Wesley Jazz Ensemble
WESLEY JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Purpose of the Wesley Jazz Ensemble (“WJE”): The jazz ensemble provides a variety of high-energy songs and musical performances for senior centers, social organizations, and community events in the San Jose area. For those especially in the senior centers, this could be a special and only opportunity for live music (from the past to the present) at their own respective locations, where there could be mobility concerns and issues.
WJE History
The band was originally formed in 1996 by then Scoutmaster Wayne Adachi for Wesley’s Boy Scout Troop!201. The band’s first performance was for Reverend Peter Chen’s Retirement Party at the Scottish Rites Temple. As the scouts completed their scouting program, the only ones remaining were the adult leaders from which other musicians from the Church and community were added to form today’s jazz ensemble. The Band’s music consists of jazz, blues, Latin, popular, rock and roll, Motown, ballads, Japanese pop charts and most recently rap versions. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all WJE performances were cancelled from 2020 until 2023. However, the band was restarted in mid-2023..
WJE 2026 Performances:
WJE History
The band was originally formed in 1996 by then Scoutmaster Wayne Adachi for Wesley’s Boy Scout Troop!201. The band’s first performance was for Reverend Peter Chen’s Retirement Party at the Scottish Rites Temple. As the scouts completed their scouting program, the only ones remaining were the adult leaders from which other musicians from the Church and community were added to form today’s jazz ensemble. The Band’s music consists of jazz, blues, Latin, popular, rock and roll, Motown, ballads, Japanese pop charts and most recently rap versions. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all WJE performances were cancelled from 2020 until 2023. However, the band was restarted in mid-2023..
WJE 2026 Performances:
1) April 2026: Nikkei Matsuri, community event that featured community “volunteers” (25) dancing to Shake, Rattle and Roll, including the Lotus Pre-schoolers; estimated attendance @ 225
2) September 2026: Good CARma, Palo Alto Buddhist Temple fundraiser; estimated attendance @ 300
3) December 2026: Yu Ai Kai Christmas/Holiday performance; estimated attendance 50
4) December 2026: Wesley Church Christmas/Holiday for monthly potluck; estimated attendance 125
Evaluation as to successfulness of program: As director of WJE, I feel that our performances are entertaining with high-energy/toe-tapping/fun music, inviting audience participation for a favorable response by generating positive enthusiasm. WJE consists of 21 members, comprised of some of the best Church and Nikkei musicians.
Financial Impact: WJE provides music free of any costs. Two honorariums (total of $550) were received in 2026 in the name of the Band from which were donated to Wesley Church to its general fund.
Current and Future Plans: The band will continue to perform for various community functions in 2027. The band is planning for the following events: 1) Encore for Japantown Returnings (originally performed in May 2025: newspaper reviews are attached: a) https://www.nichibei.org/2025/06/san-joses-j-town-takes-center-stage-in-japantown-returnings/; b)https://www.cnumc.org/newsdetails/wesley-umc-japantown-play-19125033) scheduled for April 2027); 2) Nikkei Matsuri 2027 in April 2027 featuring a special community dance for “Shout” by the Isley Bros.; 3) Special performance for a new event to kick off the Wesley Church’s kitchen update/remodel with an interactive musical play about the history of Wesley Church from the beginnings to now (should be sometime in the latter half of 2027); and 4) two special fundraisers in mid-year 2027 for the Mtn. View Buddhist Temple and a return to the Good CARma event at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple which will have a Dolly Parton theme
Financial Impact: WJE provides music free of any costs. Two honorariums (total of $550) were received in 2026 in the name of the Band from which were donated to Wesley Church to its general fund.
Current and Future Plans: The band will continue to perform for various community functions in 2027. The band is planning for the following events: 1) Encore for Japantown Returnings (originally performed in May 2025: newspaper reviews are attached: a) https://www.nichibei.org/2025/06/san-joses-j-town-takes-center-stage-in-japantown-returnings/; b)https://www.cnumc.org/newsdetails/wesley-umc-japantown-play-19125033) scheduled for April 2027); 2) Nikkei Matsuri 2027 in April 2027 featuring a special community dance for “Shout” by the Isley Bros.; 3) Special performance for a new event to kick off the Wesley Church’s kitchen update/remodel with an interactive musical play about the history of Wesley Church from the beginnings to now (should be sometime in the latter half of 2027); and 4) two special fundraisers in mid-year 2027 for the Mtn. View Buddhist Temple and a return to the Good CARma event at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple which will have a Dolly Parton theme
These are the new songs that I will be including for our 2027 events:
1) I Will Always Love You (1973 by Dolly Parton); sung by Whitney Houston
2) More Today Than Yesterday (1969 by Spiral Starecase) - vocal for Dave
3) Cast Your Fate To The Wind (1962 by Vince Guaraldi)
4) Rawhide (Blues Brothers version with Mark and Dave)
5) Blue Bossa (featured in 1963 by Joe Henderson)
6) Can't Stop Loving You (1957 by Don Gibson) - country western song made popular by Ray Charles and for the Count Basie Band which was written by Quincy Jones in the 1960's
7) Cinema Paradiso (2009 by Chris Botti which featured Yo Yo Ma)
8) Shout (1959 by the Isley Bros.) for Nikkei Matsuri 2027 "community dance"
9) Softly as the Morning Sunrise (from a 1928 musical opera: New Moon); performed by many jazz artists including Miles Davis, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, and Freddie Hubbard.
Wesley Jazz Ensemble Members:
Wayne Adachi, Director/Trombone
Ted Hasegawa, Trumpet/Vocals
Jiawai Toh, Trumpet
Dave Brown, Trombone/Audio Supervision Duane Takahashi, Alto Sax
Melina Takahashi, Alto Sax/Flute
Len Fujita, Tenor Sax
Michael Yoshihara, Bari Sax
Wendy Horikoshi, Flute/Vocals
Grant Shimizu, Lead Guitar
Peter Horikoshi, Rhythm Guitar/Vocals
Ichiro Bakoshi, Bass
Todd Soo Hoo, Drums
Marilyn Hasegawa, Keyboard
Kirk Tamura, Keyboard
Ryan Miyahara, percussion/drums/bass Shizuko Adachi, Vocals
Dave Land, Vocals/MC
Mark Teagle, Vocals
Chris Hioki, Special Assistant/Audio Technician Kikue Johnson, Special Design
Wayne Adachi, Director/Trombone
Ted Hasegawa, Trumpet/Vocals
Jiawai Toh, Trumpet
Dave Brown, Trombone/Audio Supervision Duane Takahashi, Alto Sax
Melina Takahashi, Alto Sax/Flute
Len Fujita, Tenor Sax
Michael Yoshihara, Bari Sax
Wendy Horikoshi, Flute/Vocals
Grant Shimizu, Lead Guitar
Peter Horikoshi, Rhythm Guitar/Vocals
Ichiro Bakoshi, Bass
Todd Soo Hoo, Drums
Marilyn Hasegawa, Keyboard
Kirk Tamura, Keyboard
Ryan Miyahara, percussion/drums/bass Shizuko Adachi, Vocals
Dave Land, Vocals/MC
Mark Teagle, Vocals
Chris Hioki, Special Assistant/Audio Technician Kikue Johnson, Special Design
Posted in Charge Conference 2026