Longtime Westford residents Jason and Marcia J. Macres return to the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA) with the Jazz Punishers band on Saturday, 4/9/22 at 7:30pm. The Jazz Punishers are a versatile and lively jazz band with vocal interludes. Their quirky name is representative of the band members’ sense of humor and lightheartedness about the music they love to play. Blending classic jazz standards, many with a fresh twist, contemporary jazz, and even some energetic and sassy R&B, where a sense of sophistication sans snootiness is desired. The audience will hear a nice mix of the jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane and Norah Jones, as well as versions of Ray Charles, Bill Withers, Michael Jackson, and more. They have played at the PCA in the past F.A.M.E. Music Café fundraisers, and more. Learn more about Jazz Punishers and Listen to some music sampling at jazzpunishers.com/music.
The Jazz Punishers quartet was established by band leader Jason Macres in 2009, gathering his talented musician friends to jam after their full-time work hours. The band includes Jason Macres of Westford, MA on saxophones, Ed Spargo of Sudbury on electric bass, Jim Zaroulis of Salem, NH on piano, and Steve Bankuti of Maynard, MA on drums, along with Marcia J. Macres of Westford, MA on vocals. The band has played around the Boston area for years, including hosting a monthly open Jazz Jam at the PCA, had a long-time residency at The Back Page in Lowell, Acton Jazz Cafe(s), Chelmsford Center for the Arts, Salem Jazz Festivals, and many private corporate events. Website: jazzpunishers.com.Â
TICKETS: “Suggested Donation” $25 / $21 members/seniors – Available in Advance at https://westford.org/pca/
Also available at door (cash/credit).
Also available at door (cash/credit).
* Doors open 7:00 p.m.
* Candlelit tables – general seating
* BYOB (drinks and food)
* Proof of Covid Vax and Masks recommended as a courtesy to other attendees
* Show Producer: Marcia J. Macres
* Candlelit tables – general seating
* BYOB (drinks and food)
* Proof of Covid Vax and Masks recommended as a courtesy to other attendees
* Show Producer: Marcia J. Macres
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MORE ABOUT WESTFORD RESIDENTS JASON & MARCIA J. MACRES:
Jason and Marcia J. Macres were looking for a town to settle down in the early 90’s, they would bicycle through Westford and neighboring towns and fell in love with the beauty of Westford. They built their first home in 1993 in Parkervillage and are still in the same house, up on a hill with views and over 3 acres of land. They raised two children in the Westford Public School system and have been active parents in many of the school’s fundraising events, including class “party” mom, building sets for Blanchard Theatre Arts, football parents for 5 years, etc. Music has always been part of their lives. They currently host a monthly Jazz Jam at the PCA in Westford. Now that their children have left the nest, they are excited to get more involved in music projects and keeping the music alive in the Westford and Merrimack Valley area.
BIO: JASON MACRES ~ SAXOPHONES
Jason spends his days managing an international team for Alvaria, a premier cloud contact center solution company with offices in Westford, MA. He is a graduate of the University of Rochester, BS Electrical Engineering and Northeastern University, MS Electrical Engineering and jazz saxophonist since the age of 10. He studied jazz saxophone with Boston-area sax player Bob Gallo, UNH Director of Jazz Studies Dave Seiler, and NH-based tenor-man Charlie Jennison. Jason went on to study jazz theory, improvisation, and the culture of Mani Greeks with jazz educator Charlie Banacos. While in high school, he played lead tenor in the Massachusetts All-State Jazz Band and continued playing while at the University of Rochester in the Eastman School of Music River Campus Jazz Ensemble and in the wildly popular campus band Every Good Boy Does Fusion. In 2008, he co-founded The Real School of Music in Burlington, MA serving as CTO and that guy that fixes things.
BIO:Â MARCIA J. MACRES ~ VOCALS
Marcia J. Macres is a fiery redhead from a large musical family that performed regularly in four-part harmony at church and local community events during her childhood. After moving to Boston in the late 80’s, Marcia sang with the Westford Community Chorus and her church chorus before branching out to lead vocalist for bands including The Jazz Punishers. She hosts a monthly open Jazz Jam at the Parish Center for the Arts in Westford, MA, hosts bi-annual music showcase benefits as Co-Director of Chick Singer Night Boston, enjoys singing lead and backup vocals for projects and bands including the 7-piece Groove Syndicate Band and a Steely Dan Tribute band made up of faculty at Berklee Performance Center, and is a music blogger and judge for Performers on the Go. When she’s not singing, she is utilizing her 25+ years of marketing and PR experience to help promote Artists and Venues with her Music Marketing Promotions Services.
BIO: ED SPARGO ~ BASS
Ed, who has been referred to as an “MVP among Boston Sidemen” by Ted Drozdowski of the Boston Phoenix, has been an integral part of the Boston music scene since the mid-80s. He’s shared his sympathetic accompaniment with artists such as Johnny A., Toni Lynn Washington, Heavy Metal Horns, Greg Piccolo and James Montgomery, to name a few. Check out Ed’s website for more information about Ed and his latest CD Playroom.
BIO: JIM ZAROULIS ~ PIANO/KEYBOARDS
Jim is a graduate of University of MA/Lowell with degrees in Music Business and Performance and a proud former student and disciple of world renowned jazz educator Charlie Banacos. He has been honored to have performed and shared stage time with The Coasters, The Platters, Yvonne Elliman, Gloria Gaynor, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love. As long time music director at Boston’s #1 comedy theater “Improv Asylum”, he composed the musical “You’re a Good Man, Scott Brown”, and scored music for their television series “Vanity Project” which was telecast on WCVB/TV. He maintains a busy teaching schedule at The Real School of Music in Andover, and performs all over New England as a pianist/keyboardist.
BIO: STEVE BANKUTI ~ DRUMS
Steve is a Berklee College graduate and has been a professional drummer and drum instructor forever. He toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and performed with singers Mel Torme, Maureen McGovern, Jack Jones, Hal Linden, Connie Stevens, and Eddie Fisher, to name a few. While living in LA, Steve recorded on jingles for Pepsi and Mountain Dew, and on TV shows such as Beverly Hills 90210 and Step By Step, and movie sound tracks for What’s Your Number and Body Shot. Since moving back to Boston in 1997, Steve stays busy performing, recording and teaching.
