Events
Upcoming Woodhouse Events
Pictures
Sound
Hear The Band
American Patrol
God Bless The Child
Latin Corner
My Funny Valentine
Orange Colored Sky
Under My Skin
About Us
A brief history of the Woodhouse Big Band
The Woodhouse band has been playing under that name since about 1995. It takes its name from one of the rehearsal spaces the band used to use- a lumber warehouse courtesy of Smith Brothers Floors Ltd. However, the history of the band goes back further than that. The earliest ancestor of the current group started around 1986 or 1987 as a community band in Sunnyside, and some of our members have been playing with the band in its various guises since then. The band was first called the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Big Band, and rehearsed at the community centre. The band was fairly active, and went through a number of mutations and name changes through the early nineties, including being called the Sunnyside Up Band (1991), Up Beats (1993), Nine “2” One Band (1994?), and Elm Street Jazz Band (94). The wise guys among the band veterans claim that the name changes were to hide the evidence after each performance! However, those who heard the band back then, including current members who subbed for them, knew that there were lots of good things happening musically.
Mike Birnbaum, one of the longest serving members of the band, fondly remembers a number of gigs with those early versions of the band, including performances at a ranch in Priddis and the Symons Valley Ranch. Some of the early members became founders of the Dino Martinis, still a popular band in Calgary.
The band adopted its current name some time between 1994 and 1996 – nobody seems to remember for sure- and the membership by then included most of our current sax section (Mike, Geoff and Madhu), our bass player (Jamie), two of the trombones (Jeannie and Rob W.) and one trumpet (Neil). Under the leadership of Duane Hendricks, the band progressed musically, and some enthusiastic new members joined in the late 90s, including Michael, Ray, and Kevin on trumpet, Darryl on piano, and Laura on vocals. Some memorable gigs from that era include playing at the Zoo for the Zoolights festival, at the Banff Springs Hotel, and performances for the Swing Dance Calgary club, some of whom also graced our regular “rent” gigs played at our new rehearsal space at the Cliff Bungalow Community Centre. Doug Zacharias came out to sub one night, and soon became part of the trumpet section –we have never been the same since. Doug eventually took over as leader of the band about 2002, and has been working us hard ever since. Some of the band’s favourite engagements over the last few years have included a couple of wonderful gigs in the tent at Heritage Park, as well as two more recent ones at Gasoline Alley, and performances at the Red and White club for the Nurses and Microbiologists, at Mac Hall for the U of C Ballroom Dance club, at the Medallion Supper Club, regular fund raisers for Calgary Arts Academy (our new rehearsal “home”) and for Cancer, and lots of weddings, which are among the most fun things we do. Oh, and ask a band member some time about Bearberry and the Chicken Bingo!
Woodhouse (and predecessor Band) former members
This list is far from complete, so any information would be welcome, and apologies for anyone inadvertently left out.
Leaders/Managers
Kim Beachum
Dan Evans
Alec Clark
Glenn Grigoruk
Marly Wietzke
Earl Clayton
Duane Hendricks
Vocals
Marly Wietzke (early 90s)
Melody Archer (to 1998)
Jason Allen (1998)
Kathy Miller (1999)
Bass
Pat McGannon (early 90s)
Drums:
Craig Booth
Tyler Hornby
Danny Haddad (to 2002)
Shane Kroening (2002-2006)
Nikolai Drost (2006-2008)
Piano:
Lisa Buck (early 90s)
Brad Russell (to 1999)
Jill Floen (1999-2000)
Candace (2000)
Guitar
Brent Kawchuk (early 90s)
Gordon McMorland (to 1998)
John McRory (1999)
Laurence Ball (1999-2002)
Jack Baugh (2003-2007)
James Buchholtz (2007-2008)
Sam Bowman (2008-2009)
Saxophones:
Stan Turner (80s)
Stan Bernbaum (80s)
Ken Smith (80s)
Fred Kerr
Tony Sterling
Earl Clayton (90s)
Tara-Lee Fredeen (1997 –2001)
Trombones
Tim Brehaut
Craig Hill
Alan Carswell (1990s)
Kent Archer (to 1998)
Duane Hendricks (1996 – 2002)
Mike Jennings (1999)
Gregor Kozokowski (1999-2001)
Nancy Ford (1999-2001)
Sue Caldwell (1997-98)
Trumpets
Kim Beachum (80s)
Chris Lee (90s)
Mike Durocher
Tony Robbins
Chris Nelson (90s)
Chris Webb (90s)
Ryan McLachlan (90s)
Jason Hornby (90s)
Dan Boundy (1997-98)
Troy Fredeen (1997-2000)
Grant Sales (2004-2005)
SUBS:
The Woodhouse band thanks the many fine Calgary musicians that have helped us out as substitutes for performances over the years. Some went on to become full time members of the band, and are still with us! Please let us know if we have inadvertently left you out.
Drums:
Nick Deraiche
Andrew Cull
Shane Kroening
Gordon Pritchard
Nicolai Drost
Matt Foster
Sanah
Bass
Dustin Shaskin
Toby Meis
Norm Robideaux
Arthur Lapp
Richard Erickson
Guitar
Brian Chellas
Tynan Groves
Piano
Bruce Petherick
Mike Jamieson
Ken Mann
Mike Jones
Saxophones
Brian Johnston
Brian Thorlacius
Ian Burleigh
Gareth Bane
Jonathan Bell
Jeff Hiley
Malcolm McKay
Frank Rackow
Holly DeCaigny
Tony Morris
Natalie Wong
Darryl Carmichael
Lindsay Zacharias
Kelly-Ann Zacharias
Barry Ogden
Trombones
Jay Stanley
Dax Andrews
Ken Thackrey
Paul Brown
Ross Langdon
Nancy Ford
Jane Dobbs
Trumpets
Michael Hynes
Doug Zacharias
Chris Lee
Jim Murray
Alan Repp
Lionel Busch
Scott Jacobsen
Malcolm Maclean
Drew Smith
Mike Routledge
Trevor Roberts
Jeremy Legault
Grant Lowry
Andrew Komar
Repertoire
We’ve got one of the most extensive books in the city. With literally HUNDREDS of songs, covering almost every imaginable style, it’s almost guaranteed that we will be the perfect match for your event.
Click here to download a song list.
Contact us
Phone
Director:
- Doug Zacharias
- (403) 804-8607
- ztrumpetguy@shaw.ca
Manager:
- Stuart McTaggart
- dawnmct@telus.net
Presskit
- Download our Press Kit here