Saturn V is a jazz combo consisting of five seniors from Valley High School in West Des Moines. They have been together for almost two and a half years; they play jazz standards, blues, latin, and funk. They enjoy playing, and play wherever possible. Venues include weddings, corporate events, private parties, and restaurants. They have played for: Café Su, Huntington ’s Disease Charity Event, Hey Jude: St. Jude Benefit concert, Zion Lutheran Church, Des Moines Farmers Market, Iowa Heart Association of Iowa, and Adventureland Inn.
The members are going onto undergraduate studies in college. Dan Kristan, the bassist, plans to study music at DePaul University in Chicago. The drummer, Jason Ratcliff, plans to attend Iowa State University for chemistry. As well as Miku Vaniman, keyboards, at ISU for engineering. Juli Wagoner, alto sax, is undecided. Travis Patton, the violinist plans to study music at Belmont University in Nashville.
Saturn V listens to a variety of music including rock, funk, bluegrass, latin, hip-hop, fusion, and of course jazz. Music is very influential in their lives, and they plan to play music, especially jazz, for the rest of their lives.