Jazz is practically in the DNA of drummer Joe Pulice, who grew up around big bands.
His dad, Joe Pulice Sr., ran a drumming school in Racine, Wis. The junior Joe Pulice's older brother, Mark, also took up the instrument.
Pulice, a drummer for the JazzMN Orchestra, a nonprofit orchestra based in Hopkins, has toured with Woody Herman and his Thundering Herd. He's also played for Broadway shows. "I feel my best and am most at home when I'm behind the jazz drums," he said.
Many of the other local musicians who make up JazzMN have similar biographies.
A core group of JazzMN players has done countless gigs together over the past several decades. Maybe that's why they jibe so well together. "You know each other's playing inside and out, so you can support them in the best way possible," Pulice said.
On Sunday, March 16, the group will perform at the fine arts center at Hopkins High School. The Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble New York Voices will jump in during the second half of the concert. Beforehand, the Minnesota State University Jazz Choir will play in the lobby.
Douglas Snapp, JazzMN's artistic director, said the concert will touch on many different sounds, styles and genres. That keeps the energy level up and showcases the group's wide range of talent, he said.
In general, he likes to get things going at every concert with a high-energy piece. On Sunday the concert will open with Duke Ellington's bebop composition "Ko-Ko," which Snapp describes as "a hard-swinging tune."