Episode 1/2 October 14, 2017

October 14/15
Episode #1/2 - Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Keweenaw National Historical Park
Featuring Special Guest Sean Rowe. Hosted by Lena Dorey with Sketches by the Red Jacket Actors: Ruby Birckelbaw, Noah Ekdom, Ralph Horvath, Featuring Bill Carrothers on piano, Storytelling by Reverand Bob Langseth, music by Younce Guitar Duo,The Copper Cats: Bill Carrothers on Piano, Jerry Younce on guitar, Travis Aukerman on percussion and Harry South on Bass with guest vocalist Peg Carrothers. Sound effects by Leah Polzien.

the Copper Cats

Jerry Younce - guitar
Younce, a professional guitarist, has performed Jazz, Rock, Top 40, and Country music in show bands and various musical groups during his 30+ year career as a musician. He currently performs with his son in Younce Guitar Duo, an acoustic improvisational collaboration inspired by jazz, fusion, and world music. Born and raised in Detroit, he started his professional career performing in Jazz bands around the city. He has called northern Michigan home for the past 30 years. View video of Younce Guitar Duo

Bill Carrothers - piano
A native Minnesotan, Carrothers now makes his home in Michigan's Copper Country. He is an acclaimed jazz pianist and composer who has been featured in top ten lists published by Jazz Magazine, Le Monde, and JAZZIZ Magazine. Down Beat called him "a probing, intelligent player" with "a beautiful touch and a wide stylistic range" who "never sounds less than a musician who thinks on his feet and channels emotions freely." Carrothers was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for Jazz in 2004 and was nominated for the Les Victoires du Jazz (French Grammy Award equivalent) in 2005 and 2011. When not performing, Carrothers is a lecturer of music at Lawrence University (bio)

Travis Aukerman - percussion
Travis Aukerman is a drummer, percussionist, composer, and arranger based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has studied drum set and percussion under Dr. Olman Piedra and Jonathan Ovalle, as well as composition and arranging with Tad Weed. In May of 2015, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Toledo with a Bachelors in Music Performance (jazz concentration). He furthered his skills under the tutelage of acclaimed drummer Henry Cole. He performs regularly with the Estar Cohen Project, Talking Ear, Dragon Wagon, Stonehouse, and many local groups around Ann Arbor and the Greater Toledo area.

Harry South - bass
Originally from Columbiaville, MI, Harry received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (summa cum laude) from Northern Michigan University in May 2013. Harry currently maintains a very successful private studio in Marquette, where he teaches lessons to bass, violin, and cello students. An avid performer, Harry plays with many different musical groups in Marquette: Eclettico, Marquette Symphony Orchestra, Milestones Jazz Trio, and the blues and soul group, Travis Swanson and the Midnight Movers, just to name a few.

Featured Performer - Sean Rowe

Sean Rowe performing at The Red Jacket Jamboree. Top Photographs by Bill Fink Communications. Photo lower left by Rebecca Glotfelty.

Rowe, whose thunderous soulful voice Esquire recently proclaimed has the “kind of intensity that pulls you and keeps you there” is clearly on a journey of exploration and discovery in life and in music. Growing up in Troy, NY, Rowe developed a love affair with nature that he explains, “reaches far into my music, my personal life, and my spirituality.” That love of nature, along with a deep and sympathetic understanding of the human condition, have inspired four critically acclaimed full-length albums, the latest of which,, New Lore (ANTI- Records) captures a sound that echo’s Rowe’s recent crossover hit “To Leave Something Behind,” which was featured in the Ben Affleck film 'The Accountant.’ Watch "I'll follow your trail" on Youtube.

Storyteller- Rev. Bob Langseth

Rev. Bob Langseth of Calumet has spent decades developing the history of his Copper Country community. Langseth spearheaded the effort to create the Keweenaw National Historical Park and worked to save one of Calumet’s most historic buildings: St. Anne’s Catholic Church. In 2017 he was the recipient of the Charles Follo Award for historic preservation. He served as a pastor in Calumet for 30 years before his retirement. In 1976, Bob recorded oral histories of members of his congregation. He will share a couple of these stories on The Red Jacket Jamboree. He will also reveal some history on the formation of the Keweenaw National Historical Park.

Vocalist - Peg Carrothers

Peg Carrothers was born and raised in "Nordeast" Minneapolis. Her musical training began as a young child, learning songs from the family for every season and occasion, singing in church, and harmonizing out the window with her mother whenever a rainstorm was brewing.

Her love for song and a music scholarship led her to pursue a music degree at St Catherine’s College and finish up at the University of Minnesota, studying in the classical opera tradition before vocal jazz was a developed curriculum. It was during these early college years that she met Bill Carrothers, who suggested Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday for her thirsty young jazz ears. Turning to the jazz community, she built a standard repertoire, performing in local venues with many talented musicians. Along with Bill Carrothers she's shared the stage with Dean Magraw, Chris Bates, Jay Epstein, Jacqueline Ferrier-Ultan, Adam Linz, and others and is featured on cellist Matt Turner's CD, "The Voices That Are Gone" (Illusions).

Red Jacket Actors

Ruby Birkelbaw
From St. Paul, Minnesota, Ruby is a freshman at Michigan Tech studying engineering. Throughout her middle school and high school years, Ruby was active in school and community theater. Ruby performs the roles of Mada'am LaBlanc, Molly and sings the Vollwerth's jingle during the show.

Ralph Horvath
Ralph is an Emeritus Professor in the Electrical Engineering - Computer Engineering Department at Michigan Tech. Since his retirement, Ralph has volunteered for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly and for RSVP in Hancock. He has acted in about 40 local theater productions. He performs the roles of several characters in the sketches, "Mada'am LaBlanc" and "Some Place on Fifth"

Noah Ekdom
Noah, a student at Michigan Tech, has participated in theatrical productions throughout high school. He portrays McLain in "Someplace on Fifth" as well as characters throughout the show.

Leah Polzien
As the Director of Main Street Calumet, Leah introduces the show as well as portrays herself in the second episode of "Some Place on Fifth" She also provides sound effects on stage during the show. Leah is the jack-of-all-trades in this production- distributing posters, postcards, appearing on the radio, etc.

Younce Guitar Duo

A unique father and son instrumental collaboration creating intricate, flowing & rhythmic sonic weavings inspired by Latin, Jazz and World Music. A duo since 2009, Jerry and his son Ryan have been astounding audiences across the midwest with their exquisite original compositions and superb musicianship. They perform their original composition "Indigo" during the first show.