The Traditional Jazz Collective

Friday Evening Dance

A fine collection of lovely looking musicians lead by Kevin Dorn, the TJC is a group of talented NYC musicians, with a sound all their own, playing old school hot jazz and swing with risk-taking friskiness. If you don't believe me, here's a professional's opinion:

(From the liner notes by Michael Steinman, jazz critic for Cadence Magazine and The Mississippi Rag) "By contemporary standards, the Traditional Jazz Collective is a freakish group, not only because they are that rarity, a working band. The musicians don't detest their nominal leader. Each of them gets to call tunes and set tempos. Even stranger, they are friends who hang out together to watch old movies and laugh wildly at the absurdities around them. This was normal behavior in 1928 Chicago when Louis, Zutty, and Earl ate spaghetti after the gig, but it's exceptional now. And, as a result, so is the TJC's music, reminiscent of the great Eddie Condon groups. The band is energized without being frenzied, relaxed without being tired of it all. Yes, the solo work is marvelous, but this is a band - evident in little touches, such as the uplifting backgrounds that two horns play behind a solo, and the little breaks and endings you'll hear on this CD. And they swing!"

The Brooks Tegler Big Band Orchestra

Saturday Evening Dance

Mainstream small band jazz in the style of Swing Era veterans in the 40's, 50's, and 60's, featuring some of Washington, DC's finest players performing the music of (among others) Buck Clayton, the Gramercy Five, Vic Dickenson, and Count Basie.

Brooks Tegler, a drummer/band leader/producer, living in the D.C. area, leads jazz groups of various sizes, anything from trios up to 17-piece big bands. (This includes authentic WWII Army Air Force Band.) He works all over the world. Brooks can also be seen on nearly every sculpture panel of the WWII Memorial in Washington DC (he was the primary model and organizer of all other models for scenes depicted), and can be heard in numerous voice-over projects. Brooks plays on over a hundred albums, including eight under his own name (5 of which he produced) and many from Europe and Japan. "It's Been So Long" (recent) won the 2004 Wammie Award for best Jazz/Swing category.

Mary Ann Carothers

Cleveland, OH - Mary Ann became addicted to Balboa at the first ABW in 2001 and has not missed an ABW since. Her first Bal DJ gig didn't come until 2004 -- in Toulouse, France at the Pink City Balboa Festival. She has DJed not only in France but also in Sweden and all over the U.S. She enjoys and plays a wide variety of artists, favoring old school swing greats. Some favorite artists are Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, Fats Waller, Mill's Blue Rhythm Band, just to name a few. Favorite song and ringtone: Troubled by Frankie Trumbauer.

Kate Hedin

Baltimore, MD- Kate fell into DJing, in 2003, at the legendary Spy Bar in Cleveland, Ohio --usually filling in last minute when Marty & Valerie forgot they were out of town. This quickly turned into a regular gig for Kate. While living in Cleveland, she also DJed frequently for the Get Hep Swing monthly dances. And in 2004, with the opening of the new weekly venue, Kings Court Jam, she became a featured DJ. On her trips home to Atlanta, Kate often DJed at ASEDA monthly dances. And from 2005-2007 she was a house DJ at Hot Jam, Atlanta's Monday night venue. Kate has served as head DJ for both the Down South Camp Meeting (2006) and Atlanta Varsity Showdown (2006).

Because of her love of Balboa, Kate naturally became sought after to DJ balboa events, including Bal Jam ('05, '07, & '08), Eastern Balboa Championships (2007), Twin Cities Balboa Festival (2008), and Nashville Balboa Experience ('07 & '08). She has also developed her competition DJ skills at weekends such as the Wicked Lindy Weekend, Atlanta Varsity Showdown, and Bal Jam. Currently she resides in the Baltimore/D.C. area and spins regularly for the Jam Cellar, Charm City Swing, and D.C.'s Balboa Night.

Allen Kerr

Falls Church, VA- If you've danced in DC in the last couple years, you've undoubtedly seen this curly haired DJ. Allen started ravenously collecting music about 3 years ago finding he had a knack for finding music that delights and inspires dancers. This up and coming DJ is delighted to be sharing his musical finds at this year's BalJam.

Laura Windley

Laura began DJ’ing in Greenville, NC in 2001 for the yet-to-be-formed ECU Swing Dance Club, chosen by default because she had the most swing CDs (which, at the time, was about 10). After co-founding the ECU Swing Dance Club, she continued DJ’ing around Greenville at various club dances until she moved to Chapel Hill in 2005 and became a regular DJ at the Lindy night at Loafers Beach Club in Raleigh. Laura has DJ’ed at the Durham Armory, TRI-X the Triangle Lindy Exchange, the Virginia Beach Lindy Exchange, Lindy Riot, the Eastern Balboa Championships, the Raleigh Durham Lindy Party, and All Balboa Weekend. Laura loves her vinyl collection, most of which she inherited from her jazz aficionado grandfather, and believes that her best sets involve a turntable.

Brian Begun

Brian Begun grew up with a deep appreciation for music. Built upon 10 years of experience playing trumpet, he discovered a passion for early 20th century jazz. Looking for other ways to appreciate this genre of music, he pursued dancing. After a few years of learning Ballroom, he finally connected with what he enjoys most; Lindy and Balboa. Now dancing and competing around the world, Brian has recently expanded his appreciation for swing by spinning music for both venues in Los Angeles and dance events across the country. He can be heard regularly as a DJ at Memories in Whittier , California , and is the head DJ for the Rocky Mountain Balboa Blowout in Denver , Colorado.

Interested in volunteering? Let us know.

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