Hello,

Since I don't do Facebook or Twitter yet, I thought this would be the best way to let you know when and where I am appearing and what I've been doing. Many of you have asked, and I honestly can't keep up with where all of you are. So here I am, with all the latest info in one place. I hope to be able to keep in touch with more of you this way, and now you can contact me right here at the site. Thanks for visiting.

This site went online in 2011 and is written in "blog" style. There are pages for 2011 thru 2016. Each year ends at the TOP, so start at the bottom (or where you left off) and work your way up. This is the current page. Click on the Appearances link at the top to see where I will be playing.

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2017 -

The year concluded with the BW Aliumni Brass Collective playing a brown bag Christmas Concert at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Medina on Tuesday, Dec. 19th from noon-1:00 p.m. Best we've sounded.

Broadview Hts. seniors enjoyed the Cleveland TOPS Swingband holiday program on Thursday, Dec. 14. fro 11 a.m until noon. Then they had lunch and gift exchange. I hope we can do that one again.

The Strongsville Community Band Holiday Concert was Sunday, Dec. 10th from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Ehrnfelt Senior Center.

Friday, Dec. 8th, the Strongsville City Jazz big Band played a Jazzy Christmas Concert at Strongsville United Church of Christ from 7-8:30. Proceeds went to the church music ministry. All the arrangements were jazz versions of Christmas songs. This has become a very popular concert and we will do it again next year.

I got a message from Anthony Triffiletti asking me to play the musical ANNIE that he was conducting at French Creek Theater (formerly True North) in Sheffield Village. We began rehearsals on Sunday, Nov 26 with five in a row and the show opened on Friday, Dec. 1st at 7:30. It ran three weekends (nine shows) but I had to miss two due to Strongsville committments (above). Good cast, Annie herself was super.

The Strongsville City Jazz big Band played a concert at First Lutheran Church in Strongsville on Sunday, Nov. 12th from 4-5:30 p.m. The band is sounding better than ever.

My LITTLE BIG BAND played Fred Lombardo's 80th birthday party at the Olympia Clubhouse in Strongsville on Saturday, November 11th from 5-8 p.m. Fred, his son, and granddaughter sang with the band; we got fed and had a good time. Made a lot of new friends, too.

Baldwin Wallace University hosted a split concert with the Strongsville Community Band on Friday, November 10 from 7-9 p.m. Always fun to play in Kulas Hall again.

Wednesday, November 8th from 2:30-3:30 had the Cleveland TOPS Swingband playing for the residents of Suburban Pavillion in Warrensville Hts.

Eliza Bryant Home in Cleveland hosted a concert by the TOPS band on Thursday, November 2nd from 2:30-3:30 p.m. We are one of thier favorites.

The BW Alumni Brass Collective (minus French Horn) played two services at Messiah Lutheran Church in Fairview Park on Sunday, October 29th. Big church, pipe organ, brass, big sound. Nice.

Sunday, October 22nd was the date of the Bethel Lutheran Church (Middleburg Hts) benefit concert for MEEC (Middleburg Early Education Center). The Strongsville City Jazz Big Band played one of their best concerts showcasing the vocal talents of Cindy Smith and Ron Davis. We are trying to build an audience here and raise money for special needs kids scholarships. Come see us next year on Oct. 21, 2018.

The Cleveland TOPS Swingband played a 1-2 p.m. program for seniors at the Ehrnfelt Senior Center in Strongsville on Thursday, October 19th. Many friends were there as Ken Mehalko and I are well-known in Strongsville.

Thursday, October 12th, the TOPS band played a concert for the residents of Cardinal Village Senior Living in Cuyahoga Falls. Nice people here, they love the band.

The Rocky River United Methodist Church's 10th Anniversary season of their "Gifts of Music" Concert Series kicked of Sunday, October 8th with my LITTLE BIG BAND doing the honors. We were warmly greeted by a wonderful audience and the band played an inspired performance. Thanks for the invitation.

The BW Alumni Brass Collective played a one hour concert to close out the Strongsville Historical Society Harvest Days celebration on Sunday, September 24th from 3-4 p.m.

Sunday, September 17th, my LITTLE BIG BAND played at the Metropark Chalet in Strongsville as the Arts in Strongsville Foundation kicked off their annual Day at the Chalet. We played from Noon to 12:45 to get things started. The weather was beautiful and the band sounded great.

Fairfax Place in Cleveland again hosted the TOPS band for a concert for residents on Wednesday, September 13th from 2-3 p.m.

The Cleveland TOPS Swingband returned to Willow Park Nursing Home on Thursday, August 31st from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Every time we play at one of these facilities it reminds you that life could be a whole lot worse. Say your prayers.

Sunday, August 27th found the BW Alumni Brass Collective at Columbia United Methodist Church for the 10:30 a.m. service. This was our annual apperance there.

Another back-to-back for the TOPS band: Sunday, August 13th at the Hudson Bandstand from 6-7:30 p.m. Out in the sun again...keeping hydrated is the key.

The TOPS Band played for "Dancing Under The Stars" at The Grove in Mayfield Hts. on Saturday, August 13th from 7-9 p.m. The new band shell is fabulous, sounds great too.

Friday, August 11th was the final summer concert of the Strongsville Community Band at the Gazebo.

The Cleveland Jazz Club BOP STOP hosted a concert in honor of the late Harry Herforth on Wednesday, August 9th. Harry played in the TOPS trumpet section when he was in his 90s so, of course, the band played. There was also a trumpet quintet that I played in, some small groups and some great jazz. Harry's former student, Reggie Pittman, set up the whole thing from his home in NEW JERSEY. Thanks, Reggie, for a great night honoring our friend.

Sunday, August 6th found the BW Alumni Brass Collective at Lakewood Episcopal Church of the Ascension for their morning service.

The annual Jazz Concert by the Strongsville City Jazz Big Band was held in the Senior Center on Friday, August 4th from 7:30-9 p.m.

Ehrnfelt Event Center in Strongsville hosted seniors picnic and the Strongsville Community Band for thir annual concert on Friday, July 28th from 7:30-9 p.m. Great concert.

The Cleveland TOPS Swingband played a concert on Thursday, July 27th from 6-8 p.m. at the Community Room of the Brecksville Rec. Center. Annual event? Hope so.

Rain again forced us inside for the Strongsville City Jazz annual Hudson Bandstand concert. This time we we were in Hudson High School on Sunday, July 23rd from 7-9 p.m. We look forward to this one every year.

The Strongsville Historical Society played host to the Strongsville Community Band for their annual Friday concert. The date was July 14th from 7:30-9 p.m.

An unusual back-to-back found the TOPS band at Berea United Methodist Church for an evening concert on Wednesday, July 12th from 7-8 p.m. Jim Bair, just back in town, was a sub in the sax section.

Jennings Center for Older Adults in Garfield Hts, hosted a concert by the Cleveland TOPS Swingband on Tuesday, July 11th from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Due to rain we were forced inside where the band sounded great.

A concert of patriotic music was given by the Strongsville Community Band on Friday, July 7th at the Gazebo.

Tuesday, July 4th found me in Gates Mills from 11 a.m until 3:00 p.m. with a dixieland band for Olive's birthday. Sitting in direct sun was no picnic but we got through it. Nice folks and little Olive was adorable.

The BW Alumni Brass Collective (Quintet) played for the morning church service at Christ United Church (formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian) in Olmsted Falls ffrom 10-11 a.m on Sunday, July 2nd. Kudos to David Betts for excellent hymn arrangements.

Friday, June 30th the Strongsville Community Band played a concert on the Commons from 7:30-9 p.m. They ran our of programs AGAIN.

ManorCare Health Care at Euclid Beach was the venue for a concert by the TOPS band on Wednesday, June 28th from 2-3 p.m. They always look forward to our visits.

"LIBERTY, a musical celebration of freedom" final performance (after 25 years) was presented at the Columbia Homecoming on Saturday, June 24th from 2-3 p.m. With Marcia conducting, I ran sound and played TAPS "live" during the military salute segment.

The Cleveland TOPS Swingband played an outdoor concert at tne Beachwood pool for the residents of the community on Tuesday, June 13th from 6:30-8 p.m. It was quite warm but we survived.

Friday, June 2nd, my jazz quintet billed as JW & Company entertained patrons of the Senior Art Show at the Ehrnfelt Senior Center in Strongsville. Joining me was Bob Gref on clarinet and sax, Doug Day on piano, Don Day on bass, and "Woody" Hartman on drums. Gigs like this are always fun because there is no pressure and the audience seems to really enjoy listening the the old songs.

Just one week later, the TOPS Band played a concert for the residents of A.M. McGregor Home in Cleveland Heights on Wednesday, May 31st from 7-8 p.m.

Wednesday, May 24th found the Cleveland TOPS Swingband at Public Hall in Cleveland for the annual City of Cleveland Senior Day. The 10-11 a.m. performance kicks off the festivities for a day of senior activities designed to improve the quality of life of Cleveland's senior residents.

The Strongsville Community Band Spring Concert was Sunday, May 21st. The theme was "Music of the Circus." The audience sat in the round and performers included the the Strongsville Jump Rope Team, unicycle riders, and jugglers from the St. Ingnatius High School Juggling Club. Announcer, Jon Marshall, even wore a Ringmaster's costume. It was pointed out that at exactly 3:00 p.m. (the start of our concert), Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus was beginning their final performances as the iconic circus was "folding its tent" after 146 YEARS. We certainly got our fill of marches.

Tuesday, May 9th, the Cleveland TOPS Swingband played an intergenerational concert at Brecksville-Broadview Hts. High School. The program began with the BBH Middle School Jazz Band and ended with selected players joining the TOPS musicians on a few selections. The concert ended with both bands combining to perform God Bless America. The concert was well attended and the kids were very impressive. Both bands had a good time.

The next appearance was with the Baldwin Wallace Alumni Brass Collective (Quintet) on Sunday, May 7th. (I skipped the TOPS Brown Bag concert on April 26th as it had only been six days since I had the pacemaker implanted. The Arts in Strongsville Foundation sponsors a Fine Arts Concert Series at the United Church of Christ. We split the concert with the Venner Clarinet Choir and I made it through the half-hour program. Selections were:

Die Bankelsangerlieder..............................................................................Anonymous (c. 1684)

III Allegro: The Rejoicing...............................................................from "Royal Fireworks Music"
G. F. Handel (1685 - 1759) arr. by Chuck Seipp

Contrapunctus V ..............................................................................from "The Art of the Fugue" 
J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750) arr. by Arthur Frackenpohl 

Were You There? ..................................................................................from "Resurrection Brass"    
                African-American Spiritual arr. by Charles Evans

The Saints' Hallelujah......................................................arr. by Luther Henderson (1919 - 2003)

That's A Plenty from "Early Jazz Classics"............... Williams & Creamer arr. by Luther Henderson

Amazing Grace........................................John Newton (1725 - 1807) arr. by Luther Henderson 

Teddy Trombone.............................................................................Henry Fillmore (1881 - 1956) 

On Good Friday, April 14th, Columbia United Methodist Church presented the 16th performance of Joseph Martin's "Song of the Shadows." Jim Heinrich was brought in to do sound and I was able to sing in the bass section. This Tenebrae Cantata explores how shadows affected Jesus during his last week on earth. There was an expanded choir of 34, a 19-piece chamber orchestra, two narrators, and four soloists. Marcia conducted and I helped Jim with the sound check. It was a memorable night for a nearly-full church.

Thursday, April 6th I drove across town to the Croatian Lodge Hall in Eastlake for a 9:30 a.m. rehearsal with the rhythm section of the Atlantic City Boys. Despite their name, they are based in Orlando, Florida and travel around the country recreating hit songs of the Beach Boys, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and Doo-Wop groups of the 60s. The rehearsal was fine, the 1:30 show went well, was very well attended, and we had a nice dinner at 4:00. After a break, the 8:00 show began without incident. Midway through the show I nearly fainted and was helped off stage by the sound engineers. What a time for my slow heartbeat to show symptoms! After a rather bumpy ambulance ride to Lake West Hospital in Willoughby, I spent two nights there being poked, prodded, tested, and questioned. I was released on Saturday afternoon and after consulting with MY electrophysiologist (cardiologist), we decided on a pacemaker which had been "waiting in the wings" for two years until I had symptoms. That surgery will take place Thursday afternoon, April 20th. He told me I can resume playing trumpet the following week. Really!?

Wednesday, March 22nd found the Cleveland TOPS Swingband at The Altenheim for a 2:30 concert. It has been several years since we played there, perhaps we'll be asked back. Everyone (staff included) really enjoyed the show. There was even some DANCING!

The Strongsville Community Band Winter Concert was performed on Sunday, February 26 at 3:00 p.m. at the Ehrnfelt Senior Center. A near capacity crowd enjoyed another excellent performance with a guest appearance by vocalist Cindy Smith and the debut of newly appointed Assistant Conductor, Brian Maskow. Brian is a Strongsville resident and is a retired Lakewood High School Band Director as well as an accomplished clarinet and saxophone player.

My first performance of 2017 was the DEBUT of my LITTLE BIG BAND at Strongsville United Church of Christ on Sunday, January 22nd. Ken Mehalko initiated a Fine Arts Concert Series on selected Sunday afternoons in 2016 and we wer the first to perform in 2017. My NEW Little Big Band performed at 3:00 and played the second half of the concert. Mary Beth Ions' Music From Bach To Broadway solo violin show entertained the full house for the first half and was fantastic. Check the Little Big Band page for more info including video clips from the concert.

Check back soon for more updates. Thanks for visiting my site.

Jim