As autumn approaches, a much-anticipated tradition returns on Thursday, Sept. 17, when the best local jazz musicians unite for a live performance as the Muskegon All-Star Review during the Muskegon Community College annual Founder’s Day celebration. This year’s event takes place at Fricano Place, 1050 W. Western Ave., Muskegon.
Advance tickets are $19.26 until Thursday, Sept. 10 or $25 at the door and include hors d’oeuvres. All event profits will be used for instructional equipment, supplies, and scholarships 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 online, visit www.muskegoncc.edu/founders.
“Founder’s Day is a great opportunity to hear some of the finest elite jazz players from West Michigan perform,” said Daniel M. Meyers, MCC music director and emcee at Founder’s Day. “Their experience playing 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 to bring that knowledge to the stage.”
Percussionist Tim Froncek returns to headline the 2015 Muskegon All-Star Revue. A former West Michigan’s Jazz Musician of the Year Award recipient, 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 Grand Valley State University faculty member directs the Muskegon Community College Jazz Ensemble.
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.
Longtime musician Dale Nesbary, has fronted for Count Basie, Grover Washington, George Benson and Chuck Mangione. The MCC president, he was a top trombonist for Michigan State University’s bands and ensembles in the mid-1970s and has appeared locally with the Bob Hull Big Band, Rich Astalos Big Band and UltraMystic.
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.
Mike Alstrom, the keyboardist with Whoopee Kat since 2004, has performed over the years with Sideways 8, Inside Out and Shingle.
The Muskegon All-Star Review line-up also includes Frank Warrick and Dave Stroebe on trumpet, Dan Giocobassi on saxophone and flute, Dana Laswell on saxophone, and Max Colley on bass.
For more information, contact (231) 777-0226.