Next week our fabulous lead trumpet, Nancy Boyle, will have circled the sun 90 times! I know, we can’t believe it, either. We ate a little cake together after rehearsal to celebrate.

After today’s rehearsal, Jim showed an antique accordion that he had come across with our local accordionist, Patricia Stone. She said the older accordions like this play different notes depending on whether the bellows is pushed or pulled. Harmonicas work the same way (blow notes versus draw notes) and the first accordions were developed by the same creative minds that created harmonicas.

Patricia Stone, who started Middleton Jazz back in 2009, joined us for some cake and reminiscing about 16 years of making music together in the Middleton Senior Center. Here she is pictured with Carroll Sigler, current guitarist and one of the original band members. Thanks, Patricia!

Once again Middleton Jazz has the honor of playing in the Stoughton Opera House as a part of the Stoughton Area Senior Center’s Music Appreciation Series. The performance starts at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 7, 2025. Come on down and enjoy the show! No tickets, but free will offerings are accepted.

We were delighted to return to the Stoughton Opera House on November 6 to participate in the Stoughton Senior Center’s Music Appreciation Series. The venue was lovely and the audience was enthusiastic. Here is a clip from the performance featuring Dick Trexel on clarinet and John Carey on tenor saxophone.

Middleton Jazz will be participating in Make Music Madison again this year. You will find us in the Rennebohm Park Shelter at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21. We hope to see you there! [Note: This was moved from 1:30 to 2:30. Sorry for any confusion.]

After a long, pandemic-induced hiatus, we were grateful to return to Capitol Lakes on May 18, 2023. The Grand Hall was lively and the audience was enthusiastic!

Here is Les Hoffman belting out “Basin Street Blues” for the residents of Oak Park Place Nakoma on Friday, March 10. After getting snowed out of rehearsals for most of February, It felt good to be playing together again. Thanks to Deb Trexel for the photo.

Yes, after the holidays we’re back at it! In fact, our next performance will be on Thursday, so we will not rehearse on January 19 to save our chops for a gig at Vista West. We will be rehearsing at our usual time in the weeks between, however, and everyone is welcome to come to the Middleton Senior Center and listen.

As usual, the audience was terrific at the Stoughton Opera House on November 7, 2022. Here is a small sample from our performance in that beautiful venue.