Vaughn Wiester's 
 "Famous Jazz Orchestra"

"Members"

Rhythm Section

 

Jim Luellen (piano) -(borrowed from Jim's website) -  musician, composer, arranger, music educator and owner of the Jim Luellen Music Co.   Jim has been a professional musician in the Columbus , Ohio area for over forty years. Beginning in the late 1950’s he was the leader of the Novelaires, a highly successful teenage Dixieland band that performed extensively throughout Ohio and the Midwest . That group played special engagements in New York City (the Ted Mack Amateur Hour), Toronto, Miami Beach, toured U. S. Airbases in New England and also had the opportunity to work with stars such as the Dukes of Dixieland, Mickey Rooney and the Supremes. 

(Check out a current issues of the Novelaires News Letters) Through the years Jim has performed with many artists including Phyllis Diller, Eartha Kitt, June Valli, Aretha Franklin, Buddy Morrow, Paula Kelly, Jr. and the Modernaires and toured with the “Stars of Lawrence Welk.” Currently Jim plays solo piano and leads his own trio at Columbus ’ Capital Club. Always in demand, he also performs with Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Matt Ellis’ Standard Time, the Jack Gorham Jazz Quartet, and the exciting jazz vocal group, Vocal Impact. Jim has also been the keyboardist for the Lewis Center United Methodist Church for fifteen years.  
Jim has arranged and composed in many different musical settings. He has scored pieces for concert band, orchestra and various small instrumental ensembles. In the jazz vein, both big band and small combo charts are part of his portfolio and for choir he has arranged both sacred and secular pieces. Currently some of his compositions can be heard on two CDs, Echoes of the Heart, Song & Verse and Voices of Prayer. These CDs can be purchased through Jim’s company, the Jim Luellen Music Company, at www.echoesoftheheart.com. 
After graduating from Columbus North High School, Jim attended The Ohio State University and received his B.S. in Education and an M.M. in Composition. As a music educator, Jim taught for over thirty years, mostly with the Columbus Public Schools. Currently he teaches piano to select students and does some vocal coaching. 
JIM LUELLEN MUSIC CO. The Jim Luellen Music Company, along with Echoesoftheheart.com, is an online resource center for a community of independent musicians, writers, artists, and educators. Products offered on this site were produced by this community and currently consist of CDs [Spoken word, jazz, and Celtic] and original artwork, including prints and inspirational cards.
By purchasing products from the Jim Luellen Music Company site you are helping support these talented and independent musicians, writers, and artists as well as fostering inspiration, self-expression, community, and joy.  Jim joined the FJO in '04.  Got his education at OSU 
Tom Davis (guitarist) - Tom is a guitarist currently based in Columbus, Ohio. He is primarily a jazz guitarist, performing within a wide variety of the many jazz traditions. It is not uncommon, however, to find him playing other improvisational styles, rock, pop, etc.
Tom began teaching himself the guitar in 1998 until 2002, when master guitarist/educator Stan Smith accepted him into his guitar studio at Capital 
University. While studying under Stan, Tom earned his Bachelor of  Music in Jazz Studies, graduating in 2006. After 4 years of performing  and  teaching in Columbus, Tom relocated to Edinburgh Scotland, where he earned  his Master of Music degree in Musicology at the University of Edinburgh  (2010-2011). Remaining there, he performed under his own name and as a  sideman, playing jazz, pop, rock, and ceilidhs (Scottish country dances) at venues and festivals all over Scotland, England, and Nigeria. In 2014,  Tom  returned to Columbus to continue performing and teaching.
Currently, Tom teaches guitar at Kenyon College and GnG Music Instruction,  and he performs/writes with/for various projects and one-offs, under his  own name and as a sideman.
Terry Douds (bass) - Terry is the Broadcast Operations Supervisor for the WOUB Center for Public Media at Ohio University. He is in demand as an instructor, performer, clinician, and recording engineer-producer. A graduate of the Ohio State University, he performed on four award-winning albums by the OSU Jazz Ensemble. With the Woody Herman Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra and Carmen Cavallaro, he toured the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Asia. He has performed with The Ink Spots, Columbus Symphony, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, and the Four Aces. He is the bassist with the Famous Jazz Orchestra and operates Cojazz Recordings, Ltd.
Steve Schaar (drums) - Steve has been providing impeccable rhythm for the FJO since '01.  He is a graduate of Capital University where he received a BM - studying under Bob Briethaupt.  He has also studied with Ed Soph, Jeff Hamilton, John VonOhlen, Jim Rupp and Guy Remonko.  He has played with Rusty Bryant/Hank Marr, Five by Design, Cleveland/Columbus/Dayton Jazz Orchestras, Rat Pack Tribute Show, Vaudvillities, & Guy Lombardo.
Currently, besides the FJO, Steve is playing with Brian Michael Smith, Dick Mackey, Bexley United Methodist Church, and Upper Arlington Lutheran Church.  Professionally, he is an information technology manager for American Kenda Rubber and married to his wife, Jola, for 29 years.  He has one son, Brady, who is working on his Masters at Taylor University in the Fall.  He loves to hunt and camp.