About Us

How it all started…

‍ ‍Since 2017, The Blue Jays have been bringing the heat to the Columbus scene. The band was founded, and is music directed, by pianist, composer, and bandleader Alexander Toth. What started as some cats with a love for jazz and a pocket full of funk has grown into one of Central Ohio's most dynamic live acts. It is a band with a real horn line, a deep book of original charts, and a reputation for putting on a show.

On the Scene | The Blue Jays have played the Columbus Arts Festival, Jazz at the Fountain Square in Cincinnati, Natalie's Grandview Music Hall, Woodlands Tavern, Bubbly Hall, and Shadowbox Live. The band also gives back to the next generation through workshops, masterclasses, and educational performances at Otterbein University, Tiffin University, and across Columbus.

Built for the Gig | Alex composes or arranges nearly every chart in the book, giving the Jays a sound that's unique, yet unforgettable: punchy horns, lush voicings, and grooves deep in the pocket. Standards, funk anthems, Latin burners, fusion, and pop hits all get the Toth spin. And no two gigs are the same, so no two Blue Jays shows are either. From an intimate duo for a cocktail hour to a full 14-piece big band swinging for a packed house, Alex shapes every performance around the room, the crowd, and the occasion.

Our Audience Is in the Band | For the Blue Jays, showmanship isn't an afterthought; it's part of the music. The crowd is treated like another member of the band, and every set is built to pull listeners in: dancing, clapping, and grooving right along.

The Backwork | Behind every great night is a lot of woodshedding. The Blue Jays put serious work into every detail: tight rehearsals, sharp stage attire, hi-fi sound, and stellar visuals that elevate each performance into a full experience. It's the difference between hearing a band and seeing a show.

Jazz, funk, fusion, Latin, or pop, from duo to big band, the Blue Jays bring the groove, the polish, and the party. Catch 'em live, and you'll see what's so hot about the Jays' nest.

“Music is not a universal language. It’s a universal feeling.”

— Band Leader, Alex Toth

The cats…

  • Alex Toth | Piano/Keyboard/Jazz Organ , Trumpet/Flugelhorn, Composer/Arranger, Founder of the Blue Jays, Executive Director of AlTec Productions

  • David Zimmerman | Trombone, Vocalist, Asst. Composer/Arranger, Executive Member

  • Anthony Thomas | Alto Sax, Asst. Composer/Arranger

  • Neveah Ellis | Lead Vocalist, Graphic Designer

  • Scott Geyer | Drums

  • Ivan Murray | Trumpet

  • Dylan Clark | Drums, Vocalist

  • Maddie Huwe | Vocalist, U-Bass, Composer/Arranger

  • José Avila | Guitar/Elec.Bass, Tuba

  • Oliver Mahnke | Trumpet, Asst. Communications

  • Ryan Gimeson | Vocalist, Guitar

  • Hope Love | Lead Sound Engineer, Livestream Engineer

  • Melissa Toth | Photographer, Videographer, Asst. Sound Engineer