Jerry Younce - guitar (Music Director)
Not only does Jerry bring his superb musicianship to the program, he directs The Copper Cats and overseas the selection of our featured performers. As a professional guitarist, Jerry has performed Jazz, Rock, Top 40, and Country music in show bands and various musical groups during his 30+ year career as a musician. When not performing at The Red Jacket Jamboree, he performs with his son in Younce Guitar Duo, an acoustic improvisational collaboration inspired by jazz, fusion, and world music. View video of Younce Guitar Duo.
Not only does Jerry bring his superb musicianship to the program, he directs The Copper Cats and overseas the selection of our featured performers. As a professional guitarist, Jerry has performed Jazz, Rock, Top 40, and Country music in show bands and various musical groups during his 30+ year career as a musician. When not performing at The Red Jacket Jamboree, he performs with his son in Younce Guitar Duo, an acoustic improvisational collaboration inspired by jazz, fusion, and world music. View video of Younce Guitar Duo.
Bill Carrothers - piano
A native Minnesotan, Carrothers has lived in the Keweenaw Peninsula with his family for nearly 20 years. 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)
A native Minnesotan, Carrothers has lived in the Keweenaw Peninsula with his family for nearly 20 years. 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)
Harry South - bass
Harry South began performing music in Flint, MI at the age of 14. After a few years of playing electric bass in rock bands his ear was drawn to the sound of the upright bass. Upon arriving in Marquette in 2007 he began to study the instrument in earnest. In 2013, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northern Michigan University with a B.A. in Music Education. Today he is an active member of Marquette's orchestras and performs regularly with singer-songwriter Michael Waite and in the Duo "Harry and Kerry." He also has a successful private lesson studio and directs an after school strings program for 4th and 5th graders in the Marquette public schools.
Harry South began performing music in Flint, MI at the age of 14. After a few years of playing electric bass in rock bands his ear was drawn to the sound of the upright bass. Upon arriving in Marquette in 2007 he began to study the instrument in earnest. In 2013, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northern Michigan University with a B.A. in Music Education. Today he is an active member of Marquette's orchestras and performs regularly with singer-songwriter Michael Waite and in the Duo "Harry and Kerry." He also has a successful private lesson studio and directs an after school strings program for 4th and 5th graders in the Marquette public schools.
Percussionists
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 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 Ester Cohen Project, Talking Ear, Dragon Wagon, Stonehouse, and many groups around Ann Arbor and the Greater Toledo area.
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 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 Ester Cohen Project, Talking Ear, Dragon Wagon, Stonehouse, and many groups around Ann Arbor and the Greater Toledo area.
Carrie Biolo – Percussion and vibraphone
Fifth generation Marquette native, Carrie Biolo, performs on timpani, mallets, congas, bongos and accessories, providing a charismatic rhythmic backdrop to The Red Jacket Jamboree. A world-class percussionist who brings highly experimental sound, rhythm and movement into her work, Biolo has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. She has recorded over 25 CD’s and her music compositions can be heard on Ira Glass’ This American Life, and Chicago and Boston Public Radio. Biolo teaches World Music at Northern Michigan University, is the Band Assistant at Marquette Senior High School, facilitates a bi-monthly drum circle with members of Lake Superior Hospice’s Adult Day Services and is the founder of the Percussive Attack Camp in Marquette.
Fifth generation Marquette native, Carrie Biolo, performs on timpani, mallets, congas, bongos and accessories, providing a charismatic rhythmic backdrop to The Red Jacket Jamboree. A world-class percussionist who brings highly experimental sound, rhythm and movement into her work, Biolo has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. She has recorded over 25 CD’s and her music compositions can be heard on Ira Glass’ This American Life, and Chicago and Boston Public Radio. Biolo teaches World Music at Northern Michigan University, is the Band Assistant at Marquette Senior High School, facilitates a bi-monthly drum circle with members of Lake Superior Hospice’s Adult Day Services and is the founder of the Percussive Attack Camp in Marquette.
Zach Ott - Percussion
A Wisconsin native, Zach obtained a B.A. in Music Education from Northern Michigan University with a concentration in percussion. His college career was highlighted with performances at the 2015 and 2016 Hiawatha Music Festival, and the 2017 Marquette Area Blues Fest. Zach is currently the associate band director at Badger High School in Lake Geneva, WI where he teaches percussion ensembles & jazz combos.
A Wisconsin native, Zach obtained a B.A. in Music Education from Northern Michigan University with a concentration in percussion. His college career was highlighted with performances at the 2015 and 2016 Hiawatha Music Festival, and the 2017 Marquette Area Blues Fest. Zach is currently the associate band director at Badger High School in Lake Geneva, WI where he teaches percussion ensembles & jazz combos.
Jonathan Taylor is a Percussionist, Composer, and Improviser based in Detroit. An avid collaborator, He co-leads a number of diverse projects, Including the art-rock quartet Saajtak, the electro-acoustic duo Says Things, Teiku, which reimagines aurally transmitted ancestral Jewish melodies in a Creative Music context, the sound and movement ensemble Legs, improvising trio Lanula, and his own band Mover, which performs a constantly shifting modular suite of Taylor’s compositions and graphic scores.