It’s a reunion of Jefferson jazz musicians
~by Denise Van, for Beta Tau Delta
A set of kids who grew up in Jefferson and made it big in the music world will get together in their home town to perform in a unique concert at Greene County Middle School on the evening of April 9.
Tickets to “An Evening with Jefferson’s Own Oatts Family & New York City’s Vanguard Jazz Orchestra” are still available at The Printers Box and Home State Bank in Jefferson.
The Oatts siblings–Dick, Jim, Sue and Nancy–are the children of Jack Oatts, who was band director at Jefferson Community High School from 1966 to 1985. Dick, Jim and Sue perform with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, a Greenwich Village institution.
The orchestra was nominated for a 2015 Grammy Award in the large jazz ensemble category for its latest CD, “OverTime: Music of Bob Brookmeyer.”
Dick Oatts plays sax and flute in the band, which is directed by John Mosca, who is the husband of Nancy Oatts, a graphic designer who created the program and publicity materials for the event.
Trumpeter Jim Oatts, who taught music in Iowa public schools for 25 years, has led the Des Moines Big Band for more than 25 years. Sue Oatts is a jazz vocalist who lives in Minneapolis.
Another Jefferson boy who “made good,” Terry Rich, will be the evening’s master of ceremonies: Rich, who is CEO of the Iowa Lottery, played bass trombone in the Jefferson Community High School Stage Band from 1968 through 1970 with Jim, Dick and Sue Oatts.
The concert is being presented by Beta Tau Delta, a group that raises funds for educational and cultural programs for Greene County children.
