Jazz in Portage County
- Cheyenne Witzeling
- 8 hours ago
- 15 min read
As part of our PCHS feature exhibit, each month through December of 2026 we will share a new piece of music history. Be sure to come back to learn more about the music that makes Portage County so great!
Jazz in Portage County was researched and written by Cheyenne Witzeling, Nick Schultz, Bill Berry, Dale Emrick, and Roger McFarland.
The History of Jazz
Jazz is difficult to define. Is the definition found in improvisation, historical ties to blues and ragtime, or the cultural mixture of African slaves in the American south? Do we focus just on swing or New Orleans style, look at one or two key instruments, or do we try to take in the full picture?
There is something at the heart of jazz that we know when we hear it, but explaining how the rhythm and tones work together, throughout all forms of jazz, is difficult. In general, jazz is known for a strong but flexible rhythm with solo and ensemble improvisations. A better understanding of the genre can be formed by knowing how it began.
Jazz is a mixing pot of cultures, emotions, and musical styles. Jazz came out of early plantation music in the American south, when African music traditions were pushed together in close proximity to classical European music theory. Jazz was a way to keep alive traditional cultures and songs while adding new emotions to the music. Perhaps that is where the improvisation came in; the traditional songs could not always convey the new experiences of the musicians, or be properly played with the instruments available. The tonal arrangement in West African music was not found in standard European chord progressions. Jazz is closely related to blues music, where a few changed notes adjust the entire emotion of a song. Prevented from truly participating in their original traditions, but also prevented from assimilating with the new American culture around them, American slaves created a music genre that was difficult to forget.
The invention of the gramophone in 1887 helped to spread jazz music beyond black communities. By the 1920s radio broadcasting stations were popping up everywhere, and jazz was a hit. Records were available in stores around Portage County and jazz lessons were offered at local music schools. Some newspapers speculated that jazz wouldn’t last long, that women’s clothing styles wouldn’t allow dancing to this music and that it wasn’t nearly as “educated” of music as some wanted to hear. But jazz was evolving quickly, and local bands like Harmony Four and Irv Lutz’s Original Florida Five were bringing jazz to Stevens Point.
The fight over jazz music and whether it was “proper enough” was a sign of deeper fears of societal change. Concerns about jazz were prominent throughout the early and mid-1900s, later replaced by fears of disco, rock and roll, punk, and hardcore music. Jazz music survived the uproar and is still part of music education and popular culture today.
These newspaper articles from the Stevens Point Journal in the 1920s show some of the public sentiment about jazz. Some people loved it, others hated it!
Irwin "Irv" Lutz; A Passionate Jazz Musician
Irvin “Irv” Lutz was born in Stevens Point on May 17, 1894. He grew up and attended schools here before entering the U.S. Army service in 1918. His enlistment card included his occupation as a self-employed orchestra director. He was discharged as a musician 3rd class after 8 months of service during WWI and immediately picked up his drumsticks and directing baton again. He directed local orchestras for over 25 years, supplementing his income with work through the local postal service and finding time to volunteer with veterans’ organizations.
Some of the bands that Lutz directed and played in include the Columbia Orchestra, Strand Orchestra, and Novelty Orchestra. He had a knack for bringing good musicians together during a time that many were traveling outside their hometowns. In 1923 Lutz started the Florida Five. He had no idea that this band would launch his orchestra management career. They were advertised as “Wisconsin’s most popular dance artists”. In 1925 the band reorganized, with Fred Weidlich on piano, Ben Graham on saxophone and clarinet, William Bohmsack on trumpet and vocals, Ken Furman on banjo and entertainment, and Irv Lutz on drums and direction.
The Florida Five were popular but there were more gigs than just one band could play. Lutz began managing multiple orchestras concurrently, often allowing others to take over the immediate work of directing. The 7 Piece Orchestra, Dixie Land Jazz Band, Virginians, Pennsylvania 5 and the Original Florida Entertainers were each added to his roster. Al Greene directed the Virginians in 1925 and the orchestra was booked at the local Japanese Gardens for regular entertainment, where they became known as the Japanese Gardens Orchestra. Later, when this orchestra was booked for a 10-week contract in Michigan, they used the name The Southern Entertainers and switched out a few band members for just that contract time. These types of name changes, band member adjustments, and location changes were much more normal in the 1920s. In 1925 the Florida Five and the Virginians played live on local radio station WLBL. They continued to be regularly booked through the 20s and 30s through Irv Lutz’ Booking Agency. The Elk Lodge, Moose Lodge, and Japanese Gardens in Stevens Point loved Lutz’ bands, as did local moving-picture shows who wanted accompaniment.
By 1934 Irv Lutz was the manager of the United Bureau of Attractions at 1105 Church Street in Stevens Point. He was beyond balancing his own orchestras; now he booked gigs for bands across the state. He managed the workings for 26 bands year-round but in the winter of ‘34 had such a stack of requests that he had to find more bands, eventually booking up to 34 for the season. His regular bands ranged from 6 to 15-member units and when he wasn’t busy managing their schedules he was performing on his own. In the 1940s his main band was Irv Lutz’ Swing Band, composed of Rex Bartell, Jean Kobishop, Harold Black, Sax Dowling, John Miller, Mrs. Edwin Johnson and Irv Lutz himself.
Irv Lutz’ Swing Band lasted a decade. In 1954 Lutz was in the Terrace Garden Play Boys, the All American Six, and in the Stevens Point Union Band, which would later become the Stevens Point City Band. Later, in the early 1960s, his band would simply be known as Irv Lutz’ Swing Band. He dropped the booking business and his own orchestra involvement in 1966 so he could better focus on WWI veterans in Portage County. He was the Portage County barracks commander and organized parades, funerals, veterans reunions, and traveled around the state to meet with other veterans groups. In 1965 he was named State Inspector for Wisconsin WWI veterans and was chosen as a delegate to attend the National World War I Veterans convention. He received numerous awards for his dedication to the American Legion, local veteran posts, and veterans’ affairs. Irv Lutz passed away in Stevens Point on January 24, 1981. He stayed active with veteran organizations until the very end.
Uncalled Four (Plus One) (Plus Two)
In 1967 a new Dixieland jazz band debuted in Stevens Point; The Uncalled Four (plus one), or (plus two), depending on the number of musicians involved. Dixieland jazz was a traditional, danceable type of jazz music that was perfect for parties and performances. The Uncalled Four musicians were not new to performing, either. All members had the skills to keep up with the snappy pace.
The Uncalled Four (plus one) included Don Chesebro on the saxophone and clarinet, Carman Lane on piano, Bob Worth on drums, Jim Duggan on trombone, and Wally Ives Sr. with his trumpet. When Merrill Baldwin and his banjo could join the group, they changed the advertised name to The Uncalled Four (plus two).
Each player brought their own music expertise to the group. Don Chesebro was the director of the Wisconsin Rapids City Band, wrote musical arrangements for the Lincoln High School Ethnic Band, and was later inducted into the Polka Hall of Fame. He was constantly playing with various bands around central Wisconsin, including the Don Chesebro Band, Don Chesebro Dixieland Band, Don Chesebro Trio, Don Chesebro Swing Quartet, the Don Chesebro Jazz Combo, and Wally Ives and the Jolly Dutchmen.
Carman Lane also had an impressive musical career, co-running the Graham-Lane Music Store in Stevens Point, conducting the Stevens Point Barbershoppers for 30 years, and playing tuba in the Stevens Point City Band. For Lane, music was something to only do if you were having fun. He had so much fun that he retired from “anything besides music” in 1987.
Bob Worth’s father founded the Worth Company in Stevens Point, which became well-known for crafting quality fishing lures. Bob worked for his father there before taking over in 1959. He was also a passionate community member and was involved in many local councils and governing boards. But no matter how busy he was, he always had time for music. He began playing the drums in high school. He played in marching bands, military bands, polka bands, swing bands, the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, and the Jolly Dutchman Polka Band.
Jim Duggan came to Stevens Point in 1967 to join the UWSP music faculty and was immediately drafted into The Uncalled Four. He had strong trombone skills and a passion for performing. When he left the Stevens Point area he continued to perform, later being a part of the Pete Fountain Band in New Orleans.
Wally Ives Senior rounded out the main group. He owned a TV store and spent all his extra time traveling around central Wisconsin for his bands. He directed the Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Band for many years, played in that band, and also played in private bands; leading Wally Ives and the Jolly Dutchmen and participating in the Cabaret Dixieland Combo. He was often a “special guest” for traveling bands. His son, Wally Ives Junior, also played in the Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Band while getting his music degree from UWSP.
Photos from the Stevens Point Journal in August, 1994, showcase the Uncalled Four band members and their history together.
When Merrill Baldwin could bring his banjo the band really kicked up a notch. He was often busy working as the chief operator of the Stevens Point sewage treatment plant. Baldwin was an avid supporter of high school and American Legion baseball, an amateur ham radio operator, and a member of the local Elks club. But when he had time, he loved to perform. As both a member of the Stevens Point Barbershoppers and The Uncalled Four, he always shone when on stage.
The Uncalled Four started playing regularly at Treasure Island, a Stevens Point bar that later became known as Archie’s. But they didn’t stop there. They played for local events and fundraisers, restaurants, and anniversary functions. Being able to swap out players and adjust the name allowed the band flexibility. On a few occasions they were known as The Uncalled Four (plus three). They released a live recorded album in 1968, and while there were rumors of the band fizzling out in the mid-1970s, the band was still playing through the decade.
As mentioned above, the end of this band wasn’t the end of these performers’ careers in our area or the end of jazz music in Stevens Point. The Uncalled Four was an example of expert musicians having fun and their music inspired others to pick up instruments of their own.
Jazz at UW - Stevens Point
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has prepared thousands of students to teach music in elementary and secondary schools throughout Wisconsin. It has also been the nexus of cultural enrichment in Portage County for more than 100 years.
The first music teacher and new music director, Peter J. Michelsen, was hired in 1931. Born in Hamar, Norway in 1883, he studied under famed composer Edvard Grieg, moving to the United States in 1908. Michelsen was highly respected around the state for his musical talents and teaching at the high school level.
A flutist, he expanded offerings at then-Central State College beyond voice to instruments. In his first year, he formed a band to “promote more pep in assemblies and at athletic events.” The band doubled in size by its second year, and by 1935, was a well-known 60-member auditioned touring group. Their Christmas concerts were declared “institutions” by local newspapers. Michelsen was the sole music faculty member until 1954. The UWSP concert hall is named in his honor.
In 1968, in addition to the Symphony Orchestra, Music Director Donald Greene organized the Symphony Wind Ensemble. This select, auditioned group performed on campus, on concert tours throughout the Midwest and at national music conferences.
Greene also started a jazz ensemble -- initially called “stage band,” a more accepted name in educational institutions. Appointed department chair in fall 1968, he asked faculty member James Duggan to take over the group.
Music faculty believed the ability to perform music was an important aspect of developing adept teachers. Students were encouraged to participate in performance opportunities, from choral groups, small ensembles, full orchestra to solo recitals. About 30 instrumental and choral ensembles perform some 200 concerts and recitals annually, at UW-Stevens Point and beyond.
A new fine arts building provided more concert venues and also became a cultural hub in the region. At its dedication in 1971, university President Lee Sherman Dreyfus said: “Besides the usual academic function of providing fine arts experiences for our students, our new College of Fine Arts has a function to fulfill the cultural needs for all of central and north central Wisconsin.”
“If the university weren’t here, the cultural void would be huge”
said Buchman, current UWSP Music Department chair.
UWSP was the first in the state to offer a bachelor of music in jazz studies. It was led by Michael Irish, an accomplished guitarist and composer. Irish, John Radd, Steven Zenz and Bob Kase, who all performed with national artists, started the UWSP Faculty Jazz Combo and performed around the state to promote the jazz studies program.
Hired in 1986 to grow the trumpet program, Kase started what has become a popular UWSP Jazz Fest, drawing more than 70 high school jazz bands annually. Faculty created a performance program for student combos to learn professional jobbing skills.
As chair, Kase led efforts that redefined the department’s mission to embrace music education and to graduate outstanding musicians who can play, compose, arrange, write and lead, he said. “Schools across the state wanted to hire our graduates. I watched as our graduates took over leadership positions in music education in Wisconsin.”
The jazz program has continued to grow, thanks to dedicated staff and community partnerships. Mathew Buchman, professor of jazz studies, has been artistic director of the Stevens Point Riverfront Jazz Festival each Labor Day weekend since 2006. This festival was launched by the Stevens Point Arts Alliance (now Create Portage County).
Beyond jazz, the UWSP music curriculum has always been expanding, pushing for a wider variety of community music opportunities. When Patrick Miles joined the university in 1989, it had a strong reputation as a band school. A year later, he was appointed to direct the orchestra, which then had 13 members. With cellist Lawrence Leviton and violinist Steve Bjella, these stellar musicians recruited students and expanded the program. They performed a fully staged opera at UWSP by 1992. Within 10 years, they performed Mahlor’s Symphony 1, most of Beethoven’s symphonies and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, a difficult piece. UWSP make this is a vibrant arts community, Miles said.
“We’re just a little school in the middle of Wisconsin, but we have a national reputation.”
Tune into Jazz with UW - Stevens Point Station WWSP
Since 1983 Stevens Point listeners have been able to get a weekly jazz fix with UWSP's radio station, WWSP, also known as 90FM. Live concerts from students and faculty along with recorded jazz have been played on the radio for listeners, which annually culminates in Jazzfest; a full weekend of jazz music.
The original jazz show on Monday nights was Jazzsides. In 1997 Russ Haines joined the jazz team at WWSP, later becoming the director of jazz programming. By 2004 the station's jazz collection boasted around 3,000 CDs and 2,500 vinyl records, making it one of the largest radio collections of jazz recordings in Wisconsin. Part of Haines job wasn't just to spin records and schedule live jazz performances, he also coordinated the live jazz concert that capped off Jazzfest every October. In 2006 Haines received JazzWeek Magazine's award for Programmer of the Year in the Small Market category. 90FM was also nominated for Station of the Year from the same magazine. This brought UWSP to a bigger jazz audience and encouraged more jazz musicians to choose UWSP.
Jazz popularity on WWSP has only expanded in the last 20 years. Now on 90FM listeners can hear jazz Monday - Thursday from 7 to 10pm. That's a 4x expansion of radio time! Jazz is still alive in Stevens Point.
Jazz Music in Stevens Point Schools
As jazz grew in popularity and the local teacher college began graduating music teachers who had an interest in the genre, it was natural for jazz groups to be formed in local public schools.
The first band for the Stevens Point School District was formed in 1924 in Emerson High School and was led by Frank J. Steckel. After a year of practicing their first public event was on Friday, October 16, 1925, when they played during the Stevens Point vs. Shawano high school football game. They held a fundraiser dance in 1926 to get uniforms and wore them to a band competition in Green Bay where they placed 4th in their class. Starting as a small group of 30 dedicated students, the teacher had to petition the school board for each instrument purchase.
Band and choir classes were led at the Stevens Point High School for over a decade before an orchestra was formed. Why such a wait? Because orchestra instruments are expensive! A local strings teacher, Wenzel Albrecht, was told he could have the job if he could provide the instruments. Over a single summer he made 30 violins for the students to use, finishing them in bright red, green, or white lacquer. Parents only had to pay a small maintenance fee for their child to participate in the orchestra, and Albrecht taught students as young as third grade who were interested in the violin.
In 1973 a jazz band class were being offered to junior high students at P.J. Jacobs. They performed at both Pacelli high school and the Stevens Point Area High School in their first year, with only a 15-member band.
Music was also starting in local Catholic schools. Both Maria and Pacelli high schools offered vocal and band music classes to students. When the schools merged in the early 1970s the music classes expanded to include jazz. By the late 1970s summer jazz band camps were offered at Pacelli.
Jazz quickly moved up to the high school level in the Stevens Point public school district, with director Gary Neustadter leading the jazz ensembles to victory at various festivals. Students who had started their jazz practice in junior high were already familiar with the fundamentals when they got to the high school level, which gave them an advantage in some competitions. Students in his classes performed across the state for shows, competitions, and were even invited to larger venues like the Wisconsin State Fair. Students from the SPASH jazz band went on to join the state honor bands. Students who won band honors often went on to their own musical careers, like 1979 student Kathy Kawleski who won an award for her outstanding contributions to the success of the SPASH jazz band, is now the current director of the Stevens Point City Band and the Rosholt High School Band. When Ben Franklin Junior High was built, students could enroll in jazz band there under the direction of Dale Emrick.
Starting in 1975 the SPASH band began offering an annual Jazz Nite, which brought together multiple bands and vocal performance groups for a single concert. In 1979 the SPASH jazz ensemble had an exemplary rating at the state solo and ensemble contest in Eau Claire. Sadly, in 1980, Neustadter left the Stevens Point school district after contract reorganization scheduled him to teach elementary music instead of the senior high jazz band he had formed. Dave Kiepert was hired as the next jazz band director. Under Kiepert the jazz band continued to win awards and honors at the solo and ensemble competitions.
Meanwhile, the Pacelli jazz band was also growing, participating in competitions and concerts including the annual Pacelli POPS concert.
By 1983 the SPASH vocal jazz groups The Counterpointers and Poco-a-Poco had been started. These groups were regularly in vocal jazz festivals and competitions and even released CDs of performances. Together with the SPASH jazz ensembles and the Pacelli jazz band, students interested in music across Stevens Point grew up with an appreciation for jazz. All of these programs are still thriving in our local schools today.
Thank you for reading this music history, presented together with the Portage County Historical Society's feature exhibit!
Be sure to visit the exhibit in-person during open hours and check out the digital collection of local music history.
