Iowa Lakes
University of Okoboji
Reggie Schive
Summer Jazz Camp

Jazz Camp History

 

The idea of a summer jazz camp dealing exclusively with the study of jazz popped into my professor, Reggie Schive’s head.  There were other music camps in the area, but none dealing exclusively with jazz. He knew we needed instructors who would qualify in three ways:  they would be fine players, excellent educators, and most importantly would work cheap!

With his connections and my organizational skills, the camp got off to a great start. Together we made the camp a great success.

Our first call went to Tony and Joey Gulizia of Omaha.  The G. Bros. were former students of his at the U. of Omaha and had been making a name for themselves by serving as Artists in Residence throughout the state of Nebraska.  They accepted his challenge and with me doing the organizing, we began our first jazz camp in June of 1981.  We had a grand total of 26 campers, enough for one big band. 

Tony handled all the keyboard players, Joey took care of the drummers and both worked with the rhythm sections.  A group of dedicated and talented high school band directors rounded out the staff that year.  The students loved Tony and Joey and we were off to a rousing start.

The next person added would be a saxophonist in order to free Reggie from his teaching duties.  In 1984, Roger Neumann, a Spencer, IA native, was making a name for himself in L.A. as a player, composer, arranger and leader of Roger Neumann's Rather Large Band.  He, too, accepted the call and was very excited to work with young musicians.

Our last camp at Buena Vista was the summer of 1987.  Reggie was leaving for another teaching position in Sioux City, IA and there was concern as to whether we would have a camp the next year.  At our traditional Friday night Faculty-Staff Camp party, we presented Reg with a T-shirt which announced that the 1988 Camp would be at Camp Okoboji on beautiful West Lake Okoboji in Northwest Iowa.  In one day we had made arrangements for our camp to have a new home.  It turned out to be a great move!

In 1988, a hot trumpet soloist, Kirk Garrison, who was serving in the Strategic Air  Command Band in Omaha joined the camp.  He came on board and has really made things exciting.  Kirk is now playing, recording and teaching in the Chicago area.  He is an extrovertish, effervescent guy who brings life and fun to any situation. 

In 1989 we decided we needed a permanent bass player to complete the rhythm section.  The always busy Susie Miget from Des Moines had served in the position whenever possible.  Tony and Joey kept urging us to hire Andy Hall from Lincoln, NE.  What a first impression he made!  He possesses a big sound on acoustic bass, great time, and his solos are a rare work of art.

We've had three guitarists, Chris Rosenberg, Rodney Jones, and Russell Malone, through a six-year period, but no feeling of permanence in the position.  Reggie sent a call to another former student at UNO and a friend of the G. Bros. Ron Cooley, a teacher, recording artist, composer and arranger, joined us in 1996.  He is a member of Mannheim Steamroller and is busy gigging throughout the year now.  In 1997, our rhythm section had an addition with the arrival of a talented young guitarist, Scott Hesse.  A native of Sioux City and former jazz camper, he resides in New York City where he teaches, gigs and has released his many CDs.

Some other people who have been active in the camp:  the late Jack Wells, trombone; his son, Mike Wells, trumpet; the late Marty Crandell, saxophones; Dan Cassady, trombone; C. J. Kocher, saxophones; the late Frank Mantooth, piano/arranger; Steve Dygert, saxophones; Bob “Hendy” Henderson, drums; Ron Bertsch, bass; Mike Day, trumpet; Preston Love, saxophones; Ken Hoyne, Jr., trombone; Rick Ayres, trombone and assistant coordinator; Julie Forney, trombone and office; Greg Forney, drums; Tom Musel, trumpet; Donna Musel, office staff; Cindy Mouw, percussion and office; Jeromy Mouw, sound technician; Doug Stueven, sound technician; Kevin Lindner, trumpet; Bob Gibson, trumpet; Jack Ryan, trumpet/bass; Russ Nagel, trombone; Kim Cosens, saxophones;  Brent Meyer, trombone; Chris Crandell, trombone; Lisa Arnold Lemberg, flute/piano, Marcia Miget, saxophones; Rick Chitty, sound production; Greg Twombley, saxophones; Henry Hey, piano; Mark Sherman, vibes; Bob “Pepsi” Gamble, bass; Mike Krueger, vocals;  Steve Coonley, trombone; the late Dick Baumann, trombone; Geoff Schive, saxophones; and probably a few more I can’t think of right at this moment.

The camp has grown to include big bands, combos, instrument classes, a jazz flute choir, a jazz clarinet choir, and a jazz French horn quartet one year!  We have added theory and improvisation classes and many more wonderful things through the years.

In 2005, due to the rising costs of summer camps at Lake Okoboji, we moved the camp to Iowa Lakes Community College where I work.  It proved to be another great move.  We have air conditioning in every room, including the dorms!  We also have large rehearsal spaces, computer labs for software instruction, many pianos, music stands, tornado shelters :) and many many other perks. 

We hope that you can join us and add your place in our jazz history.  We're one big family.

Carol Ayres and the Jazz Camp Family