About Mike Vax [ Itinerary ] [ Discography ] [ Join Our List ] Director of the Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra
Leader Mike Vax is a product of the City of Oakland and the Oakland Public Schools, having graduated from Oakland High School in 1960. He has led a big band off and on since his days at College of the Pacific over 35 years ago.
A few of his credits include being first trumpet, soloist and road manager of the Stan Kenton Orchestra, as well as being co-leader while Mr. Kenton was recovering from surgery; leading the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans; producing and/or music directing for over 25 jazz festivals; and performing workshops for more than 1000 high schools, colleges and universities all over the world. He is currently a National Artist for The Getzen Musical Instrument Company.
Mike Vax Itinerary for 2007 - 2008
Contact Mike Vax Music Productions (925-427-6666 or 925-872-1942) or vaxtrpts@aol.com for more information on the dates listed below, and watch this page for addtional performances and clinics in your area. See the Booking Page for information about booking Mike Vax and the Mike Vax Big Band.
DATE PLACE ENGAGEMENT TYPE OF BOOKING October 2007 3-7 Los Angeles, CA Sheraton LAX – LA Jazz Institute Big Band Fest. –MVBB- Kenton Alums Concert Panel Discussion 15 Oakland, CA Lakepark Center - MVJO Rehearsal 16-21 Sun Valley, ID Sun Valley Jazz Festival - MV Sextette Festival Sets 28 Fremont, CA Ohlone College Wind Orchestra Guest Soloist 29 Fremont, CA Ohlone College Wind Orchestra Recording Session 30 Pleasanton, CA Pleasanton Hotel – Don Vecca Big Band Concert 31 Alameda, CA Bay Harbor Club – Bob Enos Big Band Concert November 07 3 Oakland, CA Lakepark Center - MVJO Rehearsal 4 El Granata, CA Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society MVJO - Concert 5 Turlock, CA Cal. State University-Stanislas Clinic – Jazz Band 6-7 Woodlake, CA Woodlake Union High School Clinics and Concert 14, 28 Alameda, CA Harbor Bay Club – Bob Enos Big Band Concert 18-25 Prescott, AZ Relax and Prescott Jazz Summit Meetings December 2007 5 Alameda, CA Friends of Big Band Jazz Harbor Bay Club – Bob Enos Big Band Board Meeting Concert 8 Oakland, CA Greek Temple – 90th Anniversary Party MV Sextet - Dance 21 – 31 Prescott, AZ Relax and Prescott Jazz Summit Meetings 31 Prescott, AZ Hassayampa Inn – MV Septette Dinner Dance January 2008 1-6 Prescott, AZ Relax 9, 23 Alameda, CA Harbor Bay Club – Bob Enos Big Band Concert 16-20 Anaheim, Ca NAMM Show – Getzen Work Booth 25-26 Folsom, CA Folsom Jazz Festival (Educational) Judge 28 Oakland, CA Lakepark Center – MVJO Rehearsal February 2008 3 Oakland, CA Skyline High School - MVJO Concert 4 Oakland, CA Lakepark Center - MVJO Rehearsal 7-8 Columbus, OH Ohio Music Educators’ Convention Clinic - Getzen 9 Sacramento, CA Cal. State Univ.Sacto./Sacto. Jazz Society Judge Festival 10 San Jose, CA The IMPROV/San Jose Jazz – MVJO Concert 13-16 San Antonio, TX Texas Music Educator’s Convention Getzen Booth 17-19 Harlingen, TX Seven Area Schools Clinics - Getzen 20-28 Texas/Louisiana Clinic and Concert Tour TBA Getzen and Dealers March 2008 1-20 Now Booking 16 TBA School – TBA - MVJO Concert 21-30 Prescott, AZ Misc. Performances and Jazz Summit Concerts - Meetings April 2008 1-11 Now Booking 13 Sacramento, CA Sacto Jazz Society Monthly Concert Guest Artist 19-20 Tuscon, AZ Tuscon Jazz Festival Guest Artist 21 – 30 Midwest Kenton Alumni Spring Tour Clinics and Concerts May 2008 1-11 Midwest Kenton Alumni Spring Tour Clinics and Concerts 12 Oakland, CA Lakepark Center - MVJO Rehearsal 13 Oakland, CA Yoshi’s Nite Club w/Concord HS Jazz Guest Artist 14-17 San Diego, CA Jazz Educational Cruise – Foothill HS Guest Artist 18 TBA School TBA - MVJO Concert
Mike Vax Discography
Next Stop, Live...On The Road (2005) Summit Records #DCD418 The Mike Vax Big Band,
Featuring the Stan Kenton Alumni
LIVE...On The Road (2002) Summit Records #DCD356 The Mike Vax Big Band,
Featuring the Stan Kenton Alumni
bigbandjazz.net (2002) Summit Records #DCD329 The Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra
Creepin’ with Clark (2000) Summit Records #DCD273 The Mike Vax - Clark Terry Sextet
Alternate Route (1999) Sea Breeze Records #SB2102 Mike Vax and the New Oakland Jazz Orchestra
The J.W. Big Band Rides Again (1999) Chase Music Group #8058 The Jim Widner Big Band
Stan - The Big Sur (1999) Sea Breeze Records #2101 The Roy Wiegand Jazz Orchestra
The Sound of Kenton (1999-reissue) Hitchcock Media #0202 The Stan Kenton Orchestra (1971) I Remember You (1998) Master Communications #MCG8010 Mike Vax Big Band (Featuring Alumni of the Stan Kenton Orch.) Body and Soul (1997) Chase Music Group #8048 The Jim Widner Big Band Tunes and Topics (1997-reissue) Tantara #1114 & #1115 (2 volumes) The Stan Kenton Orchestra (1970) Royal St. Shuffle (1996) Ivory Music #DVC0011D The Draga/Vax Connection (Recorded in New Orleans) Live at Morningside College (1996) Master Communications #MCG Mike Vax Big Band (Featuring Alumni of the Stan Kenton Orch.)
2 volume video (done at the Morningside College Jazz Festival)Yesterdays and Today (1996) Chase Music Group #8045 The Jim Widner Big Band Late Harvest (1994) GAJ Recordings #00112 The Mike Vax – Bob Lucas Quintet Live at University of the Pacific (1993) Johnson Digital Audio #110 Mike Vax and the Great American Jazz Band Headin’ South (1992) Sacramento Jazz Records #SJS36 Mike Vax and the Great American Jazz Band A Christmas Jazz Mass (1992) KREM #HCD37524 Benko Jazz Band (Recorded live in Hungary) The Very Thought of You (1991) Flying Rabbit #FR911 Susan Berthiaume (TRPTS. – guest artists) Too Much Fun! (1990) TUSCO #001 Scotty Wright (TRPTS. - guest artists) Rhapsody in Blue (1989-reissue) Moon Records #MCD012-2 The Stan Kenton Orchestra (1972) Just Good Friends (1988) KREM #SLPX37166 Benko Jazz Band - Freddy Hubbard - Al Grey First Reunion (1987) 1st American Records #MIM9052 The Fred Radke - Mike Vax Quintet Transforming Traditions (1986) The Jazz Alliance #TJA 10009 Mike Vax and TRPTS. (Trumpets) Bertha The Blues (1985) Sacramento Jazz #SJS28 Mike Vax and the Great American Jazz Band Mainstream Dixie (1983) Sacramento Jazz #SJS21 Mike Vax and the Great American Jazz Band Mike Vax Live at Cazadero (1976) Sounds of New Orleans #1005 The Mike Vax Big Band Creole Gumbo (1976) Sandcastle #SCR1030 The Dukes of Dixieland Sternwheeler Steamboat (1976) Sandcastle #SCR1029 The Dukes of Dixieland Dukes’ Place (1975) Sandcastle #SCR1028 The Dukes of Dixieland Evil Eyes (1973) Artco #LPJ117 (945) The Mike Vax Big Band National Anthems of the World (1972) Creative World #ST1060 The Stan Kenton Orchestra Live at Butler University (1972) Creative World #ST1058 The Stan Kenton Orchestra Live with the Four Freshmen (1972) Creative World #ST1059 The Stan Kenton Orchestra Stan Kenton Today–Live in London (1972) London Records #BP4417980 The Stan Kenton Orchestra Live at Brigham Young University (1971) Creative World #ST1039 The Stan Kenton Orchestra Live at Redlands University (1970) Creative World #ST1015 The Stan Kenton Orchestra
