John Maki

Leader and tuba

Playing tuba for over 30 years, John founded the band 18 years ago. What started as a dream has now developed into professional gigs from Washington to Montana. John not only stays busy in Electric Park, but also is a long time member of the National Elks Band, performing in concerts at Reno, St. Louis, Las Vegas and along the Washington coast. He also is a member of the Grays Harbor Symphony orchestra. John lent his talents to the Sacramento Jazz Camp as counselor and also performs in many pit orchestras for his local communities musical productions. John has sat in with many bands over the years and to know him, is to know his love of jazz and his love of people. John lives in Aberdeen, Washington with his biggest supporter and fan, his wife Lori and daughters Tiffany and Heather.

Walt Lewis

Banjo

The musical mix that molded Walt’s performing pursuits include the country music of the ’40s and ’50s, hours of rousing church outings, a mother’s piano playing and trying to wear out the Firehouse Five 78’s, not that getting a banjo for Christmas when Walt was 15 didn’t help! After 25 or so years of pizza parlor and barroom sing-a-long duty, Dixieland Jazz has at last won out. “I love this music so much I’ll even go to places I’m not playing at just to hear it – and pay money to boot! Once this powerful music gets in your blood. you are pretty much a lifetime fan, seems to me.” One of Walt’s greatest assets is his terrific wife Loraine, who has supported and encouraged Walt unfailingly. “No telling where we will turn up next!”

Rex Rice

Trombone

Rex Rice has been sliding around on the trombone since 1949. His military time was spent mostly in Libya with the 17th Air Force Band touring Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Later, he toured with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and played with combos and big bands throughout the Pacific Northwest. He worked his way through Western Washington University playing top 40 rock and roll with a lounge quartet. While living in Everett, WA he played at most of the Elks clubs in the Puget Sound area and performed with the Everett Symphony for seven years. He began playing jazz festivals with Sally King and the Jazzabouts and later with the Portland band, Stumptown Jazz. Currently, he and his wife Carrie live in Nordland, WA located on Marrowstone Island near Port Townsend. Rex plays many gigs around the area and leads a Trombone Orchestra. When his schedule permits, he also substitutes in two other groups, the Foggy Bottom Jazz Band and The Dukes of Dabob.

Lyall Smith

Drums, harmonica, guitar, vocals

Born in Olympia, Washington without kneecaps … Lyall Smith has been outwitting audiences since his elementary school days when he began playing cello. Playing drums since the 5th grade, Lyall’s first professional gig was at the age of 13. He continued his musical career all through high school when he began teaching drums, guitar and harmonica, giving private instruction for 16 years. After high school, Lyall started playing music full time in duos and trios working mostly in cocktail lounges, playing mostly top 40, country and light rock. Lyall is currently a volunteer captain with the Tumwater Fire Department and is also employed by the Washington State Patrol as a Deputy State Fire Marshal. Not only does Lyall keep busy with Electric Park, but also plays with a jazz trio called The Intrusions, a favorite in the Olympia area. Lyall loves Dixieland people and “loves motorcycling as much as breathing!” He and his wife Laura reside in Olympia, Washington.

Tiffany Maki

Vocals

A five-year graduate of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Camp, Tiffany has grown up on jazz. She began piano lessons at the age of five and continued them for 14 years. Tiffany also had six years of clarinet and has recently joined the National Elks Band. In pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in music education, she hopes to teach high school music choir. Tiffany performs in many pit orchestras and also plays piano for her church. Her schedule keeps her busy with many weddings and other local musical events. Tiffany’s musical influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Krall, Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr. Tiffany lives in Aberdeen, WA.

Rob Hilliard

Rreeds

Living in Bellevue, Washington with his wife Margaret, Rob keeps busy with his career in computer technology. Not only does he perform in Electric Park but also in the Hume Street Jazz Band. Rob performs on clarinet and soprano saxophone. He is a long time member of the National Elks Band, traveling the country for their performances. Rob has been a part of jazz for over 20 years, playing in many venues across the United States. He also performs with The Harborlights band from Grays Harbor, Washington. Rob loves the crowds and loves jazz music.

Joe Lazzaro

Trumpet and vocals

The son of two vaudevillians from Cleveland, Ohio, Joe earned a bachelor’s of science degree in geology from the University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio. While in the military Joe traveled extensively playing in bands from Brussels, Belgium to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. A highlight of Joe’s careers was his four-year duty as an Apollo flight controller. He was the Procedures Officer for the moon landing missions in the control room of the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas during the ’60s and ’70s. After a 26-year military career, Colonel Joe began working for Boeing Company in Washington, DC as a strategic long range planner and marketer. A proud father of four daughters, the now-retired Joe has had many Dixieland experiences on the East Coast playing in many musical groups – High Street Hijackers, Southern Comfort and the Desert City Six to name a few. For the past five years Joe has cruised the Columbia River on the Queen of the West sternwheeler with the Riverboat Jazz Band. Joe’s biggest fan is his wife Sandi, who entertains at many festivals with her superb dancing.

Joe Baque

Piano

From New York, Joe began his professional career playing piano at the age of 11. He wanted to be a musician, so he learned many different types and style of music. His East Coast career led him to perform with many jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Joe is a very sought-after accompanist as well as a piano instructor. Joe performs at many varied venues, from casinos to lounges, as well as Puget Sound cruises. He plays many different styles from Dixieland to classical piano. To know Joe is to understand how music can become a part of the soul. Joe lives in Olympia, Washington with his wife Carol and their son John.