The Mark Van Cleave Jazz Orchestra plays music from the big band libraries of Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, Harry James, Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton, Thad Jones, Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, and many more.

Mark Van Cleave put together the original MVCJO lineup in 1980. Over the years, there have been several versions of the MVCJO with the most recent lineup put together in 2008. The current lineup has a BIG SOUND and can really grab your full attention. 2010 looks to be an exciting year for the band as we will be putting together some powerful concerts including the music of Tito Puente, Chuck Mangione, Arturo Sandoval and Duke Ellington. The MVCJO will also host the first annual Fort Wayne Big Band Jazz Fest 2010 on June 26th at the Allen County Public Library.

Mark has performed and toured with Perry Como, Mel Torme', The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, and The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra to name a few. Mark was also honored by being asked to play for Maynard Ferguson at his 75th birthday bash in Boston in 2003. After Maynard's passing in 2006, Mark quickly put together a band to play a musical tribute to Maynard raising money for the IPFW music scholarship fund in Maynard's name... What a way to start a band!

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News

	The first annual Fort Wayne Big Band Jazz Fest was a huge success with over 100 musicians and 5 big bands swinging all afternoon. MVCJO hosted this new event and it was a true celebration of all things BIG BAND! Can't wait till next years fest.
	The Tito Puente Tribute Concert at Sweetwater was Mambo-liscious! Our expanded latin percussion section roared all night in true Tito fashion! We just may have to do this again! ....and soon! The concert was re-braodcasted on Ft. Wayne Public Access channels repeatedly during the month of June 2010.
	The Maynard Ferguson Birthday Tribute Concert was a real BLAST! We helped raise needed funds for the award winning Snider music dept. with many alumni present on stage and off! Maynard was always very actively involved in supporting music education and it is an honor to help continue this tradition with this concert celebrating his May 4th birthday.
	The WBOI Jazz Fest was a huge success! Karen Offerle-Wilcoxson joined the band as we played a program of Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson to a wonderful audience. The event offered up a who's who of regional jazz musicians coming together to benefit our one and only jazz radio station in the area.
	We had a really fun concert with our first of 2010 show: Tribute to the Big Band Vocalists! Dan Heath and Karen Offerle-Wilcoxson joined the band with a variety of big band vocal classics. Standing room only crowd too! We will definitely have Dan and Karen back with the band soon. This concert was re-broadcasted 10 times on the Ft. Wayne Public Access channels during the month of February 2010.
	A Big Band Christmas concert at Grace Point Church was well attended and everyone had a great time along with 4 guest vocalists from Grace Point joining the band for some swingin' Christmas arrangements! “It was a home run on every level.  Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish!” ~ Edgar Fink
	MVCJO played two SOLD OUT evenings of "Christmas at the Starlight" for First Assembly of God Church to raise much needed funds and food donations for the needy. A nice Christmas story set in a late WWII dinner theater and featuring the big band and several vocalists!
	MVCJO's Artist Concert Series continued (9/18) with a powerful tribute to the great Maynard Ferguson. Opening with Blue Birdland and closing with Hey Jude with approximately 20 trumpet players joining in for the big finish by playing in the audience in typical MF fashion! Phil Rinaldi from NYC joined the band as guest lead trumpet and also played the Maynard part on a couple of tunes. Jim Kibby also stepped up and played Maynard's biggest hit; Gonna Fly Now! It was a fun evening of Maynard's music and mayhem. Click here for more details.
	MVCJO will be performing several Christmas concerts Big Band style including an original show (Christmas at the Starlight) that will feature MVCJO onstage throughout the show! Keep watching for dates and location of this year's Christmas Celebration Concerts! Get ready to have a Merry Christmas and a "Cool Yule" with a jazz twist. Click here for more details.
	MVCJO's Artist Concert Series continued (9/4) with a rousing set of arrangements made famous by Woody Herman and his Thundering Herd. From Woodchoppers Ball (1939) to Corazon (1974) the concert was filled with good music and great playing by the band! Upcoming events are 9/18 Tribute to Maynard Ferguson at Sweetwater Auditorium and 9/27 WBOI Jazz in the Park at Headwaters Park. Click here for more details.
	The MVCJO recently (6/5) performed our tribute to Stan Kenton at Sweetwater Auditorium to a well attended audience of big band music lovers. The band was swingin' and Mark even managed to play 5 notes in between conducting! Check out some pictures and videos here. Upcoming events are 6/28 at Summer Fun Fest and 7/18 at the Allen County Public Library Auditorium. Click here for more details.
	We are proud to announce TWO GREAT venues for our 2009 concert series. Our Artist Concert Series performances will be held at the brand new state of the art Sweetwater Auditorium. Our Tribute to the Big Bands Concert Series will be held at the brand new Allen County Public Library Auditorium. Check out a couple of pictures here.
	MVCJO performed 2 Swingin' Christmas concerts to great audiences at the First Assembly of God Church in Ft. Wayne, IN Dec. 12th and 13th 2008. Proceeds raised went to help support the great work of the Mathew 25 Free Clinic in Fort Wayne. Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic provides free primary healthcare services to uninsured, low-income residents of Allen County.