KEYBOARD / GRAND PIANO

Jeff Haas learned to crawl in the organ loft of Temple Israel in Detroit, listening to his dad play. He grew up surrounded by classical cats rehearsing chamber music with his dad, Karl Haas. At five, he was at the piano under his dad’s watchful eye. In his early teens, Jeff stumbled upon his first live Motown review (Marvin, Martha, The Temps, Four Tops, Supremes and Little Stevie Wonder) at the MI State Fair. He had gone rogue. The Motown music scene became Jeff’s playground, hanging out at the Grande Ballroom, Easttown and the back door of Bakers Keyboard Lounge, where Jeff could catch the jazz vibe even though he wasn’t old enough to get in.

A bazillion hours at the piano and thousands of gigs later, Jeff is a northern MI jazz staple, performing for decades with his trio and a hosts of jazz legends. Jeff is an extraordinary composer who tends to play by his own rules, challenging traditional forms, melody structures and genre blends. His compositional voice organically blends his passion for jazz, R&B, classical and Judaic music. Big Fun has reimagined some of Jeff’s most personal tunes and adds a hint of bluegrass instrumentation. The result being one of the most unique and original sounds to come out of the Michigan music scene. In his free time Jeff enjoys walking in the woods and workouts at his gym, hanging out with his cat, Hazel and entertaining himself at the piano.

MANDOLA / TENOR BANJO / OCTAVE MANDOLIN

Don Julin hangs with some of the best in bluegrass. His passion for all things mandolin has also taken him on frequent visitations with the likes of Mozart, Monk and Marley with a strong taste of Zappa along the way. Don has assembled and led popular idiosyncratic bands for the last three decades and has inspired many highly skilled band mates to explore the outer recesses of the music. The most recognizable to the Midwest region being Billy Strings, whom he toured with for three years.

The mando master is also a prolific composer, contributing many genre bending titles to the BIG FUN book of originals. Don also has an insatiable aspiration to teach, ergo his popular online studio, Mandolin’s Heal the World, and his book Mandolins for Dummies, a world bestseller now in its fifth printing. In his free time, Don enjoys spending time with his dog, and riding his fat-tire bike around Traverse City, no matter the weather.

STEEL GUITAR / DOBRO

Although Joe Wilson has a rich history in bluegrass, he takes the dobro and steel guitar into uncharted waters with Big Fun. Wait a minute! Joe’s playing "Shakeed", one of Jeff’s funky jazz originals, and he's lighting up a solo that has the unmistakable bluegrass sound of his axe. He intwines the concepts of a Coltrane disciple and wraps up his solo with a Hawaiian guitar vibe.

Joe is an original member of Michigan’s favorite bluegrass band, Steppin’ In It. Don Julin asked Joe to sit in at one of BIG FUN’s rehearsals in 2020, and he has been a member of the band ever since, bringing unique sound and energy to each tune. Joe sports his 1959 Fender Stringmaster with BIG FUN Electric, adding his own originals into the mix, crazy sound effects, lofty descants, and harmonic gold to each piece. In his free time, Joe enjoys riding his mountain bike and going to baseball games with his son. He also assistant coaches for his son’s middle school baseball team.

6-STRING BASS GUITAR / DOUBLE BASS

Jack Dryden is one of the most versatile bassists, dominating the instrument in all its forms. He first started on the guitar in Junior High cover bands dressed as The Beatles. However, Jack studied classical standup bass at the collegiate level in Boston Berkeley College of Music, yet performs professionally in a plethora of genres, including jazz, funk, and classical. His history of performances highlights his versatility as well, from Broadway pits to his chair in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and even with Aretha Franklin!

Jack has been a pillar in the Jeff Haas trio for 30 years. Jack prevails on all 6 strings, slapping the bass during his funk driven solos and groovy baselines with BIG FUN. In his free time, he enjoys watching sunsets on the beach and a nice glass of Malbec to enjoy Northern Michigan's color pallet during the Summer season.

DRUMS

Randy Marsh’s stage persona is a throwback to the days of vaudeville. On a typical night, he blends his passion for all things rhythm with lots of humor and Chaplinesque antics, all the while locking into a groove so deep, you could live in it. He is a lifetime traveling percussionist. Randy has been a part of the jazz/soul band Organissimo since its beginnings.

For 30 years Randy has played with Jeff Haas at Chateau Chantal Winery for their Jazz at Sunset series. Every gig Randy has in Traverse City, he travels 2 hours from his home in Grand Rapids with nothing but enthusiasm for the night ahead. Randy actually named the group "BIG FUN" when the five got together and jammed for the first time, blending different genres of instruments and learning each other's tunes. With his feet in the air shredding a solo while sporting his catzilla t-shirt, Randy’s one-of-a-kind personality fabricates all that is BIG FUN. In his free time, Randy enjoys nature hiking, bike riding, swimming at sunset in the summer, and kayaking.

PERCUSSION

Will Harris contributes the most colorful percussive elements allowing BIG FUN Unplugged to fully meet an acoustic soundscape. Will is also an active member of The Traverse City Symphony Jazz Orchestra, The Charlie Millard Band, The Lucas Paul Band, The Pocket, and The W. H. Trio. Will holds a BA in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University. He’s actively involved in sharing music through teaching as well as performance. He’s currently offering instruction at The Beat Lab in Traverse City,Michigan, and provides support to various band programs and special populations, promoting music accessibility.