The Thin Ensemble

Michigan's only free blowing collection of basement goons is the The Thin Ensemble. Beginning in 1995 as a trio featuring Randy Sutherland on alto, Vinni Campbell on trumpet, and Jullo Vanderpool on drums, they played many shows around the Lansing and East Lansing Area. On April 12, John Olson saw a special birthday performance and joined the band playing alto and handmade reeds the next day. After a full spring of quartet performances, Jullo quit the ensemble to pursue bop drums and John took over switching between drums and reeds. Soon after, Vinni moved to Detroit and the band became a duo of Sutherland and Olson. Handmade electronics and Indian tabla style drumming were then added to their sound. The duo have played live three times a month from 1996 - present. Gretchen, of Dr. Gretchen's Musical Weightlifting Program, occasionally joins the duo creating a massive wall of doom with a little reeded free improv hum.