Confluence brings Jazz to Amana

AMANA — TKM Theatrical Productions is sponsoring Confluence, July 18, from 7-9 p.m. at the Amana Performing Arts Center, 39 38th Ave. in Amana.

Admission is by donation.

Confluence, as the name suggests, is a blending of musicians with many years of experience playing melodic jazz and the soulful music of such artists as Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Lyle Mays, Christian McBride and Chick Corea, along with a number of our original tunes.

The result is music that both engages and entertains our audience, said TKM in a press release.

Confluence consists of Denny Redmond on keyboards; Pat Smith on guitar; Peter Hart, on saxophone; John Hall on bass; and John O’Connell on drums.

Redmond received his bachelor’s degree in music composition and theory from Coe College in 1976 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Coe in 1988, according to his biography.

Redmond’s musical career started in high school with a band called Change of Pace in 1968. He spent a good portion of his formative years playing at a bar called Polly's Penthouse.

Redmond played with Gage Memorial, a nine-piece brass band, from 1972 to 1974 and with Websterjon from 1974-1976. He played on a full-time basis with Source until late 1978.

Retired from CPA firm Latta Harris, LLP, Redmond now plays with the C.R. Jazz Big Band and Brass Transit Authority, a Chicago/Blood Sweat & Tears tribute band, with Soul Sacrifice, a Santana Tribute band and with Confluence, a jazz-based band.

Smith grew up in Evanston, Illinois and has played guitar in many styles over the years. He’s a member of the Music Faculty at Grinnell College and provides private guitar lessons.

When not playing with Confluence, Smith plays jazz with the Roots of Rhythm, the Smith/Wagor Duo and Classic Rock & Blues with Fork in the Road.

A graduate of Cornell College concentrating in composition, Smith has composed music for Red Cedar Chamber Music and the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival. He lives in Cedar Rapids.

Hart has played professionally with Louis Bellson, Roberta Flack, Lional Hampton, Clark Terry, Buddy De Franko, and Rita Moreno. He played touring Broadway shows such as “Chorus Line,” “Chicago,” “Grease” and “The Fantasticks.”

Hall came to Iowa after completing coursework for a doctorate degree in bass performance from the University of Memphis in 1997. He holds a Master of Music degree in bass performance from the University of Georgia.

Hall’s younger years were spent playing rock 'n' roll and R&B on the Southeastern Gulf Coast circuit, touring with bands through Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. A return to school led him to a career of teaching and performing orchestral music and jazz study.

Hall spent 22 years as an orchestra director in the Cedar Rapids Community Schools and was a visiting artist in bass at the University of Northern Iowa, Augustana College, Cornell College and Coe College, where he currently teaches.

Hall has appeared on recordings with Craig Erickson, Billy Lee Janey, Al Naylor, Orchestra Iowa and the Corridor Jazz Project and currently performs locally in Eastern Iowa with Confluence, The Invisible Band, Funkstop and Soul Sacrifice.

O’Connell was born and raised in Cedar Rapids. He was attracted to the drums at an early age.

A child of 60s rock 'n' roll and Motown, O’Connell’s first legitimate drum set was given to him by his parents with the hope that playing would become a lifelong passion. It did.

In high school, O’Connell was introduced to jazz. Playing in horn bands was a joy throughout high school and college.

O’Connell still plays in bands, and his 10 grandchildren regard him as the “cool grandpa,” his bio says.