Denver & the Mile High Orchestra

SMU Alumni Band 

Woods Chapel Church Jazz Band

The Joshua Experience

Metro Praise Orchestra

Dallas Christian Jazz Band 

Abilene Christian University Jazz Ensemble 

Crosswinds Jazz Band

Foo McBubba

Lovers Lane Jazz Band

Lovers Lane Dixieland Band

Denver & The Mile High Orchestra
7:30 pm
www.denvermho.com

There’s a long stretch of highway between commercial success and audience impact. For some artists, “making it in the music industry” is the ultimate pursuit. But for artists like Denver & The Mile High Orchestra, the goal has never been “to arrive,” but rather being ”good to go” wherever the road leads. 

“In an age when new bands come and go with the wind,” bandleader Denver Bierman says, “the only way you can explain that a Christian ‘big band’ is still going strong after five years is that God must be up to something.  So our job is just to keep moving forward and make sure He gets all the glory.” 

Formed by a group of friends at Nashville’s Belmont University in 1999, this exceptional group of musicians is comprised of three trumpet players, three saxophone players, two trombone players and a rhythm section.  In the five years since their inception, the group has traveled around the globe, performing at churches, conferences, festivals—even at the Olympics—taking their electrifying horn-driven sound to the masses.  The big band sound of the 30’s and 40’s had long intrigued Denver, who had played the trumpet for 16 years, so he assembled a group of musicians—friends to reinvent the style for the modern age. “I grew up listening to hip-hop, rock and pop, to all those genres,” says Denver, who is also the group’s lead vocalist and music arranger. “So I wanted to take the best of today and the best of yesterday and mix ‘em up.” 

Good To Go, Denver & The Mile High Orchestra’s third and most diverse project to date, is a virtual deluge of sound. You’ll hear a fusion of swing, jazz, pop, R&B, and funk that all add up to an undeniable excitement and energy that can only be fully experienced live. “There’s just something about our sound and style that puts a smile on your face,” Denver says. “There’s a joy in it that reaches across demographics. We simply draw on all our musical influences to make it more contemporary, fresh and musically relevant. And when we play live, there’s so much energy when the horns are blaring in the aisles and people of all ages are clapping. We’re all in it together, and people really need that.”  

The high entertainment factor is a given with D&MHO’s live events, but the band’s top priority is their message. With a strong emphasis on finding purpose and meaning in Christ, Good To Go takes a worshipful turn, encouraging listeners to respond to the calling and gifts God has given to leave a legacy of honor to Him. “When people are entertained, they are able to let their guard down, to let go of their preconceived notions about Christianity,” Denver continues. “And that’s when God speaks to them about what’s really at the heart of their lives. All we try to do is create a warm and inviting environment that makes it easier for people to respond to Him.” 

If audience response and impact is the ultimate litmus test of success among Christian artists, this is one band that’s having more than their share. “Some people have told me, ‘Man, this cannot work. This will never fly in the industry. You’re crazy. Go home.’ But nothing could be further from what our audiences are saying,” Denver says.  

“People who have gone to church for 30 years have told me that, for the first time, they can see a greater purpose for their lives. I’ve had people who normally don’t go to church or listen to Christian music come to our concert and say, ‘Hey, I love what you’re doing here. I’ll be thinking about what you said.’  God has taken the music and done something with it that’s bigger than any plan I could’ve had for us. That’s all the motivation and all the success I need.”

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The Alums play Texas-type jazz- big and rich, with all the subtlety of a brick through a plate-glass window. And make no mistake: this is NOT a college band organization trying to play a few jazz tunes as a novelty. This is a genuine jazz band in every sense of the word. If, like many jazz fans, you are weary of straining to catch obscure passages from sunken-chested musicians through dim lights and incessant chatter, you’ll find the Mustang approach a welcome relief. 

The Alumni Band features some of the greatest tunes of jazz and sacred music, whether strolling down the boulevard or neatly parked on the concert stage. Yes, the tradition of Mustang Jazz- swinging out in that solid, jaunty style- is always exciting and refreshing when they ‘Strike-up the Band!’

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The Woods Chapel Church Jazz Band has been together for a little over 2 years but has only recently started traveling as a musical ministry.  21 members strong, the band plays a mix of instrumental and vocal arrangements by arrangers such as Chris McDonald, Camp Kirkland, and Denver Bierman.  Our mission is to connect people to Jesus Christ by worshiping Him though the sound of big band music.

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The Joshua Experience (Irving, TX)
12:30 pm
www.thejoshuaexperience.org 

Christians from all over the Metroplex and from all faiths are excited about the new anointing on this 23 piece orchestra and 16 professional singers that are ministering the love of God in more than magnificent music more than praise and more than preaching the Word. It’s an experience.and it’s called The Joshua Experience. The Joshua band, like the name, is “tearing down walls and building bridges.” They are celebrating Jesus and bringing in God’s glory. They are delivering the Word to build faith and unify the body of Christ.they are ministering the love of God that flows from the heart of Jesus.

The Joshua Experience is made up of lay people from all denominations that have experienced a heart-felt call to lead people to Christ, to pray for the sick and to demonstrate God’s help for the hurting. Big band Gospel is unique, and ministers Jesus in a way that can’t be created merely by charts and musicians, it is the Holy Spirit’s anointing! Larry Randall, internationally known as “The Sax Man,” left the exciting world of entertainment for Jesus. God spoke to Larry’s heart on a cruise ship in the Indian Ocean, inspiring him to use his musical gifts for a higher purpose. Thus began the creation of a new sound of worship The Joshua Experience. Larry Randall, as band’s director, selects music that speaks directly to the heart. The group is also involved in supporting and partnering with International ministries around the world.

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Metro Praise Orchestra (Keller, TX)
1:15 pm
http://metropraise.com 

The Metro Praise Orchestra (MPO) is a 20-piece jazz ensemble of Christian musicians.  Players from churches across Dallas-Fort Worth gather to play gospel and patriotic music laced with the jazz and rhythmic sounds of Glenn Miller, Count Basie and other greats of jazz and swing.

The MPO is committed to ministry of the gospel – and each member is active in his home church.  The band carries out its evangelical mission through worship services, outreach specials and prison ministry.

The MPO has also played Concerts in the Park, community festivals and fundraisers for non-profit service organizations.  And while the MPO mission focuses on ministry and community service, the band does some things just for fun:  The men entertained literally thousands as the opening act on the main stage at the Euless Arbor Daze Festival in 2001, 2002 and 2003.  The band has ‘hired out’ for secular events and subcontracted small ensembles such as the MPO Dixieland Band and the MPO Brass Quintet for other civic functions and private parties.

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Dallas Christian Jazz Band
2:00 pm
www.dcjb.com

Founded in 1994, the DCJB is made up of saxophones, trombones, trumpets and a rhythm section. The group's members, led by Music Director David Kelley, are dedicated musicians of all ages, backgrounds and church affiliations.

The DCJB features dynamic arrangements of familiar hymns, spirituals and other Christian music. Christmas music is played each year during the holiday season.

To date, the band has recorded three compact discs. He's Everything To Me (1998) and Sermonette (2004) highlight the band's Christian music, while Christmas with the Dallas Christian Jazz Band (1999) features both sacred and secular holiday favorites. The group's recordings have been heard on local radio and are available at all DCJB appearances as well as through our web site, www.dcjb.com.

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Crosswinds Jazz Band was formed in October of 2000, with a  single donation and a dream. Crosswinds started as a group of Christians seeking a way to share our God-given talents with the world, and spread The Word through our music. We started with a small library of both Christian and secular big band favorites. We have been able to take a Christian approach to all of our performances, whether they are in a secular setting, or a Faith based venue. 

In addition to playing for Christian events, Crosswinds has played in correctional facilities, provided entertainment for political and corporate events, and performed for military dignitaries, enabling us to take our message to many different venues in which God places us. While Crosswinds has at times focused on the secular side of the Big band genre, we firmly believe that each of our performances, regardless of the venue, has the potential to lead people to Christ. 

Crosswinds is comprised of computer  programmers, engineers, salesmen, financial advisors, businessmen, band directors and HS students, with a very diverse range in ages, from teens to retirees. Our goal is to give younger players a chance to play in a performing big band, and to learn from some of the older players. 

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Foo McBubba is a motley crew of former & current University of North Texas Lab Band members, retired airline pilots, motorcycle salesmen and real estate mogul wannabes.  Foo McBubba plays for area non-profit galas and occasional church services.

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Lovers Lane Jazz Band (Dallas)
5:00 pm
www.llumc.org/mm/mmjb.shtml 

The Lovers Lane Jazz Band is a ministry of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church (LLUMC) whose mission is to glorify and spread the Word of God through its music in worship and concerts, at LLUMC and at other churches and charity events.  It is a volunteer organization whose members are dedicated to this mission and constantly seek to give God the best of their musical talents to better praise and worship God as representatives of LLUMC. 

The Lovers Lane Jazz Band is a dynamic group of musicians from all walks of life who absolutely love to play - and it shows! We're celebrating our 15th year, and would love to entertain you as we share our gift of music for God's glory. If you love Big Band jazz, then get ready to hear a mixture of gospel and secular music presented in a rather unique format...you're likely to hear some old favorites in a brand new way. 

The Lovers Lane Jazz Band began in 1992 when Terry Price put an ad in the church bulletin asking for musicians to form a "Big Band."  It seems that Terry had promised the Bishop that he would have a band for the Annual Conference in June!  The responses poured in, and before long a complete Big Band (a very big one) was formed and rehearsals began. The early stages of the band brought a new meaning to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord."  The Jazz Band plays for worship services at Lovers Lane UMC several times a year and for special services in other churches throughout the area.  They have played for charity benefits and campaign kickoffs, the United Methodist General Conference in Denver, the maximum security prison in Palestine, TX, and even several venues in both Moscow and Volgograd, Russia (by far the most memorable).  They also have two recordings to their credit: "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "Son Rise." 

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The Lovers Lane Dixieland Band is a further extension of the jazz ministry of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church (LLUMC) and performs traditional Dixieland music for various events at the church including occasional worship services. 

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