Saturday June 30 — 12:30 – 7:45pm
Gate City Jazz Band
Margaret Cassidy~Vocals
Dr. Dan Barr~Keyboard
Tim Klinkner~Trumpet
Dr Frank Burris~Clarinet
Ken Bloom~Trombone
Leo Lentz~Tuba
Steve Kulas~Drums
Paul Erickson~Banjo, Guitar
They’ve played for weddings and they have played for funerals. They’ve played at college football games and homecoming events. They’ve played in Mardi Gras parades, and local parades throughout southeastern Minnesota. Members have performed in Europe, Canada and Korea. They’ve been a part of festivals that celebrate steamboats, fish, flowers, and the 4th of July.
With eight members, they have been a strong part of the Winona, Minnesota music scene since 1978. They concentrate on traditional jazz emanating from New Orleans. With the three man front of trumpet, clarinet and trombone, and a rhythm section composed of banjo, piano, drums and tuba, they strive to bring alive music made famous by Louie Armstrong, Kid Ory and Bix Beiderbecke. Female vocals round out the sound of many of the Gate City numbers.
They play the last Sunday of every month from February through October from 6 – 8 p.m. at Jefferson’s Event Center. Jefferson’s serves food from their menu and there is no cover charge.
Turkey River All-Stars
Top 10 Highlights of the Turkey River All-Stars First 35 Years
- 30 cruises on the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen paddlewheel steamboats.
- Official Minnesota band at the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans.
- Winner of the 1972 Minneapolis Aquatennial Jazzband Contest.
- Welcoming band for five presidents: Nixon, Carter, Reagan, George Bush, Sr. and George W. Bush.
- The International Hotel Association Convention in Rochester, MN.
- Joint concert with Garrison Keillor at Mayo Civic Center.
- Flotilla band with 300 canoes for the Iowa Sesquicentennial’s “Mississippi River Great Canoe Adventure.”
- Nine years of “The Turkeys on Tuesday” at Rochester’s Hoffman House.
- Performances at the Lawrence Welk Theatre in Branson, MO.
- 25 jazzfests in five states: Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Kathy Johns
Kathy Johns has been playing ragtime and Dixieland piano in Eau Claire for many years. Kathy will entertain us with ragtime piano during the setup time between bands. She also teaches the piano. As she says, “We have to keep the live music going into the next generation.” She also plays for the Conrad Johns Orchestra (and is married to the leader of the band).
Blue Ox Jazz Babies
Tim Robinson – Cornet
Ted Schreyer – Tuba
Debbie Schreyer – Banjo
Jim Hayes – Trumpet
Tom Owens – Washboard, Vocals
Barry Clapper – Clarinet, Soprano Sax
Tim Robinson on cornet carries the melody that drives the band. Tim’s smooth style and raspy vocals is reminicent of the clubs that Louis Armstrong and King Oliver made famous. Barry Clapper on clarinet and soprano sax fills in with harmony parts and also does a nice job carrying the melody. His experience with barbershop gives him a wonderful ear for harmony and a flair for entertaining the audience. Ted Schreyer on tuba anchors the band with his upbeat style of tuba playing. Ted has been on The Prairie Home Companion and can be heard around Minnesota with several jazz bands. The very talented Debbie Schreyer on banjo is the best known and most popular member of the band. Tom Owens adds to the band with the washboard and vocals. Jim Hayes on trombone is a true tail-gate player. He grew up listening to the sounds of Turk Murphy and fell in love with the style. His instinct for rhythm and harmony give the band a truly unique sound.
