[Dixielandjazz] Talk Of The Town appears at BBJJ

[Julie Flemming]

Band From Green Bay Entertains
At Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee
 
      The “Talk Of The Town” band from Green Bay, WI will fill the Fox Lake Community Center with music and song when they appear from 11:00 AM  to 12:45 PM on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee.  This band is back by special request from the audience that experienced them at the 2011 Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee.  Comments were made like “Who was that Clarinet player you had”?  (It was Kevin Van Ess) “I sure hope you are going to have him back.  He was good!”
      The “Talk Of The Town” is one of the hottest Dixieland/Swing style jazz groups north of New Orleans.  The band consists of six pieces – clarinet/saxophone, trumpet, trombone, banjo, bass, piano and drums.  Currently they have two CDs available and will no doubt have them available in the Triangle Jazz CD store on site.
       Kevin Van Ess, the leader of the band, has played with Pete Fountain, Bob Hope, Marie Osmond, Bobby Vinton and others.  He is very talented and has the ability to make the audience come alive. He was personally asked by Pete Fountain to lead the 2011 Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans.
His talent on the Clarinet is legendary and so are his antics during a concert.  One has to come to see the show.  Members of the band are:
 
Don VandenHouten  -  Don has traveled extensively as a pianist, singer, composer and arranger.  He is a publisher of original music for films, TV and radio commercials, and industrial shows.  He moved back to the Green Bay area after playing in Chicago for 18 years in the famous loop.
 
Ken Petersen -  Ken is a trombonist and been a music teacher for 34 years in De Pere, WI.  Many people regard him as one of the best tailgate trombonists around.  He leads his own River City 6 Jazz Band. They can be found playing on Sundays at the Holiday Inn City Center in Green Bay during the summer.
 
Ike Smith –  Ike is the bass player who really keeps the beat.  Ike always has a smile on his face and one can tell he is having as good a time as the audience.
 
Neil Verboncouer -  Neil plays the Trumpet and Flugelhorn.  He is a member of the Habanero Jazz Band that plays in Menasha, WI.
 
Kurt Risch  -  Kurt is a drummer from DePere, WI.  He has been playing for 45 years and loves it.  He is part of the Jazz Packer Tailgaters Band and Daddy D. Productions, a fun loving Rock and Roll Band that often plays in Door County.