Sherman Jazz Classic

Click on the menu (three bars) at the top and select the time for details on the performer

Sherman Jazz Classic Mainstage Concert - Apr 15, 2023

Eight great community jazz bands plus special guest Brave Combo performing at intermission of the final three acts. Free Admission all day. Kidd-Key Auditorium, 400 N. Elm Street, Sherman, TX.

Also, check out the Jazz Museum at 201 E. Lamar Street, Sherman, TX. FREE open house on Apr 15th from 10AM-4PM.

Gainesville Swing Orchestra (GSO)
Noon - 12:45PM


Originally known as Cooke County Orchestra, GSO has been in existence for forty-three years. The plan was to do one program and that would be the only performance. After the performances other groups wanted the band to play or them. Members were from the Cooke County and Grayson County area and if necessary students UNT would fill in the parts we could not find locally.
| Gainsville Swing Orchestra Website |

GSO Program

TBA

GSO Members

Director: Dave Alexander

Saxes
Randy Firth
Dr. Larry Sears
Brandon Jones
Gabreille Fletcher
Bret Newton

Trombones
Cory Carter
Volker Ruckabar
Dean Patterson
Jonathon Adamo

Trumpets
Marco Gonzales
Brad Mezei
Mike Welton
Kevin Beall

Rhythm
Dave Shaw
John Simon
Ken Polland
Tom Parker
Harold Mims

Vocalists
Susan Beall
Dave Alexander
Marva Lewis

Greater Texoma Jazz Ensemble
1:15PM - 2:00PM

The Greater Texoma Jazz Ensemble consists of students, faculty, and community members from across Northeastern Texas and Southeastern Oklahoma. The group has existed since 1978 under various names and has collaborated with both local and international artists, including exchange concerts with the Haydn Konservatorium of Eisenstadt, Austria. Frequent local venues include high schools, colleges, churches, and regional festivals. Directed by Austin College faculty member Dr. Ricky Duhaime, the ensemble programs music from classical swing through contemporary fusion, featuring soloists drawn from the group. For more detailed information or current performance dates and locations, contact Rick Duhaime at rduhaime@austincollege.edu or phone 903.813.2464.
| Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 | Video 4 |

Greater Texoma Program

How the Mind Wanders
by Lars Halle

If I Could
by Pat Metheny; arr. Bob Curnow

Switch in Time
by Sammy Nestico

Who?
by Jeff Jarvis

Ornithology
by Charlie Parker/Benny Harris; arr. G. Yasinitsky

Rainy Day
by Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke, arr. R. Duhaime

Alegrio
by Mike Tomaro 

Greater Texoma Members

Director: Dr. Ricky Duhaime

Saxes
Chris Dickson
Annika Ferguson
Barrett Parten
Mason McCormack
Reese Brentzel

Trombones
Chris Gregg
Jesse Spear
Sam Ivie
Jonah Brown
Bob Archer

Trumpets
John Vietta
Phil Pike
Trinity Hobbs
Eric Brentzel

Rhythm
Phil Pitts (piano)
Greg Hendrix (bass)
Richard Burleson (drums)

Joshua Experience
2:30PM - 3:15PM

The Joshua Experience is a nonprofit 501c3 ministry that was founded 20 years ago by Larry “the Saxman” Randall. Larry’s vision was to be a witness of the love and grace of God through the joyful and powerful music of big band jazz. When Larry passed away, Mrs. Orlano Randall continued the vision and mission, which is now, lead and directed by Jorge F. Marsal. The band continues to share in concerts and fundraising events in churches, homeless shelters, patriotic and veteran’s celebrations, private and corporate events, plus Jazz Festivals. We love performing Hymns of the church arranged for big band, and classic big band charts. We are privileged to participate in this year’s Sherman Jazz Classic.
| Joshua Experience Website |

Joshua Program

TBA

Joshua Members

Director: Jorge F. Marsal

Saxes
Chelsy Beninate
Stephen McClean
Barry Ford
Gary DelVechio
Gary Caswell

Trombones
John Bush
Dan Canterbury
John Thomas
Alex Dubrov

Trumpets
John Auletta
Gregory Brown
Mark Sakovich
Bill Grable
Dan Stafford

Rhythm
Jim Sharples (piano)
Bob Lewis (bass)
Rusty Averitt (drums)
Dickey Johnson (guitar)
Rogers Evans (percussion)

Vocals
Judy Sharples
Drenda Barnett
Trudy Laird
Judi Thomas
Shirley Marsal

Librarian: Sherry McClean

Maxwell Hall Jazz Band
3:45PM - 4:30PM

The Maxwell Hall Jazz Band, formerly the Alcon Employee Jazz Ensemble, began in August of 2008. Former school band director (turned I.T. professional) C.J. Lombardo put out a notice across the Alcon campus in Fort Worth, Texas for musicians looking to perform in a jazz ensemble. The initial meeting, held in the small Maxwell Hall auditorium (hence the name), had a good turn out that eventually led to many performances both on the campus of Alcon as well as off-site for a variety of clients. The Maxwell Hall Jazz Band is a community of people who play for the enjoyment of making great music and keeping the Jazz Band alive as an art form! Board of Directors: Bill Grable (chairmen); Mike Moscoso (music director); Michielle Benson (director of development); Gary Rush (secretary); Mike Roundtree (treasurer); Cyndi Gant (librarian).
| Maxwell Hall Website |  

Maxwell Hall Program

Willowcrest
Arranged by Bob Florence.was recorded several times by both Bob Florence and Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich was first to record the tune on Buddy Rich Big Band (1966).

The Best Is Yet To Come

Music by Cy Coleman / Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh / Arr. by Scott Ragsdale. Frank Sinatra recorded it on his 1964 album It Might as Well Be Swing accompanied by Count Basie under the direction of Quincy Jones.

St. Thomas
Written by Sonny Rollins/Arranged by Mark Taylor: "St. Thomas" became popular when it was released on Rollins's 1956 album Saxophone Colossus.

Deed I Do
This selection is a 1926 jazz standard composed by Fred Rose with lyrics by Walter Hirsch.This arrangement is by local artist Rick Stitzel and features our Vocalist Yvonne J.

Cut the Cake
By James Stuart, Alan Gorrie, Roger Ball, and Owen McIntyre/ Arr. Mike Tomaro was originally recorded by the Average White Band (also AWB) a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980.

Everafter
Written by David Springfield this beautiful ballad with trumpets on flugelhorns changes to a double-time Latin feel for the improvisation section and features our lead Alto sax Douglas Brown.

It Had Better Be Tonight "Meglio stasera"
Music by Henry Mancini / English Lyrics by Johnny Mercer / Italian Lyrics by Franco Migliacci / Arr. Mark Taylor The song was composed for the 1963 film The Pink Panther.

Take the A Train
Written by Billy Strayhorn / Arr. Alan Baylock  Think of Take the "A" Train with a contemporary flair and you have the idea behind this inventive chart.

Maxwell Hall Members

Director: Mike Moscoso

Saxes
Douglas Brown
Michielle Benson
Colton Crawford
Gary Rush
Mike Rountree

Trombones
Mike Moscoso
Randy Hestand
Bernie Malone
Patrick Murr

Trumpets
Tim Wygant
Byron Swann
Bill Grable
Cameron Millar
Cyndy Gant

Rhythm
John DeBellevue (piano)
Gannon Phillips- (bass)
Jeff Gibbons- (guitar)
Tom Halbouty (drums)

Vocalist
Yvonne J

Videographer: Tony Jenkins
Sound Technician: David Clemons

Dallas Jazz Orchestra (DJO)
5:00PM - 5:45PM

The Dallas Jazz Orchestra (DJO) is a jazz big band based in Dallas, Texas, founded by Thom Mason and Galen Jeter. Since its beginning in 1973, the DJO has produced numerous notable recordings, two of which were Grammy nominated, and has performed internationally in concerts and jazz festivals, such as the Montreaux Jazz Festival. Over the years, the orchestra has featured many of the most outstanding jazz players from the world class jazz program at the University of North Texas. Co-founder Galen Jeter is himself an alumnus of the University of North Texas One O'clock Lab Band, later going on to play trumpet for the Woody Herman Orchestra.
| DJO Facebook Page |

DJO Program

TBA

Brave Combo - Set 1
5:45PM-6:15PM

Trying to describe Brave Combo’s music requires a pretty extensive vocabulary – at least when it comes to musical styles. For the past three decades the Denton, Texas based quintet has perfected a world music mix that includes salsa, meringue, rock, cumbia, conjunto, polka, zydeco, classical, cha cha, the blues and more. They are America’s Premier Dance band and a rollicking, rocking, rhythmic global journey — offering what one critic recently wrote, “Even if you come for the party, you’ll leave with something of a musical education.” 
| Brave Combo Website |  

Texins Jazz Band
6:15PM-7:00PM

From 1986-2019, this group operated as The Texas Instruments Jazz Band, organized under the Texins Association at Texas Instruments. Members consisted of current, former, and retired TI employees.

In 2020 the band became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and changed the name to Texins Jazz Band. The band still gives priority to members with a STEM background. Texins Jazz Band’s mission is “to perform the big band jazz musical art form and present international guest artists to the public in a manner that is educational, entertaining, and affordable.” The band rehearses weekly at Dallas College, Richland Campus, under the direction of Bill Centera. The band has hosted dozens of world class musicians over the decades, and will welcome Wayne Bergeron to DFW on May 1st. Ticket Link
| Texins Jazz Website |

Texins Program

Struttin' With Some Barbecue
By Lil Hardin Armstrong (1927); Arr. Alan Baylock. Lil Hardin was playing piano in King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band when she first met Louis Armstrong in 1921.

Girl From Ipanema  "Garota de Ipanema"
By Antonio Carlos Jobim (1962); Arr. Mark Taylor; won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1965.

Sway  "Quién Será"
By Pablo Beltran Ruiz and Norman Gimbel (1953); Arr. Mark Taylor; Made famous internationally by Dean Martin as "Sway" in 1954.

Social Call
By Gigi Gryce and Jon Hendricks (1955); Arr. Scott Arcangel; Composer Gigi Gryce gave up a performing career and nurtured his incredible passion for teaching. He left a lasting legacy at Elementary School No. 53 in the Bronx, which was renamed in his honor after his death.

Time After Time
By Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn; Arr. Don Schamber; from the 1947 film It Happened in Brooklyn.

The Snake
By Oscar Brown Jr. (1963); Arr. Paul Westbrook; Written and first recorded by civil-rights activist Oscar Brown, who also wrote the lyrics for Nat Adderley's Work Song.

It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
By Irving Mills & Duke Ellington (1931); Arr. Matt Harris; This Ellington classic contains one of the earliest uses in popular music of the term "swing".

Texins Members

Director: Bill Centera

Saxes
Paul Westbrook (President) - B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Alejandro Vera - M.S. Electrical Engineering
Gerry Burnham - Ph.D. Electrical Engineering
Kevin Kraus – B.S. Electrical Engineering
Tom Hilbun (Secretary) - B.S. Chemical Engineering

Trombones
Bryan Campbell - MBA (Matt Johnson - sub)
Kenn Finn– Bachelor of Arts
Harold Davis (Treasurer) - B.S. Electrical Engineering
Ken Kunz - M.A. in Music Education

Trumpets
Rob Jonas - Medicaid Biller - Texas Health Resources
Andrew Kortze – B.S. Electrical Engineering
Gary Pearce - M.S. Applied Math; B.S. Electrical Engineering
Fred Marinko - Founder of Graytex Paper
Dennis Doane - B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Rhythm
Bill Sallee (bass) – M.S. Electrical Engineering
Terry Bartlett (guitar) - M.S. Electrical Engineering
Mike Coldewey (piano) - Programmer in C, C++, C#, .NET and SQL databases
Hope Archer (drums) – M.S. Occupational Safety and Health

Vocalist
Nicole Bernard – B.S. Advertising - Business

Brave Combo - Set 2
7:00PM - 7:30PM

Brave Combo’s catalog of recordings range from Japanese pop to Latin American dance tunes, to the orchestral classics to rock and roll at its finest. The band has recorded with the late Tiny Tim, and were the band Talking Head’s David Byrne chose for his wedding reception. From festivals and fairs of all varieties across the globe, rock clubs big and small, colleges, roadhouses, dances, cultural centers (including the annual Midsummer Night’s Swing at Lincoln Center in New York City) Brave Combo has charmed countless listeners and won avid devotees. The band has won two Grammy Awards and been nominated for their work 7 times.
| Brave Combo Website |  

Rebel Alliance Jazz Ensemble (RAJE)
7:30PM - 8:15PM

We may look like your average, ordinary big band, but that is where the similarity ends. The RAJE will bring you only the most fun, high-energy, and exciting music with flair that only a large ensemble can produce. The musicians that form RAJE are some of the greatest players in the world. Being legendary for its music schools, Dallas musicians offer listeners the best entertainment experience possible. The local musicians featured in the 18 piece RAJE have shared the stage with every major performing and touring band to exist.

Mix the world’s best musicians with aggressively fun music and you can’t help but have a good time. 
| RAJE Facebook Page |

RAJE Program

TBA

RAJE Members

TBD

Brave Combo - Set 3
8:15PM - 8:45PM

Brave Combo’s vivid music can be heard in the films David Byrne’s True Stories, Clive Barker’s Lord of Illusions, Late Bloomers, Fools Rush In, Envy, The Academy award winning The Personals. They appeared at Oktoberfest in the beloved American burg of Springfield on an episode of “The Simpsons” and in 2008 Brave Combo provided the musical score for PBS’s first ever animated series, “As the Wrench Turns” which resulted in an “Annie” nomination from the International Animated Film Society. Their music has also been featured on ABC’s hit series “Ugly Betty”, and Fox Television’s “Bakersfield P.D.” They have also contributed original music for ESPN and The Big Ten network.
| Brave Combo Website |

Memphis Brass
8:45PM - 9:30PM

The Memphis Brass is a bunch of old and new friends that simply enjoying performing big band jazz in front of a live audience. Our performances are a mixture of our favorites as well as new material being read for the first (or the last!!) time. The band is beginning its seventh year this April performing at Memphis Night club in Addison. Performances are twice monthly on the first and third Mondays 7:00-9:30. We hope to you all there sometime soon!
| Memphis Brass Facebook Page |

Memphis Brass Program

TBA

Memphis Brass Members

Woodwinds
Bruce Bohnstengel
Rob Rose
John Gordon
Jeff Robbins
Joe Janes

Trombones
Keith Adkins
Dave Butler
Chris Seiter
Eric Swanson

Trumpets
John Auletta
Keith Jourdan
Larry Spencer
Kerry Adams

Rhythm
Dr. Aaron West
Mike Drake
Mike Medina
Aidan Gould
Paul Garceaux

Sherman Jazz Museum

Founded by Bill Collins III in 2010 and is dedicated to the education, preservation and enjoyment of Jazz. The museum is home to artifacts and collections from many of the past’s famous jazz musicians, bringing to life their lives and music. Mr. Collins’ desire is to preserve the impact and contribution that Jazz has made to American culture. It houses treasures from the height of the Jazz era, collections include those from Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, assorted big bands, and much, much more. FREE Open house from 10AM-4PM on Sat, Apr 15th. 201 E. Lamar Street.

Mobirise
Program Web Page Design

Paul Westbrook of Texins Jazz Band

Special Thanks
Event Organizer
  • Bill Collins III

Mobirise site creator - Read more