If you enjoyed guitarist Ace Frehley’s version of Beethoven’s “5th Symphony” at the Kiss concert last Saturday, wait until you hear the Kaizer family’s version tonight.

The band consists of John Kaizer (guitar), Ed Kaizer Sr. (piano), Ed Kaizer Jr. (bass), Jim Bovinette (trumpet) and Pete Simonson (drums). Kaizer Jr., Bovinette and Simonson are all professors in the music department.

“We provide a fusion of a whole lot of styles,” John Kaizer said. “We blend new age with acid jazz and combine that with elements of classical music.”

“We basically play jazz,” Ed Kaizer Sr. said. “As an ensemble we play b-bop improvisational jazz that is not exactly mainstream jazz. However, there are some strictly jazz elements that are mixed with classical music and chord alterations.”

It is this blend of music that is featured in John Kaizer’s five CDs, which have cameo appearances from his brother and his father. Santa Fe Rain, Broken Silence, The Narrow Road, A Christmas Wish and If Things Were Good, They’d Be Like This have earned accolades across the country.

“I like to play with the best musicians,” John Kaizer said. “That is why I play with my family. I believe that my dad is the best pianist and that my brother is the best bassist.”

“It is neat to do this as a family,” Ed Kaizer Sr. said. “People say that families should do things together, that it brings them closer together. I enjoy playing with my sons and I think it has brought us closer.”

The family’s mutual admiration for each other’s talent helps bring them together on and off the stage as they share their accomplishments and lavish praise upon each other. Besides making cameos on each other’s CDs (Ed Kaizer Sr. has released three of his own, Kaizer’s Best, Ragtime A Boogie Woogie and Classical To Ragtime), the family honestly enjoys making music.

“Music is so creative,” Ed Kaizer Sr. said, “especially when you get into jazz. Classical music is somewhat creative and inspirational. But there isn’t much improvisation that you can do with it.

“The type of music we play is very improvisational because that is what jazz thrives from. With improvisation, we are the creators.”

“The music that we play is very informal,” Ed Kaizer Sr. said. “Yet it is formal in other ways. With improvisation, you don’t make mistakes. You might make bad judgments but you never make mistakes.”

Ed Kaizer Sr. finds jazz fascinating. He describes playing it as “touching base with genius.” He also likes being able to touch people through music.

“It is a way to communicate with people,” he said. “There is no person in any place that can’t be touched by music. I think that, as a group, we have the ability to do that.”

“We care about the crowd,” John Kaizer said. “We make them laugh and we make them have a great time. The audience should always go home thinking that they have seen a good show. That is what music is all about.”

The Kaizers recommend anyone with an interest in hearing improvisation with a new wave/acid jazz/ classical feel should definitely see the Kaizer Band play.

The John Kaizer Band will bring its blend of instrumental jazz and new wave to the M-Shop tonight at 8. Tickets are $7 and $4 for students with a fee card.

The group will also be playing at Border’s Book Store in Windsor Heights Friday afternoon. Ed Kaizer Jr. will be performing with the Ames Jazz Quartet at 8 p.m. Friday at Cafe Luc’s.