The Otsego Jazz Ensemble sincerely hopes and prays that all our fans are well during these strange times.

The OJE will perform a collective sigh of relief in E-flat (the jazz version, of course) when we can finally, safely, return to our Thursday night practices and 2020 gig schedule!

So far this year we’ve canceled four gigs due to Covid-19: our yearly Senior Prom Dance at WMU, a semi-annual concert at Otsego High School, our yearly appearance at the Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival, and finally our second year in a row Jazz Concert at First Presbyterian in Kalamazoo. A semi-annual July Plainwell Bandshell concert has been canceled, but talks are ongoing about featuring the OJE at a concert this Summer at the bandshell, possibly on July 15.

Highlights from 2019 include a great concert last year at the South Haven Jazz Festival with guest artists Edye Evans Hyde on vocal, Michael Hyde on guitar, Derek Brown on Tenor sax performing two original compositions of his, and a surprise last minute guest appearance of vocalist Wayne Powers to wrap up the gig. The OJE also had memorable concert and dance performances at the South Haven waterfront, Elk’s Club in Otsego, Arpeggio’s in Otsego, WMU Senior Dance, and the Hastings Jazz Festival.

You can find a few recordings of last year’s performances, just search for “2019”: OJE library and sound samples.

Please see our event calendar for updates, especially to track the date for a performance at the Plainwell Bandshell: https://oje.nu/events/.

Here are some charts with actual sound clips from practice that the OJE worked on at one of our last practice sessions at the Otsego Elks, February 27, 2020, before taking a coronavirus break:

Cold Duck Time (fairly new chart)

 Me and my Shadow

Sway (new chart this day)  – Lana Hoffman on vocal

 We’ll get It (recent new chart, OJE never performed it)

Stay well, everyone!  “Otsego Jazz Ensemble Return to Action after Covid-19” is almost like a call to action, to get this band rolling again.

WMU Senior Prom 2019

It’s coming up soon.  All you need to do is put it on your calendar, get dressed and show up with your dancing shoes on.  It’s free!   Once again, the Otsego Jazz Ensemble will provide the music, from 7pm to 10pm.   The band will play your favorite swing numbers from the Big Band Era, like Glenn Miller and Count Basie.  Ian Brown will sing Sinatra favorites, and the band will feature special guest artist Lana Hoffman on vocals too. 
The theme for 2019, “Celebrate,” will feature red, white and blue accent colors.

Going since 1988, The Senior Prom is an elegant and nostalgic evening of dancing and entertainment that bridges the generations between WMU students and Kalamazoo-area senior citizens. No reservations are necessary to attend this semi-formal event, which is free and open to the public.

For general prom information, call Residence Life at (269) 387-4735. Specific questions may be directed via email to that office’s Bryan Austin at bryan.austin@wmich.edu.

And here are the particulars:

• Who: WMU Students and Senior Citizens of the Community
• What:  Dancing, Hors d’Oeuvres, Bingo and Casino Games
• When: 3/28 at 4:30pm
• Where: Bernhard Center, East Ballroom, WMU Campus
• Parking: Suggested parking is the ramp east of the Student Center.  Click here for map.

The Otsego Jazz Ensemble brings a great variety of American music to Kalamazoo’s First Presbyterian Church on Friday, October 5^th at 6:30pm. It’s on the same day as the October Kalamazoo Art Hop.  Come after and during Art Hop and enjoy an evening of big band music with the Otsego Jazz Ensemble.

• Who: The Otsego Jazz Ensemble
• What: FREE Concert of Big Band Jazz at First Pres
• When: Friday, October 5, 2018 from 6:30-8:15 PM    
• Where: First Presbyterian Church, 321 South Street, Kalamazoo
• Donations to benefit the First Presbyterian Church Performing Arts Fund

The 17-piece jazz band, based in Otsego, has been together for more than 30 years.  The OJE, as it’s affectionately known by fans, plays music from the big band era including Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Basie as well as more modern big band jazz arrangements that cover many styles of music like rock, pop and jazz.  Being a traditional big band of five saxes, four trombones, four trumpets and a rhythm section, the band also has two vocalists who perform the music of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Schurr and Michael Buble’.

The Band led by Creative Director Tim Culver, trumpeter and saxophonist who has co-led the Kalamazoo Big Band for more than 30 years, and plays in the Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra and Lew Boyd Band.  Culver joined the OJE trumpet section about 12 years ago.  He says its a hard working group.

“Everybody in OJE takes the music seriously and we all really give it a lot of time and effort.  As audiences change, it’s a challenge for the band to change and adapt.   We play all dance styles for the ballroom dancers.   We’re also adding rock and pop arrangements.   The music of groups like Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, Pat Metheny and Tower of Power are all a great fit for a band like ours.  We love to put a lot of variety in our concerts.”

Guest artist for this concert is actor, radio host, comedian and jazz vocalist Wayne Powers.  The veteran of the New York and Los Angeles scene, Powers landed in Kalamazoo three years ago.  He just released his second album, “If Love Were All”.   Powers recently got married and is in the process of moving to Chicago with his new bride.  Powers will sing “Birth of the Blues”, “A Foggy Day”, “All of Me” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

Also featured as a guest artist is saxophonist Gary McCourry.  Gary retired after 23 years with the Premier Military Band at West Point, including the Jazz Knights.  Gary relocated back to West Michigan where he plays with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra, Truth-In-Jazz Orchestra, Beltline Big Band, Kalamazoo Big Band and Rhythm Section Jazz Band.  Gary also leads the Beer City Saxes.   McCourry will be featured on several numbers, including Pat Metheny’s “James”, a Maynard Ferguson version of “Gellar’s Cellar”, and “Birdland” by Joe Zawinul.

Among selections for this concert will be a beautiful Wally Menard arrangement of “When October Goes”, sung by OJE vocalist and trombone soloist Martha Reid.  Menard recently retired from OJE’s sax section, and has written many great arrangements for the band.  The song lyrics to “When October Goes” were written by Johnny Mercer.  After he died, his widow passed the lyrics to her husband’s friend, Barry Manilow, who finished the song in 1984.

Culver will play the haunting Billy Strayhorn ballad, “Chelsea Bridge”.  Tenor Sax soloist Scott Robbins will play on Carlos Santana’s “Europa”, and a swinging Count Basie version of Cole Porter’s “At Long Last Love.”

The concert coincides with the October 5^th Kalamazoo Art Hop.   Art Hop is an evening of exhibits and events held in downtown Kalamazoo and the surrounding neighborhoods. It’s a FREE event and one of the best things you can do on the First Friday of the month….every month!

• Who: The Otsego Jazz Ensemble
• What: FREE Concert of Big Band Jazz at First Pres
• When: Friday, October 5, 2018 from 6:30-8:15 PM    
• Where: First Presbyterian Church, 321 South Street, Kalamazoo
• Donations to benefit the First Presbyterian Church Performing Arts Fund

The Otsego Jazz Ensemble is proud to be a performer at the Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival again this year.   The festival has been going strong now for 15 years in downtown Hastings, Michigan.

OJE will be featuring several new additions to the book, including Wayne Shorter’s “One By One” and Bob Curnow’s “September Swing”, both featuring soloists Mark Greer (alto sax) and Tim Culver (trumpet).   Greer will also play the Quincy Jones classic, “Quintessence.”  Tenor soloist Scott Robbins will play Bob Mintzer’s “Hanky Panky.”

Guest artist Robin Connell will play piano on Mintzer’s “Acha” and will join Robbins on the Basie classic “Splanky.’

Vocalist Ian Brown will cover the Sinatra favorite “Come Fly With Me” and also Culver’s arrangement of “I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo.”

Martha Reid will sing a couple of great arrangements by Mike Crotty of the Airmen of Note:  “Lullaby of Birdland” and “Mood Indigo.”

And….there’ll be some surprises in store too, no doubt!

Come out to the Festival for some great music Thursday thru Saturday at venues all around downtown Hastings and come out Saturday at 2pm to hear the OJE at Thornapple Plaza.

It’s coming up soon.  All you need to do is put it on your calendar, get dressed and show up with your dancing shoes on.  It’s free!   Once again, the Otsego Jazz Ensemble will provide the music, from 7pm to 10pm.   The band will play your favorite swing numbers from the Big Band Era, like Glenn Miller and Count Basie.  Ian Brown will sing Sinatra favorites, and the band will feature special guest artist Lana Hoffman on vocals too.  The theme this year is “Thirty, Flirty & Thriving!”

And here are the particulars:

• Who: WMU Students and Senior Citizens of the Community
• What:  Dancing, Hors d’Oeuvres, Bingo and Casino Games
• When: 3/29 at 5pm
• Where: Bernhard Center, East Ballroom, WMU Campus
• Parking: Suggested parking is the ramp east of the Student Center.  Click here for map.

WMU Senior Promo Flyer 2018

WMU

The WMU Senior Prom celebrates its 30th year on March 29th at the WMU Bernhard Student Center Ballroom.

The Senior Prom began in 1988 as a way for older WMU alumni and area residents to share an evening of fun and reminisce with current students. The Senior Prom is organized by staff members in the Ernest Burnham-Smith Burnham and Henry residence halls with the help of volunteers. Financial assistance is provided by several WMU organizations, including the Residence Housing Association, various residence hall councils and the Residence Life office.

The Otsego Jazz Ensemble is thrilled to be playing at the prom again this year.

The theme this year is  “30th Anniversary: Thirty, flirty, and thriving” with decorations mostly being pearls and lilies with black and gold as the colors.

Check back for more details soon.

Bob Simonds has been playing trumpet for a long time, and at the age of 90, he’s still going strong.  Bob played many a gig in Kalamazoo as a member of the premier band in the area, The Bobby Davidson Orchestra.  Bobby’s band played a lot of proms and every other kind of gig in the 50’s, 60’s 70’s and 80’s.  Davidson, a drummer, also started the first Jazz Band at WMU back in the 60’s.   Bob, still a fine soloist, has been a member of OJE for several years now, and recently celebrated his 90th birthday at an OJE Thursday night rehearsal at the Otsego Elks Club.   Many area musicians owe a great deal to our old mentor and friend, Bobby Davidson, who is no longer with us.  We’re very fortunate to have his old friend Bob Simonds in the band to fill that void.