Jazz Tuesdays

On Tuesday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. the MPL Core Jazz Band will hold its eighth concert of 2010 at the Massillon Senior Center, 39 Lincoln Way West. This popular free concert series, sponsored by the Massillon Public Library, is held on the fourth Tuesday of each month from January through October 2010.

Beginning at 7:00 p.m. there will be a concert of traditional Dixieland Jazz featuring trumpet, clarinet, trombone, fiddle, drums, bass, piano, ukulele, banjo and a vocalist.  The second half of the program, from 8:15 to 9:00, will be open to musicians, young and old, who want to jam with the band.  

The band consists of outstanding musicians gathered together by Library Board member James Chatterton, who plays drums with a similar band in Stow. Most of the musicians have years of experience playing traditional and swing music. The MPL Core Jazz Band’s leader and trumpet player is local optometrist, Tom Altland, who also plays with The Tired Tigers and the Clinton Community Band.  Trombonist Dave Bair, from New Philadelphia, plays gigs around the area and is a regular in several community bands.  Gary Krogh plays clarinet and entertains with small swing groups and at many retirement homes.  Jim Drain, with extensive experience in local blues, rock and country bands, is the group's pianist. Ron Benach, a former school band director and accomplished musician, usually plays banjo, but also joins in on bass and guitar from time to time.  George Dean, local music teacher and martial arts instructor, is the group's guitarist.  Former teacher, Eileen Freaze, sings vocals and plays the ukulele.   She has her own band and participates in many jam sessions and entertains at retirement homes.  The bass guitarist is Paul Matson, an alumnus of the Massillon Tiger Swing Band.

Two-hour free parking is available to the public in the parking deck behind the Senior Center building as well as on the street parking.  Handicap parking is also available in the area surrounding the building.  Patrons may enter the rear of the building from the parking deck. The Friends of the Massillon Public Library will provide free refreshments. For more information call the library 330.832.9831 ext. 311.