“Our mission is to promote the art of jazz through performance, education, and community outreach.”

Now in its 25th year of bringing its unique blend of traditional big band and contemporary jazz arrangements to the summer venues of Michigan’s beautiful southwest region, the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band continues to be one of the premier big bands in the Midwest. Specializing in new arrangements of classic standards, new compositions for contemporary big bands, and golden oldies, the band performs music from the libraries of Stan Kenton, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Pat Metheny and others. The Lake Effect Jazz Big Band is committed to preserving the uniquely American art form of big band jazz in concert and jazz festival settings across Southwest Michigan.

The band is led by Steven L. Reed, retired instrumental music teacher for the St. Joseph Public Schools, where he taught jazz ensemble, orchestra, and band for 35 years. Several members of the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band are current or retired music educators, and jazz education is a priority for the LEJBB.

The band performs between twelve and fifteen concerts each summer including Jazz Festivals, full length concerts at the Box Factory in St. Joseph, and outdoor venues in Southwest Michigan cities and townships. Featured artists that have performed with the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band include vocalists Michelle Bythrow, Paul Mow, Katie Rohrer, Lisa Dabrowski, Andrew Fisher, Becky Selvidge and Chicago jazz vocalist Tammy McCann. Instrumental soloists have included local trombonist Ed Bagatini, Chicago vibraphonist Jim Cooper, Ann Arbor alto saxophonist Doug Horn, Grand Rapids area percussionist Kevin “Bujo” Jones, LA trumpeter Wayne Bergeron, and director/bassist John Clayton.

For more information about the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band, look us up on Facebook.

Steven L. Reed, Director
stevereed52@yahoo.com
(269) 277-3317

Brad Jensen, Manager
bjensen@jenesisinc.com
(269) 313-1604