Cary Kocher – vibraphonist (class of 1979)
While in the Northview Jazz Ensemble Cary played almost anything we needed him to play. One year he was on bass, he played some piano, vibes and drum set. He even wrote an original composition that we performed. He went on to the University of Michigan to study music. After drumming and touring with the jazz group “Fast Tracks”, he began teaching in the Ann Arbor Schools and took up jazz vibraphone.
He was drafted into service on the slow weeknight at the Bird of Paradise Jazz Club and the Keller/Kocher Quartet was born with bassist Paul Keller. In addition to performing gigs, they have released some great albums. Kocher has been directing middle school bands for 24 years and also teaches jazz vibes at the U of M. He has a diverse playing schedule as well, including jazz groups, wedding bands, a Latin jazz group “Los Gatos” and the Ann Arbor Symphony.
While in the Northview Jazz Ensemble Cary played almost anything we needed him to play. One year he was on bass, he played some piano, vibes and drum set. He even wrote an original composition that we performed. He went on to the University of Michigan to study music. After drumming and touring with the jazz group “Fast Tracks”, he began teaching in the Ann Arbor Schools and took up jazz vibraphone.
He was drafted into service on the slow weeknight at the Bird of Paradise Jazz Club and the Keller/Kocher Quartet was born with bassist Paul Keller. In addition to performing gigs, they have released some great albums. Kocher has been directing middle school bands for 24 years and also teaches jazz vibes at the U of M. He has a diverse playing schedule as well, including jazz groups, wedding bands, a Latin jazz group “Los Gatos” and the Ann Arbor Symphony.