, trumpet, is one of this country's more diverse musicians. He has thirty recordings on more than ten labels to his credit as soloist, chamber musician, with jazz groups, and as conductor. A frequent guest soloist and clinician, he has performed and conducted throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Portugal. He has served as guest artist and on the faculty for many summer music festivals and camps, including Interlochen, Empire Brass Symposium at Tanglewood, Red Lodge (Montana), Tidewater Music Festival (Maryland), Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (Michigan), Encore/Coda (Maine), Northwest College (Wyoming), and numerous others. In 1991 he was guest artist-in-residence at the Western Academy of Performing Arts, performing a solo recital and presenting trumpet master classes.

Locally he performs with the Lawrence Brass, Extempo, and Flex and is co-leader of the 17 member Big Band Reunion (BBR), which recently produced its first CD following performances with Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, Marlena Shaw, and Eddie Daniels. He holds membership in the International Trumpet Guild, and Wisconsin Alliance for Composers. Robert Levy holds degrees from the Ithaca College School of Music and North Texas State University.

Rick Maki (Xylophone, Vibes, Percussion, Vocals) - “Xylo Conundrum” as he is so affectionately called by Marblehead, has been a staple in the music scene around the Fox Valley for many, many years. He has played in a variety of rock, blues and jazz bands and sits in wherever needed. He has most recently played with Blues Pool and now is a regular with Tin Sandwich and Marblehead Giles and the Blues Busters. He can also be seen on a somewhat regular basis playing with the long-running Jazz Orgy, held Sunday evenings at Peabodys.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

The Jazz Orgy will be perfoming in the Iowa Jazz Fest over the 4th of July weekend, so the disco funk powerhouse Men In Suits will are taking the stage to fulfill your Sunday musical prescription

Last time was a smashing success, this time add Stephen Cooper to the mix!

Look out for the legendary monstrous guitarist (part reptile, part insect) as he makes another triumphant return to Peabody's Jazz Orgy, to amaze and thrill with death-defying licks and riffs that will cause audience members to writhe and slither with ecstasy until drinks are spilled and ears are 'gasmed. See his fingers twist freakishly... hear the crazy jazz... smell the funk... taste the beer...

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Rick Maki (Xylophone, Vibes, Percussion, Vocals) - “Xylo Conundrum” as he is so affectionately called by Marblehead, has been a staple in the music scene around the Fox Valley for many, many years. He has played in a variety of rock, blues and jazz bands and sits in wherever needed. He has most recently played with Blues Pool and now is a regular with Tin Sandwich and Marblehead Giles and the Blues Busters. He can also be seen on a somewhat regular basis playing with the long-running Jazz Orgy, held Sunday evenings at Peabodys.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

Ryan Schiedermayer is a highly respected and recognized percussionist/drummer with fifteen years of performance experience. He has taught extensively and performed on numerous recordings. Ryan has also studied Latin percussion in Puerto Rico and played on several international tours.

He was influenced early in his career by the soulful funk sounds of performers such as James Brown and Tower of Power. Other inspiring artists were Stevie Wonder, Giovanni Hildalgo, Mario Bauza, and Arturo Sandoval. Collectively, these influences would steer him into the musical worlds of R&B, Jazz, and Latin.

In a quest to learn more about Latin music and culture, Ryan studied abroad in Puerto Rico in 1998 and 1999. While working with his teacher Jesus Cepeda of the internationally famed group Los Hermanos Cepeda, he focused on traditional folkloric music of Puerto Rico, such as Bomba, Plena, and Salsa. With a flare for travel, Ryan had an opportunity to perform overseas, touring on multiple occasions for the U.S. Department of Defense and USO. These tours traveled throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and the Mediterranean.

Ryan has toured with the acclaimed Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans, and has performed with Janet Planet, Madisalsa, and Grammy nominee Jeff Lorber. Ryan has opened up for many national acts, his most memorable being Spyro Gyra, Arturo Sandoval, Tower of Power, Nestor Torres, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

In addition to his busy schedule with Streetlife, Ryan teaches drum set and Latin percussion to students at Milwaukee’s Interstate Music Company. He also conducts clinics at schools and with youth groups. Ryan has academic staff member status at UW Milwaukee and works in the department of Dance and Theatre as an instructional specialist accompanist. Ryan is currently working on his first solo recording project, scheduled for release this fall.

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.

Dr. Marty Robinson, Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, directs the jazz ensembles and teaches jazz history in addition to applied trumpet students. He holds degrees from Lawrence University (B.M. in trumpet performance), the Eastman School of Music (M.M. in jazz studies), and Florida State University (D.M. in composition). Prior to his appointment at Oshkosh for the fall of 2004, Dr. Robinson served for 10 years as Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” in 2001.

Dr. Robinson’s interests cover the broad spectrum of music as a performer, composer, musicologist, and educator. As a trumpeter, he performs with the Oshkosh Symphony, several brass quintets, and leads his own jazz quartet in regional and national performances. His jazz CD, “Standards – Vol. 1,” was released in 2003. As a pianist, he has served as accompanist for his own students’ trumpet recitals and he is also in demand as a jazz pianist.

He is the composer and trumpeter on numerous recordings that have been aired in recent years on national television and radio, including music for ABC’s 20/20, Fox’s NFL Films, PBS’s National Geographic, and CBS’s U.S. Open Tennis Coverage, as well as ad campaigns for NBC’s ER, Hershey’s Chocolate, ADT Security, and Burger King. His television music has been heard internationally in Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Dr. Rob McWilliams, an internationally accomplished musician, conductor, and educator, was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. A United States resident since 1991, Dr. McWilliams holds a Ph. D. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Melbourne.

Dr. McWilliams began his career as a music educator at Eltham College, an independent K-12 school in Melbourne. During his seven-year tenure at this school he initiated a new instrumental program and directed its development into an accomplished and award winning program recognized throughout the country. For the next five years, Dr. McWilliams served on the faculty of the University of Melbourne Institute of Education where he taught and coordinated courses in brass, jazz, and instrumental music pedagogy and conducted the Wind Symphony, Brass Choir, and Jazz Big Band. He has also served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in most states of Australia, and as an examiner for the Victorian Board of Education and Victorian College of the Arts.

The Australian Wind Orchestra has regularly retained Dr. McWilliams' conducting services since its inception in 1990. Under his direction as one of the regular conductors, the orchestra has toured and performed at major international music conferences in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong. In July 1995, Dr. McWilliams conducted the Australian Wind Orchestra at the prestigious World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Dr. McWilliams also has extensive experience as a performer on trumpet and keyboard and has performed with a number of domestic and international symphonic ensembles and jazz groups. Being an experienced and popular guest conductor and clinician has provided Dr. McWilliams with the opportunity to travel extensively and work with professional and amateur school and adult musicians. In the U.S. he has served as guest conductor and clinician in Alabama, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio working with high school and university musicians and honor bands at the state and regional levels. While resident in Minnesota Dr. McWilliams served as Musical Director for the Roseville Community Band and Associate Conductor of the Grand Symphonic Winds, two civic adult performance groups based in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

Dr. McWilliams is currently Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and teaches courses in instrumental music education.

Brad Curran began playing trumpet in the fourth grade and was playing gigs and arranging by age twelve. Since that time, he has had the good fortune to perform in a variety of musical settings ranging from classical to jazz to pop/rock including appearances with jazz stars Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Med Flory, Conte Candoli, Bill Watrous and Buddy DeFranco. Other diverse credits include the Temptations, the Jan Garber Orchestra, various symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, brass ensembles and numerous recording sessions.

Danny Jerabek has been playing professionally since the age of 8 years old. He was given his first button accordion at the age of 9, and hasn't looked back since. Danny combines and melts many different genres of music into his band, Copper Box, and also in his solo shows as you will hear/see. This show will feature some Brazilian(Forro), classic 70's rock, a little
Jazz, 2 polkas, and a bunch of original works from Danny.

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.

Pronounced "Dee-Rone", D-Ron fuses many styles of music throughout their improvisational live performances. The music consists of mostly improvised creations derived from preconceived original compositions. Some of D-Ron's tunes are fabricated from the soldering of autoschediasms that are later listened to, edited, and then named. This process is repeated, resulting in a veritable plethora of "Funk Frenzies".

Aside from the four main members, D-Ron is lucky enough to be graced by the presence of a variety of special guests and superstar DJs: Electro-Cute (Pretty Tony), Short Fuse (J-Ran), Jimmy-O (Jimmy Ohm, cousin of Cody Ohm).

The success of the band would not be possible without the diligent devotion of the House Cabinet Members: Dick Hertz (T-Rav), KC/DC (Eddie), Parnellious Turbine (Parnell), Trance Sister (Sarah), Killa' Hertz (Katie, no relation to Dick). If you weren't listed, post hate messages on the D-Ron MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/ronies

Look out for the legendary monstrous guitarist (part reptile, part insect) as he makes another triumphant return to Peabody's Jazz Orgy, to amaze and thrill with death-defying licks and riffs that will cause audience members to writhe and slither with ecstasy until drinks are spilled and ears are 'gasmed. See his fingers twist freakishly... hear the crazy jazz... smell the funk... taste the beer...

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Chris Felts employs his jazz saxophone skills at every available opportunity. While he clearly exhibits a deep respect for the instrument and its history, he frequently chooses to stray from what would be considered 'traditional' saxophone. This departure is evident in his performances with Taco and the Baja Marimba Band, an ensemble that encourages him to explore the saxophone's funky side, revealing an esoteric insanity that has become a signature of his style.

Currently, Chris studies and performs the works of the great masters who have come before him in the Oshkosh-based jazz quartet "Becky and the Guys" and the folk-rock group the "Amy Phillips Trio". Additionally, Chris has been both a guest and frequent "jammer" at the Jazz Orgy. Chris intends to reveal his heart, soul, and funkitude to all those who are daring enough to be in attendance.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

Ethan Keller is a songwriter with a unique story. This Midwestern son of a former Catholic priest and former nun possesses a simple musical vision: original and emotional art. His young sounding voice depicts youth and rawness, but his intelligent and poetic lyrics tackle mature subjects and often explore spiritual depths. His genre diversity echoes an eclectic personality. His stage presence emits experience. His groovy & driven, band-approach to songwriting reveals a hip, sophisticated vibe.

Performing since age 13, Ethan comes from the Wisconsin coffeehouse, bar and outdoor summer festival scene, where cover bands rule, but where original talent is red hot. Whether it is recording at home in Milwaukee or in Grammy winning studios in Hollywood; seeing the country from mini-van or from the tour bus after winning Jim Beam National Band Search; performing for fifty jazz club patrons, hundreds of youths, thousands of festival-goers, or live on national TV; playing the biggest cities to the smallest towns; Ethan has seen many things you could, and couldn’t imagine.

Ethan Keller’s solo debut in 2006, entitled “Face Light” receives great reviews, as well as local/regional airplay. Keller has sold a total of over 7000 records, and shared the stage with countless national acts. Having performed in 35 states, Keller relentlessly perseveres; always gigging, recording, and continuing to work at the musical career he was ordained to pursue.

Flat out, this chick has a set of pipes. Her vocals bring forth images of smoky bars with drunk yet good-looking admirers cheering on from the back of the room at the close of every phrasing... which, by some strange coincidence, is exactly the place where you can see her next.

Heavily into older standards, Erin can change at will and at whim midstream to either the classic rendition of a song to something more modern and forceful. Federal officials have banned her from performing in the state of California, as her raspy beltings consistently rate a 4.2 on the Richter scale.

You know Rick Rajchel for his rippin' tenor saxophone riffs from the Cool Waters Band shows that you are always rocking out at. Rick's new nickname is "Ricochet" due to his hard-core computer skills and voracious chess dispositions. Come witness the sultry side of this sax machine as he pleasures your ears with delicious musical licks, accompanied by your local jazz bros, The Jazz Orgy.

Some say he blew in from the Southwest ridin’ a dust devil, like some dark omen of an even darker future. Others say he was sent as a mystical messenger of peace and hope. Still others realize he’s just another honky muh’fuddah lookin’ for love. Born on a mayonaise farm in Central California, Byron Trammell a.k.a. Leon Laughlin, a.k.a. King Mellow, a.k.a. PsiPhiKon, a.k.a. "the screen door killer" somehow survived a middle-class upbringing in New Mexico, and somewhere along the line, learned how to make a guitar go ‘twang-boo-ba-doot’. He opted for jazz after his hip-hop career fizzled (couldn't keep his baseball cap on sideways).

At the tender age of 40, he took to the nomadic life which led him in to Oshkosh, where he has resided as a legal alien since ‘06. His musical resume includes lots of stints with lots of people you’ve never heard of, including several incarnations of combos and swing bands led by the legendary Lloyd Lamar...blah, blah, blah,......zzzzzzzzz.

Born under the sign of “No Parking” his turn-ons include fried foods, beer, and anti-coagulants.

of musical settings ranging from classical to jazz to pop/rock including appearances with jazz stars Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Med Flory, Conte Candoli, Bill Watrous and Buddy DeFranco. Other diverse credits include the Temptations, the Jan Garber Orchestra, various symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, brass ensembles and numerous recording sessions.

Ryan Schiedermayer is a highly respected and recognized percussionist/drummer with fifteen years of performance experience. He has taught extensively and performed on numerous recordings. Ryan has also studied Latin percussion in Puerto Rico and played on several international tours.

He was influenced early in his career by the soulful funk sounds of performers such as James Brown and Tower of Power. Other inspiring artists were Stevie Wonder, Giovanni Hildalgo, Mario Bauza, and Arturo Sandoval. Collectively, these influences would steer him into the musical worlds of R&B, Jazz, and Latin.

In a quest to learn more about Latin music and culture, Ryan studied abroad in Puerto Rico in 1998 and 1999. While working with his teacher Jesus Cepeda of the internationally famed group Los Hermanos Cepeda, he focused on traditional folkloric music of Puerto Rico, such as Bomba, Plena, and Salsa. With a flare for travel, Ryan had an opportunity to perform overseas, touring on multiple occasions for the U.S. Department of Defense and USO. These tours traveled throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and the Mediterranean.

Ryan has toured with the acclaimed Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans, and has performed with Janet Planet, Madisalsa, and Grammy nominee Jeff Lorber. Ryan has opened up for many national acts, his most memorable being Spyro Gyra, Arturo Sandoval, Tower of Power, Nestor Torres, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

In addition to his busy schedule with Streetlife, Ryan teaches drum set and Latin percussion to students at Milwaukee’s Interstate Music Company. He also conducts clinics at schools and with youth groups. Ryan has academic staff member status at UW Milwaukee and works in the department of Dance and Theatre as an instructional specialist accompanist. Ryan is currently working on his first solo recording project, scheduled for release this fall.

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.

Rick Maki (Xylophone, Vibes, Percussion, Vocals) - “Xylo Conundrum” as he is so affectionately called by Marblehead, has been a staple in the music scene around the Fox Valley for many, many years. He has played in a variety of rock, blues and jazz bands and sits in wherever needed. He has most recently played with Blues Pool and now is a regular with Tin Sandwich and Marblehead Giles and the Blues Busters. He can also be seen on a somewhat regular basis playing with the long-running Jazz Orgy, held Sunday evenings at Peabodys.

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.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

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.

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.

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.

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.

more info coming soon ...

Luke Thomas was born in a small town in Wisconsin. At 6 years old, his parents made him take piano lessons and he cried at every single one, making poor Mrs. Virchow extremely uncomfortable. In fourth grade, his parents made the mistake of getting him a drumset. Luke banged on it a lot in a basement with red carpet and almost died following an incident with a piece of butterscotch hard candy. Luke picked up the guitar after hearing the blazing harmonized guitar riffage of "Cover Girl" by New Kids on the Block. He played all-school mass for his Catholic school, and played Stairway to Heaven on a black Squier Strat for his eighth grade talent show. In high school, Luke discovered that chicks dig guitar and joined a "punk" band called Happy Hour that learned how to rap. From that day forward, they wanted to be Rage Against the Machine, albeit a more teenage-children-of-white-middle-class-parents variety. Luke went to college and studied jazz, but didn’t really know anything except for Metallica and 311 songs. In college, he listened to John Scofield and Mike Stern and decided that jazz was cool. Luke went to school for a long time, and they gave him a piece of paper that said "Good Job, Thanks for the Money, Sucker! Love, University of Wisconsin." After graduation, he played guitar and taught other people’s children to play guitar and run around and question everything. Finally, he decided Wisconsin was no place to rock’n’roll, so the ambitious young man moved to California to rock’n’roll there instead.

Luke currently resides in Oakland, California, where he is a full-time gigging musician, educator, composer, and recording artist. He is in the studio recording a full-length instrumental full-band album, titled "Inertia", scheduled for release in late fall of 2008 with Big Hit Studios. Inertia will feature 10 original compositions in a myriad of styles that feature Luke’s compositional skills and some amazing guitar playing, as well as contributions by some of the most talented musicians in the Bay Area. Luke also recently composed an original score for a short film, entitled “Totemist,” released at several international film festivals in 2007.

Luke presently handles lead guitar duties and vocals in the San Francisco Bay Area’s "local maniacs" and jazz-funk-rock fiends the Angry Philosophers, Phoenix and AfterBuffalo, and with female world-reggae artist Agent Double E (Renee Asteria). He works as a writer, arranger, and producer throughout the Bay Area. Luke has played and recorded with a variety of musical projects, including Synapse, Aja, Big Papa Boogie, Finless Brown, Amber Haze, Soul System, Temporary Music Group (leader), Tensegrity Nine, and the Jazz Orgy. Luke has also performed in a number of musical theater productions, including "Fame" and "Footloose" and independent productions.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

tephen 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. He continues to press forward, writing and performing throughout the United States.

Drummer/percussionist/songwriter Ryan Schiedermayer masters rhythmic nuances to create a soulful, dynamic sound. A highly regarded live performance and session musician, Ryan approaches both live and studio performances with passion and care, making him adaptable to a variety of musical styles. Ryan is particularly well-versed in Latin, Jazz and R&B music.

Influenced early in his career by soulful funk artists James Brown and Tower of Power, Ryan’s interests expanded into the percussive depths of world music. In a quest to learn more about Latin music and culture, Ryan studied Latin/Afro-Rican technique in Puerto Rico with teacher Jesus Cepeda of the internationally famed group Los Hermanos Cepeda, and focused on developing his skills in traditional folkloric music of Puerto Rico, such as Bomba, Plena, and Salsa.

Ryan’s dedication to his craft has made him a highly sought after performer. He is a member of one of Milwaukee’s most popular bands Streetlife. As the Milwaukee Bucks house band, Streetlife appears in front of millions of people each season both live and on television. They have been honored with multiple awards from WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) including Best Adult Contemporary Group and Best Contemporary Jazz Group.

Ryan performs with several other prominent bands and tours both nationally and abroad. He can be seen touring with nationally renowned Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans, and traveling overseas for the U.S Department of Defense and USO with Doug Allen and the Chicago Mob. Ryan also joined the Rock/R&B band Solset in 2007, and has been integral in their breakthrough EP launch.

Ryan’s career highlights include performing with Sam Llanas of the Bodeans and Grammy nominee’s Jeff Lorber and Jim Peterik. Ryan has also opened for several national acts, including Arturo Sandoval, Tower of Power, and Spyro Gyra.

Ryan shares his energy and enthusiasm for music by teaching drum set and Latin percussion to students at Interstate Music Company, and conducts clinics at Milwaukee area schools and youth groups. He is a Meinl Percussion artist. Ryan is also a member of the academic staff at UW Milwaukee and works in the Dance and Theatre department as an instructional accompanist.

Ryan’s latest musical endeavor has been his greatest joy. Sentido, Ryan’s first solo album, showcases his rhythmic sensibility and songwriting skills. Co-produced with Streetlife guitarist Peter Mac, Sentido blends contemporary Jazz and R&B with organic percussive elements, creating a fresh and sophisticated sound. Sentido is scheduled for release in spring 2008.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

Byron Trammell grew up in the jazz un-Mecca of southern New Mexico and developed as a mostly self-taught guitarist. Over the years, occasional opportunities to play came up, including stints as guitarist with the Cam-Com Jazz Coalition, and as bassist for the Silver City, New Mexico based, US version of the Joe Haider Quartet. Other experiences included gigs with players like guitarist Jay Hammel, saxophonist Bolek Peplowski, Robert Brown and Nightshades, and drummer Larry Brown.

During a teaching stint in Guatemala, Byron played as an ongoing guest performer with Luis Fernando Quijivix’ Q-Jazz Quartet, performing standards, bop, latin, and straight ahead jazz.

Returning from a teaching assignment in Kuwait last June, Mark recruited him in forming the Jazz Mill at Silver City’s Twisted Vine. Trammell recently relocated to Oshkosh to pursue more of the jazz life.

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 vocalese 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. He continues to press forward, writing and performing throughout the United States.

Drummer/percussionist/songwriter Ryan Schiedermayer masters rhythmic nuances to create a soulful, dynamic sound. A highly regarded live performance and session musician, Ryan approaches both live and studio performances with passion and care, making him adaptable to a variety of musical styles. Ryan is particularly well-versed in Latin, Jazz and R&B music.

Influenced early in his career by soulful funk artists James Brown and Tower of Power, Ryan’s interests expanded into the percussive depths of world music. In a quest to learn more about Latin music and culture, Ryan studied Latin/Afro-Rican technique in Puerto Rico with teacher Jesus Cepeda of the internationally famed group Los Hermanos Cepeda, and focused on developing his skills in traditional folkloric music of Puerto Rico, such as Bomba, Plena, and Salsa.

Ryan’s dedication to his craft has made him a highly sought after performer. He is a member of one of Milwaukee’s most popular bands Streetlife. As the Milwaukee Bucks house band, Streetlife appears in front of millions of people each season both live and on television. They have been honored with multiple awards from WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) including Best Adult Contemporary Group and Best Contemporary Jazz Group.

Ryan performs with several other prominent bands and tours both nationally and abroad. He can be seen touring with nationally renowned Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans, and traveling overseas for the U.S Department of Defense and USO with Doug Allen and the Chicago Mob. Ryan also joined the Rock/R&B band Solset in 2007, and has been integral in their breakthrough EP launch.

Ryan’s career highlights include performing with Sam Llanas of the Bodeans and Grammy nominee’s Jeff Lorber and Jim Peterik. Ryan has also opened for several national acts, including Arturo Sandoval, Tower of Power, and Spyro Gyra.

Ryan shares his energy and enthusiasm for music by teaching drum set and Latin percussion to students at Interstate Music Company, and conducts clinics at Milwaukee area schools and youth groups. He is a Meinl Percussion artist. Ryan is also a member of the academic staff at UW Milwaukee and works in the Dance and Theatre department as an instructional accompanist.

Ryan’s latest musical endeavor has been his greatest joy. Sentido, Ryan’s first solo album, showcases his rhythmic sensibility and songwriting skills. Co-produced with Streetlife guitarist Peter Mac, Sentido blends contemporary Jazz and R&B with organic percussive elements, creating a fresh and sophisticated sound. Sentido is scheduled for release in spring 2008.

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.

Rick Maki (Xylophone, Vibes, Percussion, Vocals) - “Xylo Conundrum” as he is so affectionately called by Marblehead, has been a staple in the music scene around the Fox Valley for many, many years. He has played in a variety of rock, blues and jazz bands and sits in wherever needed. He has most recently played with Blues Pool and now is a regular with Tin Sandwich and Marblehead Giles and the Blues Busters. He can also be seen on a somewhat regular basis playing with the long-running Jazz Orgy, held Sunday evenings at Peabodys.

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. He continues to press forward, writing and performing throughout the United States.

Ethan Keller is a songwriter with a unique story. This Midwestern son of a former Catholic priest and former nun possesses a simple musical vision: original and emotional art. His young sounding voice depicts youth and rawness, but his intelligent and poetic lyrics tackle mature subjects and often explore spiritual depths. His genre diversity echoes an eclectic personality. His stage presence emits experience. His groovy & driven, band-approach to songwriting reveals a hip, sophisticated vibe.

Performing since age 13, Ethan comes from the Wisconsin coffeehouse, bar and outdoor summer festival scene, where cover bands rule, but where original talent is red hot. Whether it is recording at home in Milwaukee or in Grammy winning studios in Hollywood; seeing the country from mini-van or from the tour bus after winning Jim Beam National Band Search; performing for fifty jazz club patrons, hundreds of youths, thousands of festival-goers, or live on national TV; playing the biggest cities to the smallest towns; Ethan has seen many things you could, and couldn’t imagine.

Ethan Keller’s solo debut in 2006, entitled “Face Light” receives great reviews, as well as local/regional airplay. Keller has sold a total of over 7000 records, and shared the stage with countless national acts. Having performed in 35 states, Keller relentlessly perseveres; always gigging, recording, and continuing to work at the musical career he was ordained to pursue.

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

Ryan Schiedermayer is a highly respected and recognized percussionist/drummer with fifteen years of performance experience. He has taught extensively and performed on numerous recordings. Ryan has also studied Latin percussion in Puerto Rico and played on several international tours.

THEIR CUMULATIVE RECITAL WILL HAVE A KILLER BIO SOON!

Ross Catterton a reed player from Lawrence Music Conservatory in Appleton. His inventive sax compositions range from mellow/sad/pensive to joyful, happy and energetic.

Chris Felts employs his jazz saxophone skills at every available opportunity. While he clearly exhibits a deep respect for the instrument and its history, he frequently chooses to stray from what would be considered 'traditional' saxophone. This departure is evident in his performances with Taco and the Baja Marimba Band, an ensemble that encourages him to explore the saxophone's funky side, revealing an esoteric insanity that has become a signature of his style.

Currently, Chris studies and performs the works of the great masters who have come before him in the Oshkosh-based jazz quartet "Becky and the Guys" and the folk-rock group the "Amy Phillips Trio". Additionally, Chris has been both a guest and frequent "jammer" at the Jazz Orgy. Chris intends to reveal his heart, soul, and funkitude to all those who are daring enough to be in attendance.

We, The Jazz Orgy, have returned from a warm and sunny Southwest American tour and therefore will be vigilantly PROTESTING WINTER at Peabody's Ale House this Sunday! We will be protesting the cold weather, snow, driving on ice, and all the things that suck about winter. We will -NOT- be protesting the mistletoe, snow bunnies, snow angels, fireplaces, and all the things that make winter awesome.

Our featured guest, Stephen Cooper, is a singer and tenor saxophone player that can not help but be noticed. "Coop" is an incredibly talented musician that has traveled with the Jazz Orgy on several tours throughout the Midwest and Southwest America. He provides the necessary intensity that is demanded by the songs that we play. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, which is precisely the reason why should not miss the WINTER PROTEST PARTY this Sunday! If you can not attend, please feel free to join us in spirit by PROTESTING WINTER in your own sweet and creative way ... if you feel like it.

Byron Trammell grew up in the jazz un-Mecca of southern New Mexico and developed as a mostly self-taught guitarist. Over the years, occasional opportunities to play came up, including stints as guitarist with the Cam-Com Jazz Coalition, and as bassist for the Silver City, New Mexico based, US version of the Joe Haider Quartet. Other experiences included gigs with players like guitarist Jay Hammel, saxophonist Bolek Peplowski, Robert Brown and Nightshades, and drummer Larry Brown.

During a teaching stint in Guatemala, Byron played as an ongoing guest performer with Luis Fernando Quijivix’ Q-Jazz Quartet, performing standards, bop, latin, and straight ahead jazz.

Returning from a teaching assignment in Kuwait last June, Mark recruited him in forming the Jazz Mill at Silver City’s Twisted Vine. Trammell recently relocated to Oshkosh to pursue more of the jazz life.

Ross Catterton a reed player from Lawrence Music Conservatory in Appleton. His inventive sax compositions range from mellow/sad/pensive to joyful, happy and energetic.

Robert Levy, trumpet, is one of this country's more diverse musicians. He has thirty recordings on more than ten labels to his credit as soloist, chamber musician, with jazz groups, and as conductor. A frequent guest soloist and clinician, he has performed and conducted throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Portugal. He has served as guest artist and on the faculty for many summer music festivals and camps, including Interlochen, Empire Brass Symposium at Tanglewood, Red Lodge (Montana), Tidewater Music Festival (Maryland), Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (Michigan), Encore/Coda (Maine), Northwest College (Wyoming), and numerous others. In 1991 he was guest artist-in-residence at the Western Academy of Performing Arts, performing a solo recital and presenting trumpet master classes.

Locally he performs with the Lawrence Brass, Extempo, and Flex and is co-leader of the 17 member Big Band Reunion (BBR), which recently produced its first CD following performances with Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, Marlena Shaw, and Eddie Daniels. He holds membership in the International Trumpet Guild, and Wisconsin Alliance for Composers. Robert Levy holds degrees from the Ithaca College School of Music and North Texas State University.

Larry Darling has been actively touring throughout the United States giving concerts and music clinics at hundreds of colleges and universities. This includes appearances at the Monterrey, Telluride, Newport, Reno, Galveston, Chicago and Milwaukee's Summerfest Jazz Festivals. He is a former member of the Fox Valley's own MATRIX Jazz group based out of Appleton, WI. His resume also includes a seemingly endless list of concert sound engineering jobs for musicians like Gerry Mulligan, Bobby McFerrin, Dizzy Gillespie, Zoot Sims, The Hi-Lows, Diane Schurr, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby Shew, Carl Fontanna, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Jon Hendriks, John Faddis, John Scofield, Tim Hagans, and more.

Currently, Larry Darling is Director of Recording at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Supervising a recording crew of 20 student engineers and recording assistants, Mr. Darling oversees the recording and archiving of more than 250 ensemble, student, and faculty music recitals and concerts each academic year.

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 recent past, John has just returned from a tour in Texas, Washington, and a few more stops. Plan on hearing John's original compositions and obscure tunes from his vast repertoire.

Dr. Rob McWilliams, an internationally accomplished musician, conductor, and educator, was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. A United States resident since 1991, Dr. McWilliams holds a Ph. D. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Melbourne.

Dr. McWilliams began his career as a music educator at Eltham College, an independent K-12 school in Melbourne. During his seven-year tenure at this school he initiated a new instrumental program and directed its development into an accomplished and award winning program recognized throughout the country. For the next five years, Dr. McWilliams served on the faculty of the University of Melbourne Institute of Education where he taught and coordinated courses in brass, jazz, and instrumental music pedagogy and conducted the Wind Symphony, Brass Choir, and Jazz Big Band. He has also served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in most states of Australia, and as an examiner for the Victorian Board of Education and Victorian College of the Arts.

The Australian Wind Orchestra has regularly retained Dr. McWilliams' conducting services since its inception in 1990. Under his direction as one of the regular conductors, the orchestra has toured and performed at major international music conferences in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong. In July 1995, Dr. McWilliams conducted the Australian Wind Orchestra at the prestigious World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Dr. McWilliams also has extensive experience as a performer on trumpet and keyboard and has performed with a number of domestic and international symphonic ensembles and jazz groups. Being an experienced and popular guest conductor and clinician has provided Dr. McWilliams with the opportunity to travel extensively and work with professional and amateur school and adult musicians. In the U.S. he has served as guest conductor and clinician in Alabama, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio working with high school and university musicians and honor bands at the state and regional levels. While resident in Minnesota Dr. McWilliams served as Musical Director for the Roseville Community Band and Associate Conductor of the Grand Symphonic Winds, two civic adult performance groups based in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

Dr. McWilliams is currently Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and teaches courses in instrumental music education.

Dr. Marty Robinson, Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, directs the jazz ensembles and teaches jazz history in addition to applied trumpet students. He holds degrees from Lawrence University (B.M. in trumpet performance), the Eastman School of Music (M.M. in jazz studies), and Florida State University (D.M. in composition). Prior to his appointment at Oshkosh for the fall of 2004, Dr. Robinson served for 10 years as Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” in 2001.

Dr. Robinson’s interests cover the broad spectrum of music as a performer, composer, musicologist, and educator. As a trumpeter, he performs with the Oshkosh Symphony, several brass quintets, and leads his own jazz quartet in regional and national performances. His jazz CD, “Standards – Vol. 1,” was released in 2003. As a pianist, he has served as accompanist for his own students’ trumpet recitals and he is also in demand as a jazz pianist.

He is the composer and trumpeter on numerous recordings that have been aired in recent years on national television and radio, including music for ABC’s 20/20, Fox’s NFL Films, PBS’s National Geographic, and CBS’s U.S. Open Tennis Coverage, as well as ad campaigns for NBC’s ER, Hershey’s Chocolate, ADT Security, and Burger King. His television music has been heard internationally in Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

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.

Ross is a reed player from Lawrence Music Conservatory in Appleton. His inventive sax compositions range from mellow/sad/pensive to joyful, happy and energetic. A fun-filled night of soulful grooves and tasty tunes.

Burt Klein, Jazz Vampyre, is over 600 years old. He originally hails from Romania, but has lost the accent, due to extensive touring. He has been involved with the creation of EVERY form of popular music in the last 600 years. He is the very definition of a superstar. His voice and stage presence emit powerful, hypnotic, hilarious tomfoolery. The ladies want him and the men want to beat him.

He has shared the stage or worked with the likes of: Mozart, Burt Bacharach, Beethoven, Lionel Ritchie, Scott Joplin, the entire Bach family, Louis Armstrong, the entire Partridge Family, Old Dirty Bastard, Elvis Presley, Robert Johnson, Ren & Stimpy, Steamboat Willy, George Clinton, Slayer, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Miles Davis, Hank Williams I, II, and III, The Rat Pack, Neil Sedaka, Lemmy from Motorhead, Celine Dion (the early years), Roy Orbison, Tom Jones, Lambchop, DJ Funk, Hall & Oates, Edith Piaf, Ozzy Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, Tony Danza, Tony Clifton, Tony the Tiger, Johnny Cash, Kool Keith, Wayne Newton, Elmer Fudd, Gustav Mahler, and Adam West...just to name a few. Sadly, no artist will admit collaborating with the Jazz Vampyre, much less acknowledge his pitiful existence. What gives?!

Larry Darling has been actively touring throughout the United States giving concerts and music clinics at hundreds of colleges and universities. This includes appearances at the Monterrey, Telluride, Newport, Reno, Galveston, Chicago and Milwaukee's Summerfest Jazz Festivals. He is a former member of the Fox Valley's own MATRIX Jazz group based out of Appleton, WI. His resume also includes a seemingly endless list of concert sound engineering jobs for musicians like Gerry Mulligan, Bobby McFerrin, Dizzy Gillespie, Zoot Sims, The Hi-Lows, Diane Schurr, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby Shew, Carl Fontanna, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Jon Hendriks, John Faddis, John Scofield, Tim Hagans, and more.

Currently, Larry Darling is Director of Recording at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Supervising a recording crew of 20 student engineers and recording assistants, Mr. Darling oversees the recording and archiving of more than 250 ensemble, student, and faculty music recitals and concerts each academic year.

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 recent past, John has just returned from a tour in Texas, Washington, and a few more stops. Plan on hearing John's original compositions and obscure tunes from his vast repertoire.

Mark Powers's extensive percussion studies include work with Dave Stanoch, Gordy Knudtson, Marv Dahlgren, Paul Wertico, Payton MacDonald, Dane Richeson, Ed Thigpen, Rakalam Bob Moses, Graham Lear, Emmanuel and Rubben Agbeli, Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro, Jorge Alabe, Mamady Keita, Jerry Leake and Takaaki Masuko. Since leaving Music Tech with a diploma in Professional Percussion Performance, Mark has divided his time between teaching and performing. As an instructor, he currently teaches private drumset and percussion lessons at Weathers Music in Salem, Oregon, as well as group hand drumming classes at Chemeketa Community College and Riverfront Wellness Center. Mark is often Artist-in-Residence at area elementary, middle and high schools- conducting 'Junk Jam' workshops, teaching West African drumming styles and directing percussion ensembles. In addition, he facilitates 'Rhythms At Work,' a corporate teambuilding workshop, and presents percussion-based Correctional Education programs in adult and juvenile facilities. Stretching internationally, Mark has performed and studied percussion in China, Thailand and Ghana, West Africa. Mark's continually growing list of performing and recording credits covers the full gamut of styles, including appearances with Corey Sterling (Kenny Wayne Shepherd), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Devon Evans (Bob Marley and the Wailers), the late Frankie Yankovic, Sam Winch, the Willamette Valley Saxophone Quartet, Jack Grassel, Bob Maynard, Bob Ventre, Bob Levy and John Daniel, among many others. He has worked musically with Hollywood Images, the Ronald McDonald House, Oshkosh B'Gosh, Narrator Tracks, the Aveda/Horst Institute, the Minnesota Twins and the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. Along with current and former bandmates, Mark has played shows with Head East, The Radiators, Lee Rocker, Buckwheat Zydeco, Junior Brown, Brave Combo and Pat Benatar and has received the following awards:

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Byron Trammell grew up in the jazz "un-mecca" of southern New Mexico, where he developed his (mostly) self-taught skills as a jazz guitarist. During those years, Byron seized every opportunity to play jazz (there were not many in the New Mexican desert), including stints as the guitarist in the Cam-Com Jazz Coalition, and gigs playing bass for the American version of the Joe Haider Quartet. As a session player he gained even more experience performing with some of New Mexico's finest jazz pros: guitarist Jay Hammel, saxophonist Bolek Peplowski, pianist Robert Brown, and drummer Larry Brown.

Recently, during a teaching stint in Guatemala, Byron was featured as an ongoing guest performer with Luis Fernando Quijivix’ Q-Jazz Quartet, performing standards, bop, latin, and straight-ahead jazz.

More recently, in June of 2005, Byron returned to Silver City from a teaching assignment in Kuwait. Meanwhile, in the nearby Mimres River Valley, Jazz Orgy pianist Mark Martin had isolated himself on a mountain ranch to study the piano ... but the isolation was quickly squelched by a primal desire for musical interaction. It wasn't long before Mark recruited Byron for the formation of a Sunday night jazz jam session called "The Jazz Mill", and for the rest of that summer the sweet sounds of jazz emanated from Silver City’s celebrated wine bar, The Twisted Vine.

In the Spring of 2006, Trammell relocated to Oshkosh to pursue more of the jazz life.

and a sneak preview of next week's featured guest, the Jazz Orgy's very own Byron Trammel playing guitar of course ... IT'S GUITAR NIGHT

The Jerabeks are the driving force behind Copper Box, a band based in Wisconsin that masterfully delivers the sweet sounds of the bayou ("accordion-swamp-rock") to unsuspecting northerners. The music has a variety of root influences including cajun, country, rock, polka, zydeco, blues, and Tex-Mex, all infused with pure, raw emotion. It brings people together to have a good time watching and listening to musicians that love to make music.

One can only imagine the music that will be created when the Jerabeks join forces with the Jazz Orgy. Danny Jerabek is bringing his trumpet (and/or cornet) and hopefully his button-box, and Michelle Jerabek will bring her tenor saxophone, and if we are lucky she will bring her boisterous baritone saxophone. We may even hear the nefarious Dave Jerabek thumping bass lines on Andy Merten's upright bass or perhaps a Sousaphone -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousaphone

"You probably should not miss this. Your choice." -ed

Ross's biography is on its way.

Flat out, this chick has a set of pipes. Her vocals bring forth images of smoky bars with drunk yet good-looking admirers cheering on from the back of the room at the close of every phrasing... which, by some strange coincidence, is exactly the place where you can see her next.

Heavily into older standards, Erin can change at will and at whim midstream to either the classic rendition of a song to something more modern and forceful. Federal officials have banned her from performing in the state of California, as her raspy beltings consistently rate a 4.2 on the Richter scale.

Chris Felts is currently in his final year as a Music Business and Recording Technology major at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh. During his stay there, Chris has displayed his jazz saxophone skills at every available opportunity. He has learned to respect the traditional place of the instrument, although he frequently chooses to stray far from what would be considered 'traditional' for the saxophone.

This is evident in his past performances with Taco and the Baja Marimba Band, where he explores the saxophone’s funky side and unveils a world of insanity that is becoming a staple of his musical style.

Since Chris reached the magical age that legally allows him into venues that serve alcohol, his performances (with a variety of talented local musicians) always thrill those in attendance and leaves them thirsty for
just a little more saxamafone.

Currently, with the Oshkosh-based jazz quartet "Becky and the Guys" and the folk-rock group the "Amy Phillips Trio", he studies and performs the works of the great masters who have come before him, and adds his own distinctive flavor to the music’s tradition, resulting in an entirely new taste that must be experienced to be understood.

Chris has been both a guest and frequent jammer at the Jazz Orgy. Chris intends to reveal his heart, soul, and funkitude to all those who are daring enough to be in attendance.

Ross just told me that he is sending his biography via email. Yeah, that's right, I have his email address. You could probably get it too if you come down to the Jazz Orgy tonight.

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

of musical settings ranging from classical to jazz to pop/rock including appearances with jazz stars Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Med Flory, Conte Candoli, Bill Watrous and Buddy DeFranco. Other diverse credits include the Temptations, the Jan Garber Orchestra, various symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, brass ensembles and numerous recording sessions.

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.

Ryan Schiedermayer is a highly respected and recognized percussionist/drummer with fifteen years of performance experience. He has taught extensively and performed on numerous recordings. Ryan has also studied Latin percussion in Puerto Rico and played on several international tours.

He was influenced early in his career by the soulful funk sounds of performers such as James Brown and Tower of Power. Other inspiring artists were Stevie Wonder, Giovanni Hildalgo, Mario Bauza, and Arturo Sandoval. Collectively, these influences would steer him into the musical worlds of R&B, Jazz, and Latin.

In a quest to learn more about Latin music and culture, Ryan studied abroad in Puerto Rico in 1998 and 1999. While working with his teacher Jesus Cepeda of the internationally famed group Los Hermanos Cepeda, he focused on traditional folkloric music of Puerto Rico, such as Bomba, Plena, and Salsa. With a flare for travel, Ryan had an opportunity to perform overseas, touring on multiple occasions for the U.S. Department of Defense and USO. These tours traveled throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and the Mediterranean.

Ryan has toured with the acclaimed Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans, and has performed with Janet Planet, Madisalsa, and Grammy nominee Jeff Lorber. Ryan has opened up for many national acts, his most memorable being Spyro Gyra, Arturo Sandoval, Tower of Power, Nestor Torres, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

In addition to his busy schedule with Streetlife, Ryan teaches drum set and Latin percussion to students at Milwaukee’s Interstate Music Company. He also conducts clinics at schools and with youth groups. Ryan has academic staff member status at UW Milwaukee and works in the department of Dance and Theatre as an instructional specialist accompanist. Ryan is currently working on his first solo recording project, scheduled for release this fall.

Check back for a fantastic biography ...

coming soon...

Chris Felts is currently in his final year as a Music Business and Recording Technology major at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh. During his stay there, Chris has displayed his jazz saxophone skills at every available opportunity. He has learned to respect the traditional place of the instrument, although he frequently chooses to stray far from what would be considered 'traditional' for the saxophone.

This is evident in his past performances with Taco and the Baja Marimba Band, where he explores the saxophone’s funky side and unveils a world of insanity that is becoming a staple of his musical style.

Since Chris reached the magical age that legally allows him into venues that serve alcohol, his performances (with a variety of talented local musicians) always thrill those in attendance and leaves them thirsty for
just a little more saxamafone.

Currently, with the Oshkosh-based jazz quartet "Becky and the Guys" and the folk-rock group the "Amy Phillips Trio", he studies and performs the works of the great masters who have come before him, and adds his own distinctive flavor to the music’s tradition, resulting in an entirely new taste that must be experienced to be understood.

Chris has been both a guest and frequent jammer at the Jazz Orgy. Chris
intends to reveal his heart, soul, and funkitude to all those who are
daring enough to be in attendance.

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.

Dr. Marty Robinson, Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, directs the jazz ensembles and teaches jazz history in addition to applied trumpet students. He holds degrees from Lawrence University (B.M. in trumpet performance), the Eastman School of Music (M.M. in jazz studies), and Florida State University (D.M. in composition). Prior to his appointment at Oshkosh for the fall of 2004, Dr. Robinson served for 10 years as Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” in 2001.

Dr. Robinson’s interests cover the broad spectrum of music as a performer, composer, musicologist, and educator. As a trumpeter, he performs with the Oshkosh Symphony, several brass quintets, and leads his own jazz quartet in regional and national performances. His jazz CD, “Standards – Vol. 1,” was released in 2003. As a pianist, he has served as accompanist for his own students’ trumpet recitals and he is also in demand as a jazz pianist.

He is the composer and trumpeter on numerous recordings that have been aired in recent years on national television and radio, including music for ABC’s 20/20, Fox’s NFL Films, PBS’s National Geographic, and CBS’s U.S. Open Tennis Coverage, as well as ad campaigns for NBC’s ER, Hershey’s Chocolate, ADT Security, and Burger King. His television music has been heard internationally in Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

"Play the notes as you'd like... just don't play too many."

Dave Dunning is a high school band teacher from Wisconsin. In his quote above he was talking to them about jazz improving. During practices he would show them how to do things on his trombone. He is a great guy an inspirational teacher.

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.

Danny Jerabek has been playing professionally since the age of 8 years old. He was given his first button accordion at the age of 9, and hasn't looked back since. Danny combines and melts many different genres of music into his band, Copper Box, and also in his solo shows as you will hear/see. This show will feature some Brazilian(Forro), classic 70's rock, a little
Jazz, 2 polkas, and a bunch of original works from Danny.

Byron Trammell grew up in the jazz un-Mecca of southern New Mexico and developed as a mostly self-taught guitarist. Over the years, occasional opportunities to play came up, including stints as guitarist with the Cam-Com Jazz Coalition, and as bassist for the Silver City, New Mexico based, US version of the Joe Haider Quartet. Other experiences included gigs with players like guitarist Jay Hammel, saxophonist Bolek Peplowski, Robert Brown and Nightshades, and drummer Larry Brown.

During a teaching stint in Guatemala, Byron played as an ongoing guest performer with Luis Fernando Quijivix’ Q-Jazz Quartet, performing standards, bop, latin, and straight ahead jazz.

Returning from a teaching assignment in Kuwait last June, Mark recruited him in forming the Jazz Mill at Silver City’s Twisted Vine. Trammell recently relocated to Oshkosh to pursue more of the jazz life.

Coming soon...

Flat out, this chick has a set of pipes. Her vocals bring forth images of smoky bars with drunk yet good-looking admirers cheering on from the back of the room at the close of every phrasing... which, by some strange coincidence, is exactly the place where you can see her next.

Heavily into older standards, Erin can change at will and at whim midstream to either the classic rendition of a song to something more modern and forceful. Federal officials have banned her from performing in the state of California, as her raspy beltings consistently rate a 4.2 on the Richter scale.

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

The career of KWT4 is long, varied and continues to evolve at every turn. Their music has captivated audiences throughout the United States. And has built a loyal following by never doing the same thing twice. Combining jazz with elements of R&B, funk and pop music.


KEVIN WELLS - BASS - Kevin first performed professionally in his home town of Chicago over 35 years ago. Playing Blues and R&B in smoky south side blues clubs as a high school student, before attending the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. While in college, he met drummer Tony Taylor, and began playing in college talent shows and jam sessions. In 1980, together with Tom Theabo, Janet Planet and Dave Janke formed the R&B band, Body Talk. Afterwards, he performed with the progressive guitar rock band Maxgain. And then, as a founding member of the seven piece smooth jazz group Playtime. Most recently, he spent five years as a member of the Brenda Theabo Quartet, and then, as band leader of The Kevin Wells Project, which reunited the members of KWT4.

TOM THEABO - GUITAR - Tom has been a guitarist/arranger/writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world and immediately recognizable. His recordings are numerous. He has been featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swanson and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze lable. He has shared the stage with George Benson, Chuck Mangione and Gene Bertoncini. He has also collaborated with Janet Planet over the last 25 years. He continues to shape his artistry on guitar as well as an arranger and song writer. Some of his original arrangements and songs can be found on his recent Stellar release, "A Fine Sample". He has also collaborated with Janet Planet in recording the "Consequence of Two" CD as well as the live performance recording "Get Happy". In 2000 and again in 2003, he toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz musicians in Japan and the U.S.

TONY TAYLOR - DRUMS - Tony has perform with Chris Swanson and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" . He also shared the stage with Chuck Mangione, as a member of the ground breaking Jazz fusion group "Fire and Ice" with John Harmon, saxophonist Tom Washaka, and bassist John Gibson. Afterwards, he ran a successful recording studio, before returning to performing as a member of the Brenda Theabo Quartet. And now as the rhythmic backbone of KWT4.

Coming Soon...

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

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.

Larry Darling has been actively touring throughout the United States giving concerts and music clinics at hundreds of colleges and universities. This includes appearances at the Monterrey, Telluride, Newport, Reno, Galveston, Chicago and Milwaukee's Summerfest Jazz Festivals. He is a former member of the Fox Valley's own MATRIX Jazz group based out of Appleton, WI. His resume also includes a seemingly endless list of concert sound engineering jobs for musicians like Gerry Mulligan, Bobby McFerrin, Dizzy Gillespie, Zoot Sims, The Hi-Lows, Diane Schurr, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby Shew, Carl Fontanna, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Jon Hendriks, John Faddis, John Scofield, Tim Hagans, and more.

Currently, Larry Darling is Director of Recording at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Supervising a recording crew of 20 student engineers and recording assistants, Mr. Darling oversees the recording and archiving of more than 250 ensemble, student, and faculty music recitals and concerts each academic year.

Chris Felts is currently in his first-of-several senior years as a Music Business and Recording Technology major at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh. During his stay there, Chris has displayed his jazz saxophone skills at every available opportunity. He has learned to respect the traditional place of the instrument, although he frequently chooses to stray far from what would be considered 'traditional' for the saxophone.

This is evident in his past performances with Taco and the Baja Marimba Band, where he explores the saxophone’s funky side and unveils a world of insanity that is becoming a staple of his musical style.

Since Chris reached the magical age that legally allows him into venues that serve alcohol, his performances (with a variety of talented local musicians) always thrill those in attendance and leaves them thirsty for just a little more saxamafone.

Currently, with the Oshkosh-based jazz quartet "Becky and the Guys", he studies and performs the works of the great jazz masters who have come before him, and adds his own distinctive flavor to the music’s tradition, resulting in an entirely new taste that must be experienced to be understood.

In the past year, Chris has been both a guest and frequent jammer at the Jazz Orgy. Chris intends to reveal his heart, soul, and funkitude to all those who are daring enough to be in attendance.

Flat out, this chick has a set of pipes. Her vocals bring forth images of smoky bars with drunk yet good-looking admirers cheering on from the back of the room at the close of every phrasing... which, by some strange coincidence, is exactly the place where you can see her next.

Heavily into older standards, Erin can change at will and at whim midstream to either the classic rendition of a song to something more modern and forceful. Federal officials have banned her from performing in the state of California, as her raspy beltings consistently rate a 4.2 on the Richter scale.

New Year's Eve falls on a Sunday this year, and we're going to rock Peabody's all night! More information coming soon...

Byron Trammell grew up in the jazz un-Mecca of southern New Mexico and developed as a mostly self-taught guitarist. Over the years, occasional opportunities to play came up, including stints as guitarist with the Cam-Com Jazz Coalition, and as bassist for the Silver City, New Mexico based, US version of the Joe Haider Quartet. Other experiences included gigs with players like guitarist Jay Hammel, saxophonist Bolek Peplowski, Robert Brown and Nightshades, and drummer Larry Brown.

During a teaching stint in Guatemala, Byron played as an ongoing guest performer with Luis Fernando Quijivix’ Q-Jazz Quartet, performing standards, bop, latin, and straight ahead jazz.

Returning from a teaching assignment in Kuwait last June, Mark recruited him in forming the Jazz Mill at Silver City’s Twisted Vine. Trammell recently relocated to Oshkosh to pursue more of the jazz life.

More info coming soon...

STAY TUNED!

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

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.

Look out for the legendary monstrous guitarist (part reptile, part insect) as he makes another triumphant return to Peabody's Jazz Orgy, to amaze and thrill with death-defying licks and riffs that will cause audience members to writhe and slither with ecstasy until drinks are spilled and ears are 'gasmed. See his fingers twist freakishly... hear the crazy jazz... smell the funk... taste the beer...

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Vermont guitarist Bob Gagnon was introduced to the guitar at age 6. Bob’s father was his first teacher and exposed him to music ranging from the Carter Family to Jobim. From 1983 to 1987, Bob attended Ithaca College, where he studied jazz guitar, music theory, and big band arranging. He returned to Vermont in 1987 and formed the first incarnation of the Bob Gagnon Trio. In 1990 he was a founding member of The Swingin’ Vermont Big Band. In 2001, Bob began studying with guitar master Howard Alden; this inspired Bob to form Bob Gagnon’s Hot Swing Trio, which plays music in the style of Django Reinhardt. In 1991, Bob began to perform duo gigs with singer/songwriter John Baumann (now of the group The Raindogs). They’ve performed in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Colorado, and Wisconsin.

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 appeared at The Jazz Orgy quite frequently... as a guest artist, and also as a jammer. He makes his trumpet squeal... and it's the kind of squeal that gives you goose bumps and makes you squirm in your chair.

Plan on hearing John's original compositions and obscure tunes from his vast repertoire.

Look out for the legendary monstrous guitarist (part reptile, part insect) as he makes another triumphant return to Peabody's Jazz Orgy, to amaze and thrill with death-defying licks and riffs that will cause audience members to writhe and slither with ecstasy until drinks are spilled and ears are 'gasmed. See his fingers twist freakishly... hear the crazy jazz... smell the funk... taste the beer...

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Many musicians proclaim originality as their forte, but Ethan Keller’s star qualities truly cannot be pigeonholed. Swimming & screaming over dreamy chords produced by fingers that seem to flow over the fret board, his vocals soothe you and shake you in the same stanza. His love of jazz is the bedrock upon which layers of upbeat rock & pop are built. Hip-hop outcrops jut out of a vast landscape entrenched with deep roots of homegrown folk singers; both featuring poetry filled with simultaneous melancholy & inspiration. His sober, somber explorations of truth & turmoil do not depress, but uplift and illuminate like a beacon of hope.
Keller’s solo debut, “Face Light” is 12 tracks of raw, pure, spirit & soul.

Ethan Keller is a Midwest pioneer. Writing since age 9, touring since 13, and promoting since 18, Keller single-handedly built a scene in his southeastern Wisconsin hometown, quickly permeated the Milwaukee sound, and then took to the road. Since 1995, he has sold over 6000 albums and made over 1000 appearances in 35 states, including many prestigious venues & industry showcases (SXSW, NACA, NEMO, EATM, MFNW, MMC). Winning Jim Beam National Band Search in 2001 and sharing the stage with a plethora of diverse acts (Glenn Tilbrook, Night Ranger, Umphreys McGee, Lucky Boys Confusion), performances on national T.V. programs, (MTV, Jenny Jones) and the advent of the internet, increase this small-town artist’s outreach to the global market.

Chris Felts is currently in his first-of-several senior years as a Music Business and Recording Technology major at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh. During his stay there, Chris has displayed his jazz saxophone skills at every available opportunity. He has learned to respect the traditional place of the instrument, although he frequently chooses to stray far from what would be considered 'traditional' for the saxophone.

This is evident in his past performances with Taco and the Baja Marimba Band, where he explores the saxophone’s funky side and unveils a world of insanity that is becoming a staple of his musical style.

Since Chris reached the magical age that legally allows him into venues that serve alcohol, his performances (with a variety of talented local musicians) always thrill those in attendance and leaves them thirsty for just a little more saxamafone.

Currently, with the Oshkosh-based jazz quartet "Becky and the Guys", he studies and performs the works of the great jazz masters who have come before him, and adds his own distinctive flavor to the music’s tradition, resulting in an entirely new taste that must be experienced to be understood.

In the past year, Chris has been both a guest and frequent jammer at the Jazz Orgy. Chris intends to reveal his heart, soul, and funkitude to all those who are daring enough to be in attendance.

Larry Darling has been actively touring throughout the United States giving concerts and music clinics at hundreds of colleges and universities. This includes appearances at the Monterrey, Telluride, Newport, Reno, Galveston, Chicago and Milwaukee's Summerfest Jazz Festivals. He is a former member of the Fox Valley's own MATRIX Jazz group based out of Appleton, WI. His resume also includes a seemingly endless list of concert sound engineering jobs for musicians like Gerry Mulligan, Bobby McFerrin, Dizzy Gillespie, Zoot Sims, The Hi-Lows, Diane Schurr, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby Shew, Carl Fontanna, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Jon Hendriks, John Faddis, John Scofield, Tim Hagans, and more.

Currently, Larry Darling is Director of Recording at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Supervising a recording crew of 20 student engineers and recording assistants, Mr. Darling oversees the recording and archiving of more than 250 ensemble, student, and faculty music recitals and concerts each academic year.

Dr. Marty Robinson, Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, directs the jazz ensembles and teaches jazz history in addition to applied trumpet students. He holds degrees from Lawrence University (B.M. in trumpet performance), the Eastman School of Music (M.M. in jazz studies), and Florida State University (D.M. in composition). Prior to his appointment at Oshkosh for the fall of 2004, Dr. Robinson served for 10 years as Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” in 2001.

Dr. Robinson’s interests cover the broad spectrum of music as a performer, composer, musicologist, and educator. As a trumpeter, he performs with the Oshkosh Symphony, several brass quintets, and leads his own jazz quartet in regional and national performances. His jazz CD, “Standards – Vol. 1,” was released in 2003. As a pianist, he has served as accompanist for his own students’ trumpet recitals and he is also in demand as a jazz pianist.

He is the composer and trumpeter on numerous recordings that have been aired in recent years on national television and radio, including music for ABC’s 20/20, Fox’s NFL Films, PBS’s National Geographic, and CBS’s U.S. Open Tennis Coverage, as well as ad campaigns for NBC’s ER, Hershey’s Chocolate, ADT Security, and Burger King. His television music has been heard internationally in Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

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.

Byron Trammell grew up in the jazz un-Mecca of southern New Mexico and developed as a mostly self-taught guitarist. Over the years, occasional opportunities to play came up, including stints as guitarist with the Cam-Com Jazz Coalition, and as bassist for the Silver City, New Mexico based, US version of the Joe Haider Quartet. Other experiences included gigs with players like guitarist Jay Hammel, saxophonist Bolek Peplowski, Robert Brown and Nightshades, and drummer Larry Brown.

During a teaching stint in Guatemala, Byron played as an ongoing guest performer with Luis Fernando Quijivix’ Q-Jazz Quartet, performing standards, bop, latin, and straight ahead jazz.

Returning from a teaching assignment in Kuwait last June, Mark recruited him in forming the Jazz Mill at Silver City’s Twisted Vine. Trammell recently relocated to Oshkosh to pursue more of the jazz life.

Dr. Marty Robinson, Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, directs the jazz ensembles and teaches jazz history in addition to applied trumpet students. He holds degrees from Lawrence University (B.M. in trumpet performance), the Eastman School of Music (M.M. in jazz studies), and Florida State University (D.M. in composition). Prior to his appointment at Oshkosh for the fall of 2004, Dr. Robinson served for 10 years as Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” in 2001.

Dr. Robinson’s interests cover the broad spectrum of music as a performer, composer, musicologist, and educator. As a trumpeter, he performs with the Oshkosh Symphony, several brass quintets, and leads his own jazz quartet in regional and national performances. His jazz CD, “Standards – Vol. 1,” was released in 2003. As a pianist, he has served as accompanist for his own students’ trumpet recitals and he is also in demand as a jazz pianist.

He is the composer and trumpeter on numerous recordings that have been aired in recent years on national television and radio, including music for ABC’s 20/20, Fox’s NFL Films, PBS’s National Geographic, and CBS’s U.S. Open Tennis Coverage, as well as ad campaigns for NBC’s ER, Hershey’s Chocolate, ADT Security, and Burger King. His television music has been heard internationally in Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Luke Thomas is a guitarist/songwriter from Wisconsin on a rock-and-roll adventure in the Bay Area in California. He currently plays with a band called Phoenix and After Buffalo. He also does a lot of session work and plays with lots of groups as a sideman. He's into textural playing and has lots of neato things to step on to make his guitar sound cooler than a guitar.

Whether she is singing a standard, or one of her original compositions, Jeanie’s voice delivers a feeling of connection and intimacy with her audience. This singer from the States grew up singing with her siblings in Wisconsin, the rural heartland of America.

Her professional involvement with bands covers the gamut of styles from Folk, Country, and Rock ... to Jazz and Blues. She expresses with so much clarity and soul and even adds some texture with harmonica. Jeanie has entertained all over the planet with a global awareness and genuine love of people, laughter, and life. She gladly shares the magic and power of music.

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 appeared at The Jazz Orgy quite frequently... as a guest artist, and also as a jammer. He makes his trumpet squeal... and it's the kind of squeal that gives you goose bumps and makes you squirm in your chair.

Plan on hearing John's original compositions and obscure tunes from his vast repertoire.

Flat out, this chick has a set of pipes. Her vocals bring forth images of smoky bars with drunk yet good-looking admirers cheering on from the back of the room at the close of every phrasing... which, by some strange coincidence, is exactly the place where you can see her next.

Heavily into older standards, Erin can change at will and at whim midstream to either the classic rendition of a song to something more modern and forceful. Federal officials have banned her from performing in the state of California, as her raspy beltings consistently rate a 4.2 on the Richter scale.

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.

Chris Felts is currently in his first-of-several senior years as a Music Business and Recording Technology major at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh. During his stay there, Chris has displayed his jazz saxophone skills at every available opportunity. He has learned to respect the traditional place of the instrument, although he frequently chooses to stray far from what would be considered 'traditional' for the saxophone.

This is evident in his past performances with Taco and the Baja Marimba Band, where he explores the saxophone’s funky side and unveils a world of insanity that is becoming a staple of his musical style.

Since Chris reached the magical age that legally allows him into venues that serve alcohol, his performances (with a variety of talented local musicians) always thrill those in attendance and leaves them thirsty for just a little more saxamafone.

Currently, with the Oshkosh-based jazz quartet "Becky and the Guys", he studies and performs the works of the great jazz masters who have come before him, and adds his own distinctive flavor to the music’s tradition, resulting in an entirely new taste that must be experienced to be understood.

In the past year, Chris has been both a guest and frequent jammer at the Jazz Orgy. Chris intends to reveal his heart, soul, and funkitude to all those who are daring enough to be in attendance.

It's Mark Martin's birthday, and if you his remember last birthday, you probably remember the moustache contest. If you don't, you might remember one of the moustache contests that weren't on his birthday. If you don't remember any of them, then it's time to put down your razor and start preparing for this year's moustache contest. Prizes will be awarded to the winners!

More details will be posted here shortly...

Also, special guest Byron Trammel on guitar.

Twins is a group based out of Fond Du Lac, WI that can play fiercely, intently, and with much satisfaction guaranteed. These guys are friends of the Jazz Orgy, and you can count on them layin' it down the way like you like it every Sunday night at Peabody's.

Look out for the legendary monstrous guitarist (part reptile, part insect) as he makes another triumphant return to Peabody's Jazz Orgy, to amaze and thrill with death-defying licks and riffs that will cause audience members to writhe and slither with ecstasy until drinks are spilled and ears are 'gasmed. See his fingers twist freakishly... hear the crazy jazz... smell the funk... taste the beer...

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Erin earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree F-R-to-tha-izzom UW-Oshkosh in 2003. Whizzay she finished student clockin' in January of 2004, she began her teach'n rappa at The Academy. In college, Erin was a memba of various perform'n ensembles on flute n bassoon. Since 1998, she has bizzy a shot calla of Wizzle (Wisconsin Music Educators Association) n Mizzle (Music Educators National Conferizzles) where the sun be shinin and I be rhymin'. Erin served on tha UW-Oshkosh Collegiate Mizzy Pusha executive board fo` two years n on tha Wisconsin Collegiate MENC Steer'n Committee fo` two years. In addition ta frontin' general music, piano, n choir at The Academy, she teaches band lessons at Island Music in Neenah. When she is not teach'n, she is spend'n time wit her niggaz or practic'n vocal jizzy . One, two three and to tha four. Erin blunt-rollin' her positizzle energetic attitude into her teach'n. As a reflective sista Erin is committed ta improv'n her skills as a musician n educator through professizzles develizzle n lifelong learn'n.

Coming Soon...

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 appeared at The Jazz Orgy quite frequently... as a guest artist, and also as a jammer. He makes his trumpet squeal... and it's the kind of squeal that gives you goose bumps and makes you squirm in your chair.

Plan on hearing John's original compositions and obscure tunes from his vast repertoire.

Josh's laser-rific bio will be here soon...

Rick Maki - Vibraphone / MalletKat

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 appeared at The Jazz Orgy quite frequently... as a guest artist, and also as a jammer. He makes his trumpet squeal... and it's the kind of squeal that gives you goose bumps and makes you squirm in your chair.

Plan on hearing John's original compositions and obscure tunes from his vast repertoire.

Brad Curran began playing trumpet in the fourth grade and was playing gigs and arranging by age twelve. Since that time, he has had the good fortune to perform in a variety of musical settings ranging from classical to jazz to pop/rock including appearances with jazz stars Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Med Flory, Conte Candoli, Bill Watrous and Buddy DeFranco. Other diverse credits include the Temptations, the Jan Garber Orchestra, various symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, brass ensembles and numerous recording sessions.

Dr. Marty Robinson, Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, directs the jazz ensembles and teaches jazz history in addition to applied trumpet students. He holds degrees from Lawrence University (B.M. in trumpet performance), the Eastman School of Music (M.M. in jazz studies), and Florida State University (D.M. in composition). Prior to his appointment at Oshkosh for the fall of 2004, Dr. Robinson served for 10 years as Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” in 2001.

Dr. Robinson’s interests cover the broad spectrum of music as a performer, composer, musicologist, and educator. As a trumpeter, he performs with the Oshkosh Symphony, several brass quintets, and leads his own jazz quartet in regional and national performances. His jazz CD, “Standards – Vol. 1,” was released in 2003. As a pianist, he has served as accompanist for his own students’ trumpet recitals and he is also in demand as a jazz pianist.

He is the composer and trumpeter on numerous recordings that have been aired in recent years on national television and radio, including music for ABC’s 20/20, Fox’s NFL Films, PBS’s National Geographic, and CBS’s U.S. Open Tennis Coverage, as well as ad campaigns for NBC’s ER, Hershey’s Chocolate, ADT Security, and Burger King. His television music has been heard internationally in Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Marlin Mckay, three-time recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, is a Texas native who is well on his way to becoming a household name in the world of jazz, for delivering memorable performances of jazz standards, and well crafted original compositions.

Accompanied by some of the finest musicians in and around the Central Wisconsin area, Marlin has established a reputation of high quality amongst jazz connoisseurs, and other musicians alike. His groups possess a fresh sound, with a traditional undertone that leaves a feeling of nostalgia, coupled with an infectious groove.

At 25, Marlin has shared the stage with local, and nationally recognized artists such as, John Scofield, the Jim McNeely trio, Laura Caviani, the Eric Alexander Quartet, Kurt Elling, the Marvin Stamm/Bill Mays duo, as well as local favorites like, the River Cities Jazz Band, Bay City Swing, and the Wisconsin Jazz Orchestra.

Marlin has been a favorite as the opening artists for 90fm's Jazz Fest, headlined the first annual Stevens Point Jazz Festival, Stevens Point, WI, and is currently working on his debut album titled,"Deep in the Cosmos", which will contain original work by Marlin. The cd is scheduled to be released in the Spring of 2005.

Douglas Detrick, an undergraduate student at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, is an innovative composer/arranger, trumpet player, and bandleader. His group, the Douglas Detrick Quartet, plays original compositions and arrangements in the Northeast Wisconsin area. In 2004, Tim Hagans performed Douglas’ arrangement of "Green Dolphin Street" with the Lawrence Jazz Ensemble. The Norbotten Big Band, led by Tim Hagans, plans to perform this piece as well. In 2005 Benny Golson will perform Douglas’ arrangement of the Golson tune "Carribbean Drifting" also with the Lawrence Jazz Ensemble. In March of 2006 the combined Lawrence Jazz Ensemble and Lawrence Symphony Orchestra will perform Douglas’ re-composition of Duke Ellington’s "Single Petal of a Rose". Douglas studies trumpet with John Daniel, improvisation with Lee Tomboullian, composition with Fred Sturm, Joanne Metcalf and Marcos Balter, and has participated in masterclasses with Kenny Wheeler, Emmanuel Sejourne and Samuel Adler.

Peabody's is open on Sunday, December 25th, which means that there will be a Jazz Orgy! More information on Jonelle Vette will be available soon...

Erin earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree F-R-to-tha-izzom UW-Oshkosh in 2003. Whizzay she finished student clockin' in January of 2004, she began her teach'n rappa at The Academy. In college, Erin was a memba of various perform'n ensembles on flute n bassoon. Since 1998, she has bizzy a shot calla of Wizzle (Wisconsin Music Educators Association) n Mizzle (Music Educators National Conferizzles) where the sun be shinin and I be rhymin'. Erin served on tha UW-Oshkosh Collegiate Mizzy Pusha executive board fo` two years n on tha Wisconsin Collegiate MENC Steer'n Committee fo` two years. In addition ta frontin' general music, piano, n choir at The Academy, she teaches band lessons at Island Music in Neenah. When she is not teach'n, she is spend'n time wit her niggaz or practic'n vocal jizzy . One, two three and to tha four. Erin blunt-rollin' her positizzle energetic attitude into her teach'n. As a reflective sista Erin is committed ta improv'n her skills as a musician n educator through professizzles develizzle n lifelong learn'n.

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.

Look out the legendary monstrous guitarist (part reptile, part insect) as he makes another triumphant return to Peabody's Jazz Orgy, to amaze and thrill with death-defying licks and riffs that will cause audience members to writhe and slither with ecstasy until drinks are spilled and ears are 'gasmed. See his fingers twist freakishly... hear the crazy jazz... smell the funk... taste the beer...

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Saxophonist/composer Josh Vande Hey has been performing in Wisconsin for more than ten years, most recently with Secretive Möbius Band (contemporary jazz, www.secretivemobiusband.com), Shiny Saxodrums (jazz-science fusion), and with the Quattro Formaggi Saxophone Quartet. While a student at Lawrence, he performed extensively with the experimental jazz/funk group The Committee. Each December he performs with the Christmas lounge band Waylan St. Palen and the Magic Elves. Though he is currently focused on writing and playing music, Josh is also a science nerd and knows how to use lasers.

Nate has over 13 years experience and has previously performed with Bobby Evens and The Jazz Orgy. He currently plays with Copperbox. Nate's background in guitar playing ranges from classical to progressive rock. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Recording Technology with an emphasis in guitar performance. He is also an emeritus member of the Oshkosh Recording Association.

The Jerabeks are the driving force behind Copper Box. Copper Box, based in Oshkosh, WI, is the master of "accordion-swamp-rock." Their music has a variety of root influences such as: Cajun, country, rock, polka, Zydeco, blues, and Tex-Mex, that is infused with "pure and raw" emotion. Copper Box's mission is to bring people together and to have a good time as they watch and listen to a band that loves to perform and make music.

One can only imagine the kind of music that will be created when The Jerabeks join forces with the Jazz Orgy. Danny Jerabek is bringing his button-box and cornet, and Michelle Jerabek is bringing a tenor sax and a bari sax. We might even see Dave Jerabek on stage thumping bass lines.

Chris Felts is currently in his first-of-several senior years as a Music Business and Recording Technology major at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh. During his stay there, Chris has displayed his jazz saxophone skills at every available opportunity. He has learned to respect the traditional place of the instrument, although he frequently chooses to stray far from what would be considered 'traditional' for the saxophone.

This is evident in his past performances with Taco and the Baja Marimba Band, where he explores the saxophone’s funky side and unveils a world of insanity that is becoming a staple of his musical style.

Since Chris reached the magical age that legally allows him into venues that serve alcohol, his performances (with a variety of talented local musicians) always thrill those in attendance and leaves them thirsty for just a little more saxamafone.

Currently, with the Oshkosh-based jazz quartet "Becky and the Guys", he studies and performs the works of the great jazz masters who have come before him, and adds his own distinctive flavor to the music’s tradition, resulting in an entirely new taste that must be experienced to be understood.

In the past year, Chris has been both a guest and frequent jammer at the Jazz Orgy. Chris intends to reveal his heart, soul, and funkitude to all those who are daring enough to be in attendance.

Hannah is the perfect diva for the Jazz Orgy. She has performed with bands all over the United States including Puerta Rico, and coast-to-coast in Equador and Cuba. Music projects she has been on can be heard in Europe and in the United States. Hannah's charming personality appeals to any crowd. She performs and sings with style and exceptional talent.

Burt Klein, Jazz Vampyre, is over 600 years old. He originally hails from Romania, but has lost the accent, due to extensive touring. He has been involved with the creation of EVERY form of popular music in the last 600 years. He is the very definition of a superstar. His voice and stage presence emit powerful, hypnotic, hilarious tomfoolery. The ladies want him and the men want to beat him.

He has shared the stage or worked with the likes of: Mozart, Burt Bacharach, Beethoven, Lionel Ritchie, Scott Joplin, the entire Bach family, Louis Armstrong, the entire Partridge Family, Old Dirty Bastard, Elvis Presley, Robert Johnson, Ren & Stimpy, Steamboat Willy, George Clinton, Slayer, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Miles Davis, Hank Williams I, II, and III, The Rat Pack, Neil Sedaka, Lemmy from Motorhead, Celine Dion (the early years), Roy Orbison, Tom Jones, Lambchop, DJ Funk, Hall & Oates, Edith Piaf, Ozzy Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, Tony Danza, Tony Clifton, Tony the Tiger, Johnny Cash, Kool Keith, Wayne Newton, Elmer Fudd, Gustav Mahler, and Adam West...just to name a few. Sadly, no artist will admit collaborating with the Jazz Vampyre, much less acknowledge his pitiful existence. What gives?!

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.

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

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 appeared at The Jazz Orgy quite frequently... as a guest artist, and also as a jammer. He makes his trumpet squeal... and it's the kind of squeal that gives you goose bumps and makes you squirm in your chair.

Plan on hearing John's original compositions and obscure tunes from his vast repertoire.

Marlin Mckay, three-time recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, is a Texas native who is well on his way to becoming a household name in the world of jazz, for delivering memorable performances of jazz standards, and well crafted original compositions.

Accompanied by some of the finest musicians in and around the Central Wisconsin area, Marlin has established a reputation of high quality amongst jazz connoisseurs, and other musicians alike. His groups possess a fresh sound, with a traditional undertone that leaves a feeling of nostalgia, coupled with an infectious groove.

At 25, Marlin has shared the stage with local, and nationally recognized artists such as, John Scofield, the Jim McNeely trio, Laura Caviani, the Eric Alexander Quartet, Kurt Elling, the Marvin Stamm/Bill Mays duo, as well as local favorites like, the River Cities Jazz Band, Bay City Swing, and the Wisconsin Jazz Orchestra.

Marlin has been a favorite as the opening artists for 90fm's Jazz Fest, headlined the first annual Stevens Point Jazz Festival, Stevens Point, WI, and is currently working on his debut album titled,"Deep in the Cosmos", which will contain original work by Marlin. The cd is scheduled to be released in the Spring of 2005.

Erin earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree F-R-to-tha-izzom UW-Oshkosh in 2003. Whizzay she finished student clockin' in January of 2004, she began her teach'n rappa at The Academy. In college, Erin was a memba of various perform'n ensembles on flute n bassoon. Since 1998, she has bizzy a shot calla of Wizzle (Wisconsin Music Educators Association) n Mizzle (Music Educators National Conferizzles) where the sun be shinin and I be rhymin'. Erin served on tha UW-Oshkosh Collegiate Mizzy Pusha executive board fo` two years n on tha Wisconsin Collegiate MENC Steer'n Committee fo` two years. In addition ta frontin' general music, piano, n choir at The Academy, she teaches band lessons at Island Music in Neenah. When she is not teach'n, she is spend'n time wit her niggaz or practic'n vocal jizzy . One, two three and to tha four. Erin blunt-rollin' her positizzle energetic attitude into her teach'n. As a reflective sista Erin is committed ta improv'n her skills as a musician n educator through professizzles develizzle n lifelong learn'n.

More Coming...

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Mark Martin has returned from his New Mexican Sabbatical. Instead of having a guest, the Jazz Orgy will perform as the core trio. It will be the first time that Mark, Mark, and Andy have performed together in three months. Don't miss it!

All the way from Minneapolis a master of the guitar and all around good guy jaws will drop and bootys will shake as Scott brings the big city vibe to peabs.

Coming Soon...

More Information Coming Soon...

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Mark Te Tai plays the sax athletically. He's a highly sought sax player in the Fox Cities, primarily due to his stints with uduudu, The Arrangement, and the Matthew Golay band.

Look out the legendary monstrous guitarist, part reptile part insect, makes his triumphant return to peabodys to amaze and thrill with death defying licks and riffs that will cause audience members to writhe and slither with ecstasy until drinks are spilled and ears are 'gasmed. See his fingers twist freakishly...Hear the crazy jazz...Smell the funk...Taste the beer...

Mark Martin, pianist and co-founder of the Jazz Orgy, will be leaving on a piano sabbatical for ten weeks this summer. He's headed for the middle-of-nowhere, New Mexico, and it's going to very difficult to contact him. And he's leaving right after his birthday! In the true spirit of the Jazz Orgy, we're going to send him off in style. Please bring gifts and money with which to shower him on his way to further enlighten his musical abilities.

Russ Nelms is the Jazz Orgy's prodigal son. Russ's first appearance at the Jazz Orgy was as a jammer. Donning a pair of torn jeans, an Iron Maiden shirt, and a "Twilight Zone" mesh cap, Russ approached the stage and requested the accompaniment for the Themolius Monk classic, Round Midnight.

Intrigued, the band decided to play the ballade to see if this guy "Russ" was going to slaughter it. The opposite happened. Russ proceeded to smash stereotypes and melt presumptions as he sang. Since then, he's been a regular jammer at the Jazz Orgy, and is now affectionately referred to by the Jazz Orgy ladies as
"Russell the Love Muscle".

Ethan Keller has been writing music and lyrics since age 9, and actively supporting music since 17. Known by most as the frontman of funk/rock/hip-hop band Greenscene, the 26-year old singer/songwriter already has a decade's worth of experience.

Within 8 years, Greenscene recorded 4 albums, played 500+ shows in 35 states, and sold over 6000 albums. GS was even heard internationally; some music was featured on MTV's "Undressed," plus a live performance on The Jenny Jones Show, both which reran all over Europe. Greenscene won Jim Beam’s National Band Search in 2001, and received rock star treatment on a cushy tour bus for a brief period. GS showcased at SXSW (Austin, TX), NACA (Salt Lake City, UT), MFNW (Portland, OR), NEMO (Boston, MA), and MMC (Harrisburg, PA). Greenscene enabled Ethan to travel the country, share the stage with great musicians, and play for 1000’s of people at prime venues. GS stopped touring in 2004, but greensceneband.com helps keep the memories & music alive.

The Jerabeks are the driving force behind Copper Box. Copper Box, based in Oshkosh, WI, is the master of "accordion-swamp-rock." Their music has a variety of root influences such as: Cajun, country, rock, polka, Zydeco, blues, and Tex-Mex, that is infused with "pure and raw" emotion. Copper Box's mission is to bring people together and to have a good time as they watch and listen to a band that loves to perform and make music.

One can only imagine the kind of music that will be created when The Jerabeks join forces with the Jazz Orgy. Danny Jerabek is bringing his button-box and cornet, and Michelle Jerabek is bringing a tenor sax and a bari sax. We might even see Dave Jerabek on stage thumping bass lines.

Jack has led bands of all sizes throughout the U.S. in clubs and concert arenas for more than 30 years. He has performed with name artists too numerous to mention, including: Luciano Pavarotti, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, John B. Williams, Roy McCurdy, Frankie Laine, Richie Crabtree, Maureen McGovern, Cab Calloway, Jay Leno, Bob Hope, Louie Bellson, Vic Damone, Tom Jones, Al Martino, Joel Grey, Mel Rhyne, Bobby Rydell, The Drifters, The Crystals, Lainie Kazan, David Benoit, Ira Sullivan, Ed Thigpen, Howard Levy, Debbie Reynolds, Lana Cantrell, The Barnum and Bailey Circus, Holiday on Ice, Bob Newhart, Buddy Montgomery, Doc Severinson, Myron Floren and the Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show tour, Margaret Whiting, Rose Marie, Eartha Kitt, Helen O'Connell, John Gary, Chad Mitchell, Henny Youngman, Martha Ray, Jim Kerhin, Buster Williams, Roger Williams, Percy Faith, Paul Wertico, Rita Moreno, Morton Gould, Lucas Foss, McCoy Tyner, June Valli, Anna Marie Albergetti, Barry Williams, John Raitt, Jerry Vale, Bobby Vinton, Jimmie Rodgers, Trini Lopez, Donna Fargo, Art Hoyle, Tal Farlow, Barry Harris, Mamie Van Doren, Mark Eagan, Gary Willis, Carol Channing, Rufus Ried, Donald O'Connor, Slide Hampton, John Scofield, Ritchie Cole, Stu Katz, Marlena Shaw, Marlene Rosenburg, Jerry Van Dyke, Fabian, Richard Hayman, Marcus Roberts, Bobby Vinton, Phyllis Newman, Sandler and Young, Sergio Franchi, Greg Federico, Michael Feinstein, Dane Richeson, Skitch Henderson, Tommy Leonetti, Gloria Loring, Jimmy Webb, Theodore Bikel, Adam Levy, Stanley Jordan, Harold Jones, Ernie Adams, Dennis Day, Jackie Allen, Nancy Ames, Phil Ford, Mimi Hines, Hans Sturm, Jeff Pietrangelo, and Berkeley Fudge.

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Playing vibes for forty-five years, Bob Maynard has worked with some of the best musician in the midwest. Chuck Hedges (clarinet), Dave Sullivan (guitar), Jennifer Leitham (bass), just to name a few. He works regularly with the Chuck Hedges in Milwaukee at Selen's House of Prime Rib every Friday night, and performs with him throughout the year at gigs like The Bunny Bergian Jazz Festival, Holiday Archers Jazz Festival, and The Cedarburg Cultural Center. During the summer, because of family ties to Door County, Bob plays with Dan Palmer and Le Jazz Hot on Sunset Cruises out of Gills Rock, WI. Once again he's working with some fine musicians including Dan Palmer (clarinet), Andy Mertens (bass), and Gary Miller (drums).

A big fan of such greats as Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, and Benny Goodman, Bob Maynard likes to play the music of the great composers, like Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, and more. Self taught, Bob works with both two and four mallets, expressing ballads with feeling and swing tunes with drive. "No one can teach you how to swing, you either have it or you don't."

Anyone who's ever played trombone knows it's not the glamour instrument trumpet or sax tend to be. In high school bands and ensembles, kids clamor for the trumpet section, and band directors sometimes hope they have enough trombones to fill out the band.

But Brenda Theabo, for one, has refused to be a red-headed stepchild in the music world, taking her trombone and her voice out front in a series of ensembles that happen to have her moniker squarely attached -- as in the Brenda Theabo Duo, Brenda Theabo Trio, Brenda Theabo Quartet, etc.

"For the most part I consider that a positive thing, because people are in need of trombone players," said Theabo of the trombone's notoriously low profile. "There are a million sax players, right? Occasionally some people really want to stick with that traditional sound like sax, and they think trombone is not happening, which is really to their disadvantage, but for the most part I think it's a positive thing. People like to hear something different, I think."

Blessed with an irrepressible musical imagination as well as the technique to give it life, Dave Janke stands as a first rate jazz singer. Don't miss this!

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

John Daniel is Associate Professor of Music at Lawrence University where he teaches trumpet. He received the Specialist in Music degree from the University of Michigan, Master of Arts in Music from the University of Iowa, and Bachelor of Music from Ball State University. Mr. Daniel previously taught at Penn State University for nine years and Abilene Christian University for eleven years. While attending the University of Michigan on full scholarship he won the graduate concerto award and was principal trumpet of orchestras in Ann Arbor and Saginaw, Michigan.

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.

Robert Levy, trumpet, is one of this country's more diverse musicians. He has thirty recordings on more than ten labels to his credit as soloist, chamber musician, with jazz groups, and as conductor. A frequent guest soloist and clinician, he has performed and conducted throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Portugal. He has served as guest artist and on the faculty for many summer music festivals and camps, including Interlochen, Empire Brass Symposium at Tanglewood, Red Lodge (Montana), Tidewater Music Festival (Maryland), Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (Michigan), Encore/Coda (Maine), Northwest College (Wyoming), and numerous others. In 1991 he was guest artist-in-residence at the Western Academy of Performing Arts, performing a solo recital and presenting trumpet master classes.

Locally he performs with the Lawrence Brass, Extempo, and Flex and is co-leader of the 17 member Big Band Reunion (BBR), which recently produced its first CD following performances with Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, Marlena Shaw, and Eddie Daniels. He holds membership in the International Trumpet Guild, and Wisconsin Alliance for Composers. Robert Levy holds degrees from the Ithaca College School of Music and North Texas State University.

Larry Darling has been actively touring throughout the United States giving concerts and music clinics at hundreds of colleges and universities. This includes appearances at the Monterrey, Telluride, Newport, Reno, Galveston, Chicago and Milwaukee's Summerfest Jazz Festivals. He is a former member of the Fox Valley's own MATRIX Jazz group based out of Appleton, WI. His resume also includes a seemingly endless list of concert sound engineering jobs for musicians like Gerry Mulligan, Bobby McFerrin, Dizzy Gillespie, Zoot Sims, The Hi-Lows, Diane Schurr, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby Shew, Carl Fontanna, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Jon Hendriks, John Faddis, John Scofield, Tim Hagans, and more.

Currently, Larry Darling is Director of Recording at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Supervising a recording crew of 20 student engineers and recording assistants, Mr. Darling oversees the recording and archiving of more than 250 ensemble, student, and faculty music recitals and concerts each academic year.

Brad Curran began playing trumpet in the fourth grade and was playing gigs and arranging by age twelve. Since that time, he has had the good fortune to perform in a variety of musical settings ranging from classical to jazz to pop/rock including appearances with jazz stars Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Med Flory, Conte Candoli, Bill Watrous and Buddy DeFranco. Other diverse credits include the Temptations, the Jan Garber Orchestra, various symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, brass ensembles and numerous recording sessions.

While Mark Martin and Andy Mertens were on tour with Mike Underwood, Mark Powers, the regular Jazz Orgy drummer, was on a sabbatical in Thailand, studying and performing throughout Southeast Asia. Here's an excerpt from an email he sent:

"Further up the mountain was Wat Phratat Doi Suthep, a sacred Thai pilgrimage site. The wat had an enormous metal percussion collection, including the biggest gong I've ever seen. I was trying to decide how I would carry it around on top of my Geo Metro. But I did buy another small gong, engraved with an elephant scene. Four more kilometers up we came to Bhubing Palace, the Royal Family's residence during January & February. They were home, so we were not allowed in. Our gasoline was running low, so we rode to the Hmong village Doi Pui, where we were each able to buy some fuel served in glass vodka bottles. The ride down the mountain was what we'd been waiting for all day. Wheeeeee!"

It will be interesting to see the reunion of The Jazz Orgy. Hopefully Mark Powers brings his new gong.

The Jazz Orgy traveled over 5,000 miles while on tour in the month of February. This Sunday, February 20th will be their first gig after returning to Oshkosh. If they learned anything on the road, this is the night you'll hear it. We presume that after being in the American Southwest for so long, they will be laying down some serious latin grooves. Are we right? Who knows? You'll have to be at Peabody's to find out.

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Dr. Rob McWilliams, an internationally accomplished musician, conductor, and educator, was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. A United States resident since 1991, Dr. McWilliams holds a Ph. D. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Melbourne.

Dr. McWilliams began his career as a music educator at Eltham College, an independent K-12 school in Melbourne. During his seven-year tenure at this school he initiated a new instrumental program and directed its development into an accomplished and award winning program recognized throughout the country. For the next five years, Dr. McWilliams served on the faculty of the University of Melbourne Institute of Education where he taught and coordinated courses in brass, jazz, and instrumental music pedagogy and conducted the Wind Symphony, Brass Choir, and Jazz Big Band. He has also served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in most states of Australia, and as an examiner for the Victorian Board of Education and Victorian College of the Arts.

The Australian Wind Orchestra has regularly retained Dr. McWilliams' conducting services since its inception in 1990. Under his direction as one of the regular conductors, the orchestra has toured and performed at major international music conferences in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong. In July 1995, Dr. McWilliams conducted the Australian Wind Orchestra at the prestigious World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Dr. McWilliams also has extensive experience as a performer on trumpet and keyboard and has performed with a number of domestic and international symphonic ensembles and jazz groups. Being an experienced and popular guest conductor and clinician has provided Dr. McWilliams with the opportunity to travel extensively and work with professional and amateur school and adult musicians. In the U.S. he has served as guest conductor and clinician in Alabama, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio working with high school and university musicians and honor bands at the state and regional levels. While resident in Minnesota Dr. McWilliams served as Musical Director for the Roseville Community Band and Associate Conductor of the Grand Symphonic Winds, two civic adult performance groups based in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

Dr. McWilliams is currently Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and teaches courses in instrumental music education.

The Jerabeks are the driving force behind Copper Box, a band based in Wisconsin that masterfully delivers the sweet sounds of the bayou ("accordion-swamp-rock") to unsuspecting northerners. The music has a variety of root influences including cajun, country, rock, polka, zydeco, blues, and Tex-Mex, all infused with pure, raw emotion. It brings people together to have a good time watching and listening to musicians that love to make music.

One can only imagine the music that will be created when the Jerabeks join forces with the Jazz Orgy. Danny Jerabek is bringing his trumpet (and/or cornet) and hopefully his button-box, and Michelle Jerabek will bring her tenor saxophone, and if we are lucky she will bring her boisterous baritone saxophone. We may even hear the nefarious Dave Jerabek thumping bass lines on Andy Merten's upright bass or perhaps a Sousaphone -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousaphone

"You probably should not miss this. Your choice." -ed

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Ethan Keller has been writing music and lyrics since age 9, and actively supporting music since 17. Known by most as the frontman of funk/rock/hip-hop band Greenscene, the 26-year old singer/songwriter already has a decade's worth of experience.

Within 8 years, Greenscene recorded 4 albums, played 500+ shows in 35 states, and sold over 6000 albums. GS was even heard internationally; some music was featured on MTV's "Undressed," plus a live performance on The Jenny Jones Show, both which reran all over Europe. Greenscene won Jim Beam’s National Band Search in 2001, and received rock star treatment on a cushy tour bus for a brief period. GS showcased at SXSW (Austin, TX), NACA (Salt Lake City, UT), MFNW (Portland, OR), NEMO (Boston, MA), and MMC (Harrisburg, PA). Greenscene enabled Ethan to travel the country, share the stage with great musicians, and play for 1000’s of people at prime venues. GS stopped touring in 2004, but greensceneband.com helps keep the memories & music alive.

"I’ve been playing music longer than anything else I can remember doing. What a glorious day it was when my parents brought home a piano so that my sister could take lessons. I had just started kindergarten (school) and, at age 5, was very impressed with this “thing”. I would watch my sister trying to teach some very simple songs to my brother. While he struggled with them, I “got it” immediately. I remember sitting down to play Christmas carols by “sounding them out”. My ear told me if the notes were wrong. If only it would have been advanced enough at that time to tell which notes were correct…..

Music has always been both a blessing and a curse for me. The curse was that I was obsessed with it. As a young child I wanted everyone I knew to know that I could play, and I took every opportunity to show off. Certainly, this alienated me from some folks who had very little tolerance for a “conceited” kid whose ego was much larger than his talent level! My older sister also gave me a few piano lessons. I did OK but really didn’t have the discipline to re-create the music from the printed page. I guess I found out at an early age that I wasn’t cut out for Bach, Beethoven, or any other music that required consistency and that it be played the same way each time.

I have always loved to sing and had a good enough ear to sing in tune. I made up many songs during my teen years. However, with no knowledge of song form or mechanics, the songs were more like musical rambling. The songs would start, drone on for a time, and then end with no recognizable verses or choruses. I pity the members of my family who had little choice but to put up with my attempts to teach myself to play. Actually, I didn’t consider that I was teaching myself to play. To me it was an “instant gratification” thing. I enjoyed it immensely and took every opportunity to play. Often, while my friends were out playing sandlot football or baseball, I was home banging away on the Baldwin piano. That was fine with me!

When I was 11 years old, my father brought home an acoustic guitar. Having gotten a few “strum-along songbooks”, I began to learn about chords and learned the difference between major chords, minor chords, chords with “numbers in them” (6, 7, 9, 11). The truly pivotal moment for me came when I realized that chords sounded the same on both guitar and piano. Suddenly, those songbooks became my “Rosetta stone”, the single most effective way for me to translate what I was hearing on the guitar so that I could play it on the piano. I was about 13 years old then and music took on a whole new meaning for me. I was moving out of the “curse stage” and into the “blessing stage”.

I played my first gig for money at age 14 on guitar, not on piano. The simple truth is that in 1973, electric guitars and amplifiers cost far less that electric pianos did. I hung out with a couple of other musically inclined kids and it wasn’t long before we had a band and started playing out. We didn’t make any money but enjoyed the status and the resulting shot in the ego. In those days, it was ultra cool to have long hair, wear jeans with holes in them, and be able to name all of the artists playing the songs as they would come on the radio. Around this time, my parents began to urge me to consider what I wanted to do when I eventually graduated from High school. My reply was short and simple, “I want to make money playing music”. I suppose that my answer was not what my folks wanted to hear but it came straight from my heart and was not to be denied. Music was my passion, my life, and I had a knack for it. It came easily to me. As a senior in High school, I began to play in lounge bands in local hotels and clubs. Disco had not yet begun to put it’s strangle hold on live music so, where I lived, there were quite a few places to play. I went to college to be a vocalist, thinking that I wanted to be a choir director. What I really wanted, I told myself, was to learn composition and write movie sound tracks. But all of that deep musical stuff was not available until one was at least a junior or senior in college.

The next year I switched colleges and attended one that had a degree program with an emphasis on music theory and composition. The most important thing I learned from that school came by way of my student work, not really from my class load. My job was playing music in the dance department for dance students to learn steps to. It didn’t pay much at all, but it required one to watch what steps were being choreographed, have the instructor tell you how to make the music “feel”, a march or a waltz or something that moved along swiftly. The instructor would then count off a tempo and I would improvise something with the appropriate “feel”. The real value here was that I was forced to consider phrasing and form in order to be effective. There were days in which I would put in 3-4 hours in the dance studio, the net result being that my “songs” suddenly began to make sense to the ear of my listener. Adding phrase and form to the music turned my musical rambling into song-like units that “felt” comfortable and familiar to the listener. 5 years earlier had come chords and rudimentary music theory. Now I had a new tool in my musical tool box… form and phrasing!

I left school after (not quite) two years to play with a band that needed a keyboard player to do a tour of Germany and Iceland while playing for the United States Armed Forces. I went on to play professionally for 15 years in a variety of groups (Jazz, Show, Rock, Country, Fusion) as well as playing hundreds of hours as a solo act in piano bars and small clubs. I was not left behind by the advent of computers and MIDI as applied to popular music. As my finances would allow, I would purchase sound sources that “listened” to MIDI. I began to produce MIDI song sequences containing drums, bass, strings, brass, percussion, you name it! If the sound was available (and I could afford it), I found a way to use it. I did my very best to use these sounds in the way that they would be used had they been played in that song by real players on real instruments. It didn’t do much good to have a bass part that didn’t function as a bass and fill the bass role in the song. I began to ply my craft as a “producer”. In a very real sense, I was acting like one who produces recordings done by other musicians. I spent time putting songs together. It worked out to roughly one hour of production time for each finished minute of the song. Therefore, I could expect a 5 minute song to take at least five hours to produce. Once again, a fabulous musical learning experience. I became acutely aware of the role of all of the instruments in a song and could make sure that they didn’t interfere with each other. I soon began to do some radio commercials and eventually a TV commercial that ran for about 5 months on local TV.

I did eventually get a day job writing software which was used by large warehouses to keep track of their inventory and what was coming and going. While I no longer had as much time to play/ practice / produce, I could now afford better gear and when I did play, I had much more fun. Why not, I no longer needed to be concerned about the money! They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and that certainly applies to music as well. The computer based solo act was starting to get old and I was losing interest. The main problem was that the music and the sound began to become sterile to me. There was only one musical point of view for every song. I lacked the input and variety that comes naturally when there are other musicians on stage. That changed as soon as I joined the Groove Hogs in 1997.

I went from a solo act sound and mentality to a large, 9 piece group. What a complete difference! At first, I always felt that I was “stepping” on the other players and filling in all of the holes in the song. It was quite a chore for me to not overplay. Fortunately, after about 2 months, the groove began to form as I learned to work with the other players in the rhythm section. I’ve been playing in the Groove Hogs for over eight years and have been a part of four compact disc releases with them. Each disc, while better than the one before it proved to be quite a learning experience for me. The last two discs were produced by Memphis, Tennessee based producer Jim Gaines. Jim Gaines has worked with just about everyone in the music industry who is anyone in the music industry. The eight Grammy awards Jim has earned say it all. I was extremely fortunate to work with Jim and learned very much from him. I bring all of that knowledge to the stage every time I play and to the writing process every time I begin to write or produce.

I can’t say what the future holds for me. I can only hope that I will continue to have the good fortune of playing the music I love for people who want to hear it. I’ll continue to practice my art as a player and as a writer/producer. I’ll be producing music until the day I die… or until I can no longer sit up straight enough to play… which to me will be about the same as being dead.

Peace." - Brian Gruselle

Burt Klein, Jazz Vampyre, is over 600 years old. He originally hails from Romania, but has lost the accent, due to extensive touring. He has been involved with the creation of EVERY form of popular music in the last 600 years. He is the very definition of a superstar. His voice and stage presence emit powerful, hypnotic, hilarious tomfoolery. The ladies want him and the men want to beat him.

He has shared the stage or worked with the likes of: Mozart, Burt Bacharach, Beethoven, Lionel Ritchie, Scott Joplin, the entire Bach family, Louis Armstrong, the entire Partridge Family, Old Dirty Bastard, Elvis Presley, Robert Johnson, Ren & Stimpy, Steamboat Willy, George Clinton, Slayer, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Miles Davis, Hank Williams I, II, and III, The Rat Pack, Neil Sedaka, Lemmy from Motorhead, Celine Dion (the early years), Roy Orbison, Tom Jones, Lambchop, DJ Funk, Hall & Oates, Edith Piaf, Ozzy Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, Tony Danza, Tony Clifton, Tony the Tiger, Johnny Cash, Kool Keith, Wayne Newton, Elmer Fudd, Gustav Mahler, and Adam West...just to name a few. Sadly, no artist will admit collaborating with the Jazz Vampyre, much less acknowledge his pitiful existence. What gives?!

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

NO GUEST ARTIST TONIGHT, JUST THE TRIO!

Dr. Rob McWilliams, an internationally accomplished musician, conductor, and educator, was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. A United States resident since 1991, Dr. McWilliams holds a Ph. D. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Melbourne.

Dr. McWilliams began his career as a music educator at Eltham College, an independent K-12 school in Melbourne. During his seven-year tenure at this school he initiated a new instrumental program and directed its development into an accomplished and award winning program recognized throughout the country. For the next five years, Dr. McWilliams served on the faculty of the University of Melbourne Institute of Education where he taught and coordinated courses in brass, jazz, and instrumental music pedagogy and conducted the Wind Symphony, Brass Choir, and Jazz Big Band. He has also served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in most states of Australia, and as an examiner for the Victorian Board of Education and Victorian College of the Arts.

The Australian Wind Orchestra has regularly retained Dr. McWilliams' conducting services since its inception in 1990. Under his direction as one of the regular conductors, the orchestra has toured and performed at major international music conferences in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong. In July 1995, Dr. McWilliams conducted the Australian Wind Orchestra at the prestigious World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Dr. McWilliams also has extensive experience as a performer on trumpet and keyboard and has performed with a number of domestic and international symphonic ensembles and jazz groups. Being an experienced and popular guest conductor and clinician has provided Dr. McWilliams with the opportunity to travel extensively and work with professional and amateur school and adult musicians. In the U.S. he has served as guest conductor and clinician in Alabama, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio working with high school and university musicians and honor bands at the state and regional levels. While resident in Minnesota Dr. McWilliams served as Musical Director for the Roseville Community Band and Associate Conductor of the Grand Symphonic Winds, two civic adult performance groups based in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

Dr. McWilliams is currently Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and teaches courses in instrumental music education.

Brad Curran began playing trumpet in the fourth grade and was playing gigs and arranging by age twelve. Since that time, he has had the good fortune to perform in a variety of musical settings ranging from classical to jazz to pop/rock including appearances with jazz stars Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Med Flory, Conte Candoli, Bill Watrous and Buddy DeFranco. Other diverse credits include the Temptations, the Jan Garber Orchestra, various symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, brass ensembles and numerous recording sessions.

"Play the notes as you'd like... just don't play too many."

Dave Dunning is a high school band teacher from Wisconsin. In his quote above he was talking to them about jazz improving. During practices he would show them how to do things on his trombone. He is a great guy an inspirational teacher.

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Ethan Keller has been writing music and lyrics since age 9, and actively supporting music since 17. Known by most as the frontman of funk/rock/hip-hop band Greenscene, the 26-year old singer/songwriter already has a decade's worth of experience.

Within 8 years, Greenscene recorded 4 albums, played 500+ shows in 35 states, and sold over 6000 albums. GS was even heard internationally; some music was featured on MTV's "Undressed," plus a live performance on The Jenny Jones Show, both which reran all over Europe. Greenscene won Jim Beam’s National Band Search in 2001, and received rock star treatment on a cushy tour bus for a brief period. GS showcased at SXSW (Austin, TX), NACA (Salt Lake City, UT), MFNW (Portland, OR), NEMO (Boston, MA), and MMC (Harrisburg, PA). Greenscene enabled Ethan to travel the country, share the stage with great musicians, and play for 1000’s of people at prime venues. GS stopped touring in 2004, but greensceneband.com helps keep the memories & music alive.

Special Appearance by TSATF

Dr. Rob McWilliams, an internationally accomplished musician, conductor, and educator, was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. A United States resident since 1991, Dr. McWilliams holds a Ph. D. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Melbourne.

Dr. McWilliams began his career as a music educator at Eltham College, an independent K-12 school in Melbourne. During his seven-year tenure at this school he initiated a new instrumental program and directed its development into an accomplished and award winning program recognized throughout the country. For the next five years, Dr. McWilliams served on the faculty of the University of Melbourne Institute of Education where he taught and coordinated courses in brass, jazz, and instrumental music pedagogy and conducted the Wind Symphony, Brass Choir, and Jazz Big Band. He has also served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in most states of Australia, and as an examiner for the Victorian Board of Education and Victorian College of the Arts.

The Australian Wind Orchestra has regularly retained Dr. McWilliams' conducting services since its inception in 1990. Under his direction as one of the regular conductors, the orchestra has toured and performed at major international music conferences in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong. In July 1995, Dr. McWilliams conducted the Australian Wind Orchestra at the prestigious World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Dr. McWilliams also has extensive experience as a performer on trumpet and keyboard and has performed with a number of domestic and international symphonic ensembles and jazz groups. Being an experienced and popular guest conductor and clinician has provided Dr. McWilliams with the opportunity to travel extensively and work with professional and amateur school and adult musicians. In the U.S. he has served as guest conductor and clinician in Alabama, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio working with high school and university musicians and honor bands at the state and regional levels. While resident in Minnesota Dr. McWilliams served as Musical Director for the Roseville Community Band and Associate Conductor of the Grand Symphonic Winds, two civic adult performance groups based in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

Dr. McWilliams is currently Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and teaches courses in instrumental music education.

Brad Curran began playing trumpet in the fourth grade and was playing gigs and arranging by age twelve. Since that time, he has had the good fortune to perform in a variety of musical settings ranging from classical to jazz to pop/rock including appearances with jazz stars Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Med Flory, Conte Candoli, Bill Watrous and Buddy DeFranco. Other diverse credits include the Temptations, the Jan Garber Orchestra, various symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, brass ensembles and numerous recording sessions.

Tom Washatka: saxophone, is a multitalented instrumentalist/composer who has appeared in a variety of musical forums.

Born in Milwaukee on March 4, 1956, he graduated from High school in Appleton Wi and obtained a bachelors degree in music at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Some of his recording/performing experiences include working with John Harmon in a group called “Fire and Ice”. Formed in 1980, the group released its first album in 1983. Tom provided the title cut for the popular album; “Island Dancer”. In 1992 he joined Madison WI based latin-jazz group, Madisalsa, and performed with the critically-acclaimed band for 11 years.

In 1985 Fire and Ice teamed up with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen, added a vocalist, Janet Planet, and guitarist Tom Theabo, and recorded the highly acclaimed album “Sweet Thunder in 1985. Since then, Tom has continued to write and record albums for his own record label “Stellar Records”. His cd “Easy To Love”, released in 1999, has gained rave reviews abroad.

“Washatka plays with the enthusiasm of the hard bop masters, his solo explorations are full of new ideas and he is a quality writer who's compositions have a lot of meat on their bones.” Cadence Magazine

In the year 2000 Tom traveled to Japan to be part of the formation of the first Fraternity of Jazz Musicians between Nagasaki and the Fox Cities.

Tom's performance experience ranges from Symphony Orchestras to opening for Super Sax, Weather Report, Freddie Hubbard and Tito Puente. As well as touring with his own quartet.

Tom is co-owner and composer for one of the most popular music libraries “Narrator Tracks Music”. His award winning music has been featured in movies as far away as Australia and P.B.S. specials across the U.S. In addition to writing he is an engineer and producer for Stellar Records/Steel Moon recording studio. In 2007 Stellar Records recording artist/vocalist, Nancy King, was nominated for a Grammy.

Tom currently teaches jazz saxophone and improvisation at the prestigious liberal arts college Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin.

"I’ve been playing music longer than anything else I can remember doing. What a glorious day it was when my parents brought home a piano so that my sister could take lessons. I had just started kindergarten (school) and, at age 5, was very impressed with this “thing”. I would watch my sister trying to teach some very simple songs to my brother. While he struggled with them, I “got it” immediately. I remember sitting down to play Christmas carols by “sounding them out”. My ear told me if the notes were wrong. If only it would have been advanced enough at that time to tell which notes were correct…..

Music has always been both a blessing and a curse for me. The curse was that I was obsessed with it. As a young child I wanted everyone I knew to know that I could play, and I took every opportunity to show off. Certainly, this alienated me from some folks who had very little tolerance for a “conceited” kid whose ego was much larger than his talent level! My older sister also gave me a few piano lessons. I did OK but really didn’t have the discipline to re-create the music from the printed page. I guess I found out at an early age that I wasn’t cut out for Bach, Beethoven, or any other music that required consistency and that it be played the same way each time.

I have always loved to sing and had a good enough ear to sing in tune. I made up many songs during my teen years. However, with no knowledge of song form or mechanics, the songs were more like musical rambling. The songs would start, drone on for a time, and then end with no recognizable verses or choruses. I pity the members of my family who had little choice but to put up with my attempts to teach myself to play. Actually, I didn’t consider that I was teaching myself to play. To me it was an “instant gratification” thing. I enjoyed it immensely and took every opportunity to play. Often, while my friends were out playing sandlot football or baseball, I was home banging away on the Baldwin piano. That was fine with me!

When I was 11 years old, my father brought home an acoustic guitar. Having gotten a few “strum-along songbooks”, I began to learn about chords and learned the difference between major chords, minor chords, chords with “numbers in them” (6, 7, 9, 11). The truly pivotal moment for me came when I realized that chords sounded the same on both guitar and piano. Suddenly, those songbooks became my “Rosetta stone”, the single most effective way for me to translate what I was hearing on the guitar so that I could play it on the piano. I was about 13 years old then and music took on a whole new meaning for me. I was moving out of the “curse stage” and into the “blessing stage”.

I played my first gig for money at age 14 on guitar, not on piano. The simple truth is that in 1973, electric guitars and amplifiers cost far less that electric pianos did. I hung out with a couple of other musically inclined kids and it wasn’t long before we had a band and started playing out. We didn’t make any money but enjoyed the status and the resulting shot in the ego. In those days, it was ultra cool to have long hair, wear jeans with holes in them, and be able to name all of the artists playing the songs as they would come on the radio. Around this time, my parents began to urge me to consider what I wanted to do when I eventually graduated from High school. My reply was short and simple, “I want to make money playing music”. I suppose that my answer was not what my folks wanted to hear but it came straight from my heart and was not to be denied. Music was my passion, my life, and I had a knack for it. It came easily to me. As a senior in High school, I began to play in lounge bands in local hotels and clubs. Disco had not yet begun to put it’s strangle hold on live music so, where I lived, there were quite a few places to play. I went to college to be a vocalist, thinking that I wanted to be a choir director. What I really wanted, I told myself, was to learn composition and write movie sound tracks. But all of that deep musical stuff was not available until one was at least a junior or senior in college.

The next year I switched colleges and attended one that had a degree program with an emphasis on music theory and composition. The most important thing I learned from that school came by way of my student work, not really from my class load. My job was playing music in the dance department for dance students to learn steps to. It didn’t pay much at all, but it required one to watch what steps were being choreographed, have the instructor tell you how to make the music “feel”, a march or a waltz or something that moved along swiftly. The instructor would then count off a tempo and I would improvise something with the appropriate “feel”. The real value here was that I was forced to consider phrasing and form in order to be effective. There were days in which I would put in 3-4 hours in the dance studio, the net result being that my “songs” suddenly began to make sense to the ear of my listener. Adding phrase and form to the music turned my musical rambling into song-like units that “felt” comfortable and familiar to the listener. 5 years earlier had come chords and rudimentary music theory. Now I had a new tool in my musical tool box… form and phrasing!

I left school after (not quite) two years to play with a band that needed a keyboard player to do a tour of Germany and Iceland while playing for the United States Armed Forces. I went on to play professionally for 15 years in a variety of groups (Jazz, Show, Rock, Country, Fusion) as well as playing hundreds of hours as a solo act in piano bars and small clubs. I was not left behind by the advent of computers and MIDI as applied to popular music. As my finances would allow, I would purchase sound sources that “listened” to MIDI. I began to produce MIDI song sequences containing drums, bass, strings, brass, percussion, you name it! If the sound was available (and I could afford it), I found a way to use it. I did my very best to use these sounds in the way that they would be used had they been played in that song by real players on real instruments. It didn’t do much good to have a bass part that didn’t function as a bass and fill the bass role in the song. I began to ply my craft as a “producer”. In a very real sense, I was acting like one who produces recordings done by other musicians. I spent time putting songs together. It worked out to roughly one hour of production time for each finished minute of the song. Therefore, I could expect a 5 minute song to take at least five hours to produce. Once again, a fabulous musical learning experience. I became acutely aware of the role of all of the instruments in a song and could make sure that they didn’t interfere with each other. I soon began to do some radio commercials and eventually a TV commercial that ran for about 5 months on local TV.

I did eventually get a day job writing software which was used by large warehouses to keep track of their inventory and what was coming and going. While I no longer had as much time to play/ practice / produce, I could now afford better gear and when I did play, I had much more fun. Why not, I no longer needed to be concerned about the money! They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and that certainly applies to music as well. The computer based solo act was starting to get old and I was losing interest. The main problem was that the music and the sound began to become sterile to me. There was only one musical point of view for every song. I lacked the input and variety that comes naturally when there are other musicians on stage. That changed as soon as I joined the Groove Hogs in 1997.

I went from a solo act sound and mentality to a large, 9 piece group. What a complete difference! At first, I always felt that I was “stepping” on the other players and filling in all of the holes in the song. It was quite a chore for me to not overplay. Fortunately, after about 2 months, the groove began to form as I learned to work with the other players in the rhythm section. I’ve been playing in the Groove Hogs for over eight years and have been a part of four compact disc releases with them. Each disc, while better than the one before it proved to be quite a learning experience for me. The last two discs were produced by Memphis, Tennessee based producer Jim Gaines. Jim Gaines has worked with just about everyone in the music industry who is anyone in the music industry. The eight Grammy awards Jim has earned say it all. I was extremely fortunate to work with Jim and learned very much from him. I bring all of that knowledge to the stage every time I play and to the writing process every time I begin to write or produce.

I can’t say what the future holds for me. I can only hope that I will continue to have the good fortune of playing the music I love for people who want to hear it. I’ll continue to practice my art as a player and as a writer/producer. I’ll be producing music until the day I die… or until I can no longer sit up straight enough to play… which to me will be about the same as being dead.

Peace." - Brian Gruselle

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Ethan Keller has been writing music and lyrics since age 9, and actively supporting music since 17. Known by most as the frontman of funk/rock/hip-hop band Greenscene, the 26-year old singer/songwriter already has a decade's worth of experience.

Within 8 years, Greenscene recorded 4 albums, played 500+ shows in 35 states, and sold over 6000 albums. GS was even heard internationally; some music was featured on MTV's "Undressed," plus a live performance on The Jenny Jones Show, both which reran all over Europe. Greenscene won Jim Beam’s National Band Search in 2001, and received rock star treatment on a cushy tour bus for a brief period. GS showcased at SXSW (Austin, TX), NACA (Salt Lake City, UT), MFNW (Portland, OR), NEMO (Boston, MA), and MMC (Harrisburg, PA). Greenscene enabled Ethan to travel the country, share the stage with great musicians, and play for 1000’s of people at prime venues. GS stopped touring in 2004, but greensceneband.com helps keep the memories & music alive.

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Think "Playtime"

4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Michelle, Danny, Dave, and ???

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

The Jazz Orgy leaves on their first national tour, this is their kickoff

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

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Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Tom Washatka: saxophone, is a multitalented instrumentalist/composer who has appeared in a variety of musical forums.

Born in Milwaukee on March 4, 1956, he graduated from High school in Appleton Wi and obtained a bachelors degree in music at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Some of his recording/performing experiences include working with John Harmon in a group called “Fire and Ice”. Formed in 1980, the group released its first album in 1983. Tom provided the title cut for the popular album; “Island Dancer”. In 1992 he joined Madison WI based latin-jazz group, Madisalsa, and performed with the critically-acclaimed band for 11 years.

In 1985 Fire and Ice teamed up with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen, added a vocalist, Janet Planet, and guitarist Tom Theabo, and recorded the highly acclaimed album “Sweet Thunder in 1985. Since then, Tom has continued to write and record albums for his own record label “Stellar Records”. His cd “Easy To Love”, released in 1999, has gained rave reviews abroad.

“Washatka plays with the enthusiasm of the hard bop masters, his solo explorations are full of new ideas and he is a quality writer who's compositions have a lot of meat on their bones.” Cadence Magazine

In the year 2000 Tom traveled to Japan to be part of the formation of the first Fraternity of Jazz Musicians between Nagasaki and the Fox Cities.

Tom's performance experience ranges from Symphony Orchestras to opening for Super Sax, Weather Report, Freddie Hubbard and Tito Puente. As well as touring with his own quartet.

Tom is co-owner and composer for one of the most popular music libraries “Narrator Tracks Music”. His award winning music has been featured in movies as far away as Australia and P.B.S. specials across the U.S. In addition to writing he is an engineer and producer for Stellar Records/Steel Moon recording studio. In 2007 Stellar Records recording artist/vocalist, Nancy King, was nominated for a Grammy.

Tom currently teaches jazz saxophone and improvisation at the prestigious liberal arts college Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin.

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

Blessed with an irrepressible musical imagination as well as the technique to give it life, Dave Jahnke stands as a first rate jazz singer. Don't miss this!

Steve is a tenor sax player that cannot help but be noticed! Steve is solid musician and provides the essential intensity required by the song. Some musicians enjoy playing, but Steve Cooper -makes- the audience enjoy his playing. His heart and soul fly from the bell of his horn on every note, and, quite frankly, it really cooks! Steve played with the Groove Hogs years ago and then left to pursue other musical directions, but the fates have seen to it that he ended up back in the one band that matches up perfectly in both intensity and fire!

Speaking of fire, Steve loves to play when there are fire-fighters in the audience. You are probably wondering why this is so. Is it that fire-fighters remind Steve of things that are smokin' hot? Wrong! Maybe Steve likes fire-fighters because they deal face to face with danger and make split-second, life-saving decisions? Wrong again. Steve likes to play for fire-fighters because they are the only ones who have ladders tall enough that, when climbed to the top, allow one to hear how high Steve can play his Tenor Sax. Rumor has it that Steve played an outdoor concert and even dogs had to climb up ladders to hear all of the notes coming from Steve's horn. When Steve was approached by NASA as a potential astronaut for a manned flight to the moon, Steve's response was "No thanks. I've already played much higher than that! Call me when you're going higher than some place I've already played!"

Playing vibes for forty-five years, Bob Maynard has worked with some of the best musician in the midwest. Chuck Hedges (clarinet), Dave Sullivan (guitar), Jennifer Leitham (bass), just to name a few. He works regularly with the Chuck Hedges in Milwaukee at Selen's House of Prime Rib every Friday night, and performs with him throughout the year at gigs like The Bunny Bergian Jazz Festival, Holiday Archers Jazz Festival, and The Cedarburg Cultural Center. During the summer, because of family ties to Door County, Bob plays with Dan Palmer and Le Jazz Hot on Sunset Cruises out of Gills Rock, WI. Once again he's working with some fine musicians including Dan Palmer (clarinet), Andy Mertens (bass), and Gary Miller (drums).

A big fan of such greats as Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, and Benny Goodman, Bob Maynard likes to play the music of the great composers, like Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, and more. Self taught, Bob works with both two and four mallets, expressing ballads with feeling and swing tunes with drive. "No one can teach you how to swing, you either have it or you don't."

Danny Jerabek has been playing professionally since the age of 8 years old. He was given his first button accordion at the age of 9, and hasn't looked back since. Danny combines and melts many different genres of music into his band, Copper Box, and also in his solo shows as you will hear/see. This show will feature some Brazilian(Forro), classic 70's rock, a little
Jazz, 2 polkas, and a bunch of original works from Danny.

Ken Skitch, Trombone/Bass Guitar (Sometimes)/Vocals, was born and raised a "canuck" (FYI...that's American for he's Canadian) in Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada. Ken graduated from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Music in composition and Trombone performance. While in Canada, he played with the Kingston symphony, recorded for the CBC on trombone and played bass guitar with The Revolving Parts band in Toronto.

Ken moved to the U.S. in 1987 (long story-ask him on a break) and began playing bass with the No Outlet Band, Nearvana, Former Members band and anyone else who needed a bass player for the night (or anyone else who would have him for that matter!). He has been a member of Bacchus Lotus, Russ Allen and Swingtown, Clambake and the Mother Shuckin' Horns, Big Band Reunion and has performed with various groups including the Temptations. He is currently in the band Fat Brass Inc. In addition to his many playing obligations, Ken has written, recorded and produced his own Jazz CD entitled "Springtime In The Valley". Ken is also a sought after session player and has many recording credits to his name.

When not playing in Fat Brass or any of the other dozen bands he is in, Ken can be found managing the instrument repair department for Heid Music. Ken has been repairing instruments since 1982, and has been heard to say, while on stage with Fat Brass, "I can fix that".

Anyone who's ever played trombone knows it's not the glamour instrument trumpet or sax tend to be. In high school bands and ensembles, kids clamor for the trumpet section, and band directors sometimes hope they have enough trombones to fill out the band.

But Brenda Theabo, for one, has refused to be a red-headed stepchild in the music world, taking her trombone and her voice out front in a series of ensembles that happen to have her moniker squarely attached -- as in the Brenda Theabo Duo, Brenda Theabo Trio, Brenda Theabo Quartet, etc.

"For the most part I consider that a positive thing, because people are in need of trombone players," said Theabo of the trombone's notoriously low profile. "There are a million sax players, right? Occasionally some people really want to stick with that traditional sound like sax, and they think trombone is not happening, which is really to their disadvantage, but for the most part I think it's a positive thing. People like to hear something different, I think."

Dr. Rob McWilliams, an internationally accomplished musician, conductor, and educator, was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. A United States resident since 1991, Dr. McWilliams holds a Ph. D. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Melbourne.

Dr. McWilliams began his career as a music educator at Eltham College, an independent K-12 school in Melbourne. During his seven-year tenure at this school he initiated a new instrumental program and directed its development into an accomplished and award winning program recognized throughout the country. For the next five years, Dr. McWilliams served on the faculty of the University of Melbourne Institute of Education where he taught and coordinated courses in brass, jazz, and instrumental music pedagogy and conducted the Wind Symphony, Brass Choir, and Jazz Big Band. He has also served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in most states of Australia, and as an examiner for the Victorian Board of Education and Victorian College of the Arts.

The Australian Wind Orchestra has regularly retained Dr. McWilliams' conducting services since its inception in 1990. Under his direction as one of the regular conductors, the orchestra has toured and performed at major international music conferences in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong. In July 1995, Dr. McWilliams conducted the Australian Wind Orchestra at the prestigious World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Dr. McWilliams also has extensive experience as a performer on trumpet and keyboard and has performed with a number of domestic and international symphonic ensembles and jazz groups. Being an experienced and popular guest conductor and clinician has provided Dr. McWilliams with the opportunity to travel extensively and work with professional and amateur school and adult musicians. In the U.S. he has served as guest conductor and clinician in Alabama, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio working with high school and university musicians and honor bands at the state and regional levels. While resident in Minnesota Dr. McWilliams served as Musical Director for the Roseville Community Band and Associate Conductor of the Grand Symphonic Winds, two civic adult performance groups based in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

Dr. McWilliams is currently Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and teaches courses in instrumental music education.

Tom Theabo has been an guitarist / arranger / writer for more than 35 years. A full time musician and teacher, his style is a unique voice in the jazz world. His recordings are numerous and his productivity in the studio has continued for the last 30 years. Of his many recordings, he is featured with Grammy nominee, Chris Swansen and John Harmon on the 1985 release of "Sweet Thunder" on the Seabreeze label. Tom has shared the stage with artists such as George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Gene Bertoncini, to name a few.

In January of 2000 and 2003 Tom toured Japan and helped to form the first "Fraternity of Musicians" between jazz players of Japan and the U.S. Tom has been with Janet Planet as her main musical director since her beginning 25 years ago. He continues to shape his artistry not only on guitar but as an arranger. He has contributed his pen to recordings on "Stellar records" that features a Sax quartet and voice. He has also released his own cd of originals and original arrangements on "Stellar" called a "Fine Sample".

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