When those violins swell during a lush ballad, well, that's the most wonderful feeling.   For the guys in front of the orchestra.

"It's a real rush to be up there," said Dave Oppermann, leader and pianist for the Saginaw-based New Reformation Band.

"It's a great thrill for us to work with symphonies."

That's what the "classic jazz" band will be doing at 8 p.m. Saturday when it joins the Jackson Symphony Orchestra at Jackson Community College's Potter Center.

But it takes some work for the two groups to mesh, he said. He said he offered symphony conductor Stephen Osmond a number of songs for which the band already has orchestra "charts" or arrangements. Osmond has selected several.

Oppermann sends the arrangements in early so the orchestra can rehearse.

"Steve is a delight to work with," Oppermann said.

They'll have one rehearsal together on the day of the show, then they'll hit the stage.

"For those excellent ! symphony musicians, you put a piece of music in front of them and off they go," Oppermann said.

He said it's fun to play between a symphony and its audience.

"There's something about a symphony audience," he said. "They're normally an appreciative audience, and because they tend to be a little sophisticated, when we arrive on the scene with our happy jazz ! they're surprised. 'Oh wow, this is fun.' ! It's the contradiction that helps it work for us: Here we come and we're a bunch of goofballs."

Among the "fun" will be a new arrangement of Eubie Blake's "Memories of You" featuring clarinetist Dave Bennett; "It Don't Mean a Thing"; "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans"; "Bourbon Street Parade"; "Tin Roof Blues"; "Sweet Georgia Brown"; and "Just a Closer Walk With Thee."

"And if they really like us and they applaud a lot, then we'll come back and do 'The Saints,'" he said.

The symphony also will play music from the movie "Chicago" as well as Henry Wolking's "Black Canyon Dragon."

The New Reformation Band, which has been together for 34 years, will include Oppermann on piano; Nick Oppermann, banjo and guitar; Paul Klinger, cornet; Gary Sutton, trombone; Bennett, clarinet; Rick Bryant, drums; and Craig Hodnett, tuba and string bass.

The next morning, they'll head for Ann Arbor where they've started a regular gig at noon the second Sunday of each month at the Firefly Club, 207 S. Ashley St.

The event includes brunch and dancing; tickets are $20.

Oppermann said some of the band's fans won't show up unless there's a dance floor.

"They say it's too painful otherwise," he joked.

-- Reach reporter Mary

Barber at 768-4971 or mbarber@citpat.com.