The Otsego Jazz Ensemble

Otsego, Michigan.

We've been together since 1986!

Looking back...

The OJE participated in Kalamazoo's FREE Fête de la Musique on June 21, 2008

In March of 2008, the OJE performed for the "Senior Citizens' Prom" at WMU's Bernhard Center. Our newest vocalist, Lana Hawkins, made her debut performance with us on that night. The band returned for this event on March 14, 2009.

Everyone had a fantastic time in 2007, at the annual "The Battle of the Big Bands", with the Beltline Big Band. The first event debuted at the Kalamazoo Radisson Hotel on March 9, 2002. AND... we did it again on May 19, 2007 at WMU's Bernhard Center! Dr. Barry Ross, formerly the Kalamazoo Symphony's Concertmaster, was our guest soloist, performing "Summertime," "Love is Here to Stay," and his signature "Orange Blossom Special."

At the 2002 ALLEGAN JAZZ FESTIVAL, the audience was enthusiastic, and the band had a terrific time. Earlie Braggs, from Kansas City, wowed everyone with his trombone solos.

On November 1, 1998 the Otsego Jazz Ensemble presented a continuing (solo) version of the Western Michigan Big Band Festival at Don Neal's Banquet Center in Kalamazoo. Proceeds from the admission charge were put into a music scholarship.

The Otsego Jazz Ensemble

The festival proceeds are used to fund a scholarship in the Jazz Studies Department at Western Michigan University. The 1996 festival scholarship recipient, "Flip" Robison, performed as lead trumpeter with the Jackson Jazz Ensemble.

The inaugural festival, in 1995, featured the Kalamazoo Big Band, the Otsego Jazz Ensemble, and the Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra.