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You guys are wonderful, what is the name of your band? -- “I’ve seen more than a few funny looks when answering that question,” says Jazz Orgy bassist Andrew Mertens. He and pianist Mark Martin co-founded the group at the start of the new millennium as a different sort of open mic. “We’ve hosted ‘jam’ nights with folk musicians, blues guys, rock-and-rollers, but we’ve never hosted a jam specifically for jazz musicians.”
“It started as almost a joke as we sat in front of my computer making posters. Below the words ‘Jazz Orgy’ were bullet points below describing what it is and isn’t. The list gave us both a good laugh.”
The good times continued for Mertens and Martin as their Sunday night jam became the best night of the week for the club. Martin attributes the success to their show’s formula. “In the first set, we feature a guest artist. This ensures a variety of instrumentation, musical selections, and styles from week-to-week. The second set is ‘the jam’, where anyone is welcome to bring their instrument to the stage and play along, but beware… the fire on stage is hot. The third set is a combination of the first two sets; guest artists and jammers unite with the Jazz Orgy, often resulting in a six-or-seven-piece ensemble that brings the night to a close. The third set is where the miracles happen; it is the essence of the Jazz Orgy.”
In January of 2003, Mertens and Martin packed up their instruments and hit the road, embarking on the first-of-many Jazz Orgy tours, playing for tips wherever they could on their way to visit friends in New Mexico. “That first trip was great,” said Mertens. “We met so many great people and awesome musicians that we decided to make it a yearly event.” Martin added, “If two musicians can spend a month in a van without killing each other, they probably should be in a band together.”
Word of the band’s success on the road began to spread at home, and by the beginning of 2005 the Jazz Orgy was performing every night of the week, with weekly residencies at clubs throughout Wisconsin’s Fox Valley. It would seem that such a busy gigging schedule wouldn’t allow time for touring, but Mertens claims it is ‘no problem’. “We have a huge list of players that sub for us. I know of one bassist in particular who is always happy to see me leave town.” Martin agreed, mentioning that “the Fox Valley is home to an incredible density of talent. There are more musicians and gigs here than in a lot of America’s ‘big cities’.”
The Jazz Orgy’s February 2006 tour schedule was their biggest yet, including two weeks in New Mexico and Arizona with stops in Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. In addition to being their longest tour, they traveled with their biggest band. “This year we are excited to be bringing Steve Cooper with us,” said Mertens. “He has played with us from the very beginning and he is a phenomenal sax player and singer.”
December 2007 saw The Jazz Orgy's introduction into the Milwaukee jazz scene at The Jazz Estate, the most respected jazz club in Milwaukee, if not in all of Wisconsin. 2008 looks like it will start out with a bang for the band, with more bookings at The Jazz Estate and the February tour looking to be the longest one yet to date. The tour will be spread out from January 27th to February 21st, and will see the band making stops at new venues in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and El Paso, along with our regular tour stops in Kansas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Watch out for the Jazz Orgy and their enchanting mix of jazz, funk, blues, and groove … and make sure to ask them, “What’s the name of your band?”
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