Biography

There are a lot of options when choosing a band for an event, but none of them are as unique and fresh as Bellaire Jazz. This exciting new group is made up of some of the most sought after musicians in the Houston area. The core of the group consists of Jon Wegge on bass, Josh Sheiman on Guitar and Jordan Almes on drums. These guys can play, and they do. A lot. Collectively, the members of this band play over 500 gigs a year. That’s a lot of experience at making people happy, so they can have fun in events while also playing some games in the true fortune casino as well. Whether its guests at a wedding reception, a corporate event, or a private party, they’ve got it covered.

Bellaire Jazz is fully capable of making great music of all styles, but they specialize in Avant-Groove. A mixture of Jazz and Funky elements with some R&B thrown in for fun. That’s an unexpected shift in the kinds of music that are normally played at events in Houston. That’s what sets this band apart, all at once the music can be the center of attention or simmering in the background, seamlessly shaping the event into a night that no one will forget. If there’s ever a gig that the trio can’t handle, and that’s rare indeed, don’t worry, they’ve got a lot of friends from keyboardists to horn players that can jump in to expand the band.

Since moving to Houston in 2013, Jon has become one of the city’s top call bassists. Adept at both upright and electric bass, Jon plays all over the state with a wide variety of groups. Jon can be seen regularly with Tianna Hall and the Houston Jazz Band, The Danny Ray Trio, The Royal Dukes Band, and the Acoustic Production.

Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Jon Wegge completed his Bachelor of Music Degree in 2003 at De Paul in Chicago, IL where he was fortunate to study with Larry Gray and Kelly Sill. After playing in Chicago as a freelance bassist for two years, Jon continued his studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign where in 2007 he completed a masters in Jazz Studies and studied with Chip Stephens and Jeff Grubbs. As well as playing in the central Illinois area, Jon was able to teach Jazz Bass lessons at Knox College from 2006-2008 as well as at Lincoln Land Community College and Lincoln Christian College from 2007-2008.

From 2008-2013, Jon lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan and maintained a healthy performance schedule in Michigan as well as traveling to Chicago and Detroit. In addition to performances as a sideman, Jon had the pleasure of playing with the Bryan Michael Fischer Band, one of west Michigan’s premier Blues/Rock bands as well as The Renegades, a Chicago based jazz-fusion band, which was formed in 2000. The Renegades have released three albums “Doppler Olympics”, “Stuffed Animal Baseball”, and “Duncannon Shenanigan”. Jon can also be heard on “Esencial” by Hector Hermosillo, “Noisy Picks and Humbars” by Nick Peraino and Blue Moon Risin’ as well as a recording of the Paul Mutzabaugh Trio.

Josh Sheiman’s musical journey began while living overseas in The Netherlands. He received a guitar at the age of 12 and was immediately drawn to the instrument. Inspired by guitar legends such as Jimmy Page and Jimmy Hendrix, Josh looked to gain the combination of virtuosity and creativity. Upon moving back to Houston, Josh began studying with John Edward Ross. His interest in improvisation led him to jazz. This exposed him to new colors and sounds. While in high school he won the “Excellence in the study of music” award at Episcopal High School and “The Duke Ellington” award at the Summer Jazz Workshop. After being accepted into top music schools including North Texas, Josh decided to study music at The University of Miami.

The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami is one of the nations top jazz guitar schools.  It offers a challenging but rewarding experience. Constantly being pushed and challenged, Josh spent hours in the practice room every day. By the time he was a junior, the hard work paid off as he participated in top ensembles including the Studio Jazz band.  The Studio Jazz Band presented opportunities to play with artists such as Kevin Mahogany, as well as the downbeat award winning Funk Fusion ensemble. Under Houston native Randall Dollahon, Josh gained a true appreciation and knowledge for the art of Jazz. He graduated in May of 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Jazz Emphasis).

Since graduating Josh has continued his musical journey as a performer. As a performer he has played all across the greater Houston area including the Wortham Center, Hobby Center, International Jazz Festival and much more. Josh has experience in a wide range of musical styles. He has played in musicals all across the state including Jesus Christ Superstar featuring Ben Vereen. He also plays regularly with Blues artist Texas Johnny Boy as well as various, jazz, rock, wedding, and R&B gigs around town. He is currently working on recording various original compositions that have been years in the making. His mixture of influences result in a truly electric and exciting style that is certain to win over both the audiences and critics.

Since 2007 Josh has also enjoyed being a music educator. He teaches close to 50 students a week of all ages and skill levels. He has taught and or is currently teaching at such places as Rockin Robin, Memorial School of Music, St Andrews, and Bojangles Guitar School. His love for music combined with professional experience, gives students the fundamentals and inspiration required to learn the beautiful art of music. As he constantly strives to be a better guitarist, he also constantly strives to better serve his students.