Como Portrait
Past Members
Rhythm Section
Saxes
Trombones
Trumpets
Members Only
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History
Our Founding Father
RCJO was started at Inver Hills Community College
in 1980
by Dr. Herminio Diaz.
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The group was founded by Dr. Herminio Diaz, music director. The idea was to give
talented, Twin Cities area musicians an opportunity to learn playing "Big
Band" jazz styles. The band recently changed its name from Inver Hills
Community College Jazz Band to RCJO, and is now self managed by its own members
as a non profit organization.
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RCJO focuses on playing a large variety of jazz tunes including Bassie,
Dorsey, Ellington, Foster, Miller, Nestico, and many, many more. RCJO plays
everything from hot, up-tempo charts, sensitively treated ballads, show tunes,
classic dance tunes and modern titles.
RCJO has performed around the Midwest. The Band has hosted several jazz
festivals as well as participated in jazz festivals hosted by the University of
Minnesota, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, and KBEM jazz radio (now known
as Jazz 88 FM - tune to 88.5 FM in the
Twin cities) .
Education has always been a goal of our group with joint concerts at High
Schools such as Henry Sibley, South Saint Paul, Woodbury, and Hastings.
Click
on photos for a larger version. |
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Sharing our music with other musicians has
been especially enjoyable with the Roseville Big Band, University of
Wisconsin - River Falls Jazz Band, and Hamline University Jazz Band, and
North Hennepin Community College Jazz Band. The Group has been a regular
at O'Gara's in St. Paul since 1994. (Note: The accompanying photo is of
the 1993 group at Como Lake pavilion.) |
Large Picture
with
caption
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Other places or events you might have heard this group at
include: the St. Paul Winter Carnival, Minneapolis Aquatennial River Boat
Concert, Como Park Pavilion, Lake Harriet Band Shell, Science Museum of
Minnesota, Edina's Edinborough Park / Centennial Lakes, the St Paul Public Works
Open House, and along the shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais.
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Click
on photos for a larger version. |
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This was taken in 1995 at a performance
at O'Gara's
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We were mentioned for
our 2006 appearance at
Twin Cities Winter Jazz Fest
on the
Twin Cities Jazz Society stage on
the Jazz Police web site.
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If
Music
Ennobles the soul - Then . . . Jazz will set your heart free!
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