Performances – Make Jazz Not War!

Hot Times 2023!

September 5, 2023September 5, 2023

Michael Vander Does #artmakescbus, #cbusmakesart, #makejazznotwar

Look! We’re back at Hot Times!! This coming Sunday, September 10, @ 12:30 pm. Yes, we’re back playing early Sunday afternoon!! Don’t miss Make Jazz Not War in our only scheduled performance this fall! If you haven’t heard us since we were The JazzPoetry Ensemble, you haven’t heard us. As Make Jazz Not War!, Roger...

Moral Decay: I learned everything I know from Tricky Dick “I am not a crook” Nixon

June 20, 2023June 20, 2023

Michael Vander Does

I have often said that when Ford pardoned Nixon, he set the stage for the corruption, criminality, and seditious behavior of the Republican Party AND the resurgence of fascism in America. He’d probably be sad. Betty’d probably say, “I told you so.” This piece is our take on Republican privilege and impunity. The lack of accountability emboldens them. They’ve been plotting their coup for 50 years. I worry about our future enough already. If Trump faces no consequences, I think democracy is doomed. Of course, the Republican Ohio Legislature is trying to do that anyway. This is another of our......

I Am Not Your Ally

June 19, 2023June 20, 2023

Michael Vander Does

Without our comrade, Greg Ward, it’s been hard to get our new music out. This is from a recent rehearsal. Our take on intersectionality. It will open our Comfest show at 4:15 pm, Sunday, June 25. I Am Not Your Ally I am the one whose back matches yours, swords in hand, my rear view blindness trusting your eyes and hands at my back. I am not your ally. I am the one whose arms link with your arms and the arms of others. I am not your ally. I am not a person of color I am not a......

COMFEST 2023!!!

June 8, 2023June 7, 2023

Michael Vander Does

We’ll rock Comfest on Sunday, June 25, at 4:15 pm. Goodale Street Stage. Slather on the sunscreen, put on your dancing shoes, and party with a purpose with us. Brett Burleson, Roger Hines, The Governor, Michael Vander Does. 40 minutes of pure energy. Don’t be late!!

Memorial Jam @ Vanderelli Room

March 31, 2023March 31, 2023

Michael Vander Does

Come help Make Jazz Not War! celebrate these affiliated Citizen Artists who joined the ancestors since the beginning of the pandemic. There will be a drum circle. We will call the ancestors and they will send us music. There will be times when musicians from related groups (Too Far North, Nova Madrugada, Richard Lopez Trio,...

We’re Back On the Block!

January 22, 2023January 22, 2023

Michael Vander Does #artmakescbus, #cbusmakesart, #makejazznotwar

Our website is back! Technical issues, health, etc. conspired to make us miss important events and our holiday sale. The sale will now be a New Year’s sale. We changed our name, but we still have a fair amount of JazzPoetry Ensemble branded merchandise. We need to sell it so we can get new Make...

Being a Citizen Artist doesn’t get you a lot of gigs

May 28, 2022June 3, 2022

Michael Vander Does #artmakescbus, #cbusmakesart, #makejazznotwar

Make Jazz Not War! @ Comfest 2022 Saturday, June 25, 8:00 pm Goodale Street Stage Being a Citizen Artist doesn’t get you a lot of gigs. I can name most of them from Poets Against War to “Debbie Does Armageddon” at a ‘90s Hiroshima/Nagasaki memorial. In the last few years, being a Citizen Artist actually became a hindrance to getting gigs. Again. A lot of places stopped calling back. I understood. We didn’t stop. And now we’ve landed a great spot at Comfest! Our best festival spot ever! Saturday night @ 8:00. Now I’m not saying Citizen Artist content got us......