Join us for an evening of great jazz, great food and great fun in the beautiful Novus Ballroom at the Doubletree Hotel Battle Creek! Entertainment for the evening will feature a group of great BBBC musicians including:
MICHAEL GARASI (Master of Ceremonies) has been the Resident Conductor of the Brass Band of Battle Creek since 2013. Well-loved by Battle Creek audiences for his inspiring conducting and vibrant personality, Michael has taken the BBBC to the prestigious Midwest Clinic twice, in 2017 and again for the featured finale performance at the clinic’s 75th Anniversary event. Under Michael’s leadership, the BBBC has produced recordings, concerts, youth programs, and clinics throughout the state of Michigan, and his work earned him nomination as “Conductor of the Year” in 2020 by the British media outlet 4BarsRest. Previous to his tenure with the BBBC, Michael served as conductor of the Brass Band of Central Florida, and he has had many appearances as guest conductor in the U.S. and abroad, including the British National Championship Band, The Grimethorpe Colliery Band, and the Brass in Concert Competition. Mr. Garasi is presently the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX.
MARSHALL GILKES has established himself over the last 20 years as one of the world’s preeminent trombonists. Crafting eight albums since 2004 with two Grammy nominations, Gilkes has cemented his reputation as a composer and leader of great renown. His lengthy résumé includes work performing and/or recording with bassist Carlos Henriquez, harpist Edmar Castañeda, the New York Philharmonic, the Brass Band of Battle Creek, Slide Monsters, bassist Richard Bona, pianist Makoto Ozone and numerous other top-tier musicians and outfits. Through his work with the WDR Big Band and as a longtime member of the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Gilkes has played himself into the rich history of large ensemble music. Marshall’s vast experience and genre-straddling skills have made him an in-demand educator, and he has served on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, the Berklee College of Music, The New England Conservatory of Music, and the Eastman School of Music.
STEVEN CUNNINGHAM is an Assistant Professor of Music Education and Trumpet at Hampton University and director of the Peninsula Youth Jazz Band. He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Performance and Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park, and holds a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to his work with the Brass Band of Battle Creek, Steven has performed with the 8-Bit Big Band, Camille Thurman, No BS! Brass Band, God’s Horns, Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, National Orchestral Institute, Josh Groban, El DeBarge, Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, and many others. He has performed in high-profile venues such as Carnegie Hall, DAR Constitution Hall, The Kennedy Center, Washington National Cathedral, Toronto Jazz Festival, The Tower Theater, International Trumpet Guild Conference, National Trumpet Competition, and The Richmond Jazz Festival.
TERRY LOWER is a virtuoso jazz pianist with his own sound. After studying at Berklee College of Music, Terry returned to Michigan, where he has worked with such notables as Benny Golson, Frank Morgan, David “Fathead” Newman and Kevin Mahogany. Also earning the reputation as a wonderful accompanist, Terry played 2 Jazz tours in Italy with vocalists Betty Joplin and Edye Evans Hyde. But it is at the head of his own trio and quintet that Terry’s playing and writing are best showcased. Inspired by Oscar Peterson, Monty Alexander and Art Tatum, Terry is also a prolific composer and arranger. Some of his writing projects include full symphony orchestrations, first performed in 2016 with Terry’s quartet, vocalist Edye Evans Hyde, and the Rochester Symphony Orchestra.
RAY TINI In over fifty years of performing as a professional bass player, Ray Tini has performed with many stars of stage and screen. He graduated from Cooley High School where he studied bass privately with professional bass players in the Metro Detroit and then studied music at Wayne State University. Ray’s storied career has included concerts with many of the world’s finest ensembles and solo artists including the Detroit Symphony, Tonight Show Band, Doc Severinsen, Oprah Winfrey, Merv Griffin, Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavoratti, Arturo Sandoval, The Three Tenors, and Broadway shows including Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, White Christmas, and Cinderella. Ray lives in Detroit but is a regular in the Battle Creek area, and can be heard with BBBC pianist Terry Lower at Clara’s on many summer evenings.
LARRY OCHILTREE has performed with many internationally-known jazz artists including Mark Murphy, Ira Sullivan, Bobby Watson, Phil Woods, Larry Nozero, Frank Mantooth , Clair Fisher, Vincent Dimartino, and Rodney Whittaker. He has toured with the Drifters and the Coasters, and has played on CDs recorded with Jim Cooper, Terry Lower, and many more. Larry attended Michigan State University and The Berklee College Of Music and is on the music faculty of Hillsdale College where he serves as Director of Drumset Studies and performs with the faculty jazz quartet. He has appeared with the Battle Creek, Jackson and Kalamazoo Symphonies, and is the primary drum set performer with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra.
Tickets to this Fall Fundraising Event are $125 per person and include heavy hors d’oeuvres and 2 drinks. All proceeds from the evening benefit the programs and operation of the mighty Brass Band of Battle Creek. Tickets can be purchased here or by calling the BBBC office at (269) 789-2222. Don’t miss it!