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September 2024 – May 2025
CONCERT SEASON
Admission $20 for members, $25 for guests, students are free. "Special Featured Performances" - $30 for members
and $35 for guests.
Click on the concert for complete details.
ALL PERFORMANCES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
An afternoon of authentic live jazz by vocalist MICKEY FREEMAN with RICK MOORE on piano, GARY HAAS on bass and BRUCE GOLDSTEIN on drums…
MICKEY FREEMAN is a self taught vocalist who began her career in Boston in 1980 when she became a member of the 30’s/40’s campy swing group, The Boo-Bette Band, who toured throughout New England.
In 1982 she formed the vocal-based group, The Ritz which was inspired by the likes of The Manhattan Transfer and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. The Ritz played jazz festivals, both domestic and international, and toured with such artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Gerry Mulligan, Kenny Burrell, The Pointer Sisters, Phil Woods and Spyro Gyra in Finland, Morocco and Singapore. The Ritz also released two albums “Steppin’ Out” in 1985 and “Born To Bop” in 1987.
In 2010 Mickey was reunited through Facebook with her old friend and leader of the Rhode Island based Roomful of Blues…Duke Robillard. Duke asked Mickey to come to his gig at the Iridium to sing some tunes with his band. A magical collaboration ensued and she recorded “Livin’ The Dream” produced by Duke Robillard on Blue Duchess Records. Duke Robillard and saxophonist Scott Hamilton are guests on her CD. For the next eight years, Mickey fronted several jazz trios and quartets in New Jersey.
In 2018, Mickey relocated to Vero Beach, FL, where she performs regularly at The Grind & Grape Café, Costa D’Este Hotel, Cobalt at Vero Beach Hotel, Vero Beach Country Club, Vero Beach Yacht Club. Mickey has performed at the Laurel Awards at the Indian River Theater. In 2022 she was asked to perform at the Vero Beach Museum of Modern Arts’ Annual Fundraising Gala, as well as the Annual Film Festival White Party.
In April of 2019, Mickey became one of the artists in the ARTS IN MEDICINE/HEALING ARTS Program, which offers music and art therapy to cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and other treatments at Florida Cancer Specialists in Vero Beach…her most rewarding musical experience to date.
Sample her music at the bottom of this page.
General Admission is paid at the door. $20 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $25 for guests and students are free.
Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
CONFIRMED - THE CONCERT IS ON FOR SUNDAY, OCT 13TH!
Saxophonist DEXTER WILBORN is bringing an exciting combination of talent featuring DAN WILBORN on saxophone, DANIEL TENBUSCH on organ, RYAN WASZMER on guitar and JAMESLY JEAN-MARY on drums.
Dexter Wilborn is a multi-instrumentalist from Melbourne Beach, FL. He has performed with a variety of musical acts at different venues across Brevard County and abroad, with notable performances including a concert for President Joe Biden, the Suwanee Music Festival, Melbourne Arts Festival, and the Melbourne Beach Founder’s Day Celebration.
Dexter's style is heavily influenced by his jazz roots and the mentorship of his father, Dan Wilborn, who is another local favorite. He also draws inspiration from gospel music, R&B, salsa, blues, and rock and roll.
Dexter has also performed as an instrumentalist for the University of Florida Gospel Choir and several Gospel Praise and Worship groups on both the saxophone and electric bass.
He has a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida and is working on his psychologist residency at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, Florida.
DAN WILBORN plays alto, tenor, soprano sax and the flute. He has performed at many venues and high profile shows, including groups such as the Puzzlers, Equator, The Rainmakerz, the Space Coast Big Band and many performances for the radio station, WGRV The Groove. He has also performed at a Democratic Presidential rally for VP elect Joe Biden, live on WFIT radio, at the Melbourne Art Festival, the Foosaner Art Museum and many other local and state events such as the Suwanee Music Festival. Dan lives in Melbourne Beach, FL.
DANIEL TENBUSCH is originally from the Space Coast of Florida. His extraordinary talent gave him the opportunity to tour with the GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA in the summers of 2023 and 2024.
He began playing piano at a young age and took an early interest in jazz and popular music. Daniel was awarded a SPACE COAST JAZZ SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP in 2014 and graduated from Florida State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano Performance. He moved to New Orleans and worked daily with bands of many styles, elevating his playing, developing his sound and immersing himself in the music New Orleans has to offer.
In December 2018, Daniel began working for drummer Les Demerle (former drummer for the Harry James Orchestra). With Les, Daniel did two contracts for Royal Caribbean, playing six nights a week in the Royal Caribbean jazz club, Jazz on Four. He continued to base out of New Orleans when he wasn’t on cruise ships.
Currently, Daniel is pursuing a masters degree in music from the University of Central Florida, and teaches five undergraduate classes in piano. He continues to work with his own trio as well as collaborate with artists throughout the Space Coast and area.
RYAN WASZMER - more details coming.
JAMESLY JEAN-MARY is an inspiringly-talented musician who has dedicated himself to music and performing. Through his unforgettable live performances and impeccable studio recordings, he has honed his technical capabilities and sound to form one unstoppable force in the music world.
Jamesly started to play the drums at the age of six years old in church. He continued to study music in school and while attending Parkway Middle School of the Arts, where he studied with the great Melton Mustafa and Diron Holloway. He went on to attend the illustrious Dillard High School and studied with Christopher Dorsey for four years and was a part of the Dillard High School Top Jazz Ensemble, the Dillard Center of the Arts Wind Orchestra and the Marching Band. In 2017 and 2018, he was fortunate to compete in the Essentially Ellington High School Competition where Dillard got third in 2017 and won first place in 2018. Jamesly was awarded the Outstanding Drums award in 2018 at the Essentially Ellington Competition.
Jamesly attended Broward College in 2019 and studied with Anthony Stanco and Rodolfo Zuniga and received his Associate in Arts in Music. He then went to the University of Central Florida and studied with Jeff Rupert, Richard Drexler, Clarence Penn, Jason Marsalis, and many more. He received a Bachelor’s degree in music performance in Jazz Studies in 2024.
Jamesly has had the opportunity to perform with legendary musicians in jazz like Louis Hayes, Wycliffe Gordon, Jason Marsalis, Mike LeDonne, Eric Alexander, Clarence Penn, and others.
General Admission is paid at the door. $20 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $25 for guests and students are free.
Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
Dexter's style is heavily influenced by his jazz roots and the mentorship of his father, Dan Wilborn, who is another local favorite. He also draws inspiration from gospel music, R&B, salsa, blues, and rock and roll.
Dexter has also performed as an instrumentalist for the University of Florida Gospel Choir and several Gospel Praise and Worship groups on both the saxophone and electric bass.
He has a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida and is working on his psychologist residency at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, Florida.
DAN WILBORN plays alto, tenor, soprano sax and the flute. He has performed at many venues and high profile shows, including groups such as the Puzzlers, Equator, The Rainmakerz, the Space Coast Big Band and many performances for the radio station, WGRV The Groove. He has also performed at a Democratic Presidential rally for VP elect Joe Biden, live on WFIT radio, at the Melbourne Art Festival, the Foosaner Art Museum and many other local and state events such as the Suwanee Music Festival. Dan lives in Melbourne Beach, FL.
DANIEL TENBUSCH is originally from the Space Coast of Florida. His extraordinary talent gave him the opportunity to tour with the GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA in the summers of 2023 and 2024.
He began playing piano at a young age and took an early interest in jazz and popular music. Daniel was awarded a SPACE COAST JAZZ SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP in 2014 and graduated from Florida State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano Performance. He moved to New Orleans and worked daily with bands of many styles, elevating his playing, developing his sound and immersing himself in the music New Orleans has to offer.
In December 2018, Daniel began working for drummer Les Demerle (former drummer for the Harry James Orchestra). With Les, Daniel did two contracts for Royal Caribbean, playing six nights a week in the Royal Caribbean jazz club, Jazz on Four. He continued to base out of New Orleans when he wasn’t on cruise ships.
Currently, Daniel is pursuing a masters degree in music from the University of Central Florida, and teaches five undergraduate classes in piano. He continues to work with his own trio as well as collaborate with artists throughout the Space Coast and area.
RYAN WASZMER - more details coming.
JAMESLY JEAN-MARY is an inspiringly-talented musician who has dedicated himself to music and performing. Through his unforgettable live performances and impeccable studio recordings, he has honed his technical capabilities and sound to form one unstoppable force in the music world.
Jamesly started to play the drums at the age of six years old in church. He continued to study music in school and while attending Parkway Middle School of the Arts, where he studied with the great Melton Mustafa and Diron Holloway. He went on to attend the illustrious Dillard High School and studied with Christopher Dorsey for four years and was a part of the Dillard High School Top Jazz Ensemble, the Dillard Center of the Arts Wind Orchestra and the Marching Band. In 2017 and 2018, he was fortunate to compete in the Essentially Ellington High School Competition where Dillard got third in 2017 and won first place in 2018. Jamesly was awarded the Outstanding Drums award in 2018 at the Essentially Ellington Competition.
Jamesly attended Broward College in 2019 and studied with Anthony Stanco and Rodolfo Zuniga and received his Associate in Arts in Music. He then went to the University of Central Florida and studied with Jeff Rupert, Richard Drexler, Clarence Penn, Jason Marsalis, and many more. He received a Bachelor’s degree in music performance in Jazz Studies in 2024.
Jamesly has had the opportunity to perform with legendary musicians in jazz like Louis Hayes, Wycliffe Gordon, Jason Marsalis, Mike LeDonne, Eric Alexander, Clarence Penn, and others.
General Admission is paid at the door. $20 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $25 for guests and students are free.
Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
"Special Featured Performance" by New York musician SAUL DAUTCH and UCF's FLYING HORSE BIG BAND...
UCF’s premier jazz ensemble, the Flying Horse Big Band, swings under the direction of Saul Dautch, the interim director of Jazz Studies and Instructor of Jazz Saxophone at the University of Central Florida.
Saul Dautch is a woodwind doubler, composer/arranger and educator based in the NYC/NJ area, specializing in the baritone saxophone. Born and raised in Delray Beach, Florida, Saul's musical journey began at an early age, culminating in his enrollment in the International Baccalaureate program at Atlantic Community High School. During these years, he studied privately with Mike Brignola and Neil Bacher, who both helped to further develop his love for music and his voice on the baritone saxophone. His thirst for knowledge and mastery of jazz led him to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies at the University of Central Florida, where he honed his skills under the mentorship of Jeff Rupert.
Upon completing his undergraduate studies, Saul ventured to New Brunswick, New Jersey, to further his education at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts. There, he immersed himself in the vibrant jazz scene, earning a Master of Music in Jazz Studies under the mentorship of Ralph Bowen, Gary Smulyan, and Conrad Herwig. His dedication to his craft was evident not only in his academic pursuits but also in his active involvement as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer, sharing his passion for music theory and jazz history with students.
After completing his graduate studies, Saul moved to Brooklyn, New York where he currently resides and works as a freelance musician, educator, composer/arranger, and soloist. He has performed with many world-class big bands including: The World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Flying Horse Big Band, The Robert Edwards Big Band, John Yao and his 17-Piece Instrument, The Orlando Jazz Orchestra, Bill O’Connell’s Afro Caribbean Ensemble and many more. He has shared the stage with the likes of Harry Allen, George Garzone, Conrad Herwig, Bill O’Connell, Robby Ameen, Antonio Hart, Clarence Penn, Jeff Rupert, and Veronica Swift amongst others. Saul is a featured soloist on several albums released by the Flying Horse Big Band: Big Man on Campus (2016), The Bat Swings (2018) and Good News! (2019).
In 2019, Saul was selected as one of 15 recipients to receive a fellowship to the prestigious Ravinia Steans Institute where he received instruction and mentorship from Rufus Reid, Billy Childs, and Steve Wilson.
The Flying Horse Big Band is one of the premiere performing ensembles of the UCF Music Department. They have appeared at the Montreux, Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz Festivals, as well as numerous festival and concert appearances domestically.
The band has featured Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, Michael Mossman, James Moody, Nick Brignola, Harry Allen, Steve Turre, Rodney Holmes, Terry Gibbs, Marvin Stamm, Mulgrew Miller, John Swana, Kevin Mahogany, Lou Donaldson and Eric Alexander with the band. In 2005, the Flying Horse Big Band premiered Sam Rivers’ work for double big band, with Rivers’ RIVBEA orchestra. The group has had six recordings on the national jazz charts. Recordings include Jazz Town, The Blues is Alright, Into the Mystic, Big Man on Campus, The Bat Swings!, and most recently, Florida Rays. The last two albums climbed to #1 on the national (professional) jazz charts.
General Admission is paid at the door. $30 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $35 for guests and students are free.
Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
Saul Dautch is a woodwind doubler, composer/arranger and educator based in the NYC/NJ area, specializing in the baritone saxophone. Born and raised in Delray Beach, Florida, Saul's musical journey began at an early age, culminating in his enrollment in the International Baccalaureate program at Atlantic Community High School. During these years, he studied privately with Mike Brignola and Neil Bacher, who both helped to further develop his love for music and his voice on the baritone saxophone. His thirst for knowledge and mastery of jazz led him to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies at the University of Central Florida, where he honed his skills under the mentorship of Jeff Rupert.
Upon completing his undergraduate studies, Saul ventured to New Brunswick, New Jersey, to further his education at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts. There, he immersed himself in the vibrant jazz scene, earning a Master of Music in Jazz Studies under the mentorship of Ralph Bowen, Gary Smulyan, and Conrad Herwig. His dedication to his craft was evident not only in his academic pursuits but also in his active involvement as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer, sharing his passion for music theory and jazz history with students.
After completing his graduate studies, Saul moved to Brooklyn, New York where he currently resides and works as a freelance musician, educator, composer/arranger, and soloist. He has performed with many world-class big bands including: The World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Flying Horse Big Band, The Robert Edwards Big Band, John Yao and his 17-Piece Instrument, The Orlando Jazz Orchestra, Bill O’Connell’s Afro Caribbean Ensemble and many more. He has shared the stage with the likes of Harry Allen, George Garzone, Conrad Herwig, Bill O’Connell, Robby Ameen, Antonio Hart, Clarence Penn, Jeff Rupert, and Veronica Swift amongst others. Saul is a featured soloist on several albums released by the Flying Horse Big Band: Big Man on Campus (2016), The Bat Swings (2018) and Good News! (2019).
In 2019, Saul was selected as one of 15 recipients to receive a fellowship to the prestigious Ravinia Steans Institute where he received instruction and mentorship from Rufus Reid, Billy Childs, and Steve Wilson.
The Flying Horse Big Band is one of the premiere performing ensembles of the UCF Music Department. They have appeared at the Montreux, Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz Festivals, as well as numerous festival and concert appearances domestically.
The band has featured Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, Michael Mossman, James Moody, Nick Brignola, Harry Allen, Steve Turre, Rodney Holmes, Terry Gibbs, Marvin Stamm, Mulgrew Miller, John Swana, Kevin Mahogany, Lou Donaldson and Eric Alexander with the band. In 2005, the Flying Horse Big Band premiered Sam Rivers’ work for double big band, with Rivers’ RIVBEA orchestra. The group has had six recordings on the national jazz charts. Recordings include Jazz Town, The Blues is Alright, Into the Mystic, Big Man on Campus, The Bat Swings!, and most recently, Florida Rays. The last two albums climbed to #1 on the national (professional) jazz charts.
General Admission is paid at the door. $30 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $35 for guests and students are free.
Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
A special performance by Grammy award winning Latin Jazz Pianist ROBERT NAVARRO and his Quartet...
Navarro is an accomplished New York City performer with more than 25 years of experience as a professional pianist, teacher, arranger and producer.
Born in New York City, Robert Navarro graduated from City College with a BFA in Music, later earning his masters from NYU. Navarro later studied jazz piano under Jackie Byrd, while simultaneously developing his skills as an arranger and producer.
After forming the ensemble Grupo Fascinacion in 1982, Robert Navarro produced and arranged records for Charanga America and the Dominican artist Santiago Ceron. Navarro later recorded and co-produced a project for The Ballet Hispanico Puertorriqueno, working with the legendary bandleader Eddie Palmieri. In 2007, Navarro won a Grammy for his arrangement of a song with Bobby Cruz.
Over his career, the multi-talented artist has toured with Celia Cruz, Ray Barreto, and Frankie Ruiz. When he’s not composing, producing, and mastering recordings, Navarro teaches guitar, piano, violin, and music technology to students in Port St. Lucie.
General Admission is paid at the door. $30 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $35 for guests and students are free. A complimentary glass of wine is included, you may also bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
Born in New York City, Robert Navarro graduated from City College with a BFA in Music, later earning his masters from NYU. Navarro later studied jazz piano under Jackie Byrd, while simultaneously developing his skills as an arranger and producer.
After forming the ensemble Grupo Fascinacion in 1982, Robert Navarro produced and arranged records for Charanga America and the Dominican artist Santiago Ceron. Navarro later recorded and co-produced a project for The Ballet Hispanico Puertorriqueno, working with the legendary bandleader Eddie Palmieri. In 2007, Navarro won a Grammy for his arrangement of a song with Bobby Cruz.
Over his career, the multi-talented artist has toured with Celia Cruz, Ray Barreto, and Frankie Ruiz. When he’s not composing, producing, and mastering recordings, Navarro teaches guitar, piano, violin, and music technology to students in Port St. Lucie.
General Admission is paid at the door. $30 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $35 for guests and students are free. A complimentary glass of wine is included, you may also bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
New Smyrna Beach vibraphonist/pianist JAMES HALL with international recording artist DR. GIANNI BIANCHINI on the organ, plus DOUG MATHEWS, former bassist for the Disney Grand Floridian Society Orchestra and
JAMESLY JEAN-MARY on drums.
James Hall began as a pianist in downtown Pleasanton, California, in the Bay Area for the Pleasanton Jazz Society concert series. He performed in nearly thirty concerts in downtown Pleasanton with numerous West Coast musicians including Matt Finders, Andrew Speight, Anton Schwartz, Roger Glenn, Michael Marcus, and Erik Jekabson. He took up the vibraphone in 2018 as a secondary instrument.
Upon relocating to Florida in 2019, he performed in various groups on both instruments. In Central Florida he has performed with a wide range of jazz musicians including Antonio Escapa, Jeff Rupert, Scott Dickinson, Saul Dautch, Joel Frahm, Jeremy Fratti, Richard Drexler, the Orlando Jazz Orchestra, Tom Dietz, and Bobby Koelble in the straight-ahead jazz and Latin spheres.
Also a composer, he has dozens of compositions to his name that draw inspiration from his hometown of New Smyrna Beach, concepts from film noir, and environmental causes. He released a trio album, Hall Aboard, in 2023.
General Admission is paid at the door. $20 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $25 for guests and students are free. Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
SYBIL GAGE...singing speakeasy jazz and juke joint blues...
Sybil has been Artist in Residence at Heidi’s Jazz Club in Cocoa Beach, having started her musical relationship there in 2009. Gage has also regularly performed the New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival 9 years and counting, as well as the Thin Man Watts Jazz Festival in Deland. Art houses welcome her. Some of her favorite shows of this year were at The Hub on Canal in New Smyrna Beach, The Cinematique in Daytona Beach, The Modernism Museum in Mount Dora, and the Blue Bamboo Performing Arts Center in Orlando.
Born and raised in New Orleans Sybil Gage had front row schooling in what makes that city great. Now living in Florida, Sybil is spreading New Orleans music to the rest of the world. The “Little Dynamo” is slinky in sequins, and funky in fishnets and has become the darling of the East Coast from New Orleans (Old U.S. Mint Theater) to New York City (Triad Theater W. 72nd St. Broadway). Witness “Sybil Gage and Her Mighty Catahoulas” and a typical evening will include the legendary music of Professor Longhair and James Booker, fun tunes from Smiley Lewis and Jesse Hill and Eddie Bo, blues from Elmore James, Little Willie John, Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson, Etta James, Gus Cannon, as well as many of her own award winning original contributions. On intimate evenings, with only piano to accompany, she sings Pre War Blues, Hokum, Traditional New Orleans inspired Jazz and original tunes that fit seamlessly into her vast repertoire.
Sybil has opened for such diverse acts as John Waite, Zydeco Queen Rosie Ledet, Dave Mason, Big Bill Morgenfield, Pat Travers and also has shared the stage with Glen David Andrews and Marc Stone. Her stage is decorated with boas and hat boxes. She says they remind her of her days working in the Chris Owens Club on Bourbon St. as a costume valet. Gage has 2 outstanding CD’s of original material. Her debut CD RED (2007), rose to critical acclaim. NOLA Calling (2009) was nominated for “Best Self Produced CD” by the International Blues Competition ( IBC) in Memphis.
General Admission is paid at the door. $20 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $25 for guests and students are free.. Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
Guitarist WALT STACEY with BILLY DAVIS on sax, GARY HAASE on bass, BRYAN GARDENOUR on drums...
Walt Stacey is a professional Jazz/R&B guitarist living in Oviedo, FL. He has performed across the US and Europe with several bands and solo artists in clubs, theaters, arenas and stadiums. In addition, many performances on radio, television, and Broadway.
Walt was born in Kearny, NJ and started as a teen playing rock guitar in several local bands, he soon turned his focus to jazz. After high school he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and William Paterson College. In this period he studied with Rufus Reid, Harold Mabern, Vic Juris, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jon Damien and others.
He began his after college career playing and recording with various R&B, Funk, and Rock acts. Working between 5 and 7 nights a week for almost 2 decades.
Deciding to “ease back” on his extensive work schedule, Walt re-dedicated himself to his jazz studies. He now performs and teaches in central Florida where he also records and produces at his home studio in Oviedo.
General Admission is paid at the door. $20 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $25 for guests and students are free.. Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
Walt was born in Kearny, NJ and started as a teen playing rock guitar in several local bands, he soon turned his focus to jazz. After high school he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and William Paterson College. In this period he studied with Rufus Reid, Harold Mabern, Vic Juris, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jon Damien and others.
He began his after college career playing and recording with various R&B, Funk, and Rock acts. Working between 5 and 7 nights a week for almost 2 decades.
Deciding to “ease back” on his extensive work schedule, Walt re-dedicated himself to his jazz studies. He now performs and teaches in central Florida where he also records and produces at his home studio in Oviedo.
General Admission is paid at the door. $20 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $25 for guests and students are free.. Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
FOSTERING TOMORROW'S JAZZ LEGENDS...this yearly concert event features the RON TEIXEIRA TRIO and our SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS.
The Space Coast Jazz Society is proud to invest in the "future of jazz" by awarding $1,000 scholarships each for two Brevard County high school seniors, to help advance their careers.
Jazz pianist Ron Teixeira will be joined by Ron Pirtle on bass and Stan Soloko on drums. Ron Teixeira and his band will perform in concert, then give our scholarship winners an opportunity to showcase their talents with the band.
Ron Teixeira has performed in New York City midtown hotels and many jazz venues for 20 years.
He has performed with a long list of celebrated jazz musicians, including Frank Morgan, Bert Francis, Larry Coryell, Nancy Kelly, Pat Marino, Ira Sullivan and many other national and internationally recognized jazz artists.
Ron’s hometown is Cocoa Beach, FL. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, and received his BA degree in Composition.
For many years, he has performed as part of the house trio at the famous Heidi’s Jazz Club in Cocoa Beach and teaches jazz piano as well.
General Admission is paid at the door. $20 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $25 for guests and students are free.. Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
DANIEL TENBUSCH is leading an extraordinary band of some of our most accomplished past scholarship winners.
This will include 2 HORNS, 1 BASS and Daniel on the PIANO. Celebrate with us to see and hear their musical successes.
Daniel is originally from the Space Coast of Florida. His extraordinary talent gave him the opportunity to tour with the GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA in the summers of 2023 and 2024.
He began playing piano at a young age and took an early interest in jazz and popular music. Daniel was awarded a SPACE COAST JAZZ SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP in 2014 and graduated from Florida State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano Performance. He moved to New Orleans and worked daily with bands of many styles, elevating his playing, developing his sound and immersing himself in the music New Orleans has to offer. In December 2018, Daniel began working for drummer Les Demerle (former drummer for the Harry James Orchestra). With Les, Daniel did two contracts for Royal Caribbean, playing six nights a week in the Royal Caribbean jazz club, Jazz on Four. He continued to base out of New Orleans when he wasn’t on cruise ships.
In May of 2020, Daniel took a short hiatus from music to hike the Appalachian trail, and since completion has been based out of Florida. In 2021, he formed the band Creek with Ashton Bailey-Gould, Ethan Bailey-Gould and Thomas Milovac, and regularlly collaborating with vocalist Kristen Warren. This group of musicians regularly tours the southwest, performing at venues such as Rudy's Jazz Room in Nashville, Lagniappe in Miami, and regularly plays Heidi's Jazz Club in Cocoa Beach. Together, they headlined the Space Coast Music Festival in 2021.
Daniel earned his Masters or Arts degree in Music from the University of Central Florida in 2024, where he taught five undergraduate classes in piano. Beginning in the summer of 2023 he started performing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra around the country and internationally. He continues to perform with his own trio and many other artists throughout the Space Coast area. Currently, Daniel is on the national tour of Charlie Brown Christmas Live as the musical director and pianist, as well as playing the character Schroeder.
General Admission is paid at the door. $20 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $25 for guests and students are free.. Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
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for September thru December 2025 CONCERTS...
The Sep 2025 thru May 2026 CONCERT SEASON kicks off with the JEFF RUPERT QUARTET
Jeff Rupert is the Director of Jazz Studies at UCF, saxophonist, composer, record producer, and recording artist.
He has been a featured soloist on dozens of recordings with artists including Sam Rivers, Mel Tormé, Diane Schuur, Benny Carter, and Maynard Ferguson. His most recent recording The Ripple with legendary saxophonist George Garzone was released in September 2019. He played on Benny Carter's Harlem Renaissance which won a Grammy. He has also performed with Kevin Mahogany, Ernestine Anderson, Joe Farnsworth, Ray Drummond, Harry Allen, pianist Benny Green, Kenny Drew Jr, trumpeter Michael Philip Mossman, and pianist and singer Judy Carmichael.
Rupert has several releases under his own name including "Lets Sail Away" with Veronica Swift, "Imagination" and "R&D" with pianist Richard Drexler. Rupert currently is the leader of The Jazz Professors, a sextet that had top JazzWeek charting hit albums in 2012-2015. "The Jazz Professors: Live at the UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival" (Flying Horse, 2011) peaked at #19 during its seventeen weeks on the JazzWeek charts. His third album, "From Memphis to Mobile" was with Kenny Drew, Jr.
Rupert joined Sam Rivers' band in 1996 and appeared in four recordings with the group. He has performed in hundreds of concerts with Rivers, including performances at Lincoln for Ed Bradley's Jazz from Lincoln Center (broadcast on NPR), the Vision Festival NYC and Columbia University.
He has been a member of the Jaguar International Jazz Series alongside Joe LaBarbera, Tom Wharington, Larry Koonse, and John Fedchock. Most recently he performed with Michael Philip Mossman and John Riley at the Taipei National Concert Hall, Taiwan.
Rupert has played at jazz festivals around the world, with dates in Europe, Scandinavia, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Flying Horse Big Band is one of the premiere performing ensembles of the UCF Music Department. They have appeared at the Montreux, Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz Festivals, as well as numerous festival and concert appearances domestically.
The band has featured Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, Michael Mossman, James Moody, Nick Brignola, Harry Allen, Steve Turre, Rodney Holmes, Terry Gibbs, Marvin Stamm, Mulgrew Miller, John Swana, Kevin Mahogany, Lou Donaldson and Eric Alexander with the band. In 2005, the Flying Horse Big Band premiered Sam Rivers’ work for double big band, with Rivers’ RIVBEA orchestra. The group has had six recordings on the national jazz charts. Recordings include Jazz Town, The Blues is Alright, Into the Mystic, Big Man on Campus, The Bat Swings!, and most recently, Florida Rays. The last two albums climbed to #1 on the national (professional) jazz charts.
General Admission is paid at the door. $30 for members of the Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center, $35 for guests and students are free.
Bring your own food and drink. Tables, chairs, live jazz and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
THE JOE BREIDENSTINE CUBOP SEXTET
Trumpeter Joe Breidenstine has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, Japan, and the Middle East. In addition, Joe has studied privately with some of the greatest trumpet teachers in the world. Among them, the great Carmine Caruso, William Fielder at Rutgers University, Bill Adam at Indiana University, and Roger Ingram, who currently plays lead trumpet with the Harry Connick Jr. big band.
When Joe lived in New York City, he had the opportunity to perform with some of the greats in music. Some of Joe’s most memorable performances have been with Lou Rawls, Tito Puente, Jon Faddis, George Benson, Joe Williams, Stanley Turrentine, David “fathead” Newman, Benny Golsen, Eric Alexander, Ralph Bowen, Charles Fambrough, Ray Vega, and many others.
Joe began playing piano at age 8 and took up trumpet at age 10. After graduating from Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, New Jersey, Joe attended the jazz studies program at William Paterson University of New Jersey under the direction of Rufus Reid.
After college, Joe landed a 6 month stint at the Imperial Plaza Hotel in Osaka, Japan, where he performed 6 nights a week with the David Cedeno Orchestra. Once returning to the states, Joe was offered and accepted a chair in the Glenn Miller Orchestra on the recommendation of the great trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, and toured the United States.
Joe also teaches privately, has taught trumpet at the Grand Opera House School of Music in Wilmington, Delaware, and was an adjunct trumpet instructor at the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. Currently, Joe is an adjunct trumpet instructor at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, in Pomona, New Jersey.
THE JOHN DEPAOLA QUINTET
John DePaola has been a full-time freelance trumpeter for over 30 years. He lives in Orlando, FL, where he has been a musician at Walt Disney World and a Rosie O’Grady’s Goodtime Jazz Band member. John has performed with entertainers such as Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Kenny Rogers, Frank Sinatra Jr., The Moody Blues, and many others. John has also played for nationally touring Broadway shows like West Side Story, Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, The Producers, and Chicago.
John is also a regular performer at jazz festivals across the U.S. with different groups and has also led his group, performing for Jazz clubs and societies in Florida. In his 3rd season as a member of the Dr. Phillips Center Jazz Orchestra under Rodney Whitaker’s direction, as a symphony musician, John has played principal trumpet with The Villages Philharmonic since 2003 and also served as principal trumpet with the Imperial Symphony in Lakeland, FL. He also performs with The Brevard Symphony and Orlando Philharmonic when called upon.
His CD, Take Two, is a soulful collection of jazz standards, popular songs from the 60’s, and original compositions featuring the John DePaola Quartet with Jeff Phillips on piano and organ, Paul Parker on drums and percussion, and Charlie Silva on upright and electric bass.
VOCALIST MICHELLE MAILHOT & FRIENDS
For over 25 years Michelle Mailhot has been one of the most sought-after Jazz singers around. During her celebrated career, she has shared the stage with such jazz greats as Mel Torme, Max Roach, Sheila Jordan, Billy Stritch, Sandy Patti, Liza Minnelli, Dr. Billy Taylor, and more. In 2004 she won a Drama Desk Award for her work in the Off-Broadway show Toxic Audio: Loudmouth.
Locally in Central Florida, she appears regularly at premier jazz venues, has sung with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dr. Phillips Jazz Orchestra, and is the regular featured singer with the Blue Bamboo Big Band.
Michelle is also a highly-regarded session singer for radio and television commercials…and…you have likely heard her singing the backing vocals on the Shy Baldwin songs in season 3 & 4 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Her acclaimed solo CD “Happy Madness” is available on iTunes and most major music streaming services.
In addition to her extraordinary performance career as a jazz vocalist, Michelle Mailhot is a distinguished music educator. With both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, Michelle has been a professor of music at both Valencia and Rollins colleges for the better part of a decade. There she has taught music theory, sight-singing, ear training, private vocal instruction and directs a jazz choir.
Michelle is also one of the top teachers on the website Jazzvoice.com, where she runs a tremendously popular class in Scat-singing.
Her work as a clinician and adjudicator with All-State choir competitions, and choral festivals such as Showstoppers, America Sings and Orlando Fest has taken her across the country, to Singapore and Japan. As well as being a clinician at the Disney Sings workshops, Michelle also got to teach side-by-side with her mentors at the Phil Mattson Choral Workshop and the Steve Zegree Vocal Jazz Camps.
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