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George Maurer Group to wish happy holidays
The Paramount Theater on historical St. Germain Street will jazz it up for the holiday season Tuesday and Wednesday as the George Maurer Jazz Group presents its annual Christmas Concert.
“The big Christmas show at the Paramount is one of the most exciting shows we do,” said pianist George Maurer, a member of the the seven-piece band that plays traditional and New Orleans style jazz, with a bit of bebop and Latin mixed in.
The other six members of the group are Muggsy Lauer, guitar and vocals; Jeff Engholm, bass; Ann Michels, vocals; Scott Chabot, drums; Richard Witteman, trumpet; and Tom Pattock, trumpet.
“The seven of us have been together in different areas of music and theater since 1993,” Maurer said.
But the George Maurer Jazz Group, which was the marriage of two different bands, didn’t officially come together until 1998.
“Jeff and Ann had their own group, The Black and White Jazz Project, and I had my own group from St. John’s, The George Maurer quintet, and then we got a couple St. Cloud graduates in the middle,” Maurer said.
This combination of talent is what Minneapolis Jazz 88 calls “genre bending eclectictites.”
While the George Maurer Jazz Group has been together for three years now, in addition to the group, many of the musicians have individual projects.
According to Maurer, Witteman has an a capella group called Half Steps, and Pattock plays “old time music” when he’s not playing Jazz.
“Jeff, Mark and Scott are in another band called Collective Unconscious,” Maurer said.
Collective Unconscious, which is influenced by the music of the band Phish, often performs at The Red Carpet and other places in the Twin Cities.
“When I saw them I thought they were really good and they played well together. They do kind of experimental rock,” said Chris Haux, a musician formerly mentored by Engholm.
While her other music colleagues are playing in outside bands, Michels is pursuing different artistic venues.
“Ann stars in theatricals in the Twin Cities,” Maurer said.
When not serving as studio musicians or filling in for other groups, the seven member Jazz ensemble tours the upper Midwest and has accumulated quite an impressive resume.
“We’ve individually performed for members of congress, at Carnegie Hall and for Bob Hope. Everybody’s individual talent comes together when we perform,” Maurer said.
According to Maurer, the group has played at some of the finest stages in the upper Midwest and has fun while they are doing it.
“We are just going to keep on doing this until it stops being fun,” Maurer said.
And while performing may be fun, it does have its difficulties.
“Our main problem is choosing a direction to go next. We have to balance seven different people’s schedules, and travel is limited because of families and full time jobs,” Maurer said.
Despite obstacles, the band has managed to produce two CDs — “Jazz in Black and White” and “On Track: Live at the Dakota” — which has eight original tracks. A Christmas CD is on the way from their performance at the Paramount on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Our rendition of ‘The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ is going to make Tchaikovsky turn in his grave,” Maurer said.
To up-and-coming musicians and those interested in pursuing a career in music, Maurer gives advice.
“First, leave your ego at the door, be the best you can be on your instrument, don’t do cover tunes, do originals-even though it’s a longer road, it’s a more fulfilling road. Be unique and push the envelope.”
The Christmas concert is $12 for students and tickets can be purchased over the phone at 259-5463. For more information about the George Maurer Group, visit [email protected] and hear sound samples at www.gmjazz.com.
Kristen J. Kubisiak can be reached at: [email protected]
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