Calendar of Events

"Scott has the harmonic insight and technique of modern jazz, as well as a clear understanding of the legacy of the jazz language, but at least as important as this is that he doesn't trade these attributes for lack of feeling or musicality.  He always swings freely and surely and with purpose."  - Bobby Broom, guitarist with Sonny Rollins.  Joining Scott will be Ron Perrillo on piano, Denniss Carroll on bass and George Fludas on drums.

Enjoy the smooth vocals and piano style of Ron Wiggins and his quartet.  After traveling with the late Bobby Helms, Marty Robbins, and Jimmy Dean, he spent a number of years appearing in numerous clubs on the West Coast.  Ron also composed and performed for various movies and television.  His talented group consists of Wes Speake on tenor sax, Rich Dziubinski on drums and Bruce Drudge on acoustic bass.

Jazz Guitarist (and Mishawaka native) Frank Portolese has been active in the Chicago area as a performer and teacher for over 25 years. He has performed in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Detroit, Florida, Hawaii, the UK, Paris, Switzerland and elsewhere.  His performing credits include Eddie Harris, Les McCann, David Baker, Shelley Manne, Jamey Aebersold, Ira Sullivan, Catherine Russell, Claude “Fiddler” Williams, Bobby Shew and many others. His pop performing credits range from Sammy Davis, Jr. to Clay Aiken. In performance Frank is currently focusing on his trio which features Brian Sandstrom (bass) and Rusty Jones (drums) and on presenting and recording arrangements and improvisations on solo jazz guitar.

Brown is a very versatile musician. Through the years, he has had the opportunity to learn from jazz legends such as Pat Martino, Houston Person, Jimmy Cobb, Victor Goines, John Scofield and Russell Malone.  He has also performed at some of the country’s greatest jazz festivals and venues including the St. Louis Jazz Festival, the Clark Terry Jazz Festival, The JVC Jazz Festival New York, Lima Jazz Festival (South America) as well as Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. A Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Alumni, Brown just received his Masters from Northern Illinois University where he studied with jazz notables Fareed Haque, Willie Pickens and jazz educator Ron Carter.

Half Pint Jones is a colorful five-piece project of sophisticated funk, jazz, and rock sprinkled with the musical flavors of New Orleans.  Based in South Bend, Indiana, these five musicians have come together to express a new, organic, manner of story-telling and musical improvisation, while maintaining a completely relatable sound.

Herb's group is the Trio's house band and features some of the best jazz artists in the midwest with Roger Harris (Chicago) on piano, Lannie Turner (Gary) on drums, Rich Cohen (Indianapolis) on saxophone, Herb (South Bend) on acoustic bass and Janet Hines Norris (South Bend) on vocals. This is a group with incredible talent, energy and style that performs a mix of traditional, smooth and soulful jazz.  

Organissimo's goal is to extend the tradition of the classic organ-led combos of the 1960s into the modern age. Buildling upon the foundation laid by past masters, but incorporating modern elements, organissimo focuses on cultivating a true group sound. With Jim Alfredson on hammond B3; Joe Gloss on guitar; and Randy Marsh on drums.

This Kalamazoo-based quintet plays hard bop with comfortable authority and with a sound that echoes the classic sound of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Evidence provides a great example of how much great jazz is being made by groups in the midwest. With Michael Doyle on saxophone, Keaton Atkins on trumpet and flugelhorn, Steve Talaga on piano, Tom Lockwood on acoustic bass and Fred Knapp on drums. 

After studying composing/arranging and performing at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Terry returned to Michigan and has been fortunate to have performed and/or recorded both here and abroad with many great musicians including Benny Golson, Frank Morgan, David “Fathead” Newman, Larry Nozero, Bobby Shew, Hendrik Meurkins, Bobby Watson and Kevin Mahogany. Terry has has performed at many well known festivals including the world renowned Detroit/Montreux International Jazz Festival. Also a prolific writer, many of Terry’s original compositions have been published and recorded on several albums including Terry’s own CD “Step By Step” (2005) and his brand new 2-CD Set "4 Trios"- vol.1 & vol.2 (released November, 2009). In 2006 his sextet captivated the audience during their debut performance at the renowned “Detroit International Jazz Festival” and has "dazzled" those who've heard them during their 2006 through 2009 performances at the "Michigan Jazz Festival."  Performing with Terry will be larry Ochiltree on drums and Tom Lockwood on bass.

With Jim Pickley on piano, Darrel Tidaback on acoustic bass, Dan Degucz on drums and Jennie Sophia on vocals.

Chicago sax man Maxwell is a tasty player with a great sense of jazz running through his work.  He shines brightly with sets of music that let him shine. Check him out. With Shawn Maxwell on saxophone, Matt Nelson on piano, Graham Czach on bass and Brad Dickert on drums.  Visit their website at shawnmaxwell.com.

The Bill Boris Group is an exciting, eclectic ensemble combining elements of  straight ahead jazz, funk and R&B. The group performs original compositions along with jazz standards delivering a melodic and compelling sound.  Bill has performed with Charles Earland,David "Fathead' Newman, Arthur Prysock, Eric Alexander and Tony Monaco. He has performed at the Barbados Jazz Festival, the Kaunas Jazz Festival, Lithuania, the Czejin Jazz Festival, Poland, and the South Shore Jazz Festival, Chicago.  As a member of the Mike Frost Project, Bill played on the Grammy nominated c.d.,"Comin' Straight At You". The group will be performing music from 'Hold Back", Bill's debut c.d.  Bill's group includes Victor Garcia on Trumpet, Roger Harris on keyboards, Chuck Webb on Bass and Perry Wilson on drums.

Come out and hear the Mike Frost Project play songs from their recently Grammy-nominated CD, Coming Straight At You. With Mike Frost on saxophone, Bill Boris on guitar, Steve Frost on trumpet, Dave Bernat on drums and Tom Vaitsas on organ.  Visit their website at www.mikefrostproject.com. 

At 23 years old, Jesse has grown into one of the most accomplished and dynamic vocalists in the jazz and overall music scenes. During the past several years, Jesse has forged her reputation as a live performer throughout the Detroit area, racking up credentials by sharing stages with Geoffrey Keezer, Christian McBride, Greg Hutchinson, Avishai Cohen, Sean Jones, Rodney Whitaker, Ron Blake  and others.  The Jesse Palter Quartet (JPQ) group, which includes Marion Felder or Keith Hall on drums and Ben Williams on bass, performes extensively around the Detroit Metropolitan area, and had their New York debut to a sold out audience at The Blue Note in New York. They have played other venues in Denver, Philadelphia, San Diego, Ann Arbor and Chicago to name a few. 

Alison Ruble is a dynamic performer. She has established a reputation in jazz circles as a versatile singer with a warm, engaging sound and a respected bandleader with acclaimed groups. Her style and repertoire give a generous nod to the classic jazz standards, but also incorporate more modern strains, producing a poignant blend of music that is at once familiar and surprising. Chicago is currently home base, where she appears regularly at The Green Mill, Jazz Showcase, Pops For Champagne, Katerina's, Pete Miller's and Andy's Jazz Club. Ruble's debut release, This Is A Bird (Origin Records), expands her work to a broader national and international audience. The project brings together some of the Chicago music scene's most forward thinking players for a set of re-envisioned jazz standards.

Brown is a very versatile musician. Through the years, he has had the opportunity to learn from jazz legends such as Pat Martino, Houston Person, Jimmy Cobb, Victor Goines, John Scofield and Russell Malone.  He has also performed at some of the country’s greatest jazz festivals and venues including the St. Louis Jazz Festival, the Clark Terry Jazz Festival, The JVC Jazz Festival New York, Lima Jazz Festival (South America) as well as Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. A Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Alumni, Brown just received his Masters from Northern Illinois University where he studied with jazz notables Fareed Haque, Willie Pickens and jazz educator Ron Carter.

The Bill Boris Group is an exciting, eclectic ensemble combining elements of  straight ahead jazz, funk and R&B. The group performs original compositions along with jazz standards delivering a melodic and compelling sound.  Bill has performed with Charles Earland,David "Fathead' Newman, Arthur Prysock, Eric Alexander and Tony Monaco. He has performed at the Barbados Jazz Festival, the Kaunas Jazz Festival, Lithuania, the Czejin Jazz Festival, Poland, and the South Shore Jazz Festival, Chicago.  As a member of the Mike Frost Project, Bill played on the Grammy nominated c.d.,"Comin' Straight At You". The group will be performing music from 'Hold Back", Bill's debut c.d.  Bill's group includes Victor Garcia on Trumpet, Roger Harris on keyboards, Chuck Webb on Bass and Perry Wilson on drums.

Featuring Rich Cohen on saxophone with Jim Steele on piano, Darrel Tideback on acoustic bass and Russ Hunt on drums

Organissimo's goal is to extend the tradition of the classic organ-led combos of the 1960s into the modern age. Buildling upon the foundation laid by past masters, but incorporating modern elements, organissimo focuses on cultivating a true group sound. With Jim Alfredson on hammond B3; Joe Gloss on guitar; and Randy Marsh on drums.