kent peterson trumpet
Kent's musical career started in 1965 at Wines Elementary in Ann Arbor, Michigan, when he was in the fifth grade. Since then Kent has played his horn around the country and in Africa and South America.
Kent is the founder of "five miles more" and is the band's leader. He loves to play jazz with the members of five miles more.
Kent also plays his trumpet in church, soloing classical material for offertories and preludes to worship. He has played in the bell choir and in the praise band as well.
Kent and the band play Liberty Plaza in downtown Ann Arbor on select Friday nights during the spring, summer, and fall for the homeless of Ann Arbor. It is the bands favorite gig. five miles more and Kent, look forward to seeing you down there shaking your booty!
mike fedel guitar
Mike comes primarily out of the singer-songwriter tradition and is very excited that his intro to jazz has been in the company of such a talented and dedicated group of musicians.
My first serious work was with California's Hali Hammer Band, a trio of songwriters who recorded an LP(!) and a 2nd cassette-only release in the late 80's. The group played regularly at clubs around the Bay Area. Our performances included regular appearances for Bread and Roses, the San Francisco Free Folk Festival, La Pena Cultural Center, People's Park and the nationally- renowned Freight and Salvage. A high point for me was when Hali and I joined the chorus at the Nelson Mandela rally in the Oakland Coliseum in 1990.
Since returning to Michigan in 1994, I've played solo as well as in several bands. My longest running collaboration is with Mark Brokaw in the Bonfire Poets. Some of my best musical memories are of playing guitar and horn-and-string synthesizers for Jesus Christ Superstar with the Bethlehem UCC Youth Group. What a ball that was!
Some of the other local shows I've played (solo and with other musicians) include Ann Arbor's Walk and Roll, the Gimme Shelter series in both Ann Arbor and Jackson, the Jackson SummerFest, Stockridge Summer Fair, Ferndale Art Fair, the Human Awareness Institute's annual benefits, services at the Interfaith Round Table and the Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth, and GospelFest 2005.
My first brush with jazz was several years ago with A La Mode, a local four-voice jazz group for who I briefly played bass. This time around, we've got a different set of folks and a different direction, and I'm loving every minute of it. I look forward to each opportunity we have to bring our music out to the public!
ron longhofer keyboard
Ron has played piano in various groups starting in high school in Las Vegas in the 1960's. He attended the University of Michigan School of Music, graduating with a B. Mus. in music theory in 1968. His principal instrument in music school was trombone, which he played in the Michigan bands, including the marching band. Ron also holds degrees from the
U of M in law and business.
After retiring from a 28-year career practicing law with a large firm in Detroit, Ron is now a self-employed consultant in Plymouth with a lot more free time. He travels frequently with his wife Norma, visiting relatives around the country and often going abroad. They have been to Africa, India, China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and most of Europe, and have lots more places on their list. They also spend considerable time at their cottage in Scotland.
In recent years, Ron has concentrated his musical efforts on jazz piano, studying with local musicians including Neil Donato,
Dave Sharp, Paul Finkbeiner, Riccardo Selva
and Barton Polot, as well as Rob Hall and
Tim Richards in the UK. His favorite jazz
categories are standards, blues, modal and latin.
bob fahlgren saxophone
Bob is an Ann Arbor native, born and raised in this dynamic community. He started playing the Alto saxophone at age 10. Everyone in the Fahlgren household was musically gifted– which instilled in him a love of all genres of music. He credits his ability and skills to having had extraordinary teachers through the Ann Arbor public school system and is mindful and grateful for having grown up surrounded by tremendous musical opportunities as a young person.
Bob plays tenor, soprano and baritone sax. He has a particular love of Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Funk and many other styles of music. Bob is active in the Music Ministry at Chelsea First United Methodist Church where he sings in the Choir and is a frequent contributor to worship. Bob is also currently playing with the Five Miles More band and looking forward to many more musical opportunities with them in the Ann Arbor area.
patti bryd jarosz singer/vocals
Patti Byrd Jarosz grew up in Detroit. She attended Pershing High School where she played the flute in concert band, jazz band and orchestra. She sang in Chamber Ensemble. She grew up on a healthy dose of jazz and Motown.
Patti studied Music at Oakland University and studied jazz under the direction of “Doc” Holliday. On to Wayne State to study under the direction of Prof. Dennis Tini. Patti earned a BM with a concentration in music therapy. Later she earned a MA in Education. She currently works as an EL teacher in Ann Arbor Public Schools.
Patti has played and sung in many jazz clubs in Detroit and has also done musicals with Ann Arbor Civic Theater and others. Patti was a soloist for Royal Oak Unity Church, Livonia Unity Church, Detroit Unity Church and Warren Church of Today.
Patti is very excited to be a part of Five Miles More.
