CCMH celebrated Jazz Appreciation Month on Thursday, April 20, 2023 with a performance from Sparky’s Jazz Express.

Regarding Sparky’s Jazz Express, the piano was played by Tom Borling, bass played by Steve Montgomery, drums played by Ben Atkinson, and trumpet and flugelhorn played by Sparky Koerner. The program commended jazz music from Czechoslovakia in celebration of April being Jazz Appreciation Month with music by Czechoslovakian composers as they have had such a large impact within the genre. With insightful narration and performing, this program spotlighted world-renowned musicians and composers from Czechoslovakia whose music has been part of the world of jazz.

When it comes to Sparky Koerner, he’s a trumpet player who performs in many types of ensembles such as being the leader of “Sparky’s Jazz Express” and The Galvanized Brass. After recently retiring after 40 years of being the Director of Instrumental Music/Jazz Studies at the College of the Mainland in Texas City, Sparky served as Chairman of the Fine Arts Department at COM and continues to direct the COM Community Jazz Ensemble as a Lifelong Learning Class. He also recently retired as principal trumpeter with the Galveston Symphony Orchestra.