Experience some of the best local jazz musicians live on Thursday evening, Sept. 19, when the Muskegon All-Star Review performs at Muskegon Community College’s annual Founder’s Day celebration at The Lake House.
Tickets are only $19.26 and include hors d’ oeuvres with all profits supporting MCC’s science facilities and equipment. The event, which runs from 6-8:30 p.m., includes a silent auction and a cash bar. 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 2013 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, Grover Washington, 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 third 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 nine years ago while studying under David Rucks.
The Muskegon All-Star Revenue line-up, which hasn’t been finalized, will be adding other top jazz performers. For more information, contact Tina Dee at (231) 777-0660.