A few grad students from CSU, Stanislaus and Fresno State were moping over a pitcher of beer one night back in 1986. All music majors and bored with the daily life of a student and singing Barbershop in the Pizza Joints for beer, someone said “Let’s start a band!” Just like the old Mickey Rooney movies, the Creole Jazz Kings were born. With a lot of enthusiasm, a bit of talent, and lots on encouragement from the founding fathers of the Modesto Dixieland Jazz society, the Creole jazz Kings played their first gig in 1986.
The band went on to become favorites of many jazz societies and festivals, performing nearly 2000 gigs in the past 20 years. Festivals include Sacramento for many years, Monterey, Sisters Oregon, Pismo Beach, Three Rivers, Fresno, and many others. Travelling to Hawaii, Mexico, and all over the Western United States, the Kings earned a reputation for playing Hot Jazz with the Jazz King Sound.
The Jazz Kings have been playing at The Barking Dog , 940 11th St, in Modesto every Wednesday since July of 2007! They play from 6-9 and guarantee a good time with lots of fun and surprises. You will hear West Coast Jazz, blues, lots of great vocals, standards, and most of all, “Hot Jazz a la Creole Jazz Kings!”

Saturday, November 7, 2009 "Classical Masterworks" Lakireddy Auditorium, University California Merced Campus, 7:30 pm Mendelsshon: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26 (Fingal's Cave) Beethoven: Piano Concerto, No. 1 in C major Soloist: Patrice Stribling Nelson Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D major (Haffner) CONCERT SPONSOR: TEICHERT FOUNDATION

Patrice Stribling Nelson is a classical pianist who has appeared with a number of symphony orchestras across the U.S. She has also conducted choir performances at venues all across the country, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, and in 1991 for President and Mrs. Bush, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
An award-winning veteran of professional and college theatre, she has served as Music Director in theatres from California to New York. In 1995 she won the Memphis Theatre Award for Best Direction in Musical Theatre for a production of Something’s Afoot.
Ms. Nelson holds a Master’s Degree in music from Smith College and is ABD on two doctorates in music at the University of Memphis. She has forty years teaching experience and has served on the music/musical theatre faculties of fourteen American high schools, colleges and universities. Ms. Nelson has also worked since the age of 12 as a professional accompanist, and as a church musician in churches of all denominations.
A native of Merced, Ms. Nelson returned in 2005 after a 27-year absence, to teach at Merced College and to open the Stribling Nelson Music Studio. She is the Founding Director of the Merced Children’s Choir at Merced College, and is a licensed and certified instructor of Musikgarten, a developmental program for newborns through five-year-olds, centered in music and movement.

Saturday, April 10, 2010 "Sassy Saxophone" Lakireddy Auditorium, University California Merced Campus, 7:30 pm Ravel: Tombeau de Couperin Ibert: Saxophone Concerto Milhaud: Scaramouch for Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra Soloist: Keith Michael Bohm

Keith Michael Bohm is a native Californian, who earned a B.M. degree in performance from California State University, Sacramento under Dr. Jack Foote, received the M.M. degree in performance from the University of Southern Mississippi under Dr. Lawrence Gwozdz, and earned a D.M.A. degree in performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Conservatory of Music under Dean Tim Timmons. Dr. Bohm has also had the privilege to study and perform abroad in Lörrach, Germany with Harry Kinross White and Carina Raschèr of the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet.

As an educator, Dr. Bohm has given master-classes, lectures, and clinics in saxophone, chamber music, and woodwind performance at major universities, public and private schools, and community centers throughout the United States. He has a diverse background in public school teaching, ranging from elementary school to college. Dr. Bohm is currently Professor of Saxophone at California State University, Sacramento and Artist Affiliate in Saxophone at the University of California at Davis. He is also Co-Director of the Festival of New American Music at California State University, Sacramento. Dr. Bohm has also been the international coordinator of the 2003 and 2007 Mu Phi Epsilon International Competitions.

As a soloist Dr. Bohm has been noted for his “virtuosity,” and “expressive playing” (Sacramento Bee and San Francisco Classical Voice). Dr. Bohm is currently an ACME Artist and has performed recitals in major cities across the United States, including a live broadcast performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. He has also toured throughout Europe including: Paris, France for the Bicentenaire de la Revolution Francaise, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, and music festivals throughout Italy. Dr. Bohm has given world premiere performances of works by American composers Samuel Adler, William J. Lackey, Jerome Begin, and Leo Eylar. He was the winner of the 1998 Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition in which he toured the United States for two years as an ambassador of Mu Phi Epsilon, performing solo recitals and orchestral appearances. Dr. Bohm has had the privilege to perform with the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay, Palo Alto Philharmonic, Merrimack Valley Philharmonic, Diablo Symphony, UCD Orchestra, California Wind Orchestra, San Jose Wind Symphony, CSUS Wind Ensemble and Tacoma Wind Symphony. He has also been the principal saxophonist with the California Wind Orchestra, Mississippi Wind Band, Camellia Symphony, and Empyrean Ensemble.