New Reformation Jazz Band

Classic Jazz. Hot Jazz. Blues. Big Band. Swing.

  • Home
  • Characters Since ’70
  • Recordings Since ’70
  • Appearances since ’70
  • Gigs
  • NRB Jazz Store
  • Legacy
  • Images
  • About NRB
    • History
    • NRB Appearances
    • Oppermann Brothers
      • Dave Oppermann
      • Nicholas (Nick) Oppermann
    • Current Members
      • Dave Bennett
      • Rick Bryant
      • Doug Cobb
      • Keith DeWitt
      • Bob Eastham
      • Craig Hodnett
      • Paul Klinger
      • Vince O’Keeffe
      • Anne Seabury
      • Jim Smith
      • Gary Sutton
    • Past Members
      • Bob “Hughie” King
      • C.W. Leeds III
      • Dave Miller
      • Flip Oakes
      • Dan Pliskow
      • Tom Saunders
      • Milt Sernick
      • Ray Skalski
      • Dave Tatrow
    • Guest Performers
      • Bobby Durham
      • Duke Heitger
      • Georgia Korba
      • Dick Maley
      • Brady McKay
      • Claire McKenna
      • Laurie K. Seaman-Lewis
      • Bria Skonberg
      • Jim Snyder
    • In Memoriam
      • Nicholas Opperman
      • Charlie Hooks
      • Nate Panicacci
  • Contact
    • Book NRB

NRB is 50! Holey Moley!

January 1, 2020 by David Oppermann Leave a Comment

Important Announcement.

(Cue the fanfare, please.)

2020 won’t be like anything you’ve enjoyed with NRB in the past 50 Years!

NRB's Cast of Characters in B & W Band photos. We’ve got millions, and we want to share.

Understand what you’re getting yourself into in 2020.

The New Reformation Band (NRB) jazz repertoire encompasses Dixieland, ragtime, blues, big band, and swing… the hot music that lifts spirits. It delivers beautiful harmonics reinforced by a beat that sets toes tapping. It’s true. It’s been unscientifically proven. (We watch the crowds at each live gig. As we play, toes are bouncing all over the place.)

NRB was formed in 1970 during a cold Michigan winter. Seven musicians gathered in the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church in Saginaw in a shocking yet highly successful effort to enhance the service with jazz. All of the musicians had played “jazz” before, just not in church, and not with each other. With the exception of the Brothers Oppermann — on piano and banjo — most were shaking hands for the first time.

This was not to be a daunting task. The tunes selected were from the hymnal, and so recognizable even those slackers who rarely attended a service knew them.

The chief instigator was the church’s youth minister, Pastor Gary Miller. During his Saturday night vigils in this industrial community, the “Rev” would visit the bars… especially those with music… with the admirable goal of offering counsel and support to “lost souls.” But he always had his trumpet under his arm in case there was a chance to sit in.

50 years later the NRB is still having a great time performing, and people keep calling to schedule gigs. 2020 is our 50th year. This site is becoming the home of our history.

Filed Under: Album, Jazz, Spirituals Tagged With: Banjo, Dixieland Jaxx, Jazz, Jazz in the Garden, New Reformation Jazz Band, spirituals, Trad Jazz, Trombone, Trumpet

“Dave, Thank you So much.

July 19, 2019 by David Oppermann 1 Comment

“Dave, Thank you so much. The NRB concert at Andersen Enrichment Center in Saginaw was superb, as usual. And thank you for the CD. It completes my NRB ‘collection.’ Watching you folks on stage having as much fun playing as we have listening reminds us why yours is the ‘Happiest Music on Earth!’ — Tris

https://youtu.be/B3lM4KV2OQw

Folks, yes, we’re bragging a bit posting this. But when people come up after our to have us autograph a CD, we hear comments such as this often. Since 1970, we assure you they still put a bounce in our step.

CAST OF ALL-STARS AT ANDERSEN

Trumpet, Dave Tatrow, Otisville

Trombone, Terry Kimura, Howell MI

Clarinet, Dave Bennett, Waterford

Tuba, Paul Keen, Rockford

Banjo/Guitar, Dave Kadwell, Grand Rapids

Drums, Rick Bryant

Piano, Dave Oppermann, Saginaw

If you were there but didn’t have enough room in your trunk for all of our CDs and DVDs, you can still acquire them. Feel free to order online HERE, and we’ll ship them right out. (note: we offer a flat fee of $3 for shipping, no matter how many your order at one time.) Only at NRB.

Filed Under: Album, Jazz, Spirituals Tagged With: Andersen Enrichment Center, Banjo, Clarinet, Classic Jazz, Dave Bennett, Dave Kadwell, Dave Oppermann, Dave Tatrow, Dixieland, Drums, entertainment, Flushing, Free concert, frivolity, fun, Grand Rapids, Guitar, Happiest Music on Earth, humor, John Hill IV, Keith DeWitt, music, New Reformation Band, New Reformation Jazz Band, NRB, Otisville, Patter, Paul Keen, Piano, Pure Michigan, Rockford, Saginaw, Swartz Creek, Trad Jazz, Trombone, Trumpet, tuba, vocals, Waterford

Best Jazz Photo. Ever.

August 12, 2016 by Pat Murphy Leave a Comment

We came across a video that highlights the ‘back story’ of how the best photograph in classic jazz history was conceived and created. Shot in 1958, the image features most of the best jazz performers of the era. Eve Perry, a Facebook friend of our marketing person, reposted it. Thank you, Eve.

CREDITS

  • udiscovermusic.com posted the original article from which we gleaned this information (Link to its site is below)
  • Art Kane took the photo
  • Jean Bach, a radio producer of New York, recounted the story behind it in her 1994 documentary film, ‘A Great Day in Harlem’
  • The film was nominated in 1995 for an Academy Award for Documentary Feature

NOTES

  • the NRB is NOT in the photo so no need to search for us
  • Invest 9 minutes and 55 seconds. Priceless. (You’ll have to watch on youtube.)
  • Check below for your reward, a priceless track by NRB. (we like the longer word versus just saying it’s ‘free.’)

YOUR BEST REWARD

A priceless link to some of the happiest music on earth by the NRB:

#1 – Million Seller CD

http://www.udiscovermusic.com/amazing-photograph-jazz-history

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: "A Great Day in Harlem, 1958, 1994, 1995, Academy Award, American music, Art Blakely, Art Farmer, Art Kane, back story, Banjo, Benny Golson, Bill Crump, Brooklyn, Buck Clayton, Bud Freeman, Buster Bailey, Charles Mingus, Chubby Jackson, Coleman Hawkins, Count Basie, Dave Murphy, Dave Oppermann, Dickie Wells, Dixieland, Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Locke, Emmett Berry, entertainment, Ernie Wilkins, Esquire Magazine, Eve Perry, Facebook, free, Gene Krupa, George Wettling, Gerry Mulligan, Gigi Gryce, Hank Jones, Harlem, Harlem 58, Hilton Jefferson, Horace Silver, humor, J.C. Heard, Jay C. Higgonbotham, jazz history, Jean Bach, Jimmy Jones, Jimmy Rushing, Jo Jones, Joe Thomas, Johnny Griffin, Lawrence Brown, Lester Young, Luckey Roberts, Marian McPartland, Mary Lou Williams, Max Kaminsky, Maxine Sullivan, Miff Molo, Milt Hinton, Most famous jazz photograph ever, musicians, New Orleans, New Reformation Band, New Reformation Jazz Band, New York, NRB, Oscar Pettiford, Osie Johnson, Pee Wee Russell, Red Allen, Rex Stewart, Roy Eldridge, Rudy Powell, Sahib Shihab, Scoville Browne, Sonny Greer, Sonny Rollins, Stuff Smit, Taft Jordan, Thelonius Monk, Trumpet, Tyree Glenn, udiscovermusic.com, Vic Dickerson, Wilbur Ware, youtube, Zutty Singleton

Latest News

  • ENOUGH ABOUT US, LET’S HEAR WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT US.

Archived News

  • December 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2020
  • January 2020
  • July 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • December 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • February 2014

The New Reformation Jazz Band (NRB) • 989.793.0123 (24/7) • newrefband@charter.net

© Copyright 2020, The New Reformation Jazz Band - All Rights Reserved