The Alternates is an amalgam of talented high school jazz musicians from the Twin Cities: Caleb McMahon (Perpich Center for Arts Education), trumpet; Peter Nyberg (St Paul Central HS), sax; Chris Misa (Perpich Center for Arts Education), piano; Cory Grindberg (Minneapolis South HS), bass; and Rob Fletcher (Eden Prairie HS), drums. The guys have known each other through mutual friendships and band experiences for “a long time,” says ringleader Caleb McMahon. The impetus for forming The Alternates was the audition results for the 2008-9 edition of the Dakota Combo—other than Cory, who is now in his second year with the highly select high school ensemble, these musicians were all listed as “alternates” for the Combo. Following the September auditions, Combo Director Kelly Rossum noted that “There were another six to eight students at the same high level as those chosen for the group, a fantastic reflection of the talent pool here in Minnesota.”

Thus the decision to form a band was simple, says Caleb. “I looked at the Dakota Combo roster and was surprised to see a group of A-class ‘alternates’ and Chris and I decided to take things into our own hands. We all knew each other very well by this time, and we just saw it as an opportunity to take advantage of a misinformed title and to show that we still had some the best talent in town. Plus, we realized we were going to have a lot more fun on our own  pulling this 'combo' together, especially when you consider the large amount of originals we have been dying to try out, and most importantly, we just wanted to have fun!”  And it's been fun as well as an impressive amount of hard work that has marked the Alternates previous gigs at the AQ throughout this winter and spring. Now, Peter, Chris, Rob and Cory prepare to move on to college programs this fall; Caleb will return to Perpich for his senior year.

Who Are the Alternates?

Caleb McMahon (trumpet) is a junior at the Perpich Center for Arts Education. He’s studied trumpet for seven years, after starting out on piano at age four with classical training, “but I quit regretfully when I picked up the trumpet... I became instantly in love with the trumpet and jazz when I was in third grade and discovered a man named Louis Armstrong.” Caleb has spent many years with the Walker West Youth Jazz Ensemble, and has also played with an area funk band (“Not Your Average Funk Band or NYAFB”), the St. Paul Central High School jazz band, Minnesota Youth Jazz Band (three years), Twin Cities Jazz Workshop, and Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth jazz program (MITY) band. He’s also played with the St. Paul Saints Alive Brass Quintet, an electronic band Unplugged, ensembles at Perpich, and a band with students from the High School for the Recording Arts. He recalls that “from an early age, I was inspired by anyone who had fun with music, everything fro Stevie Ray to Louie to Brother Ali.” After high school graduation in 2010, Caleb has his sights set on a college program for music composition.  

Peter Nyberg (saxophone) will graduate this spring from St. Paul Central High School. He began to play sax in fourth grade and recalls that “the first sign of potential was in my band class when I figured out the ‘dashing through the snow” part of ‘Jingle Bells.’”  He became involved in programs through Walker West in fifth grade “and learned about improvising. Caleb and I were thrown onstage before we were in junior high.” Peter has played with the Walker West Advanced Jazz Band, the jazz ensembles at Central, the Twin Cities Jazz Workshop, and “a handful of groups I’ve set up with friends.” Among his musical heroes he counts James Brown. Next year, Peter plans to enroll at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul. 

Chris Misa (piano) recalls that he became “interested in jazz back when I lived in Chicago.  I had been taking classical piano lessons but felt too confined and wanted more freedom.” He took piano lessons with Chicago Blues/Bogie pianist Erwin Helfer. Here in the Twin Cities, he has played with the Isaac Zuckerman Quartet, Minneapolis South High School's Big Band, his own ensemble with a friend from Chicago, and “many other less formal combos.”  Chris notes that he is “really inspired by all the great pianists, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Cedar Walton, and McCoy Tyner, as well as modern electronic music and rap.” Chris will enroll in the music program at DePaul University in Chicago.

Cory Grindberg (bass) technically is not an “alternate,” having been selected for two consecutive years for the Dakota Combo. He started guitar lessons in 5th grade and bass the following year. His interest in jazz was fueled by his lack of interest in classical music: “Basically the real music that challenged me was jazz and classical.  I wasn't interested in classical, so I went to jazz,” he explains. Hoping to get into a high school jazz band as a freshman, Cory intensified his bass studies in 8th grade, sensing the guitar would be more popular. Among his sources of inspiration, Cory cites Charles Mingus, Les Claypool and Jaco Pastorius. In addition to playing with the Minneapolis South High School Jazz band for the past three years, Cory has participated in the Minnesota Youth Jazz Band, Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth Jazz Program and  the Twin Cities Jazz Workshop with Doug Little, and currently plays with the Isaac Zuckerman Quartet and other local student bands. After graduation, Cory plans to pursue college studies in jazz or bass performance at Northwestern University.

Rob Fletcher (drums). Rob started playing drums at age ten and recalls that his interest in jazz was sparked in 6th grade when “a student combo from The New School for Jazz from NYC came to my school to play, and do some clinics. These guys pretty much blew my mind, and inspired me to get into jazz.” In addition to drums, Rob also plays “various concert percussion instruments (timpani, snare, vibraphone, xylophone, tambourine, marimba etc.) as well as Latin percussion instruments such as congas, bongos, and shaker.” Currently Rob plays with BFG (with Jake Baldwin and Cory Grindberg), the Minnesota Youth Jazz Ensemble I lead by David Mitchell, the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony, alternative/indie jazz group, the David Yellen Band, and ensembles at Eden Prairie High School. He also leads his own funk group, Farfletched. Rob notes that his inspiration comes from such great jazz drummers as Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Max Roach and Roy Haynes. “There are also so many beasts out there today like: Eric Harland, Brian Blade, Jeff Ballard, Nate Smith, and Matt Wilson to name a few. If I were to pick a group in specific, I would say that Coltrane's quartet in the early sixties is very inspiring for me because of how powerful, and spiritual that music was.” Rob will continue his jazz studies at DePaul University in Chicago.

And wherever these fine musicians go next, we can be sure they will make the most of their Twin Cities experiences and that, one day, we can say we heard them, at the Artists Quarter.  With a set featuring original compositions, arrangements and standards, we will be treated to fresh perspectives—not of “alternates” but of leading voices of the next generation.  

Come down to the Artists Quarter in St. Paul on June 11th for an early set with The Alternates at 7 pm (no cover), and stick around for the Tanner Taylor Trio at 9 pm, Only $5 for the late show. The AQ is located at 408 St. Peter Street in downtown St. Paul, lower level of the Hamm Building. Full schedule at www.artistsquarter.com; music six nights per week and sometimes on Sundays!