John Keck Jazz Quartet Comes to Tibbits

Coldwater- Smooth live instrumental jazz featuring the John Keck Jazz Quartet will fill Tibbits Opera House on Sat. August 28 at 7:30pm.

Battle Creek native and bass guitar player John Keck leads the band, playing since the early 80s. A self-taught musician who also was a self-proclaimed orchestra nerd back in high school, Keck jokes that he only became the band’s leader because he “left practice early the night they were picking out the name for the group!” Joining Keck is guitarist Gary Watkins and flutist Brandon Marceal.

Much like jazz music itself, the group is fluid, changing based on each gig. Keck said, “Sometimes we’re a duo or a trio. One time we were a quintet. I have a pool of talented good friends who want to come and jam. That’s the good thing about what we do and we’ve been able to work with some of the best musicians in Michigan.”

Though the quartet was officially formed only five or six years ago, members of the group have been professional musicians playing together off and on for the past 20 years. Aside from playing locally at JT’s in Coldwater a number of times, the band has also played at Crickets and 3030 West in Battle Creek, Sandhill and Stagecoach in Marshall, Fall of the Arts/Spring of the Arts in Battle Creek, charity work with The Ark in Battle Creek, as well as a variety of other locations in Jonesville and Kalamazoo.

The concert includes renditions of well-known songs that the group turns into their own entity, interspersed with several original songs and some fun stories from band members.

Keck expressed, “People will laugh, enjoy some delightful music and have a good time. That’s really what it’s all about.”

This event is generously sponsored by Damiron Truck Center: Home of the Chrome Warehouse  in Fremont, IN. They carry all makes of semi-trucks and also accessories such as bumpers, visors, pipes, lights, and more.

Damiron Truck Center owners Dale and Kim Waligora said, “We proudly sponsored this event to share our love of jazz and bring enjoyment to the community.”

The event will be by donation at the door at Tibbits Opera House, 14 S. Hanchett St. in Coldwater, MI. Doors to the lobbies, art gallery, and Ghost Light Bar will open at 6:30pm, with seating beginning at 7pm. For a full listing of events at Tibbits, please visit Tibbits.org.