A classic big band era oldies jazz quartet that plays the most popular jazz of the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's - with an occasional surprise thrown into the mix. Their current surprise is guest appearances from trumpet player Chris Minick who has been adding the sweet jazz embellishments that only a muted trumpet can deliver.

Featuring Mary Grace Lodico on keyboard, Bob Russell on guitar, Alan McRae on drums, and Bill "Doc" Stecher on synthesizer, this classic oldies jazz quartet can transport you back in time via the romantic music of the Big Band Era - a classier & more civilized era when couples "dressed to the nine's" for an elegant evening out on the town. Lots of slow dances, waltzes, some swing and an occasional Latin number will get everyone onto the dance floor at some point during a performance, and your ears will appreciate their "easy listening" style that won't drown out your dinner conversation.

View our Entire Playlist repertoire of over 350 tunes!

Bookings Wanted: The Wildcats are always looking for classy venues to play their easy listening classic oldies jazz music, romantic ballads and ballroom dance numbers. Call Alan McRae at 828-226-0136 for booking info.

Waynesville Wildcats

Mary Grace Lodico I have played the piano by ear since I was a very young child.  Although I also took lessons, I find my ear my most helpful guide.  I played the piano for senior games and won at both the local and state levels.  Mary Grace keeps the whole band on track with her sensitive keyboard accompaniment, and her years in a barbershop quartet have prepared her well for working with a gifted singer like Natalie Taylor. Bob Russell Many of you have heard Bob playing bluegrass around town with different groups, and, apparently, he also left his mark down on the bayou playing in a Cajun band many years ago. Jazz is a new genre for him, but he is learning the jazz style of playing very quickly, and we are all very impressed with how fast he is adapting. We expect more leads & more solos from Bob as he masters the material, and we think he will soon leave his mark in the jazz world as well. Alan McRae I "rediscovered" the joy of playing music after breathing in the spirit of the Smoky Mountains for a few years. It started with playing drums around a campfire during drum circles, progressed to playing the Bodhran in a terrific Celtic Band called Celtic Knot, and now I'm blessed to be playing some of the sweetest old jazz standards in the genre with some wonderful people who really want to make music together. Thank you God! Bill "Doc" Stecher Piano lessons from age four to twelve; guitar since age 14; vibraharp in high school, organ along the way, electric bass as an adult—all these because music is as natural to me as the air we breathe. Thank goodness I have an ear, since I’m terrible at sight-reading! Although I love the classics— listen to them all day long—I don’t dare try to play them  because it’s hard not to improvise!  I’ve been into jazz, swing, Latin, “popular,” and Christian music in many venues for almost 70 years. Finding the like-minded talented musicians of the Waynesville Wildcats has been a wonderful joy!

Guest Musicians:

If you're invited to sit in with us, please either:

1. Download this PLAYLIST, use Wordpad or Word to place an X next to each tune you know, then email your edited playlist to alan.mcrae@charter.net.
   
   or
   
   
2. Print out this PLAYLIST, use a pen to check off the tunes you're familiar with, and then get your printed playlist to Alan McRae.

We will give performance priority to the tunes that you have indicated are familiar to you, so that sitting in with us will be as easy as possible for you.

Trumpeter, Guitarist & Vocalist - Chris Minick

Chris Minick - a fixture in the local music scene for the past twenty years, Chris has performed at one time or another in nearly every local music venue that we have here in WNC. He has a large repertoire of standards, covers, and original compositions that spans the gamut from folk, to jazz, to reggae, pop, blues, bluegrass, and beyond. Chris is currently working his soulful trumpet interpretations into some of our playlist selections, and we hope to get some guitar & vocals in the mix as well.

Upright Bassist - Rick Eilerts

Rick Eilerts - toured with the Ernie Fields band, and had a 9 piece dance band in college that played the Shadowlake Resort in Noel, MO. Played professionally with Jim Ed Brown and his two sisters (Maxine & Bonnie) Backed up Bob Hope in a show and the Mills Brothers in another show. He played a lot of college Frat/Sorority formal dances and formal affairs at Tulsa and Okla City country clubs.  Over the years I have played with small combos mostly blues and jazz tunes and backing a vocalist. Most of my recent playing has been bluegrass and church music. I did play at the Haywood Arts Theatre the musical Phantom Of The Opera and the music of about 6 Broadway plays.

Singer - Natalie Taylor

Natalie Taylor - a talented, natural vocalist, Natalie can breathe new life into these old jazz standards with her passionate lyrical interpretations and magnetic stage presence. Keep an eye on this beautiful lady - we think she'll be a fast rising star in the music world.

Sample MP3 demo recordings with Natalie - click to play or download:

Places we have played:

Winchester Creek Country Club		Clyde Central Methodist Church
Creative Thought Center		Smokey Shadows Lodge
Gazebo at Jude's		2Brothers Restaurant
Terrace Hotel		The Gateway Club

Awards:

The Waynesville Wildcats won the 2008 North Carolina Senior Games Silver Arts Competition for Haywood County and the Gold Medal for Small Instrumental Group at the NCSG State Finals in Raleigh.