• About

    The Just Friends Big Band was formed in October, 1986 by Paul Pizner, then Director of Jazz at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. The band was formed to perform at the opening of Hamline’s Sunden Hall and the band personnel included many Hamline alum. Everyone agreed they were all just friends, and should continue as a rehearsal band — to help keep good big band jazz alive in the Twin Cities, and just for fun.

    The band originally rehearsed at Hamline University, and over the years has called a variety of area churches home – in Minneapolis, Mendota Heights, Bloomington and Richfield. The band underwent one major reorganization in 1995, but has always continued as a band of musical friends. The current home of the band is the band room at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School (IHMCS) in Minnetonka, MN, where the band's leader is Music Director.

Just Friends Big Band rehearses weekly and performs occasionally – at IHMCS, and at various community venues and private affairs throughout the Twin Cities. We’ve played on local live radio, at the famous First Avenue in Minneapolis, and most sadly in May 2009 in a return to Sunden Hall, for Paul Pizner's memorial. The band’s leader since 2001 is Adam Bestler. Adam is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Morris, with professional credentials that include a stint on sax with the Count Basie Orchestra.  The Just Friends Big Band is available for hire, for private bookings and community events — contact us for information.