These eleven free Monday night performances are held from June 3rd - August 12th at 6:30-8:30pm,
John Ball Zoo Band shell, 1300 Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI.

June 3rd - Opening the series is the multi-award winning Northview High School Jazz Band led by Mr. Greg Wells. In 2013 alone this band took 1st place Outstanding Band at WMU; Best Section at MSU, and their Honors Combo took Best in State at the MSBOA. Prepare to be amazed by these students! 

June 10th - The Paul VornHagen Quartet will perform the American Songbook of Jazz. Paul on sax/flute/vocals accompanied by Gary Schunk on keyboard, Kurt Krahnke on bass and Randy Marsh on drums.  Winner of 5 Detroit Music Awards, Paul has performed at all the major jazz festivals and jazz clubs throughout Michigan as well as regular stops in Chicago, San Francisco, Toledo and Cincinnati.   Go to www.paulvornhagen.com for more info. 

June 17th - The Tom Hagen Summer Swingers including vocalists Mary Rademacher Reed, WMJS's Musician of the Year 2006, and Mr. Rick Ruether. This very popular West Michigan group will be playing and singing all your Swing and Rat Pack era favorites.  Tom Hagen, WMJS's Musician of the Year 2007 on piano & guitar; Cherie Lynn Hagen, drums & vocals; Elgin Vines, WMJS's Musician of the Year 2005 on bass and Mike Lutley on saxes & flute.

June 24th - Max Colley III's Sextet will present a tribute to the music of Louis Armstrong.  Max Colley III on trumpet, Tim Froncek on drums, Tom Hagen on piano, Jordan Richards on bass, Dr. Paul Brewer on trombone, Tom Standsell on clarinet. Sarah Cosby, vocalist, who studied under Edye Evans Hyde, will be joining the group for a number.
For more on Max: http://www.tijo.org/fr_maxcolley.cfm

Stay tuned for details on these exciting upcoming concerts!

July 1st - Randy Marsh Quintet	July 29th - The Mark Kahny Group
July  8th - Fred Knapp Quintet	August 5th - Michelle Covington and Company
July 15th - Evan Hyde Group	August 12 - Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra
July 22nd - Paul Keller Quartet	Click here to check out the mlive.com article about Jazz at the Zoo 2013!

April 2013

Dear Friend of Jazz:

Our thirteenth annual season of offering free weekly jazz concerts at John Ball Zoo's band shell is fast approaching. Jazz at the Zoo has been a great success with our regular audiences of over 1200 fans enjoying local and regional musicians in a relaxed outdoor setting.

Our Summer Monday evening concerts begin June 3rd and end August 12th. In keeping with our efforts to promote jazz in the high schools, our opening show will feature the Northview High School Jazz Band. A complete listing of performers will be posted on our website (www.wmichjazz.org) and in our newsletter.

Once again we are reaching out to past and potential future supporters to help us fund this endeavor. Please see the sponsorship form and consider a level of support that works for you. Since we are an all-volunteer tax exempt organization under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, all contributions are tax deductible.

Each donor will be listed in our newsletter and Jazz at the Zoo programs. You may also dedicate your contribution in someone's memory. Please advise us if you know of someone who might be interested in a corporate sponsorship.

We hope you will help us in our continuing efforts to promote live jazz in the Grand Rapids area.

Sincerely,
John Miller, President
West Michigan Jazz Society