Harmony Hotshots

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2026 New Day – New Time

We now play Avo’s the 3rd Sunday, mostly.
And always from 3:00 – 5:30pm

Spontaneous Music from America’s Jazz Roots

The Harmony Hotshots is a professional performance and dance jazz band featuring improvisational spontaneous music true to the roots of America’s jazz. If you want to experience Hot Jazz as it began in the early 1900’s, we are the band for you.

The Harmony Hotshots is also a nurturing band and welcomes good musicians of any age who would like to learn the roots of improvisational jazz, and, of course, we welcome skilled trad players as well.

The Harmony Hotshots works closely with the Northern Colorado Traditional Jazz Society to expand the community of early vintage jazz fans both on-stage and in our ever-growing audience.

Harmony Hotshots currently has 186 videos and 24,500 views on our YouTube channel.

Please “Subscribe” and turn on Notifications to stay up to date with our newest YouTube releases. Click LIKE (thumb up) and Share with all of your friends (please forward this information to all of your friends and relatives, too). AND, please leave glowing comments about how much you enjoy the Harmony Hotshots.

Upcoming Performances

Avogadro’s Number in Ft Collins

Bring your instruments and play with the Harmony Hotshots at Avo’s. We start our 2nd sets
with When The Saints Go Marching In and we want you to play along!!

July 19, Aug 23, (note Aug change) Sep 20, Oct 18, Nov 15, Dec 20
3:00 – 5:30pm
$20 per person,
$15 for Jazz Club members,
$10 students
(Cash only please.)

Meet the Band

Ted Turner – Banjo, Vocals, Leader

Ted studied voice and piano at Jordan College of Music in Indianapolis. Ted traveled internationally with “Up With People” for two years before joining the military where he had a group in Da Nang. Ted played lead banjo for “Your Father’s Mustache” in Denver and New York City clubs and Carnegie Hall. Ted was a founding member of Poudre River Irregulars and still plays occasional gigs with them today.

Ted is a singer, song writer, musician, and band leader and has performed in 40+ states and 12 countries for about three million people.

Chris Norton – Bass, Vocals

Chris comes back to Colorado after living in Florida, where he was with three Big Bands and notably was the Bassist with the Loomis Brothers Circus. A first call Bassist, he has played with William Florian, lead singer of the New Christy Minstrels, Old Guard jazz man Dick Hyman, Patrick Moraz (from YES and the Moody Blues) and Members of the Hermans Hermits. He is indeed, the Keeper of the Sacred Groove. When he isn’t playing he enjoys Cycling and Hiking. Currently he anchors down the Flatirons Jazz Orchestra (CBS Local rates them as the best Big Band in Denver), Colorado Swing, and the Harmony Hotshots.

Charlie Smith – Trumpet, Vocals

Charlie Smith (trumpet) says he loves playing Lead. He started playing trumpet at seven and graduated from UNC with a degree in Music Performance in 1985. He’s played Lead with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Woody Herman Band, and backed up such well-known performers as Frank Sinatra Jr,. The Four Freshman, Natalie Cole, Bob Hope, Jay Leno, The Four Tops, Bobby McFerrin, James Moody, John Faddis and locally played with Lannie Garretts Big Band for over 20 years. Charlie plays with Your Father’s Mustache, the Hot Tomatoes, Poudre River Irregulars, and finally the Harmony Hotshots.

Reece Pullen – Drums, Vocals

Reece was born in Australia and raised by dingoes in Mandura Caves on the Nullarbor Plain. Reese was given sticks as a chew toy at a very early age, and he quickly adapted their use to banging on rocks and fellow cubs in the den.

Reece’s incessant banging and his increasingly alpha behavior led to his expulsion from the pack. Reece was introduced to drums within a year of his independence from the pack, and, following his first lesson, joined a touring rock band and has been playing professionally since. Reece still visits the pack when he is in Australia.

Fred Smith – Piano

Fred was inspired to the music of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s by his parents and their friends, who would often hold jam sessions in his basement. He was also inspired by recordings and live performances of many fine traditional jazz pianists such as Ralph Sutton, Sue Downs and Butch Thompson, Queen City Jazz Band, the Climax Jazz Band, the New Hot Frogs, the High Sierra Jazz Band, the Happy Jazz Band and the Poudre River Irregulars Jazz Band.

Fred is a self-taught stride piano player and multi-instrumentalist.

Steve Tyler – Trombone

Steve began playing Traditional Jazz in the mid-1980s with the Rhythm Kings, then joined and recorded albums with the Hot Frogs Jumping Jazz Band, Janet Carroll, and Ian Whitcomb. He has also appeared with Bob Ringwald, Conrad Janis, Johnny Crawford, the Nightblooming Jazzmen, Igor’s Jazz Cowboys, the Misbehavin’ Jazz Band, and the Cherry Willow Jazz Band.

Steve was a frequent substitute musician at Disneyland, performing with the Jambalaya Jazz Band, the Straw Hatters, the Hook & Ladder Company, and the Dickens Yuletide Brass. Steve is a multi-instrumentalist and arranger.

Andrew Vogt – Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Vocals

In the late 1990’s Andrew was one of the top musicians competing for the Cognac Hennessy Jazz Challenge. He then spent three years sailing the seas on cruise ships performing every night for hundreds of guests. At the turn of the new millennium, he moved his horns and himself to the beautiful land of Colorado.

Andrew, a multi-instrumentalist, specializes in high energy, exciting jazz and also performs in a variety of different funk, soul and R&B bands. Andrew has released 4 albums and appears on 30 other recorded projects. www.drewsblues.com