DECEMBER 3, 2023
“The Creole Jazz Kings”
Dating back to 1986, and combining the experience of 12 plus years of steady Wednesday-night gigs with a lineup of experienced players, The Creole Jazz Kings come to entertain and dazzle with their well-spiced joyful jazz served hot with a dash of blues. The group has performed at jazz festivals both here and abroad.
“We played an annual Mardi Gras tour in Mazatlán for ten years around Carnival time. We are very busy annually playing at many Central and Western California jazz societies, retirement homes, private parties, and corporate events.”
Material includes early jazz masterpieces from Armstrong, Morton and Ellington, along with New Orleans revival and New York pop tunes.
Every song, every solo, and every vocal comes from the heart.
The Current Lineup of musicians is:
Bob Sakoi – Trumpet
Brian Richardson – Trombone & Vocals
Bob Embry – Clarinet/Sax
Steve Leipelt – Banjo
Joe Runnels – Drums
Becky Sharp – Vocals / Trumpet
Bill Sharp – Bass
Keith Baltz – Tuba & Vocals, leader
NOVEMBER 5, 2023
“The Jam-a-Roo Jammers”
(Jams all Day)
“Jam-a-Roo Jammers” Day will be a day filled with
“Jammer” fun!
Come join us for great music and a fun-filled day!
Players will come from all over – including
Sacramento, Modesto, Stockton.
Don’t be shy… musicians are welcome at SJDJS!
Below are some photos of one of our past
Jam-a-Room Jammer Days – which was fun for all!
Join us!
OCTOBER 1, 2023
Stockton Garage Band
(led by Mike Esau)
Stockton’s “In the Mood” 10-piece dance band started performing locally in 1986. Many area musicians have performed with the band over the years.
Performing as many as 120 dances each year, throughout the 1990’s, included were the “Tea Dances” we played every second and fourth Sunday at the Stockton Elks Lodge189.
We are looking forward to that familiar stage October 1, 2023. The band library includes Swing, Latin, Ballad, and Waltz arrangements.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023
“The Jam-a-Roo Jammers”
(Jams all Day)
“Jam-a-Roo Jammers” Day will be a day filled with
“Jammer” fun!
Come join us for great music and a fun-filled day!
Players will come from all over – including
Sacramento, Modesto, Stockton.
Don’t be shy… musicians are welcome at SJDJS!
Below are some photos of one of our past
Jam-a-Room Jammer Days – which was fun for all!
Join us!
AUGUST 6, 2023
Bob Sakoi and Friends
L to R: Bob Sakoi, Shelley Denny, Bob Williams & Bill Dendle
Bob Sakoi and Friends is an acoustic musical combo that plays joyful, happy jazz music. This quartet comprises trumpet, trombone, banjo/guitar, and acoustic bass. Collectively, its members have more than a combined 200 years bringing the bouncy, happy music of New Orleans, the swing era, as well as the “Great American Songbook”. It’s hard not to tap your feet and smile when you hear these pros play.
Band Personnel:
Bob Sakoi (trumpet)
Bob Williams (trombone)
Bill Dendle (guitar/banjo)
Shelley Denny (bass)
To read more information about this band, and each band members’ bio, click or tap here.
JULY 2, 2023
“The Jam-a-Roo Jammers”
(Jams all Day)
With Special Appearance by
Déjà Vu Revisited
JUNE 4, 2023
The Fog City Stompers
The Fog City Stompers were established in 1985. In addition to the great old standards of the 1920s & 1930s, which include arrangements and transcriptions of the Bix Beiderbecke recordings, they offer original compositions and new arrangements performed in the traditional Dixieland jazz style. They play currently at various establishments, jazz clubs, and festivals around the San Francisco bay area, and at private affairs. Please come up and say hello to them.
MAY 7, 2023
Devil Mountain Jazz Band
DEVIL MOUNTAIN JAZZ BAND continues to develop their multi-style approach to preserving the popular music of the late 1800’s through the early 1930’s, and the west coast revival jazz of the 1940’s. The eight piece concert/festival band is best known for the two trumpet sounds of the Joe Oliver and Lu Watters bands and the orchestrated “hot dance” music of the late twenties. You’ll also hear DMJB perform ragtime, blues, “Dixieland” standards, gospel and novelty tunes, and an occasional duck-call by Pete Main, or assorted strange instrument solos by Pete, Glenn or Noel.
The band also recreates the New Orleans-derived hot jazz popularized by Armstrong, Hardin, Dodds, Ory, Morton, etc., in Chicago in the late twenties. At many jazz festivals, they present special historical concerts celebrating the music of these jazz greats and gospel concerts/sing-a-longs, and a special show, “From Ragtime to Jazz”.
Smaller versions of the band play frequently for occasions where this historic music is new to some folks, with the focus on providing a good time through this happy music. Civic concerts, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, church events, wine-tastings, restaurants, piano burnings, parades, are but a few of these events.
Larger versions of the band are available for big-band swing dances or festivals. This band is the JAMBALAYA SWING BAND, led by Ken Brock, comprised of players from the Devil Mountain JB plus members of Ken’s Jambalaya JB. They recreate the popular big band tunes of the 30s and 40s with 10 to 12 musicians.
Since 1982, Devil Mountain has performed at several hundred jazz festivals, scores of Jazz Society and civic concerts, fifteen jazz cruises, and have held down two monthly dance & concert series in the San Francisco East Bay area at the Pleasanton Hotel and FRIENDS OF JAZZ at the Veterans Hall in Walnut Creek, and now at the Danville Grange Hall.
Visit www.jazznut.com for more information.
APRIL 2, 2023
The Yosemite Jazz Band
The Yosemite Jazz Band is from the mountain community of Oakhurst, California, located just outside the south entrance to Yosemite National Park. It all began in October 1993 when Berl Howell, our fearless leader, approached several Oakhurst Community Concert Band musicians about forming a traditional jazz band and soon a new band was formed. Our first performance began in the summer of 1994 at the Oakhurst Pizza Factory, which as since become an annual tradition. The band quickly gained a loyal following and many gigs ensued.
We really have fun performing for dancers and listeners. Our resume’ includes performances for the Fresno Dixieland Society, Modesto Traditional Jazz Society, Monterey Hot Jazz Society, Sierra Traditional Jazz Club, Pismo Beach Basin Street Regulars, Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, and the Valley Jazz Club. This is the band’s second time performing for the San Joaquin Dixieland Jazz Society and we really look forward to making new friends.
For more information on The Yosemite Jazz Band
visit their website
MARCH 5, 2023
John & Kristy Reed Cocuzzi
Kristy Reed Cocuzzi has a sultry voice that has thrilled audiences all over for 30 years, and was featured on vocals, sax and clarinet with Big Tiny Little for almost 10 years. She has toured as lead alto, clarinet, & vocalist with the “Live Lawrence Welk Show” throughout the United States and Canada, and as a member of the “Champagne Music Makers” at the Welk Resort in Branson, Missouri. She is also part of the Wunnerful Women of Welk vocal quartet, alongside MaryLou Metzger, Ava Barber, and Gail Farrell. She has performed on cruise lines, worked with the Temptations, Franki Valli, the Russ Morgan Orchestra, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Cab Callaway orchestra, the Drifters, and has appeared alongside great musicians including Dave Bennett, Arthur Duncan, Sandor Benko, Jack Imel, Mike Vax, and Anacani. She has worked the casino circuits in Reno, Carson City, Laughlin, and Las Vegas, and continues to keep a presence on the national jazz festival and jazz party circuit. Locally she is high in demand, with Sensible Sounds, the Cocuzzi Duo, Trio and “Courtet”, and various local artists.
John Cocuzzi plays with passion and intensity on piano, vibes, vocals and drums. For more than 35 years, John has been entertaining crowds internationally performing alongside jazz and blues greats. With dynamic style and diverse rhythms, John’s innovation breathes new life into familiar tunes, from swingin’ and burnin’ jazz and blues to lush and sultry ballads. An intuitive performer, John possesses that musical “fire in the belly,” igniting the crowd with skillful improvisation. In addition to being a fine pianist, John has earned a nationwide reputation as a premier swing vibraphonist.
Together, John and Kristy bring 60 combined years of youthful enthusiasm and experience to the table! They are both known for successful workshops with students, building knowledge of the jazz idiom and inspiration to all! Their focus is on the music and all it has to offer, and they communicate that passion to the next generation with skillful ease and success, especially with Kristy’s background in education! They work well with any combination – their versatility makes them unique to any situation. John can be utilized in any rhythm section capacity, and sings as well, and Kristy is known not only for her vocal prowess, but she also plays wonderful clarinet and sax, reads anything printed, and knows big band styles like no other. This is your all-purpose, go to, anything you could possibly need, sharing a room with no complaints, “how can we make that happen?”, professionalism first duo! The Cocuzzi’s are what you have been waiting for.
FEBRUARY 5, 2023
“Mission Gold Jazz Band”
Mission Gold Jazz Band
Some history and name selection of the MGJB…
About the Mission Gold Jazz Band (MGJB) and where did name come from?
MGJB was established in 1980 for a church festival at Mission San Jose in Fremont, CA. Now that the Mission part of our name is established, where did the Gold part of the name come from? Above Mission San Jose are the Eastern hills of Fremont, of which at least 6 month of the year are Golden from the rye grass that dries with the local heat. The name Mission Gold has two meanings, one is our location, “the golden hills above Mission San Jose” and two, Our Mission is to play the Golden music of traditional West Coast Jazz.
MGJB is a two cornet, eight piece band of multi – talented musicians. Our music is inspired by the music of Turk Murphy, Louis Armstrong, Joe “King” Oliver, Lu Watters, Jelly Roll Morton and other composers and leaders of this Genre. We offer a variety of traditional styles, including Marches, Blues, Ragtime, Stomps, Gospel, Swing and standards. We’ve also been known to play a waltz (which were very common in New Orleans), Polka’s, Western and Latin tunes mainly as a 3rd set audience request. We encourage audience participation emphasizing Cakewalks (with the winner “Takes the Cake”), Parasol strutting and joining with the band in song. Our goal is to engage the listener and dancers to become part of this infectious music which leads to spirit, joy and a fun experience.
Biography:
Virginia Tichenor – Piano. Virginia has been part of the MGJB since January 2019. Since childhood, Virginia has been consumed with ragtime genre her entire life. The daughter of Trebor Tichenor, the noted ragtime scholar, pianist, collector and founder of the St. Louis Ragtimers. Virginia studied music at the St. Louis Community Association of Arts and took advanced training from concert pianist, John Phillips. You can find Virginia throughout the bay area performing with Earl Sheeler’s Zenith Jazz Band, various GIG’s in San Francisco and with Devil Mountain Jazz Band.
Joyce Taylor – Banjo. Joyce is the co -leader of Silicon Gulch Jazz Band. Silicon Gulch has been performing at the Prince of Wales Pub in San Mateo for twenty five years plus. Her leadership has kept this band active for many musicians over the years as they continue to jam on every Tuesday evening. Joyce is the leader of the South Bay Jammers who meets on the fourth Sunday of the month. Joyce is a strong banjo player and her vocals are always kickers … for example, “Mama Goes Where Papa Goes Or Papa Doesn’t Go At All”.
Bob Sterling – Tuba. Bob joined the Band in 1982. Bob is the band Director a John F. Kennedy High School in Fremont. He fits his busy music schedule to play jazz and keeps his sanity with Mission Gold. In 1982, Bob and I were teaching together at JFK and Mission Gold needed a tuba player, Bob obliged and he’s been a member ever since.
Andy Parker – Drums. Andy has played with our band for many years. He is the drummer on our last two CD’s. Andy toured with rock bands in his early years and then settled with Traditional Jazz. Howard Simpson (who was the Harmony cornet player for Mission Gold for many year) introduced Andy to the band in 1996, when we were in need for a drummer. As the story goes, I believe Howard met Andy while playing at Scarlet La Rues. Andy provides a solid beat with texture and imagination that encourages the rest of the section to to hear the same. His son, Timmy, has also followed his lead as an up-and- coming reed player!
Front line
Noel Weidkamp – Cornet and an assortment of other wind instruments. Noel joined the band in 2018. Noel started developing his talents on the cornet at the early age of nine. He was inspired by his band leading father and further developed his skill on the horn. At age 12, Noel performed with his brothers’ Band. He has been the lead cornet player for the Devil Mountain Jazz Band since the turn of the century (2000). Also, he frequently joins us with the Oakland A’s Dixie 5, which is an extension of the MGJB. Noel took over for Dick Williams after his horrific head on auto collision. Dick and Kathy are doing better and have moved to the Sierra Foothills.
Mack Horton – Mack plays a nice cornet line, has a polished clean tone and fits well with Noels’ lead horn. Both cornets share the lead roll as they play off each other and continue to create their own style. Mack has performed with other bay-area bands and is always well received. I need to also mention two other musicians who have helped with the Harmony Cornet chair when Mack was unable to play for MGJB.
Chris Bradley has been a real pleasure to work with the band over the last year. He is the leader of the, you guessed it, the Chris Bradley Jazz Band and also has a long standing gig in Livermore. Thomas Banuelos is the leader of the youth band “Dixie Dominus” of Fremont Christian High School. When his schedule allows, he brings a hot horn (Dick Williams old horn) to the band and many new ideas. I want to thank both of these fellows for being so easy to work with in a band setting.
Roberto Alfaro – Reeds of all kinds and different shapes. Robert joined the band in 2019 taking over for Ray Buhler. He is a multi – talented woodwind player (you can add trumpet to that list), who specialized as a Bassoon Performance graduate from Cal State University East Bay (CSUEB) in Hayward. While in college, he performed with the CSUEB Symphonic Orchestra and the University’s Trad ensemble Section 7 Jazz Band. The Section 7 notated and described the class for small jazz ensemble. He also performed with the Temple Hill Orchestra, Johnny Bones and the Place of Jazz. You may catch him as a frequent player for the MG A’s band at the Oakland Coliseum on game days!
John Soulis – Trombone, Euphonium, Leader and vocals when they let me sing. I think music is part of my DNA, my uncle played trumpet in many bands in the Bay Area during the dime – a -dance era, most notably the Del Courtney Dance Band. Every member of our family played an instrument …Dad – Drums, Mom- Piano, Brothers- Trumpet and Clarinet. My initial training on the Trombone was at Parker Elementary School, East Oakland, under the direction of Mr. John Duraisch. I was told because I had “long arms”, Trombone would be my instrument … it took about three more years to reach 7th position! My brother, Ron would bring home 78 rpm records with the funny titles of Firehouse 5 Plus 2, a fellow named Turk Murphy (when I latter learned he played football in High School, I took an immediate interest in our commonality) and Lu Watters. Now, I was probably 10 years old at this time, with maybe 2 years of learning how to play the bone, when we listened to this music … I was hooked on their ability, the close harmony, the over -all sound and the freedom / happiness of their presentation. I also learn from the recordings (and readings) of the New Orleans originals of Louis Armstrong, Joe Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton, all of which are part of the MGJB library.
So long for now and let the good times roll!
JANUARY 1, 2023
“The Jam-a-Roo Jammers”
Jams all Day
We have decided to cancel our January 1st Stockton Dixieland
Jazz Society session because of the flooding. Many of the roads to and
from the Stockton and Sacramento areas are closed or impacted with
debris or road-working crews, and more rain could be coming later.
Out of an abundance of caution this session is canceled.
We will try to find an alternate date sometime during the month
of January if possible.
In the meantime, be well and
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
-Dick Lockwood
President
