Made up of UW-Stevens Point graduates, the Point of Jazz Quintet plays jazz standards, original music, and contemporary compositions. Mat Chapman (trumpet), Jayce Gorski (saxophone), Kadin Yach (piano), Nathan Havey (drums) and Jessie Crandall (bass) grew as musicians together while in school and continue to play as a group with the goal of making great music while having fun.

The DeRose/Wiegratz Jazz Duo combine their creative musical passions to form a lively & contemporary jazz/pop, musical experience. While Warren Wiegratz is famed for his Saxophone work, you will also experience his Keyboard & Flute talents. In addition, Mike DeRose enjoys coloring their material with his rich guitar chords and rhythms. 

Warren Wiegratz is a WAMI “Hall of Fame” inductee and twelve- time winner of the WAMI Award for “Best Reed/Brass Performer” and is a WAMI Hall of Fame inductee. He also was co-leader of Streetlife (former House-Band of the Milwaukee Bucks) for many years.

The DeRose/Wiegratz Jazz Duo have performed many times for private parties and restaurants providing appropriate music for these events.

Performing Brazilian and Contemporary Jazz, this group will set your soul on fire with rhythms from Brazil, Africa, and the different fusions of American Jazz and Rock. Influenced by Eliane Elias, Leila Pinheiro, Tania Maria, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, and others, Christine and her group perform both original music and that of greats such as Antonio Jobim, Egberto Gismonti, Djavan, and more.

ZIJI has performed at such exclusive venues as The Elkhart Jazz Fest, The Fox Jazz Fest, The Riverfront Jazz Fest, and many more. Be prepared to be transported into the exciting, diverse musicality of this ensemble! Christine Salerno-piano/vocals, John Salerno-flute/sax, John Gibson-bass, Kelvin Kaspar-guitar, and Mike Malone-Drums.

Breaking Hearts & Defying the Limits of Genre.

If the ghosts of soul divas were smoking and playing poker, the record spinning through the smoke and cackling laughter would sound like Ruby James—timeless spirit, modern heart. Whether live or recorded, she’s an experience, like velvet on fire. Channeling the golden-hued nostalgia of ‘60s pop through a sharp eye with a smudgy edge, Ruby James is a kind of audio alchemist, a matchmaker for aching melodies in search of phantom soundwaves who both enjoy collecting rare gems and walks at sunset, on the moon. The kind of artist a producer like Phil Spector would label ‘Desirable.’

Sound Waves are Forever

Imagine the sugar-dusted heartbreak of The Ronettes colliding headfirst with the unfiltered soul of Dusty Springfield—all backed by a band of Southern-seasoned song slayers. Eerily familiar melodies echo through valleys and ascend hillsides of harmony, while sneak-attack tones—cosmic-glued to rhythm and rhyme—tick-tock in time with the human heart. Each track, a ‘hello, darling,’” melts into a cinematic farewell. But don’t mistake the sweetness for softness. Behind the pinkish-golden glow, there’s grit making pearls, ache making love songs, and all the essential pieces of a real person navigating the human experience.

The Road So Far

From the notable nightclubs of Nashville to multiple festival stages across the South, Midwest, and Southwest, Ruby James has earned a reputation for performances that leave a mark. Whether commanding intimate spaces or sending heartbreaker anthems soaring over festival grounds, her live show is a holistic, full body experience—part confession, part catharsis.

Forrest “Woody” Mankowski has been performing professionally since age 12. He sings and plays tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, and flute.

From 2011 to 2018, Woody was a member of “The Paul Allen Band”, with which he performed at The Cannes Film Festival, The 2016 Rio Olympics, and Super Bowls XLVIII and XLVIV. As the male lead in “The Baseball Music Project”, Woody appeared as a vocal and instrumental soloist with several American symphony orchestras, including the Boston, Chicago, Nashville, Detroit, Phoenix, Seattle, and San Diego Symphonies.

As a commercial singer and instrumentalist, Mankowski has worked extensively in recording studios. You may have heard him on television or radio on one of over 500 jingles on which he has sung or played, for clients such as Miller Lite, Turner Classic Movies, and Waffle House.

Over the years, Woody has shared the stage and/or recorded with The Doobie Brothers, Cheap Trick, Joe Walsh, Aretha Franklin, James Ingram, Billy Gibbons, Dave Stewart, Chrissie Hynde, and many others. He has played in pit orchestras for many touring Broadway shows including “The Producers”, “Chicago”, and “Hairspray”. Woody currently resides in Toluca Lake, CA, plays saxophone with guitarists Larry Carlton and Daryl Stuermer, sings lead vocals with “Ebunctions” and “Saluting Peter Gabriel”, and tours with Todd Rundgren in “What the World Needs Now”, a Burt Bacharach tribute.   

For Jazz & Cocktails, Woody will be accompanied by Kelvin Kaspar on guitar, Matt Buchmann on keys, Eric Hervey on bass, and Tony Wagner on drums.

B.D. Greer Presents: Divas and Jazz!  A show-stopping night of powerhouse vocals and timeless jazz, bringing together some of Wisconsin’s most incredible female vocalists for an unforgettable celebration of music’s most legendary voices. Led by the dynamic B.D. Greer, known for her soulful, velvety vocals and magnetic stage presence, this performance pays tribute to the queens of jazz and soul. From golden-era classics to modern-day favorites, expect breathtaking performances, stunning interpretations, and an energy that captivates from start to finish. 

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind musical experience where class meets contemporary, and divas take center stage.

A native of Waupaca of Wisconsin, Ian Duerr, 43, spent 11 years in New York City as a professional jazz musician before moving back to the Midwest to focus on family. A multi-instrumentalist, Duerr performs on guitar, piano and upright bass, with guitar being his main instrument. Duerr is a "thumb player," which is a unique style in a world where most jazz guitar players use a pick. With his thumb he is able to achieve a warm swinging and soulful sound reminiscent of players like Wes Montgomery. His recent twin cities-based project is an organ trio along with friends Abebi Stafford on organ and Yoji Sera on the drums. 

The Ian Duerr Organ Trio will be the talent on the Chief Waupaca Jazz Cruise, Sunday, June 1!