The Alluvion Jazz Series Presents: The Bill Sears Quintet

Saturday, February 14, 2026
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM EST
The Alluvion
Traverse City, MI
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About This Event

Bill Sears is back to ignite his hometown stage at The Alluvion with yet another exceptional, premier band at his side. Swing into some deep jazz as The Alluvion Jazz Series proudly presents:

Bill Sears - Saxophone

Bryn Roberts - Piano

Chris Minami - Guitar

Christian Dillingham - Bass

Keith Hall - Drums


About Bill Sears:

Saxophonist Bill Sears is revered by jazz audiences throughout the state of Michigan and the Upper Midwest. A native of Racine, Wisconsin, Bill received the BM and MM degrees from Indiana University after which he moved to Chicago, quickly becoming a core member of the city's vibrant jazz scene. Bill moved to the Grand Traverse region in 1987 when he accepted the position as Director of Jazz Studies and Instructor of Saxophone at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, a position he held for 34 years until his retirement in May of 2021.  

Bill enjoyed touring the US and Europe with the Ray Charles band. Additional jazz greats with whom he has performed include Dizzy Gillespie, Bob James, Peter Erskine, Geoffrey Keezer, Rick Margitza, Rodney Whitaker, saxophonist Bill Evans and many others. He has shared the stage with a plethora of great vocalists in the jazz and popular genres including, but not limited to: Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Lou Rawls, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Wayne Newton and Maureen McGovern; and groups such as The Temptations, Four Tops, Spinners, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Manhattan Transfer, Supremes, Liberace, Henry Mancini, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. 

Appearing on about 20 albums, Bill has released two albums as a leader: Chasin’ The Goal with fellow saxophonist Rick Margitza, and With One Accord with the Arts Center Jazz Collective. Both albums feature not only his unique voice as a saxophonist and improviser, but several of his original compositions.


Doors open at 7 - Music at 7:30 - $30 advance tickets - $35 at the door

Fully seated, listening room style show

General admission - All ages


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The Alluvion
414 East Eighth Street 2nd floor
Traverse City, MI 49686
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The Alluvion

Artist-centered music venue & event space on floor 2 of Commongrounds Cooperative. 414 E 8th Street, Traverse City, MI. A small venue doing big things.

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414 East Eighth Street
Traverse City, MI
+1 (231) 714-6566