About Us

How it all started…

The Blue Jays Jazz & Funk Band was created by band leader, Alex Toth in 2017. Since then, the group has performed many amazing and immersive shows! Some highlights include, the Columbus Arts Festival, The Woodlands Tavern, Groove U Studios, Bubbly Hall, Otterbein University, The Recording Workshop, and TV cabarets! We have also provided workshops, masterclasses, and performances for music/jazz education in Columbus. We are well known for our own summer and holiday jazz series, as well as our amazing personnel. We’re a fun, engaging group of members that can vary in size depending on the gig. We pride ourselves on jazz and funk, but we are not limited by those genres. We have performed many pop, R&B, soul, and blues shows without missing a beat. Overall, we maintain professionalism and obtain high-quality creativity.

“Music is not a universal language. It’s a universal feeling.”

— Band Leader, Alex Toth

The cats…

  • Alex Toth | Piano/Keyboard/Jazz Organ , Trumpet/Flugelhorn, Composer/Arranger, Founder of the Blue Jays, Executive Director of AlTec Productions

  • Chase Aarons | Booking Agent

  • David Zimmerman | Trombone, Vocalist, Asst. Composer/Arranger, Executive Member

  • Dylan Clark | Drums, Vocalist, Executive Member

  • Anthony Thomas | Alto Sax, Asst. Composer/Arranger

  • José Avila | Guitar/Elec.Bass, Tuba, Executive Member

  • Liam Ross | Guitar

  • Lydia Namakydoost | Contrabass/Elec.Bass, Piano, Vocalist

  • Ryan Gimeson | Vocalist, Guitar

  • Eve Kirigiti | Vocalist

  • Oliver Mahnke | Lead Trumpet

  • Boomer Schloss | Alto Sax

  • MK Schloss | Percussionist Sub

  • David Montgomery | Tenor Sax

  • Dez Dunn | Alto Sax

  • Alex Casper | Tenor Sax

  • Bella Brennan | Bass Trombone

  • Sam Carpenter | Sound Engineer, Livestream Engineer

AlTec Productions Executive Team