Truth in Jazz

Book Us For Your Next Event!

Jamin — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:00:53 +0000

The Truth in Jazz is looking to fill-up our performance calendar for 2013, as well as squeeze-in a few more gigs this year. While we are always willing to accept donations, we do not charge anything for our performances (all our costs are underwritten by our sponsor, Goshen Health System).

If you or someone you know are planning an upcoming event, contact us via the Book A Gig page!

Meet Onsby Rose, Trombone

sallen — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:46:15 +0000

Meet Dennis Wakeman, Trumpet

sallen — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:45:40 +0000

Meet Bart Roberts, Trombone

Jamin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:00:49 +0000

Bart Roberts, Trombone

Hometown: Elkhart, Indiana

Education: Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Masters of Music in Conducting and Trombone from Ball State University. I am currently the band director at Dickinson Intermediate Fine Arts Academy in the South Bend Community School Corporation.

Playing Experience: Ball State University Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Trombone Choir, Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Member of the Elkhart Municipal Band. Have also performed with the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Indianapolis Brass Choir, Muncie Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Marion Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra (Texas), Houston Symphonic Band and The Texas Music Festival Jazz Project.

Career Highlights: Leading the Klein Forest HS Jazz Ensemble in a featured performance at the 2006 National School Board Association Conference in Chicago, Illinois in front of 14,000 people. Performing as an extra trombonist on numerous occasions with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Touring Italy this past summer with the Warren Central HS Honors Band (Indianapolis, Indiana) as a guest soloist. Sharing the stage at Ball State with Jazz Artists and Trombonists: Bill Watrous, Wycliffe Gordon, Conrad Herwig, Jeff Hamilton, Byron Stripling, Pete Christleib, Bobby Shew, Chris Vadala, Abbie Conant, M. Dee Stewart. Have studied Trombone with: John Seidel (Ball State University), Steve Wolfinbarger (Western Michigan University), Arnold Jacobs (Chicago Symphony), Alan Barnhill (Houston Symphony), David Waters (Houston Symphony), Ron Wilkins (San Antonio, Texas), and Freddie Mendoza (Texas State University).

Why I Play With TIJ: It’s a wonderful opportunity to keep playing my instrument and I enjoy working with such a great group of people!

Meet Bill Troutman, Guitar

Jamin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:40 +0000

Bill Troutman - Guitar

Hometown: Born and raised in South Bend in a musical family.

Education: Took 3 private lessons a week on trombone, piano, and guitar as a child from age 7 to 18. Also participated in marching band in elementary and high school. Later studied classical guitar with Richard Wisner at Mendoza’s for 7 years.

Playing Experience: 49 years of professional experience playing in various bands and doing a single later in life. I like to arrange for the guitar and I play all of my arrangements.

Career Highlights: Being asked to teach music at Mendoza’s where I taught for over 30 years. Also playing with the South Bend Symphony in West Side Story and Oklahoma and Newton Waylon in the Midwest

Pops Orchestra.

Why I play with TiJ: What’s better than to surround myself with great musicians who have the same endeavors that I do: to produce good music.

Meet Sean Patrick, Bass

Jamin — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:00:34 +0000

Sean Patrick - Bass

Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN

Education: BA :Ball State University, 2008. Grew up in Fort Wayne, attending Northrop High School being active in Jazz Bands, Marching Band, Pep Band, Orchestras, Show Choir back up bands, and String Quartets.

Playing Experience: 10 Years playing in various ensembles including the following: 4 years in Ball State University Jazz Lab Ensemble, 11 years in various jazz combo settings, 2 years playing with the Cory Hill Band, 2 years in the Ball State Wind Ensemble, 3 years in the BSSO.

Career Highlights: Although I am just getting started in my career some highlights at this point include getting to play with some great jazz artists such as: Joe Beck, Matt Harris, Ted Nash, Dick Oats, Steve Houghton, and Wayne Bergeron.

Why I Play With TIJ: I love to play big band jazz music. I am glad that there is high quality big band in the Elkhart area and consider myself extremely lucky to be able to play in the group.

The New Look of TruthinJazz.com

Jamin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:52:02 +0000

If you haven’t noticed it yet, our website has gotten a much needed redesign! Ever since we transitioned into a non-profit organization, we have been looking for ways to effectively communicate who we are and what we do to the community. This transition has resulted in a new logo, new shirts, new banners & music stand fronts, a few new faces, a monthly email newsletter (Sign-up!), and now: a whole new website! All of these changes have been made possible by the hard working individuals within our organization, as well as our anchor sponsor, Goshen Health System.

Feel free to click through the website and find your way around. On the new homepage, we have links to help you book a gig, find an event, connect on Facebook, or join our eNewsletter. This page also includes a link to our sponsor & the latest news from our blog feed. The Memeber Profiles and In Memorium pages can be found by visiting our About page, and we’ve added a Sponsor page where you can learn more about how you can sponsor the Truth in Jazz. Soon, we hope to include a few contact forms that will make the process of booking a gig or becoming a sponsor much easier.

Meet Jim Catalano, Drums

Jamin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:00:03 +0000

Jim Catalano - Drums

Hometown: Meadville, PA. Moved to Michiana in 1975.

Education: BA & BM: BS Music Education / Percussion – Indiana University of Pennsylvania – 1975
MM Music – University of Notre Dame – 1977
(Served as Graduate Assistant Band Director at Notre Dame from 1975 – 1977)

Playing Experience: Drummer – Truth in Jazz Big Band – 1999 – Present
Drummer – Jazz Assemblage Big Band – 1985 – Present
Drummer – Renown Sound Big Band – 2003 – Present
Percussionist – South Bend Symphony – 1978 – Present
Percussionist – Elkhart Symphony – 1978 – Present
Percussionist – Keystone Wind Ensemble – 1994 – 2002
Percussionist (Sub) – Elkhart Municipal Band
Snare Drummer – Erie Thunderbirds Drum & Bugle Corps. 1969 – 1972
Vibes – VibeNation Jazz Combo – 1993 – Present
Freelance Drummer, Vibes, Latin Percussion

Career Highlights: Graduating from Notre Dame and working with the ND Band. Performing at the Elkhart Jazz Fest. I had an opportunity to fill in on drums with area guests artists such as: Doc Severinsen, Marian McPartland, Boston Brass, Byron Stripling, Bill Watrous, and Frank Mantooth.

Why I Play With TIJ: I love to make music. My absolute favorite thing to do is to DRIVE a Big Band on Drums.

Meet Gordon Holley, Piano

Jamin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:00:34 +0000

Gordon Holley - Piano

Hometown: Battlecreek, Michigan

Education: Attended Western Michigan University

Playing Experience: Pianist – Jazz Assemblage Big Band – 1975 – Present
Pianist (sub) – 2006 to Present
Present Pianist – Truth in Jazz 2008 to Present
Leader and Pianist – A Cut Above, 7pc band 1990 to Present
Organized & Directed Marching Band, Michigan Air National Guard
53 years of playing in night clubs, theater and concerts, stage shows with such entertainers as ; Betty hutton, Bob Cummings, “Boots’ Randolph, Clark Terry, Dick Contino, Ira Sullivan, Scott Hamilton, Lou Soloff, Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats, Pee Wee Hunt, Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates, “Stepin Fetchit”, Tommy Newsom.

Career Highlights: Playing at the Elkhart Jazz Festival, June 2000 with tenor jazz great Scott Hamilton and trumpeter Ira Sullivan. Playing at the Elkhart Jazz Festival with my 7 piece band “A Cut Above two different years and having written over 500 arrangements for my band.

Why I Play With TIJ: I enjoy the association with many great local musicians and sharing my love for many genre of music. It’s a real kick to play with TiJ in a concert setting and please so many lovers of good music and giving back to the community.

Meet Brian Frederick, Trumpet

Jamin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:00:07 +0000

Brian Frederick – Trumpet

Hometown: Etna Green, IN. Now living in Nappanee, IN.

Education: Music Performance, Grace College, Winona Lake, IN.

Playing Experience:
1989-1991: Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, Bloomington, IN; Lead Mellophone. Performed with Canadian Brass.
1991-1995: The Commandant’s Own Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, Washington DC; Section Leader for High Brass.
1996-1998: Grace Brass, Touring and Performing
1996-1999, 2006-Current: Grace Wind Ensemble
1999-2000: Blast! Professional group on stage in London, England at the Hammersmith Apollo Theater. Lead Trumpet and Piccolo Trumpet with the original cast.
2002-Current: Star of Indiana Alumni
2005-2006: Nostalgia Band, Big Band and Swing Music
2005-Current: Star United, Indianapolis, IN; Lead Trumpet.
2007: Elkhart Symphony Orchestra, Elkhart, IN.
2007-Current: Truth in Jazz

Career Highlights: Winning the DCI Championship with Star of Indiana in 1991 as lead Mellophone player was an amazing experience. In the Commandant’s Own, I was able to perform for President Clinton’s inauguration and Colonel Powell’s retirement, while also performing with Lee Greenwood and Niel Diamond. I played the bugle calls for the 8th&I barracks, as well as Taps at Arlington Cemetary, which were great experiences. Performing on stage in London for a year with Blast! was also a major highlight, being a soloist and lead trumpet and piccolo for a Tony and Emmy award winning show! I also opened for Sawyer Brown at the West Baden resort with Star United, with whom I play lead trumpet. Star United is the current DCA Mini-Corps Champion, having the championships New York the last three years running.

Why I Play with TiJ: Truth in Jazz allows me the opportunity to continue performing locally with a great group of talented and dedicated players.