The Greece Jazz Band is a 20 piece Big Band that started in 1997 as a new performing group in the Greece Performing Arts Society, one of the oldest community arts groups in the United States. The band is made up of volunteer musicians with diverse careers from music teachers to engineers. All ages from students to retirees are represented. They are united by their common love of performing big band jazz for enthusiastic audiences. In a typical year, they play 20-30 performances all around the greater Rochester, New York area.
The band has played many venues. In addition to formal auditorium concerts, where they play more serious and challenging jazz charts, they also hold dances and play for corporate and charity functions, adult living and care facilities, school music outreach concerts, holiday mall concerts, and festivals. The bandŐs festival experience includes Corn Hill Arts Festival, Spencerport Canal Days, Greece Summerfest, Wegmans Concerts by the Shore, Maplewood Rose Festival, Canandaigua Arts Festival, Eastman House 150th Birthday Celebration, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Monroe County Fair and others. The band has also performed at the Montage Grille and at Community sponsored concerts in Greece, Irondequoit, Perinton, Brighton, Victor, and Honeoye. Click on the link below to see our Performance History and our Upcoming Schedule. Also check out the Photo Gallery to see us at some past performances. Click on the "contact us" link below if you would like to book the Greece Jazz Band.
Performance History and Photo Gallery
Although swing is the most popular musical style for the Greece Jazz Band, they also play a significant number of Latin rhythms, Ballads, Rock and other types of music, all performed in Big Band style.
The Greece Jazz Band issued its first CD in December of 2001. To find out how to order a CD, click here. We are also seeking new players for the band, particularly on piano, guitar and trumpet. Email us if you have musical talent and want to have a great time playing some great jazz music!
Thomas W. Ellison is the director of the Greece Jazz Band. Tom is formerly the Director of Bands/Instrumental Music Instructor at Craig Hill Elementary Signature School of the Arts in the Greece Central School District, Rochester, New York having retired in June of 2007 after 34 years in public school education and after teaching music at virtually all levels (21 years at the High School level). A 1973 graduate of S.U.N.Y. at Fredonia, Mr. Ellison has done graduate work at S. U. N. Y. New Paltz, Crane School of Music/S.U.C. at Potsdam and the Eastman School of Music/University of Rochester. He is a N.Y.S.S.M.A. All State certified adjudicator in Woodwinds and Jazz and is active as a clinician in woodwind performance/doubling and jazz improvisation. He is currently the conductor/musical director of the Greece Performing Arts SocietyŐs Jazz Band. He enjoys the opportunity to guest conduct both jazz and concert bands at All County festivals, Area All State festivals as well as other performances throughout New York State. As a freelance woodwind artist, Mr. Ellison has been privileged to perform with Tony Bennet, Johnny Mathis, Henry Mancini, Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, Gladys Knight and The Pips and many other top name artists. He enjoys playing with just about every type of group from folk to big band jazz on the Rochester scene.
Mission
The mission of the Greece Jazz Band is to provide an opportunity for volunteer musicians of all ages and backgrounds in the greater Rochester area to perform, learn and experience contemporary jazz music, and to bring that music to the residents through performances in the community.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are regularly Monday Evenings, 7-9 pm, Arcadia
High School, Island Cottage Drive, Greece.
Volunteer Needs
The Greece Jazz Band is usually on the lookout for talented players who will fit into the band. We also need people to handle sound and lighting at our performances, as well as photographers, videographers, and people to assist us with publicity. Email us by clicking "Contact Us" below if you can help, or would like to audition for the band.