The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars (AJHoF All-Stars) is a working jazz ensemble, featuring some of the finest jazz musicians Alabama has to offer. This group is the faculty of the Jazz Education Department of the

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (AJHF) was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and dis ...

and the faculty of the Fun With Jazz Educational Program, begun through the Alys Stephens Center (2006), and now administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (2007). Through these educational programs, the AJHoF Allstars, directed by

Ray Reach Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. (born August 3, 1948) is an American pianist, vocalist, guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer, and educator, named by AL.com as one of "30 Alabamians who changed jazz history." He serves as President and CEO o ...

, seek to fulfill a mission ''"...to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America. Its mission is also to preserve a continued and sustained program of illuminating the contribution of the State of Alabama through its citizens, environment, demographics and lore, and perpetuating the heritage of jazz music"'' (excerpt from the mission statement of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame). The AJHoF All-Stars perform at schools, civic events and jazz festivals throughout the southeast. The members of the AJHoF All-Stars also participate in numerous other active performing groups, including the ''

Magic City Jazz Orchestra The Magic City Jazz Orchestra (MCJO) is an American jazz ensemble which was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the SuperJazz Big Band (formerly UAB SuperJazz) by Birmingham, Alabama jazz pianist and vocalist Ray Reach. The mission of the group is t ...

'', the
Night Flight Big Band
',
Ray Reach and Friends
' and
Cleveland Eaton and the Alabama All-Stars
'. The current membership roster of the AJHoF All-Stars includes:

Tommy Stewart Tommy Stewart is an American drummer, currently for the rock band Lo-Pro. He is probably best known for his stint with the band Godsmack. He has also toured and recorded with a number of other bands including Detroit based metal band Halloween, ...

(trumpet)
Omari Thomas
(trumpet and saxophone),

Ken Watters Ken Watters is an American jazz trumpeter residing in Huntsville, Alabama. He is the brother of noted jazz trombonist, Harry Watters. Ken has performed and/or recorded with Frank Sinatra, Tabou Combo Jason Isbell, Marc Anthony, Wyclef Jean, N ...

(trumpet)
Chad Fisher
(trombone), Billy Bargetzi (trombone), Gary Wheat (saxophones)
Dave Amaral
(saxophones, flute, clarinet)
Dave Miller
(saxophone and chromatic harmonica)
Abe Becker
(bass)
Chris Wendle
(bass),

Cleveland Eaton Cleveland Josephus Eaton II (August 31, 1939July 5, 2020) was an American jazz double bassist, producer, arranger, composer, publisher, and head of his own record company in Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. His most famous accomplish ...

(bass)
Sonny Harris
(drums)
Steve Ramos
(drums)
John Nuckols
(drums), Chris Fryar (drums) and

(director, piano and vocals).

External links

The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
official website
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
at AllAboutJazz.com
The Magic City Jazz Orchestra
at All About Jazz American jazz ensembles * Musical groups from Alabama Education in Birmingham, Alabama Musical groups established in 2006 Halls of fame in Alabama