A much-anticipated autumn tradition returns on Thursday, Sept. 18, when the best local jazz musicians unite for a live performance as the Muskegon All-Star Review during the Muskegon Community College 2014 Founder’s Day celebration at The Lake House.
Tickets are only $19.26 and include hors d’ oeuvres with all profits support the study of arts and humanities at MCC. The event, which runs from 6-8:30 p.m., includes a silent auction and a cash bar. Founder’s Day commemorates the founding of the college in 1926. For more info or to purchase tickets, visit www.muskegoncc.edu/founders.
“It’s a great opportunity to hear some of the finest elite jazz players from West Michigan perform in an intimate setting,” said Daniel M. Meyers, MCC music director and emcee at Founder’s Day. “Their experience with some of the greatest jazz artists of our time is part of their background. It’s extremely exciting to hear them play together and bring that knowledge to the stage. It’ll be jazz at its best at the Lake House.”
Headlining the 2014 Muskegon All-Star Revue will be percussionist Tim Froncek. Voted West Michigan’s Jazz Musician of the Year in the past, he has played with Woody Herman and The Thundering Herd, Randy Brecker and Joe Williams, among others. He’s toured internationally with the Western Jazz Quartet. The GVSU faculty member directs the Muskegon Community College Jazz Ensemble.
Longtime musician Dale Nesbary has fronted for Count Basie, Nancy Wilson, George Benson and Chuck Mangione. The top trombonist for Michigan State University’s bands and ensembles in the mid-1970s, he has appeared locally with the Bob Hull Big Band, Rich Astalos Big Band and UltraMystic.
David Rucks, a bass keyboardist and graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, has toured nationally. Well-known locally for decades as an influential music instructor, he and his singer-songwriter wife, Delphia, co-founded the Chief Musicians Teaching Ministries.
Mike Alstrom, who’s making his fourth straight appearance at Founder’s Day, began playing when he was seven. Keyboardist with Whoopee Kat since 2004, he’s performed over the years with Sideways 8, Inside Out and Shingle. He began playing jazz a decade ago while studying under David Rucks.
Floyd R. Cook has been playing saxophone for nearly 60 years. From weekend gigs as a Western Michigan University student, he switched from alto to tenor sax, formed his own group, and performed around the state and the Midwest. He currently is active full-time with his church’s music ministry and is completing his first solo CD.
Frank Warrick has been playing music in the West Michigan area since 1968. His trumpet teachers have included Donald Bullock, Claude Gordon, Dan Kovats, and Dave Stahl. He currently plays trumpet/guitar with Entourage and also with Chris Hansen and the Hark-Up Horns. For 15 years, the MCC alumnus has led the worship team and arranged the horn charts for the West Michigan Worship Center.
The Muskegon All-Star Review line-up also includes two MCC alumni and veteran West Michigan performers –Dave Stroebe on trumpet, and Dan Giocobassi on saxophone and flute.
For more information, contact Tina Dee at (231) 777-0660.