|
|
What started as a small three-piece group rehearsing in a living room
has grown into a solid seven-man combo. Here's a little bit about the
people that make the JazzHappensBand so great.Members listing:
|
|
Trumpet, Band Leader |
|
Jeff has been playing the trumpet in and around the Cortland
area for over 35 years. He attended Ithaca College as a music
education major for one year before deciding to make music an
avocation. He has performed in various brass groups, civic
bands, big bands, theater and pit orchestras, and combos but his
love for Dixieland music finally inspired him to start his own
group currently known as the JazzHappensBand.
|
|
|
Clarinet |
 |
After a short career as a public school music teacher, Nick went
to work in the vacation entertainment industry as a musical
director, leading multi-purpose ensembles providing musical
support for Las Vegas-style production shows, formal dancing,
and variety show entertainers. He has performed with John
Pizzarelli, Nell Carter, Diane Schurr, Nancy Wilson, Ann Hampton
Callaway, and many other artists.
In 1997, Nick returned to Ithaca to “settle down”, and took over
directorship of the Ageless Jazz Band, an 18-piece traditional
swing band, a position he still holds today. He has overseen
production of 2 recordings with the AJB, several Caribbean
tours, and a commissioned work (Catch Phrase by Steve Brown)
Nick also maintains an active clarinet and saxophone studio, as
well as free-lances under the Something Of Note brand.
|
|
|
Trombone |
|
Mike Poole is a trombonist from Cortland, NY. He received his
Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the Crane School of
Music at SUNY Potsdam, and studied music theory at the
University of Buffalo. In addition to playing with the
JazzHappensBand, Mike performs in several other classical
ensembles, including the Crown City Brass and the Cortland Old
Timers Band, and also directs the brass ensemble at St. Mary’s
Church in Cortland
|
|
|
Tuba |
 |
Jim, a retired
physics teacher from Owego, New York, is one of the
JazzHappensBand originals. He is a performing musician on the
guitar playing jazz, folk and blues around the area with a
variety of musicians. In his senior year of high school and at
the request of his music teacher, he switched from trumpet to
playing tuba. That's it! 1 year of playing tuba in high school
until he was persuaded by band leader Jeff Dovi 30 years later
to join the group to fill in the low notes (both the oomph and
the pah). That was over a decade ago. Since then Jim has been
an active member of the group playing the tuba, sousaphone and
helping out with some of the band's vocal selections.
|
|
|
Drums |
 |
David Alexander saw the
JazzHappensBand perform on Fat Tuesday and
immediately auditioned to be our drummer. David studied snare
drum in high school with Gene Attleson, and more recently has
studied drum set at Tom Kline’s School for Modern Drumming. He
is a McGraw Central School Alum and has played drums for McGraw
as well as the Cincinnatus Civic Band, All-County Select, Area
All-State, New York State Honor Band, and the SUNY College at
Morrisville Jazz Ensemble. David, (who is also a graduate of
Cornell and Syracuse Universities and otherwise occupied as a
lawyer) and his wife, Carol, a school teacher, have four
children. Their youngest son, Evan, also studies drum set with
Tom Kline and plays drums for Homer Central School concert and
jazz bands.
|
|
|
Banjo |
|
Robbert van Renesse has been playing rhythm guitar for the
Ageless Jazz Band since December 1997, with whom he recorded two
CDs. He has performed in many high school musical productions
and in a SUNY Cortland production of "Little Shop of Horrors."
He wrote a Mel Bay book on what is essentially music theory for
the ukulele called "Understanding Ukulele Chords." Van Renesse
also enjoys playing swing music on banjo and tenor guitar.
|
|
|
Keyboard |
 |
Stephen Wilson received his Bachelor of Arts in vocal
performance and his Master of Arts in conducting from the
University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned his Doctor of
Arts in conducting from Ball State University in Muncie,
Indiana.
He has been professor of music at SUNY Cortland since 1985,
teaching choral music, music theory, conducting, and
accompanying many students and faculty colleagues. He conducts
the College Singers and the Choral Union. His choral
arrangements have been performed in various locations on the
eastern seaboard and in the Midwest. Dr. Wilson has served as
pianist/music director for many musical theater productions. He
has only recently become addicted to Dixieland music.
|
|
