TORNADO ALLEY JAZZ

Tornado Alley Jazz takes its name from "Tornado Alley," the stretch of the U.S. Midwest where tornadoes occur most frequently.
Colleen Regan (vocals) and Paulette Flahavin (clarinet and vocals)—founding members of the ensemble for over fifteen years—hail from Minnesota and Illinois, respectively. The group is rounded out by Humberto Meza (director, keyboards, and alto sax), Alfonso Ruiz (guitar), Paco González (drums), and Javier Molero (bass and double bass).
The ensemble began under the tutelage and guidance of the revered Venezuelan maestro Salvador Soteldo. Led by fellow Venezuelan maestro Humberto Meza, the band has evolved to achieve its current lineup, repertoire, and level of quality.
Our repertoire features works by jazz masters (Herbie Hancock, Fats Waller, John Lewis, Billy Strayhorn), bossa nova legends (Antonio Carlos Jobim), and artists from other styles (Henry Mancini, Ennio Morricone, Willie Nelson, the Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, and others)—songs that resonate with one another and stir our emotions. We apply our own arrangements and a fresh touch to everything from century-old classics to more modern tracks, all of which still have plenty to say.