The Detroit International Jazz Festival Orchestra (DJFO) is
the official big band of the Detroit Jazz Fest. The ensemble includes artists
on the faculty of Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Capitol
University, Wayne State University, as well as members of the Detroit Symphony
and other highly respected freelance jazz artists in the metro Detroit area.
DJFO is conducted by Dennis Wilson, who began his professional
career with Lionel Hampton as trombonist, arranger, and musical director. He
has been a lead/solo trombonist for the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, The New Tommy
Dorsey Orchestra, and the Count Basie Orchestra. For 10 years he was the lead
trombonist for the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, which continues today as the
Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra. Wilson also shared his time with the city of San Jose,
CA, as artist in residence for the San Jose Jazz Society and created the San
Jose Jazz Orchestra. Wilson received a Grammy Award nomination for arrangements
created for The Manhattan Transfer, and performed on six Grammy Award-winning
albums with the Count Basie Orchestra.
The DJFO consists of Peter Kahn, lead alto; Danny Fisher-Lochhead, alto 2; Diego
Rivera, tenor 1; Andrew Bishop, tenor 2; Mark Kieme, baritone sax; Scott Belck,
lead trumpet; Dwight Adams, trumpet 2; John Douglas, trumpet 3; Paul Finkbeiner,
trumpet 4; Chris Smith, lead trombone; Vincent Chandler, trombone 2; Edward Gooch,
trombone 3; Christopher Hernacki, bass trombone; Geri Allen, piano; Ellen Rowe,
piano; Rodney Whitaker, bass; and Pete Siers, drums.
