Artists
Blues on the Bay - Bay City
Bettye LaVette
Learn more about Bettye LaVette
“Soul Singer” should be the title of Bettye LaVette’s biography. She has been dedicated to the idiom since she was 16 years old, adopting the blues as her own and having been an unsung pioneer in the field of rhythm and blues. The audiences in smoke-filled nightclubs, theatres, concert halls and blues festivals have shouted at the stage telling Bettye to “sing the song, honey!” since “My Man” was a hit.
Those appearances wetted the appetites for loyal soul fans who eagerly await Miss LaVette’s latest record releases. Even though Bettye has been dissatisfied with many of her recordings, she has some gems among the many records she has made and news of a new release by her is welcomed news to her legions of fans worldwide.
Soul Xpress
Soul Xpress is a rambunctious 7-piece funk/soul band that features a line up of respected musicians. The band’s mastery of soul music stems from absorbing the real deal of years of experience. Members of the group have performed or opened with artists such as the Commodores, KC & the Sunshine Band, Rare Earth, Otis Day & the Knights, War, The Dramatics, Bobby Byrd, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas as well as Rock Legends such as Bad Company, Edgar Winter, Foghat and Davy Jones. Soul Xpress is an exciting live act that ignites crowds with their exceptional showmanship and funky grooves.
Scott Baker and the Universal Expressions
Learn more about Scott Baker and the Universal Expressions
For nearly five years, Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions has crossed the state, bringing fresh sounds to each venue they play. Comprised of Timmy Scott on drums, Pete Socha on bass, Jeff Yantz on harmonica/vocals/guitars, and Scott Baker on vocals/guitar, the band has ridden the tide of styles and fads to always create fresh and new music along the time line.
The Burdons
With fundamental bonds dating back to childhood when the ‘dynamic duo’ of brothers David Davenport and bassist/songwriter/singer Jim Davenport hung out together with guitarist Paul Schultz and drummer Scott Causley as 11-year olds in the parks and neighborhoods of Bay City, today the band is still intact - with only one personnel change - and spreading their gospel of unabashed joy and enlightenment from the discovery of up-tempo interplay to a second-generation of newfound fans.
Also Featuring:
- Old Wolves Blues Band
- Bay City Central High School Jazz Band
- Garber High School Jazz Band
Jazz at the Tridge - Midland
John Sheffler, Master of Ceremonies
John has worked at CMU Public Radio since August of 1975. He began in 1975 as the late night Jazz host. Early in 1976 John became the overnight host working the shift from 11pm – 6am Sunday through Thursday. He Began producing the concert series “Our Front Porch” which features recorded concerts of Traditional Music in October 1979. The series was distributed to NPR stations between 1984 and 1989. The radio show / concert series is still being produced for the CMU Public Radio Network.
Became Director of Radio in September 2006.
Andy Rapp, Master of Ceremonies
Andy is the host of Currently Speaking, a locally-produced, weekly, prime-time public affairs program in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Currently Speaking tackles local, national, and international issues with commentary from journalists, academics, and experts. Andy is considered a veteran journalist and has also worked as a column writer for the Midland Daily News.
John Pizzarelli
Learn more about John Pizzarelli
John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer, was called “Hip with a wink” by Town & Country, “madly creative” by the Los Angeles Times and “the genial genius of the guitar” by The Toronto Star. When he performs with his wife, singer/actress Jessica Molaskey, and his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli, they were labeled “the First Family of Cool” by the San Francisco Chronicle and “the von Trapps on Martinis” by The New Yorker. According to The New York Times, “the Pizzarelli-Molaskey duo are as good as it gets in any entertainment medium.”
Jeff Hall with Mary Gilbert
Learn more about Jeff Hall with Mary Gilbert
Jeff has been a professional musician for many years. Jeff is director of the Jazz Ensemble at SVSU and puts on a concert every semester with his talented students. He has also appeared as an adjudicator at many different high school and college jazz festivals as well as appearing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, and the Flint Jazz Festival.
Mary Gilbert started singing jazz at fourteen with her Uncle Dick in The Dick Jessup Quartet in Saginaw. Realizing her desire to perform, she studied voice privately throughout high school and college. She attended Interlochen Arts Academy summer camp and studied under New York teacher, Donald Lewsader at Michigan State University. Mary has spent the last twenty years fronting her own bands in a tri-state area, most recently working with Saginaw native and jazz musician, Jeff Hall and Midland’s own, Jim Hohmeyer. She continues to love performing jazz and traveling to sing.
Molly McFadden and the Bistro Boys
Learn more about Molly McFadden and the Bistro Boys
Molly McFadden – You can find Molly singing every weekend at “Molly’s Bistro” in downtown Midland. Molly loves performing with the trio which consists of David Smith at the piano, Roland Wallace on bass and Pete Simonson on drums. This group has been performing together for the last 5 years and has appeared in numerous events as well as doing a recording with Molly 3 years ago called appropriately, “Live at Molly’s”. Recently Molly and the Bistro Trio appeared at the Metropolitan Room in New York and have been invited to return this year.
Mike Brush featuring Julie Mulady
Learn more about Mike Brush featuring Julie Mulady
Well known throughout Michigan’s Tri-Cities, keyboardist and vocalist Michael Brush has earned a solid reputation as a jazz and blues performer, composer, and educator. With experience extending back to the garage band era of the mid-60’s (the Paupers), time has found Mike on a number of routes. A songwriter and arranger from the start, he has devoted his talents to many personal, educational, collaborative, and community centered creative projects. For the past thirty years he has balanced the demands of teaching music in the Saginaw Public School District and performance. Mike was the director of the Voice/Keyboard Department at the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy from 1999-2010.
For the past ten years, Julie has gained a reputation as a popular singer/actress in the Saginaw area. Credits include the Saginaw Choral Society, Saginaw Symphony Orchestra, a soloist with the Saginaw Eddy Band and numerous engagements with pianist Ralph Furlo. Julie was featured in a January 2004 concert entitled, “Julie Mulady-Broadway and More” at First Presbyterian Church in Saginaw. Janet Martineau of the Saginaw News named Julie’s concert as one of the top ten arts events in 2004. A favorite among theatre patrons, Julie has delighted audiences in productions at Midland Theatre Guild and Pit and Balcony Theatre. Julie is an elementary school teacher for the Saginaw Public Schools She resides in Saginaw, MI.
ACT-SO Jazz Ensemble
The Saginaw ACT-SO Development Program, (ACT-SO means Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics of the Mind ), is an year long developmental program offered to over 200 middle and high school students from the Great Lakes Bay Region. These students are trained and mentored to compete locally and nationally in various categories including all the sciences and the performing arts (dance, drama & music). The Directors of the overall ACT-SO program are Canika Owen-Robinson and John Pugh. The ACT-SO Jazz Ensemble,a part of this development program, consists of about 25 students that performs at various local, state and national venues . The Directors of the ACT-SO Jazz Ensemble are Guy Buford and Roland Wallace.
Bryan Rombalski and Three Worlds
Learn more about Bryan Rombalski and Three Worlds
Proud to present Three Worlds to the world, the jazz-based quintet is made up of Ed Carney on saxophone, Mitchell Atkinson on bass, Earl Tiffin III on percussion, Mike McHenry on drums, and Eddy Garcia on percussion. Rombalski likes to re-arrange classic pop and rock standards, along with jazz and blues in his own guitar tongue. There are no limits and often a popular song may pass by within an evening of music unnoticed.
Michigan Jazz Trail Big Band
-Tom Knific, Conductor
-Robert Lindahl
-Stephen E. DeRees
-Eric Ludwig
-Brian Sutherland
-Robbie Smith
-John Nichol
-Carlos Melendez
-Vicky Bowden
-Kevin Smith
-Pete Simonson
-Roland Wallace
-Dave Smith
-Jeff Kresler
-Joe Radtke
-Greg Smokevitz
-Tom Behmlander
Special Guest Morgan McMillon
Learn more about Special Guest Morgan McMillon
Morgan Gabriel McMillon, alto saxophone, is a 22-year-old graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance. He will begin his graduate studies at Michigan State University this fall (2011), where he will pursue a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies. Morgan has had the privilege of studying with Michael Brush, Sue Littel, Dr. Michael Woods, Dr. John Nichol, Rob Smith, Greg Osby, Ralph Peterson and is currently under the tutelage of Wes “Warm Daddy” Anderson and Victor Mendoza. Morgan is the recipient of numerous awards, and has performed as a featured soloist for the Riverside Philharmonic Orchestra in Riverside, California, the Saginaw/Bay Symphony Orchestra and the Germania Symphony Orchestra in Saginaw, Michigan, and the Michigan Youth Arts Honors Orchestra in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Cynthia Levi
Born the second of four girls, Cynthia grew up singing three-part harmony with her sisters. It was during her high school years that she became involved in music and began to sing solos in choir, church, and musical theater productions. After graduation from high school in 1981 Cynthia joined The Continental Singers and for two summers toured Europe and the South Pacific islands. From 1984 through 1986 Cynthia was a cast member of the Christian musical theater group The Jeremiah People, working on the albums “The Agape Boat II” and “Grandpa”. It was here where she had her first experience in a recording studio. The continental Singers featured Cynthia as the storyteller on their recording of “Elijah the Musical” written by Ken Medema. Twenty-three years later Cynthia would collaborate with Mr. Medema on her first solo album.
Stacey Haughton with Val Lemmon
Stacey is a singer/dancer/actress who has worked in regional theatre, children’s theatre, credits include – New York Musical Theatre Festival, Off Broadway, various workshops of new shows. Regional credits include A Chorus Line (Bebe), Damn Yankees (Lola), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), Pippin (Leading Player), West Side Story (Anita), and a special favorite, Gypsy (Hollywood Blonde). Most recently, Stacey has immersed herself in all things jazz. Taking part in open jazz jams in and around the New York area, and performing in the Fort Greene Jazz Concert Series, Banana Puddin’ Jazz at the world famous Nuyorican Poets Cafe, The Brooklyn Jazz All Stars, and doing her own evening of jazz at the restaurant Autour du Monde (Brklyn, NY). She has sung at Sam’s Theatre Bar and Restaurant (NYC), The Duplex (NYC), Don’t Tell Mama’s (NYC), Rustiks (Brklyn, NY), and Sugar Hill Restaurant (Brklyn, NY). Currently, she is working on her next show, and preparing for a couple of upcoming gigs in the next few months. She is absolutely thrilled with the thought of performing jazz in her hometown, and her home state!
H.H. Dow High School Jazz Band
Learn more about H.H. Dow High School Jazz Band
H.H. Dow High School has two jazz bands that rehearse on Wednesday evenings once marching season is finished in late October. In the 2009 Michigan School Band and Orchestra State Jazz Festival , DHS Jazz I earned a 1st Division rating for a superior performance at State Jazz Festival. Through the years, the Dow High jazz bands have earned numerous awards at the CMU Jazz Weekend contest. These include: Outstanding Soloist Class C 2008, 1st Runner-up Outstanding Band Class C 2007, 2nd Runner-up Outstanding Band Class A 2005, 2nd Runner-up Outstanding Section Class A 2002, 2nd Runner-up Outstanding Section Class A 2001, 1st Runner-up Outstanding Section Class 1999. DHS Jazz I regularly appears on several local concerts and has been an active participant in the Paul Keller Orchestra Education Outreach program that takes place in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area jazz clubs. The band has also had the pleasure of having Phil Markowitz, Jeff Hall and Robbie Smith as guest soloists. In addition to improvisation coaching from parent volunteers Ed Carney and Tom Peterson, the band has worked with clinicians such as Jamey Abersold, Dennis WIlson, Paul Keller, Jeff Hall, and James Hohmeyer.
Voices of Jazz
Newly formed Voices of Jazz contains some of the most talented future stars of the next decade! These amazing singers hail from Saginaw, Bay City and Midland. Watch for them on the Michigan Jazz Trail line up in June.
Also Featuring:
- The Bamecians
Heart & Soul at the Temple Theatre - Saginaw
Dave Oppermann, Master of Ceremonies
Learn more about Dave Oppermann, Master of Ceremonies
Dave has been an entertainer his entire adult life, spending time in radio and television, and as a band leader since college. He has been involved in producing some of the country’s leading fireworks displays including the Sky Salute to President Reagan on Inauguration Day in Washington in 1981. He founded the NRB on February 10, 1970 with Reverend Gary Miller to do a Dixieland Worship service, and has remained its leader during its nearly 40 years of operation. When not touring with the NRB he is a staff officer aboard the cruise ships of the Holland America Line.
Howard Sharper, Master of Ceremonies
Lifelong Saginaw resident Howard Sharper is a public servant, jazz afficionado, and disc jockey. He’s also the father of ten kids, and the grandfather of 12. The Saginaw High School class of 1968 graduate studied Psychology and Sociology at Saginaw Valley College (now SVSU). For the past 15 years he has worked at WUCX Q 90.1, Delta College’s public radio station. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasting and as the Treasurer of the Michigan Public Radio Network, and he is a member of a number of national radio organizations. The Manager of Programming and Production recently took time out of his busy schedule to discuss the radio industry, public service, news reporting, and the 1960s.
The New Reformation Band
Learn more about The New Reformation Band
In its 34+ years, the New Reformation Band has given thousands of performances worldwide, playing traditional jazz, considered by many to be America’s only original art form. Since its first performance at a Saginaw, Michigan church, the band has played its ‘joyful sound’ at national jazz festivals; with US symphony orchestras; on cruise ships; in arenas and concert halls; at supper clubs and show lounges; hotels and resorts; expositions, fairs and festivals; golf, yacht, and country clubs; colleges and universities; as well as hundreds of worship services in churches of many faiths.
Over the years, the NRB has produced 15 critically acclaimed albums which are being enjoyed by fans everywhere. The band’s 20th and 25th anniversary concerts were videotaped at Saginaw’ s Heritage and Temple Theaters respectively, and subsequently telecast across the United States, including most major markets, on the PBS Television Network.
Kevin Cole
Kevin Cole, America’s Pianist, is the top performer of works from The Great American Songbook and concert works of their great American composers. He delights audiences with a repertoire including the best of 20th Century American music.
Cole’s performances in general and his interpretation of George Gershwin in particular have prompted accolades from many of America’s most prominent music critics. He is regarded as the foremost interpreter of George Gershwin compositions according to members of the Gershwin family, Howard Reich ofThe Chicago Tribune, Gershwin biographer Ed Jablonski, and composer Hugh Martin to list only a few who share this opinion.
Brush Street
Brush Street is a quintet that includes Matt Corrigan, Jerry Cameron, Jordan Edwards, Julie Mulady and bandleader Michael Brush. The group will be represented in this event by Julie and Mike. Since the 2004 release of their first of three CD’s together, Brush Street has been featured in most major musical events in Saginaw: such as Saginaw Pride’s Friday Night Live, Saginaw on Stage, and performances with the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra. The groups’ individual resumes are varied and far-reaching. Brush Street’s repertoire is a bluesy blend of standards, original songs, and an eclectic collection of contemporary gems.
Saginaw Teens on Stage
Learn more about Saginaw Teens on Stage
Saginaw Teens on Stage is an artist group that showcases talented local youth performers. This year’s group features some of the senior Voice/Keyboard students from the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy (SASA), along with one from Delta College and a freshman from Heritage High School. Their set will include solos and small group songs. This talented group will surely impress you.
