It’s no sham — this band can really rock

EASTPOINTE/FRASER — A group of East Detroit High School graduates have banded together to help carry on the school’s musical legacy.

About a year ago, 16 EDHS graduates from various years reconnected to form the ShamRock Jazz Orchestra. They took their name from the school’s mascot, the shamrock.

The band came together last year for two reasons. The first is to make music, and the second is to help support the music program at the school, which is now called Eastpointe High School.

One way the ShamRock Jazz Orchestra is doing that is by holding an instrument drive from 4 to 8 p.m. April 20 at Infinity Hall, located at 16650 E. 14 Mile Road in Fraser. Anyone who has a used instrument they no longer use or need can drop it off at the hall. The ShamRock Jazz Orchestra members will then donate the instruments to the high school’s music program.

Pianist Chris Michaels, Class of 1980, and guitarist Dave Sell, who graduated in 1979, are credited with starting the orchestra. The idea first came to Sell after he attended his 40-year class reunion. The gathering brought back plenty of memories for Sell, who now lives in California but returns to Michigan regularly to visit family.

“We had a blast getting together. I left the evening thinking it could be cool to form a jazz band,” Sell said. “My circle of friends was rooted in band. Most of my friends in high school were in band.”

As a teen, Sell played guitar in the jazz band and French horn when he performed with the concert and symphony bands. Sell and many of the SJO members studied under band director Alfred Marco.

The SJO members span from the Class of 1957 to the Class of 2006. There are trumpeters, trombonists and saxophone players. The band completes its sound with Gabe Cannistraci on lead vocals, Chuck Bartells on bass and drummer Doug Vinson keeping a steady beat.

On stage, the musicians put their own spin on songs from the ’50s through the ’80s by artists including Chicago, Stevie Wonder, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. The orchestra also sneaks in staples like Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon” and “Bandstand Boogie,” which eventually became the theme song for “American Bandstand.”

“We write our own arrangements and arrange some of the classic rock material,” Sell said. “We found there are so many great classic numbers out there with horn sections.”

Things got pretty serious for the band after it performed a concert at the Magic Bag in Ferndale. The evening went over so well that the band booked another show at the Emerald Theatre in Mount Clemens and played to an appreciative crowd.

“People were on their feet cheering,” Sell said. “It was just great fun. The professionalism, the quality and the skill level in the orchestra is just phenomenal. We surprised ourselves how well we can play.”

Trumpeter Tom Dembeck, Class of 1976, was one of several alumni members who went on a tour at the high school back in January to check out the current band program.

“We really want to raise money for the school. We want to bring some excitement for the music program there,” the Warren resident said, remembering his own experience in band. “You learn musical skills. I made lifetime friends in the band program.”

Those skills are still sharp for the band members that reside all over metro Detroit, including Sterling Heights, Clinton Township and Macomb Township.

“A lot of guys went professional. Some are band directors,” Dembeck said. “The band is really having a lot of fun. We love being together. You have to work together as a group.”

The band member with the most years under his belt is Wally Fitz, a tenor sax player who graduated in 1957.

“Wally is 83 years old. He’s a heck of a player,” Sell said. “Wally, he’s the hit of the show because everybody knows him.”

The band members will be back on stage to perform a live benefit from 7 to 9 p.m. May 19 at the Eastpointe High School auditorium, 15501 Couzens Ave. in Eastpointe. Tickets cost $27 each; the seating is general admission. Many WRIF 101 FM listeners might recognize 1974 graduate George Baier, who will serve as emcee. He portrayed Dick the Bruiser on the radio station for many years.

For more information on the band, visit its website at www.shamrockjazzorchestra.com. The band also has a Facebook page.