Lake Effect Jazz Band
Featuring Becky Selvidge
Friday, June 29th @ 7:00pm
Tickets: $10
Now in its 18th year of bringing its unique blend of traditional big band and contemporary jazz arrangements to the summer venues of Michigan’s beautiful southwest region, the LAKE EFFECT JAZZ BIG BAND continues to be one of the premier big bands in the Midwest. Specializing in new arrangements of classic standards, new compositions for contemporary big bands, and golden oldies, the band will be performing music from the libraries of Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Gordon Goodwin, Stan Kenton, Ella Fitzgerald and others. The Lake Effect Jazz Big Band is committed to preserving the uniquely American art form of big band jazz in concert and jazz festival settings across Southwest Michigan.
The Box Factory performance on Friday, June 29th, will be the first of two full length jazz concerts for the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band at the Box. The band will play two sets with a 15 minute intermission in between where patrons can view the art exhibits and enjoy coffee, soft drinks and snacks. The first set will open with “A Warm Breeze” by Sammy Nestico from the Count Basie library, followed by another great jazz standard “How High The Moon” featuring the trombone section. Then our featured vocalist, Becky Selvidge, will swing with Anita O’day’s arrangement of “Avalon”, Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” and Gershwin’s “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” as sung by the great Ella Fitzgerald. Completing the first set will be a contemporary arrangement of “Michelangelo” by Astor Piazzolla, a beautiful ballad entitled “Lifelong Friends”, and ending with the classic dixieland tune “That’s A Plenty” arranged by Les Hooper. The second set will feature tunes by Gordon Goodwin, Billy Strayhorn, Oliver Nelson, Buddy Rich and two more great vocals by Becky Selvidge.
The band is led by Steven L. Reed, retired instrumental music teacher for the St. Joseph Public Schools, where he taught jazz ensemble, orchestra, and band for 35 years. Several members of the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band are current or retired music educators and jazz education is a priority for the LEJBB.
The musicians in the band’s ranks include…
Saxophones:
Andrea Gentry (Alto)
Anne Jensen (Alto)
Tim King (Alto/Tenor)
Christopher Keech (Tenor)
Jeff Bopp (Tenor)
Rob Funk (Bari)
Trombonists:
Carl Steffens
Cheryl Thomas
Joe Hickner
Mary Lynn Edwards
Ruth Livengood
Brad Jensen (Bass Trombone)
Trumpets:
Steve Bizoe
James Nufer
Kevin Renfro
Eric Lofgren
Tom Crowner
Steven Reed
The rhythm section:
Kim McCavit (Keyboard)
Tom Gillespie (Guitar)
Doug Wegscheid (Bass)
Joe Trojan (Percussion)
Chuck Hartzell (Percussion)
Jim Allen (Percussion)
Our vocalist is Rebecca Selvidge, a former member of Western Michigan University’s jazz vocal group Gold Company, and the vocal music teacher for Coloma Public Schools.
