Pictured above are four of the talented members of the Sky Blue Trio, a musical group that plays and sings a wide variety of jazz. From L-R: Mike DeBevec, Eric Hahn, Karina Roth, and Mike Roth. Not pictured are Thomas Stamps and Eric Anderson. You can hear them play every first Saturday of the month at Cascade Restaurant from 6 to 8 p.m. Photo courtesy of Kate Fitzgerald
Sky Blue Jazz Ensemble, a group of musicians who serve as ambassadors of jazz music and history in rural Minnesota communities, kicked off their new “First Saturday Jazz” series at Cascade Restaurant and Pub last weekend. Appearing as the Sky Blue Trio every first Saturday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m., the group will perform an array of styles from early/ classic jazz to contemporary jazz-pop fusion.
For variety and the purpose of trying new things, ensemble members will mix and match as a trio each month. Sky Blue’s members are Karina Roth, vocals; Mike Roth, string bass; Erik Hahn, saxophone and flute; Eric Anderson, trombone and euphonium; Thomas Stamps, percussion and vocals; and Mike DeBevec, piano and vocals.
Ten years ago, pianist and composer Mike DeBevec gathered together a small group of local musicians who could improvise and play all styles of jazz. With its first project, a five-year series of concerts called “A Century of Jazz,” Sky Blue’s mission to perform and teach jazz throughout northeastern Minnesota was born.
Along with the concerts, the group did educational outreach with high school bands in Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and Grand Marais. Working with each band for one or two days and offering additional instruction to exceptional students, Sky Blue concluded each residency by performing a concert featuring pieces with the full band, student soloists, and the band instructor. This winter, Sky Blue has a tentative plan to repeat this program in Two Harbors and Silver Bay.
Growing in number of players over the decade as new talent has emerged, the Sky Blue Ensemble has also grown a large base of fans who appreciate the group’s keen talent and range of offerings. Stylistically, while the ensemble started out playing American jazz (early/classic, big band, bebop, hard bop, cool, and contemporary) with some Latin jazz sprinkled in, over the past two to three years, they’ve added more contemporary jazz and jazz fusion (classical, rock, pop) to their repertoire. Sky Blue Trio looks forward to playing these styles and more at Cascade on the first Saturday of each month, and fans, old and new, will no doubt enjoy the chance to follow them on a regular basis.
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