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The BALLYHOO FOXTROT ORCHESTRA recreates the jazz and popular music of the 1910s and 1920s, high-spirited decades during which Americans fought and won the first World War, cheered the heroic achievements of Babe Ruth and Charles Lindbergh, laughed at the crazy antics of the Keystone Cops and Charlie Chaplin, poured money into a rapidly inflating stock market, and openly flaunted Prohibition. The music of this period reflects the exuberance of the times. It is up-beat, catchy, clever, and always entertaining.
The Des Moines-based BALLYHOO FOXTROT ORCHESTRA features nine musicians, all of whom are active and accomplished performers of traditional jazz. The band's repertoire is an eclectic mix of foxtrots, Dixieland jazz, show tunes, blues, tangos, waltzes, cabaret, and patriotic songs. For more information about the band and its performances, visit the BFO web site at: www.ballyhoofoxtrot.com.
PERSONNEL
JOHN BENOIT- Leader/Arranger/trombone/piano: Dr. Benoit is a Professor of music at Simpson College where he teaches music theory and trombone. He also plays trombone with the Party Gras Classic Jazz Band, the House of Bricks Big Band, and the Festival Brass Quintet. John is originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana. He holds degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Texas at Austin and taught music theory at Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York, prior to moving to Iowa.
JIM BOVINETTE-trumpet: Dr. Bovinette is the director of the Jazz Ensemble Program and Professor of trumpet ay Iowa State University. As a symphony musician, jazz artist, and recitalist, he has toured and performed extensively throughout the Unites States and Europe. He performs regularly with the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids Symphonies, the Des Moines Civic Center Show Orchestra, and his own jazz quartet, "The Jazz Quartet of Ames". He is also currently involved with Diane Upton Hill and her latest CD Projects and tours.
DAN STEVENSON-clarinet/tenor sax: Dan graduated from Drake Univsersity with a degree in Music Education, and teaches clarinet privately in Des Moines. Dan has performed with numerous orchestras, combos, and big bands, including the Party Gras Classic Jazz Band, the East Village Quartet, the Downtowners, and the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra.
JAIME POULSEN- piano. Mr. Poulsen is an Instructor of music at Simpson College where he teaches piano and ear-training. He is also a free-lance composer. His music for commercials and corporate videos has won numerous awards. Two of his compositions for orchestra have been premiered by the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra.
BOB LOHRENZ-banjo: Bob is well known to traditional jazz fans throughout Iowa, and is no stranger to the Lakeside DixieFest. He founded, and for many years, led the popular Red Sneaker Jazz Band which performed several times in Clear Lake.
MICHAEL SHORT-tuba: Mike is a native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he played for the famous composer, Karl King. After earning music degrees at the University of Northern Iowa, he moved to Chicago to study with the world-famous tubist Arnold Jacobs and perform with some nationally know traditional jazz and ragtime groups. Currently, he is Senior Teaching Artist at Drake University and
Simpson College, and Principal Tuba in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, the Des Moines Metro Opera, and the Des Moines Symphony Brass Quintet.
KURT BOWERMASTER-drums: Kurt is the leader and drummer with Party Gras Classic Jazz Band (the official band for the Iowa Cubs) and is one of the busiest first-call musicians in Central Iowa. His achievements include planning and organizing the Good Times Jazz Festival in Des Moines and playing with the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans.
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