InPulse web site

the hottest vocal band in the country

will be at the N.Y.M.P. on July 15 2008

for an afternoon clinic and evening concert

gabe koxlien Gabe Koxlien, Tenor (Strum, Wisconsin) Gabe's versatility as a singer is trademarked by his beautiful lyric solos and remarkable ability to blend, almost transparently, with other vocalists. His purity of tone and vocal control in the falsetto register are unrivaled, even amongst classical singers. Although most highly regarded for his intuitive vocal abilities, Gabe also plays guitar, keyboards, cowbell and saxophone and has performed and recorded in virtually every musical genre, from rock bands to early music ensembles. His prolific, 18-year performing career has allowed him to sing under such notable conductors as Rene Clausen, Andre Thomas, Robert Scholz, and Anton Armstrong.   Gabe loves listening to all different kinds of music. In addition to performing over 150 shows a year, he enjoys going to shows and watching other live musicians at work! Gabriel believes in taking risks on stage and going for greatness in each vocal line he sings, or each guitar lick he plays. "You cannot let your scientific musical brain get in the way of your musical intuition" gabe adds, "It will just trip you up". "In my opinion" gabe says, "Singing should always have a certain flow, where

Marcus Hanson, Bass (Billings, Montana) Welcome to Marcus' Bio Page I have been staying really busy lately with tour and getting "the farm" ready for fall and winter. Anyone who knows me, knows that I like to wear a lot of hats and defy stereotypes. I like many different things like opera and hunting, playing tuba and working on my '65 Impala convertible, cutting firewood with my chainsaw and cross-stitching...Ok, I don't really cross-stitch, but I like all that other stuff. I also like to live a few moments a day as one of my many alter-egos. There's Guy, Elroy P. Johson, Ludafisk (my rap name), and James Bertram Smith. Perhaps some of them will make their way into some InPulse Road Journals...and perhaps not. But keep a close eye on your county fair stage in the future, as the country's greatest Toby Keith impersonator, you never know where I might pop up. My "real" biography is below the photo collage. Enjoy and stop back by soon.

Steve Howe, Vocal Percussion (Saint Paul, Minnesota) InPulse prides itself on being a "vocal band" instead of just another "a cappella group"-that's where Steve Howe fits in. Steve provides the band with its feet-tapping, chest-thumping, head-banging beat as the full-time vocal percussionist. Using only his mouth and face Steve is able to create the sound of a full rock n' roll drum kit, DJ scratch table, and electronic percussion hard drive on stage night after night. Incorporating styles of beat-boxing, mouth drumming, and vocal percussion noises, Steve prides himself on inventing new sounds and creating new grooves for the group sing over-all without using instruments. Steve began his musical life in St. Paul, MN where he spent his childhood singing in choirs, playing sports, and acting in school plays. During High School Steve was selected to sing in the Minnesota Music Educators Association All-State Men's Chorus. His love of music took him over the state line for college where he attended the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire campus in Eau Claire, WI. Studying music and theatre, Steve emerged as a leader in both the Men's and Mixed Choirs touring Europe twice as an undergraduate. During his time at UWEC, Steve also led the student a cappella group Fifth Element serving as the Music Director and teaching himself how to drum with just his mouth. He also received awards for his musical arrangements on campus three years in a row, and most notably was awarded "Outstanding Vocal Percussion" for the Midwest Regional Final of the International Championship of Collegiate A cappella (ICCA). Professionally, Steve spent time in a vocal group based in Washington D.C. called "Almost Recess" and still arranges for the UWEC choirs every year.

Matt McDonald, Baritone (Sydney, Australia) Matt brings a conservatory training in instrumental music, along with an innate gift for singing pop music to INPULSE. Having studied with renowned vocalists and musicians all over the world, his vocal talents are as effortless as they are rare, with his smooth three-octave vocal range producing versatile solo work. During his tenure at St. Olaf College, while completing his Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, he twice won the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Solo Competition and was a tour soloist with the world-renowned St. Olaf Choir. Matt's exceptional knowledge of vocal technique makes him an invaluable asset to the INPULSE Educational Outreach Program and guides him as Artistic Director of the ensemble.

Big Time Jazz Orchestra

will be at the N.Y.M.P. JAZZ PROGRAM

MONDAY JULY 28th TO GIVE A FREE CONCERT

AND CLINIC TO THE STUDENTS IN THE AFTERNOON

PARENTS ARE WELCOME TO COME AND LISTEN TO THIS CONCERT

The Big Time Jazz Orchestra is based in Duluth and is made up of college and high school jazz instructors as well as members representing many other occupations. The ensemble programs selections from such jazz masters as Thad Jones, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Miles Davis, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Jim McNeely as well as doing works of its own ensemble members and other local composers and arrangers. BTJO is dedicated to the continuation of the art form.


Part of the mission of the band is to educate youth about this
uniquely American contribution to the world known as jazz. Big Time annually does a shared concert with a local school or university band, often finishing with a song performed jointly.


Probably the most notable performances for BTJO have been its selection to play for the MN Music Educators Conventions in 1994 and 2001 and for the 50th anniversary convention of the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA) in 2002.


With its non-profit status, Big Time has been awarded grants for such activities as the commissioning of a work from jazz
composer/arranger Tom Matta and bringing in arranger and virtuoso trombonist, Paul McKee, to perform with the band. Other grants funded the making of CDs, a 1999 recording at Studio M in St. Paul, and a 2006 recording through Eric Swanson, both consisting of original compositions and arrangements by current and former members of the orchestra. These grants were awarded by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and the MN State Legislature.


The band not only features fine musicianship, but also benefits
local charities. Beneficiaries include such organizations as Camp Connection, Habitat for Humanity, Loaves and Fishes, KUMD - FM radio jazz programming, the University of Minnesota-Duluth's Bernstein/Krenzen Jazz Scholarship Fund, the University of Wisconsin-Superior Jazz Scholarship Fund, the Duluth Playhouse,
Woodland Hills Children¹s Home, YMCA Summer Camp scholarships, the Duluth Bethel Society, the Artists Relief Fund, the Salvation Army, the Northland Youth Music Program (NYMP),
KUWS - FM radio, and more.


Thanks to the vision and support of its Executive Board and the commitment of its musicians, the future looks bright with plans for more grant applications, projects, help for charities, and jazz education opportunities for our area youth.




Randy Lee - Artistic Director


RANDY LEE teaches middle school band, jazz band, and general music in Hermantown, MN, and is an adjunct staff member for the U of M, Duluth (UMD) Music Department. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with a minor in Jazz Studies from UMD and his Master of Science degree in Education-Instruction from the U. of Wisconsin, Superior. He is a regional representative to the Minnesota Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) and is past state chairperson, and currently secretary, of the MN Chapter of
ASBDA. He was recently selected to the Executive Board of the MN Band Director¹s Association (MBDA). Mr. Lee has twice been the director of the IAJE MN Northeast Region High School Honor Jazz Band and guest directed the Wisconsin Lakeland Region High School Honor Jazz Band. Randy was awarded the "Distinguished Young Band Director of the Year" Award in Minnesota in 1991 by the state chapter of ASBDA. He is active
as a saxophone clinician and professional musician including performances with the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, the
Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Superior Saxophone Quartet, Twin Ports Wind Ensemble, and as a busy free-lance musician for various jazz gigs, dances, and receptions involving everything from Dixieland duos to big bands. He has
conducted the UMD Junior High Honor Band, judged the Iowa High School Jazz Championships, was asked to be the sax section coach for the MN All-State High School Jazz Ensemble, and has been a guest soloist with the UMD Jazz Bands.