Saxophones

Brian Thorlacius — Lead Alto Sax — Founder and Grand Poobah: Started the band with Rich Condon. “Retired” high school band director, award winning teacher for 30 years in the Calgary Area.


Karen Heaton — Alto Sax — First met Thorlacius when she was 14 years old. Ask her about when she was four and she called attention to her shoes during a recital.




Paul Evans — Tenor Sax — Plays saxophones in various Jazz, Funk, and Blues situations. Production Engineer by day.





Mireille Robinson — Tenor Sax — Mireille is an accomplished high school music teacher in Calgary, she sometimes stands up mid-rehearsal and goes into full-on teacher mode. We love it.



Larry Blenkin — Bari Saxophone — Larry is a retired School Band/Choral teacher from the CBE. Larry is also a saxophone player with 2 other bands in Calgary and a member of the Pit Orchestra for the Front Row Centre Players production of “A Chorus Line”.

Trombones

John Towell — Lead — Nearly an original member of the band. Recently retired from my day job to concentrate on music and other pastimes.


John Abraham — 2nd — Has a secret love for ska, and founded Delirium ska.punk.brass. Plays simcity for real as a day job. Skis a lot. Ask Thorlacius to tell stories about him from high school.


Jacqueline — 3rd — From PEI via Vancouver etc. Hillhurst chic. Training her offspring to sub for her.



Shelly Langdon — Bass Trombone — Shelley is retired from the gas industry so she has time to play in several bands in Calgary. She recently started up Tap Dance lessons to further explore and enjoy music. 

Trumpets

Dave Prentice — Lead — Not much is known about our Lead Trumpet player Dave Prentice. Other than the faint whiff of meatballs while he arrives at the rehearsal room, and that at least two of his kids are called Louder and Higher. Answers on a postcard please ...


Jon Mossing — 2nd — What to say about Jon? If you’ve heard his solos you’re probably also at a loss for words. Day job: Actuary.


Kevin Waites — 3rd — Trumpet dad (like a regular Dad but much cooler), Non-profit superhero and all around nifty guy..


Michael Hynes — 4th — Michael is a recently retired Microbiology prof who is still puttering around in the lab. He currently plays in three Calgary big bands and has played in a few others, including the University of Calgary Red Band, in the past.

Rhythm

Alex Netelenbos — Bass — One of the longest serving members of the band. Day jobs over the decades have included owning a coffee shop, a framing place, and burning CDs for musicians.



Rod Shmidt — Piano — Rod is a life time member of Local 547 Calgary Music Association, and has been active as performer and teacher in the Calgary Music Scene for many years. He welcomes the opportunity to be a member of the Wednesday Nite Big Band and perform with so many talented musicians.


Bryan Niblock — Drums — An impressive knowledge of all things drums. Sells implants as a day job. Has a wine collection with more than a dozen bottles.


John McRory — Guitar — John is a happily retired electronics engineer who spends his days and his wife’s patience exploring jazz guitar. His guitar journey started with a power trio (long hair and Led Zeppelin), then classical guitar (not so long hair and Bach), and has finally found a home in jazz guitar (not much hair with the WNBB).

Vocalists

Mari Jo de Waal — Mari Jo (MJ) has been singing jazz for over 23 years. Over the years, she has developed a large repertoire that contains swing, latin, blues, cabaret standards and even closer to her heart — emotional torch songs.


Wendy Lomnes — Singer, jazz lover, hiker, traveler, retired geologist.