Describe your band.

They’re great.

The band is great.

No, I’m serious.

They’re wonderful.

a wonderful band.

We’re made up of a wide variety of individuals from all walks of life, just like your neighbors, your dentists.

School teachers?

Those are the kind of people that we have in the band, and they play because they want to.

They play because their heart’s in it, and they love doing it.

All adult community members, and actually, we have people from All over the state, mostly local, Kalamazoo.

We have people that come over from the side of the state.

We even have a flute player that’s been coming down from Petoskey.

For rehearsals.

I mean, what an incredible dedication to, you know, drive that far every week to be a member of this band.

With all of your experience thus far, what’s this like to conduct a KCB?

Oh, wow, I’ve had many opportunities for sure.

You know what I like most about it is the fact that it is a true community ensemble.

Music by the community for the community.

Your history with KCB and the history of the band itself.

Well, I’m happy to say we are in our 65th season.

We’re about to begin our 65th season.

And I’ve been with the band, well, this upcoming season will be my 24th year with the band.

So we’ve been involved with the community for decades.

Sounds like a celebration for that number 25 for sure.

That’s what we’re doing.

We’re going to celebrate in April.

We are going to be celebrating our 65th anniversary.

How would you describe what you do today?

Well, I’m retired.

And that was after 33 years of teaching, school music.

I’ve been in KCB since 1985.

So this will be my 42nd year, I think it is.

22 or 23 years ago, I became the assistant conductor.

And over 100 performances under your belt, at least.

Well, I was thinking about this this morning, and we probably averaged six performances a year, four during our regular season and then two or three in the summer.

So over that time period.

I’ve been involved in easily over 160 concerts, either as a performer or a conductor.

Who’s your audience?

It’s just local people that enjoy band music and come to the concerts and... You know, one of our goals as an ensemble.

is to try and get as diverse an audience as we can.

and bring in even more people.

So, to try and do that, we’ve, like, moved our concerts up to make them more family friendly.

We program family friendly music, you know, that kids will enjoy, and that adults will enjoy.

So, yeah, we get a pretty varied audience.

Your Kalamazoo concert band involves free admission.

Why is that, and how can that be?

We like to consider ourselves as being family.

be friendly, and we are.

one of the things I think that is prohibitive for a family, a young family, say, who wants to expose their children to... concerts, if you will.

It’s always a price of admission.

And then sometimes it really is prohibitive.

A family of four going out to a concert, that’s a lot of money.

Concerts are free, parking is free.

And just bring the family and enjoy.

Great American songbook.

Take me back to this performance.

Oh, wow, it was a great performance.

It’s the 1st time that the Kalamazoo concert band has ever done a complete pops concert.

We’ve done pop tunes, but never a complete pops concert.

So this is our first time.

And I have to say, it was hugely, hugely successful.

And I wanted to do it because I thought it was the right thing to do.

The repertoire, the literature is rich, and it’s accessible to the audience, for sure.

It’s music that the people know.

So it seemed like a shoe, an easy theme to come up with.

Was this a big production for you?

Yes, it was.

It required the band to delve into a genre of music that... Maybe not everybody was accustomed to, because it was mostly big band jazz swing, and, you know, of course, a big band is generally trumpets, trombones, saxes, and a rhythm section.

But it came out great.

It was just an amazing concert.

It was different for us.

We’ve never done a concert that was completely a pops concert.

And you had a guest vocalist.

How do you work that into what you do?

Well, you know, we have guest artists all the time.

And Jennifer Roberts?

very fine singer.

She’s done a lot of work in New York.

But she came in and rehearsed with us.

a couple weeks, and then we put the concert on, and it was really cool.

We had a great time doing it.

There’s a somebody I’m longing to see.

I hope that he turns out to be someone to watch over me.

What’s the role of a conductor?

The role of the conductor is, obviously, to lead the band.

Music is done with different colors.

Every instrument.

has a different tambre, different color.

And the role of the conductor is to blend all of that.

Also to guide the musicians.

you know, on how to phrase things and how to shape things and how to make things as musical as we possibly can.

Provide instruction where needed, provide encouragement where needed.

I can’t think of anything I would have rather done with my life, ’cause I just enjoy it so much.

What’s the most exciting part for you?

Oh, but the most exciting part is... is seeing the audience’s response to the music by far.

That’s the whole point.

So that’s what I really enjoy.

Can you ever just sit back and let your concert band do its thing?

Those are the best moments.

When I can sit back and let the band... Drive on automatic.

That’s really the best.

When they don’t need me, I can sit back and enjoy the music that they’re making.

So I do cherish those moments.

I think when the band, when I do have to come back into the mix is when we encounter transitions.

But, you know, once a band is in the pocket, I get to sit back and enjoy Put on your psychological hat, music, and what it does for us at any age.

Oh, it heals the soul for sure.

That’s just, my, my mind is flooded because there’s so many reasons why music is, is, is so beneficial.

But certainly, it heals the soul.

It brings people together, too, which is always nice.

Music is just, um, it speaks to us.

How much does an audience matter, especially playing in an auditorium like that?

I mean, we feed off of their energy.

If they’re, you know, excited in accepting of what we’re trying to accomplish.

It just gets us even that much more, you know, energized and into the performance.

So, yeah.

What do your members get from this experience?

You know, our band members actually pay dues to be a member of the band.

So it’s not something that they do lightly.

And I would say for the majority of our band members, probably all of them, It’s just the joy of performing, and the joy of playing music for an audience.

When you think about it, you know, music is, to me, if through my playing or my conducting, if we can have an effect... emotionally on our audience, that’s everything.

We get standing ovations almost every concert, and it’s so exciting, you know, and for a conductor, you know, like our holiday concerts, we’ll have 2,000, 2,500 people.

And to step out on that stage and see all those people out there.

It’s pretty exciting.

It also makes you nervous.

But it’s a great time.

How important does what you do matter to your Kalamazoo community?

Oh, I think what we do is critical to the vibrancy of Kalamazoo.

Like I said earlier.

We make music for the community.

We are community musicians who make music for the community.

Without further ado, please give a warm Kalamazoo welcome to Jennifer Roberts.

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing Do I, do I, do I, do I, do I, do I, do I, do?

You don’t mean a thing All you gotta do is swing Do I, do I, do I, do I, do I, do I, do I, do I?

It makes no difference if it’s sweet or hot.

You’re giving them everything you’ve got.

You don’t mean a thing.

If it ain’t got that swing Do I do what, do I, do I, do what, do I, do I It makes no difference if it’s sweet or hot.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, everything you’ve got.

Don’t mean a thing If it ain’t got that swing Do I do my do do I, do, do I do Do I do do, do I, do what, do I, do Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do.

Ooh, thank you.

So very nice.

You guys sound amazing.

There’s no sun up in the sky Stormy weather Since my man and I ain’t together Keeps raining all the time Life is bad.

Gloom and misery everywhere, stormy weather.

Just can’t get my poor self together.

I’m weary all the time The time So weary all the time When he went away.

The blues walked in and backed me.

If he stays away, all rock and chair Will get me.

All I do is pray The Lord above the lightly, warm in the sun once more.

Can’t go on.

All I have is gone.

Stormy weather.

Since having and I ain’t together.

Keeps raining all the time.

When he went away, the blues walked in and met me.

If he stays away Old rocking chair will get me.

All I do is pray.

The Lord above will have me walk in the sun.

Once more Can’t go on, all I had in life is gone.

Stormy weather.

Since my man and I ain’t together.

Keeps raining all the time.

He keeps on raining.

All the time.

Thank you I can give you anything in love.

Baby.

That’s the only thing I play.

Oh, baby.

So you a while scheme a while, you’re sure to find.

Happiness and I guess.

All those things you always find for.

Gee, I’d like to see you looking sweet.

Baby.

Drive embrace to a work done and send.

Baby.

I tell them every day, you know, I’m well, baby.

I can’t give you anything but love.

I can’t give you anything but love.

Baby, that’s the only thing I have plenty of, baby.

I dream a while, let’s keep a while.

You’re sure to find happiness.

And I get through.

All those things you want.

pine for.

Gee, I’d like to see a look in the suit.

Baby, diamond bracelets, when we’re the diamond set.

Baby.

Until that every day, you know.

I can’t give you anything.

I can give you anything.

I can give you anything but Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all so very much.

Are you under my skin?

I’ve got you deep in the heart of me.

Though deep in my heart, you’re really a part of me.

I got you under my skin.

Try not to give in more.

I said to myself, this affair never will go so.

And why should I try to resist when, darling, I know so well?

I’ve got you under my skin.

Anything, come with me for the sight of having you.

Near in spite of the warning voice, they come to the night, and repeat, every peace in my head.

Don’t you know?

You never can clean.

Use your mentality.

Wake up.

Back to reality.

But it’s time I do, just a thought of you makes me... Before.

I begin Because I’ve guard you.

Under my skin.

Sacrifice anything, come with me For the sake of happy New Year’s fight.

The warning voice, there comes in the night, and repeat, every piece in my ear.

to Oh, little fool, you never can win.

Use your mentality.

Wake up to reality.

Time I do just... The thought of you makes me stop.

Before I begin.

Because I guide you.

Under my skin.

Because I’ve got you.

Under my... Thank you so much.

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