The Waupaca Community Arts Board with primary sponsor, Neuville Motors, is excited to present our 3rd annual Jazz & Cocktails featuring award winning jazz performers on the beautiful Waupaca Chain O’ Lakes!
Friday, May 29
The kick-off jam at Odin & Freja's Place for Jazz & Cocktails will feature the organ trio, BACKline Trio. This group is Dennis Wage on keyboards, Grammy winning artist & longtime member of the Delbert McClinton band from Nashville, Kelvin Kaspar, the guitar virtuoso from Neenah, and Tony Wagner from Waupaca on drums. For this event, Jesse Crandall will accompany on bass from the Point of Jazz group. Jammers are welcome to join in the second set.
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Odin & Freja’s Place- 335 N. Main St., Scandinavia, WI 54977
$10 Suggested Donation
From Grammy-nominated brilliance to Midwest jazz royalty — Michael Mayo, Steve March-Tormé, Janet Planet with John Harmon, Kate Voss & The Hot Sauce, and Daddio featuring Joe Fittante bring the stage to life.
Saturday, May 30
Live music at two incredible venues!
Multiple performances between the Indian Crossing Casino and Wheelhouse Restaurant! Food and Specialty drinks will be available at the iconic ICC. Dinner options also available at the Wheelhouse Restaurant.
Doors open at 2 p.m.
Music from 3 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Indian Crossing Casino- E1171 County Hwy Q, Waupaca, WI 54981
Wheelhouse Restaurant- E1209 County Road Q, Waupaca, WI 54981
Tickets—
General Admission— $30 (Online), $35 (At door, Day of Show)
Preferred Seating Admission— $45-55 (Online Only)
For those visiting the Wheelhouse for dinner, be aware that although there will be entertainment on the deck, it's first come, first served seating.
*Scroll down for more ticketing info
WCAB is able to bring this incredible roster of jazz musicians thanks to generous sponsor support from Neuville Motors and Woodpile Wildlife Foundation.
Sunday, May 31
A jazz cruise on the Chief Waupaca sternwheeler on beautiful Chain O’ Lakes with live music featuring Jazz Orgy, plus a continental brunch.
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Clearwater Harbor- N2757 County Road QQ, Waupaca, WI 54981
Tickets-
$50- Tickets only available online. Tickets will NOT be available at the door. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early to board the boat for departure.
*Scroll for down more ticketing info
Tickets—
General Admission
Saturday, May 30
2 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
$30 (Online), $35 (At door, Day of Show)
Ticket includes ICC Main Stage and Wheelhouse Deck Stage performances. General Admission seating is located behind the Preferred Seating area at the ICC. Food and specialty drinks will be available for purchase.
Jazz & Cocktails Gen. Admission Tickets HERE
Preferred Seating
Saturday, May 30
2 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
$45-$55
Ticket includes table seating and table service for all ICC Main Stage performances. Food and specialty drinks will be available for purchase. When buying your tickets online, please select your seats in the seating chart. Thank you!
(Tickets Available Online Only)
Jazz & Cocktails Preferred Seating Tickets HERE
Jazz Cruise
Sunday, May 31
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
$50
Ticket includes a cruise on the Chain O’ Lakes aboard the Chief Waupaca sternwheeler with live music from Jazz Orgy and a continental brunch!
(Tickets Available Online Only)
Jazz & Cocktails Cruise Tickets HERE
Jazz & Cocktails Performers—
Whether Michael Mayo is performing with his band, as a guest, or alone with a looper pedal and a piano, the LA native’s commanding and other worldly vocalese has been gathering critical and commercial acclaim around the globe. Mayo attended the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance (now the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz), only the third vocalist to be accepted into the 20-year-old program, where he learned from the likes of Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Mayo, a veteran international performer, has led his own band to perform at some of the world's most revered jazz clubs and festivals. As a featured guest, he has recently recorded and performed with Herbie Hancock, Terri Lynne Carrington, Jacob Collier, Scary Pockets, Lenny Kravitz, Josh Groban, Ben Wendel and The War and Treaty. Signed to Mack Avenue/Artistry Records, Mayo’s debut record “Bones”, produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Eli Wolf (Norah Jones, Al Green, The Roots) was released in 2021. In 2022, Mayo was named “International Artist of the Year” at the Deutscher Jazzpreis. Mayo’s highly anticipated sophomore release “Fly” featuring pianist Shai Maestro, bassist Linda Oh, and drummer Nate Smith was released in 2024 and nominated for 2 Grammy Awards.
Janet Planet, one of the premiere jazz vocalists from Wisconsin, is self-produced and has managed a remarkable career spanning over 40 years. Active in all aspects of the business, she has over 25 recordings in her discography. Janet is a 6-time WAMI award winner who has also been inducted into the WAMI Hall of Fame. John Harmon, pianist and composer from Oshkosh, continues to have a remarkable career spanning decades. A graduate of Lawrence University, with a master’s degree in composition & an honorary doctorate degree, John returned to Lawrence to become the director of jazz studies. Co-founder of the nationally acclaimed group Matrix, he has been composing works for many artists including Brazilian vocalist Flora Purim. Together John and Janet will perform songs from their latest collaboration and recording, "Last Call", at Jazz & Cocktails in the Casino Brown House.
Singer/songwriter Steve March-Tormé is the son of the multi-talented Mel Tormé and stepson of the actor/comedian Hal March, host of NBC-TV’s The $64,000 Question Show. Steve has wooed audiences in every venue from intimate jazz clubs to Performing Arts Centers to festivals worldwide (Australia, England, Japan, Canada, and Brazil to name a few). In addition, he did a 28-city, cross-country tour for Columbia Artists Mgt. Inc. entitled Tormé Sings Tormé. After a recent performance at The Smith Center in Las Vegas, Jetsetters Magazine Editor Janice Marie Wilson wrote of Steve: “I had forgotten how wonderful falling in love was until last Friday night, when I attended the Steve March-Tormé performance at the Cabaret Jazz Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s worth coming to Las Vegas just to see him because you will surely fall in love ... the evening took off the ground never to land until after the last standing ovation!” In addition to his performing and recording career, Steve is the voice you hear every weekday morning from 6:00 a.m.- 9:00 a.m. and afternoons from 3:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. on 91.1 FM The Avenue in Northeast Wisconsin.
Jazz Orgy is Andy Mertens - Bass / Vocals: Throughout college Andrew maintained an impressive performance schedule playing five to ten gigs per week with groups of unfixed styles; jazz, rock, blues, polka, reggae, Dixieland, country, and funk. Most recently Andrew has performed with the Broadway touring companies: "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Beauty and the Beast." He played for a Shirley Jones Christmas Special and toured the country with both the "Jan Garber Orchestra,"; and the gypsy swing group "Harmonious Wail." Andrew is currently living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Mike Underwood Drums: There is something amazing about Mike Underwood. Nobody knows exactly what it is, but everybody knows it's there. Maybe it's his collegiate classical training and his frequent performances with regional symphonies and wind ensembles. Maybe it's the jazz chops he developed while performing with the bands Omikronica or The Jazz Orgy. Maybe it's his extensive experience with steel drums and island music in the band Pandora's Groove. Most likely, it's the energy and charisma that he brings to the stage for every performance. His commitment to practice and learning yields incredible musical tensions and releases. It's a musical catharsis. Kurt Shipe: Kurt is a freelance trumpet player based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. His collaborations include performances with Frankie Valli, Haley Reinhardt, Sal Valentinetti, Steve March-Torme, Dave Daminai & the No Vacancy Orchestra, Landau Murphy Jr and the Temptations. A founding member of the Oshkosh Jazz Festival, Kurt and his collaborators have worked tirelessly to ensure this festival features current, influential, gifted and talented artists/entertainers of our country, and throughout the world. Ross Catterton: Ross is a multi-WAMI nominated saxophonist and vocalist who studied classical and jazz saxophone at Lawrence University in Appleton. Kelvin M. Kaspar is a Wisconsin-based jazz guitarist, performer, and educator with over two decades of professional experience. Kelvin has appeared in 3,000+ live performances across the U.S with artists such as Wayne Newton, Joe Piscopo, Janet Planet, and on NBC’s The Masked Singer. Kelvin is currently teaching at UW–Stevens Point and multiple community arts organizations. He regularly serves as a clinician and adjudicator for universities, jazz camps, festivals, and state music conventions.
Hailing from the Emerald City, Kate Voss got her start in the club scene in Seattle playing with a variety of groups on piano. When her jazz studies were nearing an end, her musical interests could not be pinned down to a single genre, her teacher assigned her the title of “dilettante”. Luckily for us all, that only inspired Kate to further explore other avenues for making music and ultimately brought her to form Kate Voss & The Hot Sauce which encompasses all the genres she loves. A true variety band, this act pulls from her varied background of jazz, blues, pop, country, western-swing, oldies, Americana and rockabilly. As a full-time musician, Voss has cultivated a stage presence that charms and delights folks and a voice that “Nails the authenticity of the era” with tunes from Brenda Lee to Nancy Sinatra and Patsy Cline to Ray Charles. Kate has been awarded Vocalist of the Year and Ensemble of the Year from Earshot Magazine. After her move to Wisconsin in 2021, was nominated for several WAMI awards including Female Vocalist of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, and Free Reed Player of the Year. As leader of this band, Kate sings lead vocals, plays the Ukelele Bass, and occasionally plays melodica while staying true to her one rule in the band: Kate says, “We only play songs I love.”
DADDIO is a contemporary improvisational group, composed of some of the most experienced musicians in Wisconsin. Their musical offerings vary from fresh takes on other's work, to original material in a wide range of grooves & styles. The members include Warren Wiegratz on Sax/Flute & Keyboards from Milwaukee, who has received so many WAMI awards, that his "number" has been retired. Tony Wagner on drums, is considered to be one of the most groove-oriented players in Wisconsin. Originally from the Minneapolis area, Charlie Sauter is on bass. Appleton native & guitar virtuoso Scott Derks rounds out the band. Joining DADDIO for Jazz & Cocktails is vocalist Joe Fittante from Northern Wisconsin. Joe has made his mark in the Wisconsin music scene in the bands Hip Pocket, MoJoe & Flipside, and the Chicago tribute band Alive Again.
BACKline Trio is the featured group at the kick-off jam for Jazz & Cocktails. The event is taking place at Odin & Freja's Place in Scandinavia. This group is Dennis Wage on keyboards, the Grammy winning artist & longtime member of the Delbert McClinton band from Nashville, Kelvin Kaspar, the guitar virtuoso from Neenah, and Tony Wagner from Waupaca on drums. For this event, Jesse Crandall on bass from the Point of Jazz group will also join.
Looking for a place to stay?
Experience the charm of the Chain O’ Lakes while making the most of the Third Annual Jazz and Cocktails. Out of town guests are encouraged to stay at one of the many welcoming local lodgings in Waupaca, where lakeside rentals, hotels, a boutique inn, and more offers the perfect place to relax after an evening of jazz. Staying local allows visitors to fully enjoy the beauty, hospitality, and vibrant arts culture of the Waupaca area while supporting the businesses that help make this special event possible.
We need lots of volunteers to make Jazz & Cocktails a successful event. We would love it if you would consider volunteering!
This is a fun way to meet people in the community, have a good time, and see first-hand how your donation is being used in the community. Volunteering for Jazz & Cocktails gets you free entry to this event where you can enjoy all the amazing bands we have scheduled for the day.
Please sign up for a time slot by clicking on the button below. Consider inviting a friend to be with you. The more the merrier! Thank you!
Kyle Knoke, Program Director of Jazz Coterie, will return as our emcee for Jazz & Cocktails.
Thank you to our primary sponsor, Neuville Motors of Waupaca.
Thanks to event sponsors Woodpile Wildlife Foundation and Indian Crossing Casino.
The Indian Crossing Casino/ICC is a full-service bar and restaurant with an iconic concert hall. We are grateful to them for sponsoring this event. This Waupaca legend is seated on the channel between Columbia and Lime Kiln Lakes on the crystal-clear Chain O’ Lakes.
