Harmony Hotshots

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 Jazz as it began in the early 1900’s, we are the band for you. We are NoCO’s vintage jazz dance band – come swing with us.

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 122 videos and 11,800 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.

Our Gigs

Upcoming Performances

Avo’s, April 27, 2025
2:00 – 4:30pm
$20 per person, $15 for Jazz Club members,
$10 students
(Cash only please.)

Avo’s, May 25, 2025
2:00 – 4:30pm
$20 per person, $15 for Jazz Club members,
$10 students
(Cash only please.)

Previous Gigs

Avo’s, March 23, 2025
Avo’s, February 23, 2025
Avo’s, January 26, 2025
Avo’s, December 29, 2024
Avo’s, November 24, 2024
Club Tico, August 18, 2024
Club Tico, July 21, 2024
Denver Jazz Club, June 9, 2024
Loveland Venue, March 24, 2024
Loveland Venue, February 25, 2024
Loveland Venue, January 28, 2024
Block Party, September 2, 2023
Garden Jazz Party, July 22, 2023
House Concert, May 13, 2023
Mardi Gras Party, February 18, 2023
House Concert, December 11, 2022
Corporate event, September 10, 2022
Private event, May 16, 2022

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.

Wes Melander – Bass, Tuba, Vocals

Wes has been active on the Northern Colorado music scene since moving here in 1978. He has played bass with the Loveland Choral Society, Fort Collins Symphony, the West Brothers, Colorado Theater Orchestra, Rounder, Book Em Danno, Touch of Jazz, and many others. He is currently playing with the Harmony Hotshots and the Dale Cisek Band.

Mark Manges – Cornet, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Vocals

Mark decided to learn the trumpet after seeing Louis Armstrong perform on TV, and many years later, he’s still learning. He is Musical Director/Co-Owner of Colorado Swing, and performs with many other jazz, rock, classical and musical theater groups around the area. He teaches private lessons and coaches brass students in local schools. Mark also often plays along with many very famous musicians on YouTube.

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