The 20 piece All That Jazz Big Band was founded in 1985 by Bruce Johnson as a rehearsal band in his Middleton basement. With every dance or concert, ATJ proves what its members have learned in rehearsal – there is no better way to experience the Jazz Standards with a featured vocalist than in a live performance!
All That Jazz now features two more groups for smaller venues and smaller budgets. All That Jazz Classic Big Band is a 9-10 piece group with vocalist– all the swing with ½ the calories! All That Jazz Combo features 4-5 of our top players in a less formal setting.
Any of the All That Jazz groups can provide a unique mix of jazz literature. At a typical All That Jazz concert or dance, you will hear old standards as well as modern interpretations of jazz classics. We also throw in plenty of Latin tunes and ballads, even polkas, waltzes and rock to keep people of all ages tapping their toes or out on the dance floor!
All That Jazz Big Band is a regular feature at the Madison Art Fair on the Square and Tunes at the Monona Terrace, plays for the Badger Catholic Swing Dances, has opened a show for Rockapella, performed with singer and actor Tom Wopat, and has presented concerts at the Stoughton Opera House, Al Ringling Theatre, and the Monroe Performing Arts Center. All That Jazz gained national exposure on the CBS Early Show in a remote broadcast from the Monona Terrace. They have also performed for many festivals, concerts in the park series, weddings, conventions, anniversaries, and other area celebrations over the past 25 years.
Under current director Paul Heinecke, All That Jazz is also dedicated to an outreach program for the “next generation” of Jazz musicians, and has performed with and for high school and middle school students in Baraboo, Evansville, Madison, Mazomanie, McFarland, Mount Horeb, Reedsburg, Spring Green, Verona, Waunakee, and WI Dells, WI.
