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Wisconsin Jazz Orchestra
Jazz Coterie live music concert series presents a special Valentine’s event! Featuring the Wisconsin Jazz Orchestra in our pop-up jazz club at Stevens Point Country Club.
This sixteen-piece orchestra possesses a powerhouse line-up of members comprised of artist-musicians whose combined pedigrees gives the band the ability to play a broad range of repertoire. The band performs music from Count Basie, Ray Charles, and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis as well as contemporary masters like Maria Schneider, John Clayton and Bill Holman with equal measures of authority, sensitivity, and creative spark.CLICK TO SAMPLE
In 2017 Brent Turney launched the Central Wisconsin Jazz Ensemble, a band made up of top-tier professional jazz musicians in affiliation with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. After the affiliation ended in 2019, the group’s name changed to the Wisconsin Jazz Orchestra (WJO). From its inception, the band has focused on concert and festival appearances along with a dedication to educational outreach; each one of the musicians have led successful teaching careers at the high school or university level.
Past appearances include Fox Jazz Festival (Menasha, WI), the Riverfront Jazz Festival (Stevens Point, WI), McMillan Library (Wisconsin Rapids, WI), Jazz on the River (Wausau), UW-Marathan County, UW-Stevens Point, and a several fully-staged productions of the Nutcracker using the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn arrangements. Their performances never cease to impress seasoned listeners and inspire new fans. The band’s stellar rhythm section, polished ensemble playing, and virtuosic soloists are nothing short of a celebration of sound.
MEET THE ENSEMBLE
Marc Jimos | Alto Saxophone
Director of Instrumental Music for Ashwaubenon High School. Marc was a member of the Green Bay Packer Band and has performed in the orchestra for national touring productions including, Wicked, The Producers, and West Side Story. He’s worked with Lou Rawls, Dionne Warwick, Aaron Neville, Sheena Easton, Manhattan Transfer, Roberta Flack, Frankie Vallie, Wayne Newton, Jeffery Osborne, Johnny Mathis, and Michael McDonald.
John Greiner | Alto Saxophone
John Greiner is a graduate of Wausau West High School. He was a member of the United States Air Force Band from 1983-’87. After military service, John was awarded a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA., where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Woodwind Performance. John stayed in the Boston area for the next 13 years, maintaining a busy free-lance performance and teaching schedule.
Steve Johnson | Tenor Saxophone
Band Director at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay. Steve has taught in the GRACE School System, UW-Sheboygan, and Lakeland College, as well as jazz ensemble clinics and workshops throughout Wisconsin. He’s played with touring acts such as the Temptations, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, and The Four Tops. Over the years he’s also played in orchestras for national touring musicals such as Chicago, Motown, and West Side Story.
Tom Washatka | Tenor Saxophone
Saxophonist, composer, arranger, recording engineer, and producer Tom Washatka has been a master in the music industry for over 4 decades. After graduating from UW-Oshkosh in 1981 he opened a recording studio, Steel Moon Recording. Tom won a WAMI in 2018 for Best Studio Engineer/Producer and another in 2022 for saxophone performance. The diversity of what Tom does invigorates his curiosity and keeps things fresh. Whether performing, recording, writing or arranging all parts contribute to the sum.
Mary Nowinski | Baritone Saxophone
Teacher at Almond/Bancroft High School, Mary Nowinski’s band may only have 16 members. But despite their instrumentation challenges, Mary came up with an idea to give students at the college level real life experiences, and her high school students an opportunity to interact with the focus on music.
Brent Turney | Lead Trumpet
Professor of Trumpet & Department Chair at UW-Stevens Point. Brent is a cross-genre soloist and ensemble player throughout the country. He holds degrees in classical performance from Penn State University, and jazz studies from DePaul University. Brent performs regularly throughout the Midwest and has performed with groups such as the Milwaukee Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Broadway in Chicago, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson and Aretha Franklin.
Kevin Short | Trumpet
Kevin is the consummate professional when it comes to his music! He practices daily (when he doesn't have a gig), he is an exceptional musician with an amazing gift. He strives for perfection at every performance - he doesn't just show up at the gig, there is diligent preparation for each and every one! He is doing what he loves, and I thank everyone who has given him so many opportunities over the years to share (and continue to share) his musical talent!
Marty Robinson | Trumpet
Professor of Trumpet & Jazz at UW-Oshkosh. Marty directs ensembles, teaches jazz history and trumpet. He holds degrees from Lawrence, Eastman, and Florida State. He covers a broad spectrum as performer, composer and educator. He’s worked with the Temptations, Mannheim Steamroller, and the Four Tops. Marty’s compositions have been performed by Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, Byron Stripling, Joshua Redman, and Herlin Riley.
Adam Gaines | Trumpet
Associate Professor of Music at UW-Green Bay. Adam directs the jazz program, teaches trumpet, ensembles, jazz history and music technology. He holds degrees from University of Louisville and Ball State. He’s performed throughout the U.S., Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, and at Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals. Adam can be heard performing as principal trumpet of the Weidner Philharmonic, Brass Differential, and Green Bay Jazz Orchestra.
Tim Albright | Trombone
Associate Professor of Music-Trombone at Lawrence University. Tim teaches studio, chamber music, and small-group ensembles. He appeared Bon Iver’s Grammy-nominated album, and the Daphnis Prieto recording that won for Best Latin Jazz. Tim worked in NYC, teaching at Purchase College and the pre-college division at Juilliard. With the Atlantic Brass Quintet, Tim has performed with Milwaukee Symphony, Metropolitan Opera, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Maria Schneider, Barbara Streisand, and The National.
Andrew Zipper | Trombone
Andrew Zipperer is the longtime Principal Trombonist of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. He’s been featured on such cornerstone pieces as Ferdinand David's CONCERTINO FOR TROMBONE.
Bill Dennee | Trombone
Band Director at Denmark Middle School. Bill has been playing professionally in the Green Bay area for fifteen years. In addition to performing with the Wisconsin Jazz Orchestra, Bill plays with regional ensembles including Big Mouth and Bay City Swing. He’s performed touring shows with The Four Tops, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Art Garfunkel, Bob Hope, and Lee Greenwood. He also played both trombone and tuba on the Green Bay Packer video “Legends of Lambeau.”
Dave Sawall | Bass Trombone
Band Director at St. Mary Central High School in Appleton. Dave’s taught band for St. Mary Catholic Schools since 1993. He teaches concert and jazz bands at the middle school, and is band director at all three elementary schools. In addition to playing with the Wisconsin Jazz Orchestra, Dave has a busy schedule performing for Broadway shows and celebrity acts at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. He has two daughters studying Music Education at UW-Eau Claire.
Mathew Buchman | Piano
Professor & Director of Jazz Studies at UW-Stevens Point. Matt received a degrees from University of Michigan and Lawrence. As the director of the award-winning UWSP Jazz Ensemble, he has worked with John Scofield, The Yellowjackets, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, and Wynton Marsalis. In addition to leading his own trio, Matt has performed with Karrin Allyson, Karl Berger and Randy Sabien. He’s toured the U.S., Canada and Europe, and twice been featured on WPR’s “Live from the Elvehjem.”
Dave Story | String Bass
Professor of String Bass & Jazz Studies at UW-Stevens Point. Dave teaches jazz combos, improvisation, and coaches chamber string groups. He holds degrees from Western Michigan University and UWSP. He has also received training in the Suzuki Method. Dave has performed throughout the U.S. and is a two-time semifinalist in the International Society of Bassists competition. While a graduate student at WMU, he received 3 Downbeat awards as a member of the Kruiziki Transatlantica Quintet.
Ryan Korb | Drums
Lecturer of Jazz Percussion at UW-Stevens Point. Ryan won the 1990 Governors Scholarship to attend National Music Camp. He co-leads the Afro-Cuban drum trio, Africa→West, playing original compositions based on traditional African and Cuban music. As a jazz sideman, Ryan has played with Bill Mays, Russell Malone, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and Valerie Naranjo among others. He’s played on numerous recordings and has been seen at numerous jazz festivals and venues around the world.