How does a tiny, unknown country town such as Three Rivers, California, end up sponsoring an annual world-class Jazz Festival that would last 50 years? It’s an epic story and a musical odyssey. Jazz music, born in New Orleans, took an Irish twist and found an enduring legacy in the Southern Sierra Nevada.
“If my cousin, Terri, hadn’t taken that trip to Ireland, there would never have been Jazz in Three Rivers, nor would there ever have been a Jazzaffair,” said Gaynor McKee. Her husband, Earl McKee, was a founding member of the host band known then as the Jazzberry Jam Band, which evolved into the world-renowned High Sierra Jazz Band. Gaynor and Earl were involved in the local music culture their entire lives and were an integral part of the jazz odyssey from the very beginning. It all began when Three Rivers local Terri Sullivan took a trip to Ireland and met Lueder Ohlwein, who was performing in an Irish pub….she fell in love.
Driven by his constant search for a traditional New Orleans sound, the German-born Lueder frequented all the jazz haunts of Europe before landing in Dublin in 1962. There, he was instrumental in the formation of the Dublin Jazz Society. When he and his new wife Terri arrived in Three Rivers in 1969, he was an experienced band leader, and his jazz repertoire included an extensive song list. He realized that a jazz club was vital to a community if the music was to survive and thrive.
After trying different venues in the county, it was decided the “rowdy” crowd in Three Rivers was the place to hold monthly meetings. Jazz Clubs began sprouting up all over the valley! This new band consisted of Leuder, who sang and played the banjo and kazoo, Earl McKee on bass, Charlie Castro on drums, Vic Kimzey on cornet, and a young Bruce Huddleston on piano.
During those early days, frequent trips to San Francisco were made so the band could play at Earthquake McGoon’s with the legendary Turk Murphy. It was an exciting time for the eager musicians. They also had great fun playing to crowds there on the streets for cash (financing themselves home)!
Informal gigs around Three Rivers by Leuder Ohlwein’s Jazzberry Jam Band were billed as “intoxicating as Prohibition itself.” The first local festival occurred in 1973, but it wasn’t officially called “Jazzaffair” until a few years later. This was just a few short months before the beginning of the great Sacramento Jazz Festival. The members of Jazzberry Jam Band recorded only one album in 1975 titled “Assorted Flavors” featuring musicians Don Franscioni on trumpet, Vic Kimzey on trombone, Ed (Doc) Ropes on sax, Bruce Huddleston on piano, Earl McKee on string bass, tuba and guitar, Charlie Castro on drums and their leader, Lueder, on banjo, kazoo, and vocals.
When the band reorganized in 1977 as the High Sierra Jazz Band, the music festival had already become an annual event put together by the Three Rivers Sierra Jazz Club. Gaynor McKee recalled, “The Jazzberry Jam Band was originally formed because Lueder really wanted the band to play in Europe, but the guys in the band had families and jobs, and their lives were here. They just couldn’t drop everything and go.” Castro was a tree arborist for the National Park, McKee was a full-fledged working cowboy, Kimzey was a local businessman, Ropes was a dentist, and Huddleston was a printer. Leuder left the band and took the name with him when he realized the local boys weren’t leaving their hometown.
In 1976, when the High Sierra Jazz Band formed, an energetic trumpet player named Al Smith (who impressed the guys at the Sacramento festival) replaced Franscioni, who was retiring. Bruce’s banjo-playing brother, Stan Huddleston, also joined as an original member. Their first performance at the October Club meeting was a resounding success. Their energy was electric, and they seemed to jump right off the stage. They soon became the house band & were off and running!
The new High Sierra Jazz Band released its debut album Over the Top in 1977. That year, George Brand, editor of the San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune, was among the first to recognize the High Sierra phenomenon when he wrote: “Three Rivers, a hamlet in the Sierra Nevada foothills, is not a likely spot in which to find a Dixieland jazz group whose two-beat rhythm is as free-wheeling as a roller coaster on greased rails yet as precise as a mathematician’s mind. But that’s where you’ll find the High Sierra Jazz Band in a fashion that compares favorably with jazz hall sounds in San Francisco, Chicago, or New Orleans.”
For the next decade, High Sierra recorded dozens of traditional jazz tunes, many of which were New Orleans jazz standards remade in a unique West Coast style. Jazzaffair flourished with bands from across the country, such as Buck Creek, Hot Cotton, Night Bloomers, Igors Cowboy Jazz Band, Grand Dominion, Chicago Six, Stump Town, Fulton St., Island City, Hot Frogs, and more. Retired jazz fans even formed a traveling RV Club that traversed the USA following High Sierra from Festival to Festival. The group’s 12th release, Diggin’ A New’ Bone, in 1990, made the transition from vinyl and cassette tapes to compact discs.
Not until Vic Kimzey passed away in 1991 did the charter membership change. A young Howard Miyata from Gilroy replaced Vic, and High Sierra’s distinctly West Coast sound continued to evolve as the group traveled the world as jazz ambassadors. In 1998, after 12 energetic years, “Oh, play that thing!” Al Smith, who was referred to as the “revival leader of Jazz,” retired from the band for good, stating that he’d had a great ride, but his new little family had to take center stage.
Pieter Meijers (reeds) had become a regular addition to the band and soon was designated as the new leader, with Bryan Shaw on trumpet. Cory Gemme filled in for Bryan during 2006 and 2007, but Shaw returned to the band in 2008. Even with the new changes, High Sierra never skipped a beat. With Pieter’s dry wit and Earl’s velvet voice, their fame continued to grow the world over. Audiences were in love with the High Sierra Jazz Band.
Little changed for over 40 years as the band continued with great success. The group bragged of 12 European engagements, over 48 cruises on oceans and rivers, and a performance in the Sydney Opera House in Australia. They also played at nearly every Trad Jazz Festival across the USA. In 2013, Marc Caparone, a young horn player who had grown up following High Sierra, became the band’s new cornet man and was included in recording the group’s 25th album.
By 2018, Earl’s rugged cowboy life had begun to take a toll on him. Young tuba player, Paul Hagland, began to fill in here and there when Earl couldn’t make the gig. Occasionally, the cowboy could come and sing, but traveling became more and more difficult. Finally, word came out that after 46 years, Earl, Bruce, Stan, and manager Rusty Crain would be retiring from the High Sierra Jazz Band, and the decision was made that the band would discontinue.
The final performance of the HSJB would be at Jazzaffair 2019. Fans came from around the world to hear their favorite band for the last time. No one could predict that Earl McKee would tragically take a fall that would end his life on the opening day of Jazzaffair. The weekend became a bittersweet farewell to the beloved HSJB as well as a celebration of life for the most cherished voice on the Trad Jazz circuit, Earl McKee.
Pieter Meijers announced that a new band called the Sierra Seven would continue. The remaining core members of the HSJB would stay on board with the addition of Scott Anthony on banjo & Randy Norris on piano. It was decided that The Sierra Traditional Jazz Club would strive to continue the legacy by keeping the festival going. Unfortunately, right around this time, COVID arrived. Most gigs and Festivals were canceled or postponed. In November of 2022, Pieter had a heart issue to deal with, and then Charlie Castro chose to retire.
Once again, it seemed the legacy would end. But like the rise of the phoenix, the spirit of jazz was alive, and the band took on a new form called the “Sierra Stompers.” Marc Caparone stepped up to leadership, with Howard and Paul staying on. Marc gathered the very best to complete the band, adding the spectacular Brian Holland on piano, crazy Gareth Price on drums, young sensation Nathan Tokunaga on reeds, and favorite Katie Cavera on banjo and vocals. Jazzaffair 2023 was a great hit, with these fine musicians leading the way.
After retirement, Stan Huddleston moved to Texas and passed away a year later. Sadly, in June of 2024, Charlie Castro was also laid to rest. Bruce Huddleston, now the only original HSJB member standing, still plays his stride piano as flawlessly as ever for church and special events close to home in Three Rivers. (He will also be featured at Jazzaffair 2025).
Astonishingly, for over 50 years now, through thick and thin, a tireless and dedicated group of Sierra Traditional Jazz Club volunteers have managed to keep the legacy alive by pulling off this remarkable little festival called Jazzaffair.
The tradition continues with Earl and Gaynor McKee’s daughters, Linda & Chearl, serving as Jazzaffair Directors. HSJB’s first manager, Chet Crain’s son, Rusty, serves as STJC President. Charter member of HSJB Charlie Castro’s son, Gene, serves as a sound technician, and Gene’s wife, Robin, heads the bar staff. It must be said, also, that this would only be happening with the loving dedication and support of sponsors, patrons, musicians, volunteers, fans & family.
Mark your calendars for Jazzaffair’s 50th Celebration: April 9, 10, 11 & 12, 2025. For more information, visit threeriversjazzaffair.com and “Take Time to Stop and Hear the Music!”
