‘Cool at the Lake’ Status–5 Weeks Out

Our Bjorklunden (Baileys Harbor, WI) camp enrollment is looking as good as that beautiful lake that beckons us to its shore every summer.

The big-band mix is good, but believe it or not, we could use more sax players–a highly unusual situation. Our current roster is okay, but a couple more sax players–especially one who doubles on bari–would really round things out. We also have room for a couple more trombones, drummers, and maybe one more bass player. Vocalist spots have been closed for months.

Otherwise, we’re ready for another outstanding week on Lake Michigan, starting five weeks from this Sunday!

Jazz at Naz Update–27 Days Out

Once again, we can’t believe our good fortune. At every camp, miraculously, the instrumentation for a really solid Tritone big-band seems to materialize out of nowhere.

This year is no exception. The once-puny trumpet section has filled out beautifully and other sections are perfectly balanced. We could use one or two more trombones, but even without, we’re ready for another very cool big-band experience.

Small combos look great, too–plenty of rhythm players at each experience level, and a nice variety of front-line instruments, including a violin and an (gasp!) accordion. We even have two vibes players this year.

And the most exciting recent news is that three full-time vocalists have signed up, and three of our instrumentalists are also interested in doing vocal jazz part-time. Janet Planet will be circling in orbit as usual.

There’s still time to sign up if you’re interested, but there’s no time to waste. Jazz at Naz starts three weeks from Sunday!