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![](images/FJO/Members%20Close%20Up/Vermeulen100.jpg) |
John
Vermeulen - (lead sax)
(borrowed from BrianMichaelSmith.com)
John began playing swing music while attending Capital
University in the late 70’s. After receiving a degree in Jazz
Studies and Music Education he helped found the notorious “New
Remnants Dance Orchestra”; a repertory swing band playing the
original classic arrangements from the libraries of the great
big bands, most notably the Count Basie Orchestra. He also
started a long association with “Guy Lombardo’s Royal
Canadians” in which he played under several leaders including
Teddy Philips, Art Mooney and Al Pierson. |
John attended the
University of North Texas, received a Masters in Jazz Studies,
taught in the Dallas Public Schools, and played in the Dallas
area until his recent return to Central Ohio. He now teaches in
the Westerville City Schools. Over the years, he has had the
opportunity to play in various Big Bands led by the likes of Bob
Crosby and Les Elgart and in the Ghost bands of Jimmy Dorsey and
Benny Goodman among others. Currently John plays in Vaughn
Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra and Johnny Mack’s Superband.
He has also had the opportunity to play with groups as diverse
as the Columbus Symphony, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra and for
the Palace Broadway Series. The John Vermeulen Octet is a
smaller jazz/dance orchestra that has played various functions
from weddings to the Galion Oktoberfest. |
![](images/FJO/Members%20Close%20Up/Bryan-Olsheski2-200x300.jpg)
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Bryon
Olsheski -After
graduating in 1995 from the University of Cincinnati
College-Conservatory of Music with a Bachelors in Jazz
Performance, Bryan
cut his teeth in the industry as a soloist and guest
artist with performers around the world on the Princess
and Royal Caribbean Cruise lines. He then relocated to
London, England for three years. He started teaching and
also began performing and recording in salsa, jazz and
function bands hired out for weddings and other special
events. Bryan formed his own band playing original music
at many of the popular jazz clubs
in London, including The 606 Jazz Club, the Jazz Café
and the Bulls Head Barnes. He has shared the stage
with some of the most famous |
names
in jazz such as Joe Henderson, Kenny Garrett, Wes
“Warmdaddy” Anderson, Conrad Herwig, Jack McDuff,
Slide Hampton and George Benson. He has also been a
featured soloist for the Temptations, The Columbus Jazz
Orchestra, Steve Winwood, Vaughn Weister’s Famous Jazz
Orchestra, Afro-Rican Jazz Ensemble, Kico Cowan and
Expresion Cubana, The Four Tops and The Spinners.
Bryan has lived in Columbus for the last 13 years.
During this time he has dedicated himself to composing
and perfecting his craft. In March 2005 he recorded his
first CD under his own name showcasing five original
compositions. The CD features Bobby Floyd on the B3
Organ, Derek Dicenzo on guitar and Reggie Jackson on
drums and was named the best jazz CD of 2005 by “The
Other Paper.”
Bryan is also featured on Bobby Floyd’s CD “Notes To
and From My Friends.” Bryan was a featured performer
with Wycliffe Gordon’s Blackberry Patch presentation
which debuted at the newly-renovated Lincoln Theater in
early 2013. Bryan is a member of David Brown’s
harmony project orchestra and is also a member of the
Columbus Jazz Arts Group, including the jazz program for
students called “Making Right Choices.” He performed
recently with Michael Bolton at the Lancaster Music
Festival and with Dr. John in a studio session. He
performed original compositions by Berklee College of
Music faculty member, jazz guitarist Rick Peckham, at
Denison University’s Annual Guitar Festival. When
Bryan was working with the Famous Jazz Orchestra, Bill
Dobbins arranged a piece specifically for Bryan called
“Turn Out The Stars.” Bryan especially enjoys his
career as a teacher at a private music studio in
Hilliard and through the “Choices” program. He
occasionally works with other education programs through
the Jazz Arts Group. Bryan has been teaching beginners
through professionals for close to eight years.
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![](images/FJO/Members%20Close%20Up/Miglia(side)100.JPG) |
Jay
Miglia - (borrowed
from jazzartsgroup.org) Jay Miglia is an active member of the Columbus music community as a teacher, saxophonist and composer/arranger. He coordinates the jazz
area at Otterbein University, which currently entails teaching academic courses (jazz history, improvisation, theory), studio saxophone (applied lessons and quartets), and directing the Otterbein Jazz Ensemble. Since 2005, Jay has developed and taught classes for the Columbus Jazz Arts Group's Jazz Academy. He regularly appears around the Midwest in clubs and concert settings, as a sideman on recordings, and as a backup musician for an array of jazz and popular music celebrities. |
He is a long-time member of the Famous Jazz Orchestra (perfect attendance award, 2003) and subs in the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. He also tapes the CJO's music together.
![](images/FJO/Members%20Close%20Up/LeBeau100.JPG) |
Bob
LeBeau - (borrowed from
DwightLenox.com) Bob is a veteran
saxophonist from London, Ohio, where he began his playing in the
school music program. Bob has a B.S. in Education from
Wilmington College and a Masters in Education from Xavier
University. For over 30 years he was the principal at Franklin
Heights High School in Columbus. While in the U.S. Army he
played in the show band with the "Second Army Showmobile",
a touring variety show group. He also toured every major army
command in the world with the famous "Rolling Along"
All-Army Revue.
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Bob has worked with Steve Lawrence, Margaret
Whiting, Pat O'Bryan, Myron Floren, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
directed by Lee Castle, and the Bob Crosby Orchestra. Locally he
has played with Riley Norris, Howdy Gorman, Bruno Masdea, Doc
Everhart, Lincoln Village Big Band, Freedom Sound and for the
past 13 years has been lead alto for the Rick Brunetto Big Band.
Additionally, he has co-lead the small group
"Timeless".
Veteran
saxophonist, Bob Lebeau has performed in and around central Ohio
most of his life. The London, Ohio native has played in the big
bands of Rick Brunetto, Buno Masdea, Doc Everhart, Riley Norris,
and Howdy Gorman. He was the co-leader of the Wedding Band,
TimeLess and the top 40 group, Freedom Sound. He also played in
the small groups of Jack Hedges and the Tunetimers and Jim
Johnson. While in the Army, bob toured around the world with the
award winning variety show "Rolling Along." In
addition, he has performed in bands accompanying such artists as
Margaret Whiting, Steve Lawrence, Bob Crosby and Myron Floren.
On Dwight Lenox's exciting new band, The Lenox Avenue Express,
Bob holds down the bottom on his baritone saxophone.
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Alex Burgoyne - not available, yet |
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