Northern Vermont University / Johnson State College: Guitar & Funk-Fusion Ensembles


All-Star JAMboree II – Steep (3/13/14)

Dibden Center For the Arts, Johnson VT


from the second All-Star Jamboree at Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson (VT) State College on 3/13/14 ~ a wicked Nor’easter, a shuttered campus, and stranded cars & gear couldn’t keep us down..!

Ray Paczkowski (keys) … Jon Fishman (drums)
Gabe Jarrett (drums) … Rob Morse (bass) … Greg Matses (guitar)

“Steep” by Greg Matses

JSC Funk/Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

I will once again be directing the Johnson State College Funk/Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wednesday 5/2/18 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College, Johnson Vermont .. Open to all..  info at www.jsc.edu .. Here’s our set:

I Feel the Earth Move  (Carole King)
Ex’s & Oh’s  (Elle King – Dave Bassett)
Geek in the Pink  (Jason Mraz/Ian Sheridan/Kevin Kadish)
Try  (Janis Joplin – Jerry Ragovoy/Chip Taylor)
Gone Under  (Snarky Puppy – Shayna Steele/David Cook)
#W W C  (The Main Squeeze)

with: Michaela Dube (vocals, tenor sax), James Isaac (guitar, vocals), Gwendolyn Campus (vocals), James Douglas (drums, percussion), Anna Sargent (vocals), Brittney Malik (trumpet, vocals), Travis Bruyette (drums, percussion), Julia Simons (vibes, tenor sax, vocals), Timothy Pinckney (bass), Rebecca Flieder (vocals), Makayla Jones (baritone sax, alto sax), Spencer Perry (drums, guitar, keyboards)..

JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2018 (cover)
JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2018 (inside)

JSC Funk/Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

I will once again be directing the Johnson State College Funk/Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wednesday 12/13/17 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College, Johnson Vermont .. Free and open to all..  info at www.jsc.edu .. here’s the set:

Doo Wop (That Thing)  (Lauryn Hill)
Bang Bang  (Monophonics – Sonny Bono)
How Good It Feels  (Lake Street Dive – Bridget Kearney)
Jungle Boogie  (Kool & the Gang)
Dr. Funk  (The Main Squeeze)

with: Spencer Perry (drums, vocals, guitar), Lucas Holmes (trumpet, vocals), Janea Hudson (vocals, keyboards), James Douglas (drums), Timothy Pinckney (bass), Brittney Malik (trumpet, vocals, keyboards), Makayla Jones (alto sax, baritone sax), Katelyn Shaw (alto sax, vocals) ..

JSC Ensembles program - Fall 2017(cover)JSC Ensembles program - Fall 2017 (inside)

JSC Funk/Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

I will once again be directing the Johnson State College Funk/Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wednesday 4/26/17 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College, Johnson Vermont .. Free and open to all..  info at www.jsc.edu .. here’s the set:

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough  (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Nickolas Ashford/Valerie Simpson)
Right Place Wrong Time  (Dr. John – Mac Rebennack)
Respect  (Aretha Franklin – Otis Redding)
Scatterbrain  (Jeff Beck – Max Middleton)
Borderline  (Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds – Arleigh Kincheloe)

with: Spencer Perry (drums, percussion), Nathaniel Garland (guitar), Jack Snow (guitar), Michaela Dube (vocals), Randall Ingalls (vocals), Janea Hudson (vocals), Brandon Stevens (drums), Justin Burgess (bass), Brittney Malik (trumpet, vocals), Makayla Jones (alto sax, baritone sax), Julia Simons (tenor sax, vocals) ..

JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2017(cover)JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2017 (inside)

JSC Ensemble Performances

Johnson VT

I will once again be directing the Johnson State College Funk/Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wednesday 12/7/16 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College, Johnson Vermont .. Free and open to all..  info at www.jsc.edu .. here’s the set:

Brother, I’m Hungry  (Jon Cleary)
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree  (KT Tunstall)
You Know I’m No Good  (Amy Winehouse)
The Last Suppit  (Lettuce – Adam Deitch/Neal Evans)
Nothing From Nothing  (Billie Preston/Bruce Fisher)

with: Quincy Walter (drums), Nathaniel Garland (guitar), Jack Snow (guitar), Michaela Dube (vocals, tenor sax), Randall Ingalls (vocals), Laurel Hubbert-Severance (vocals), Brandon Stevens (drums), Justin Burgess (bass, keyboards), Ian Bowen (bass), Makayla Jones (alto sax, baritone sax), Benjamin Steele (guitar), Matthew Brown (guitar) ..

JSC Ensembles program - Fall 2016 (cover)JSC Ensembles program - Fall 2016 (inside)

JSC Ensemble Performances

Johnson VT

I’ll be directing the Johnson State College Funk/Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wednesday 4/27/16 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College, Johnson Vermont .. Free and open to all..  info at www.jsc.edu ..
here’s the set:

If I Go  (Ella Eyre)
While You’re Out Looking For Sugar  (Ronald Dunbar,  Edyth Wayne – Joss Stone)
Peaches en Regalia  (Frank Zappa)
365 Days (ZZ Ward)
Freddie’s Dead (Curtis Mayfield)

with: Quincy Walter (drums), Kelly Shaw (vocals), Jack Snow (guitar), Rachele Funk (vocals, flute), Charles Munroe (vocals), Laurel Hubbert-Severance (vocals), Brandon Stevens (drums), Justin Burgess (bass, keyboards), Ian Bowen (bass, percussion), Brittney Malik (trumpet, vocals) ..

JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2016 (cover) JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2016 (inside)

JSC Ensemble Performances

Johnson VT

I’ll be directing the Johnson State College Funk/Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wed 12/9/15 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College, Johnson Vermont .. Free and open to all..  info at www.jsc.edu ..
here’s the set:

Say My Name  (Destiny’s Child)
Valerie  (Mark Ronson / Amy Winehouse)
Jeep On 35  (John Scofield)
Piece of My Heart  (Janis Joplin / Jerry Ragovoy / Bert Berns)
Echo  (The Dear Hunter / Casey Crescenzo)

with Quincy Walter (drums), Kim Anetsberger (vocals), Jack Snow (guitar), Rachele Funk (vocals, flute, percussion), Miranda Morris (alto sax, vocals, percussion), Timothy Melville (guitar), Brandon Stevens (drums), Justin Burgess (bass, keyboards), Ian Bowen (bass, percussion), Nicholas Melwood (guitar, vocals), Brittney Malik (trumpet, vocals, percussion)  ..

JSC Ensembles program - Fall 2015 (cover)
JSC Ensembles program - Fall 2015 (inside)

JSC Ensemble Performances

Johnson VT

I’ll be directing the Johnson State College Funk/Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wed 5/6/15 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College, Johnson Vermont .. Free and open to all..  info at www.jsc.edu ..
here’s the set:

It’s Your Thing  (the Isley Brothers)
Mercy  (Duffy)
Sexy and I know It  (LMFAO)
Indiscipline  (King Crimson)
Higher Ground  (Stevie Wonder)
Gimme Shelter  (the Rolling Stones)

with Benjamin Spound (drums/percussion), Kemal Onor (vocals), Jack Snow (guitar), Rachele Funk (vocals), Charles Munroe (vocals), Timothy Melville (guitar/keyboards), Brandon Stevens (drums/percussion), Justin Burgess (bass), Caleb Boardman (guitar) ..

JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2015 (cover)
JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2015 (inside)

JSC Funk Fusion Ensemble – Stronger Than Me


the Johnson State College Funk Fusion Ensemble performing Stronger Than Me by Amy Winehouse on 4/30/14 at Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson VT ..

Directed & Arranged by Greg Matses ..
with: Bryanna Bertrand (voice), Angela Hunt (voice), Rachele Funk (voice), Timothy Melville (lead guitar), Jolton Carruth (guitar), Tomohiro Ushida (keys), Brandon Stevens (drums), Nick Melwood (percussion), Henry Clark (mandolin), Keegan Farara (bass), Ben Steele (bass), Jack Snow (guitar), John Coughlin (guitar)

JSC Ensemble Performances

Johnson VT

I’ll be directing the Johnson State College Funk/Fusion Ensemble and Guitar Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wed 4/30/14 at 7pm – come hear us play tunes by Muddy Waters, the Meters, Bach, Led Zeppelin, Amy Winehouse, Mahavishnu Orchestra and others .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College, Johnson Vermont .. Free and open to all..  info at www.jsc.edu ..

JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2014 (cover)

JSC Ensembles program - Spring 2014 (inside)

All-Star Jamboree II (3/13/14)

photos by Nicole Bachand


All-Star JAMboree (3/28/13)

Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson VT