Hot New Reformation
Jazz Band News
Next Upcoming NRB Gig
The NRB will be performing at an outdoor concert at Cascade Falls Park in Jackson, Michigan on Monday, September 1, 2008 at 7:00pm. Please check the schedule for further details. Leaderguy Dave Back at Sea
Our steamed leader, Oppermann brother Dave, has gone back to sea on another tour of duty with Holland America Line, sailing in Alaska on the magnificent m/s Westerdam.
Dave will be gone until September 28th and in the meantime can be reached via e-mail only at: dwopper@hotmail.com. Since e-mail minutes are expensive on cruise ships, short notes are more appreciated than forwarded jokes, etc.
If you are sailing the m/s Westerdam from Seattle between now and the end of September, be sure to look up Officer Dave who has his desk on Deck 1 in the Atrium.
The Pirate Repelling class he had with his previous cruise-line employer (The Yachts of Seabourn) has obviously proven effective since there have been no pirate problems so far on his ship in Alaska. Westshore Community College Concert
The New Reffers Horace Greelyed to the west side of the mitten for a pair of concerts Friday and Saturday nights.
The programs were held in the modern, but warm and intimate arts theater on the campus of Westshore Community College. The crew included Sutton, Klinger, Simpson, Hodnett, Hill, Oppermann, and Oppermann. All familiar faces.
The performances were a bit more subdued than usual which created a pleasant change. Few patrons were familiar with us, but by the time we wrapped things up, we had added a gaggle of new friends. They flattered us with standing Os and encores both nights.
There was a dramatic difference between the two nights. Fearful leader DW, handled the chores Friday, but then made a mad dash for Seattle and Holland America and a two month tour aboard some 'dam' ship.
On Saturday, simpson took over emceeing. Replacing DW on the concert grand was a true jazz legend from these parts. The inimitable Paul Vanston made his long overdue New Ref debut, and to no one's surprise, he blew everyone away - audience and musicians alike. Paul was certainly in new territory playing a lot of very old tunes. But like the seasoned veteran he is, one would never know he was playing most of the songs for the first time. We plan on announcing additional appearances of Paul with the boys.
Two nights before the western swing, we played one of our favorite summer traditions, the jazz series in the gardens of Saginaw's Andersen Enrichment Center. For the second straight year, the weather man threw us a hanging curve, and torrential rains forced us inside. Because the garden room was not designed for a seven piece band, complete with sound system and amps, plus as many fans as we could squeeze in, the results were splendid. A perfect setting for the New Ref. An enthusiastic crowd in a small, intimate venue - our fave.
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