They're called the Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band, and their role is to cultivate American pride in the military. But for a native Detroiter who plays lead trombone with the troupe featured in weekend picnic concerts at Greenfield Village, the good feeling really cuts both ways. Christopher J. Buckholz, a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan, now in his third year with the celebrated Army jazz ensemble.
People love the band.
Maybe the best part is the response we get from veterans, men and women from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, who always tell us how honored they feel by our presence. The Jazz Ambassadors, one of five elite U.S. military bands, are featured in the Detroit Symphony's eighth annual Salute to America program at Greenfield Village, where last year a record 25,000 people nibbled on chicken and sipped sodas while listening to a mix of pop favorites and patriotic tunes. For one thing, it's a constant paycheck. For another, he says, you can depend on the players showing up. You're definitely in the Army.