Hi, We're JoJo Green!
About us:
Minneapolis’ JoJo Green has a hot, fresh, take on a cozy, nostalgic sound best summarized as “roots fusion”. Lauded as “Bombastic!” by Mostly Minnesota Music, and praised as “...a band to see!” by Americana Highways, this powerhouse fusion band will get you on your feet and leave you wanting more. JoJo Green features rich, agile, and daring trios between their bodacious vocalist, diva, and band leader, Sharisse Germain, cheeky and fearless saxophonist, Zach Miller, and smooth, suave guitarist, David Ostrom, braiding through each performance. The JoJo groove is driven by primal, soulful rhythm provided by drummer Nancy Long and bassist/lead songwriter Scott Yonke. JoJo Green has proudly released two internationally praised independent albums since their inception in 2019: “The Summer Tree” (EP 2022) and “The Line” (LP 2021) and continues to break the mold experimenting, writing, and arranging both grandiose and intimate, peculiar and rich soundscapes.
Our Roots:
JoJo Green started as a dream collab between singer, Sharisse Germain and Bassist, Scott Yonke after their tenure with a touring tribute band. They formed in 2019 with the mission, "let's write and play the best music of our lives" and they have since kept that promise, even years later. After playing a handful of shows in January and February of 2020, the pandemic proved to be a bit of a brake-pump, but these tenacious musicians pressed on. They wrote, recorded, and produced their debut album , "The Line" (LP 2021) in spite of it all from remote locations, practicing together having outdoor backyard jams. JoJo Green is named after Yonke's late Brittany Spaniel, Maxine Jo Green, who was the inspiration for some of his early songwriting, and the name was shortened to JoJo. In 2022, JoJo Green finished their highly-anticipated EP, "The Summer Tree" which received national and international praise for its creativity, energy, and soul.
Which one of you is JoJo?
Our band, collectively is JoJo Green. None of us claim the name as our own, but we all embody the spirit, so join us and, “Get your JoJo on!”
Meet the Band
Sharisse Germain
Lead Singer • Keys • Songwriter • Vocal Arranger
Sharisse is a career musician who has made her mark in the St. Croix Valley, and Greater Twin Cities area due to the sheer power, agility, and variety her voice has to offer. A fantastic, energetic frontwoman, she is formally and informally trained on Piano/Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar, and Auxiliary and Mallet Percussion.
An accomplished vocalist, she completed her Bachelor of Music with emphasis in Vocal Performance at St Cloud State University in 2011. During her studies, she won awards and recognition for her work performing classical music locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. After graduation, she decided to translate her formal classical training into Rock and Pop music performance. She has performed with bands such as "The Shakes", "Ten Mile Creek", and "Run Like Hell" Pink Floyd Tribute (with bassist Scott Yonke). She is a powerhouse singer, a composer, songwriter, and vocal/performance coach, whose writing style is a curious contrast of electric pain and catharsis, wrapped up in a bright, fun package.
Scott Yonke
Bass • Songwriter • Vocals
Scott started his musical career right after high school when he moved to Mankato Minnesota to go to college. During his time in Southern, MN he formed a band called “Three In A Tree” that eventually signed a record deal with Big G Records and ultimately recorded music and played hundreds of shows culminating in an opening slot for Bon Jovi at The Xcel center in St Paul. Three in a Tree eventually disbanded, and he went on to play bass and write songs for several bands including: Fat Rudy, Soulie, Fire On The Moon, The Jimmies, Parachute Empire, The Gunn Slingners, plus several freelance live and studio gigs.
In 2009 he released his first solo album with The Yonketonk Band called “We Watched As The Sun”. After playing with Run Like Hell, a Pink Floyd Tribute, for several years with Sharisse Germain, they decided to start the Pop Fusion band, JoJo Green, and it’s the best music he's written to date.
Zach Miller
Tenor Sax • Alto Sax • Aux Percussion • Vocals • Arranging • Songwriter
From starting piano lessons in kindergarten, to a well seasoned saxophonist and composer, Zach brings it all to JoJo Green! Since joining the band in 2022, Zach has been developing his chops in both playing and writing, as well as performing with note-able local and national acts Transit Authority, Mae Simpson and High and Mighty.
Zach is originally from Owatonna, MN, where he ended up teaching summer marching band. In 2016 he came back as a featured soloist with the OHS Concert Band as a classical artist, and later in 2025 he will be the featured soloist with the OHS Jazz Band. Zach credits Valley Fair as his first professional gig; where he was part of the “Bench Warmerz,” the park's New-Orleans style brass band. He later got into performing original music when he helped found Funk N Spuds; a psychedelic fusion band.
In recent years, Zach released his own two-part solo album “Saturn’s Return: ‘From Here’ and ‘Solemn Days’.” “Solemn Days” features 21 of Zach’s favorite local artists, who all added their own touch to the music. Zach continues to use his real life experiences as key points for his music, and has recently added a couple tunes to JoJo’s rotation.
Things that make Zach Happy: Google Calendar invites, pizza, Taco Johns, tattoos, fresh air, good laughs, Grainbelt (Nordeast), his Mom, his cats (CeCe and June) and on occasion; a large bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
David Ostrom
Guitar • Vocals
David Ostrom is a performing artist and music industry professional who has spent the last 15+ years immersed in the statewide, Minnesota music scene. A graduate of the Music Industry program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, David began his professional career dedicated to supporting local musicians with The Minnesota Music Coalition (MMC), a longtime non-profit organization based out of St. Paul. Over the course of his time at MMC, David took on many roles, starting as an unpaid intern managing one venue to achieving his role as Program and Booking Manager – booking nearly 350 shows in 2022, coordinating mentorship sessions with up-and-coming artists, and producing artist workshops on a variety of topics, to name a few. David, now owns and operates his own entertainment company and booking agency, Ostrom Entertainment LLC, where he continues to champion Minnesota music across the State and beyond.
A musician in his own right, David has performed with several bands and ensembles throughout his career, including his current projects JoJo Green and The Ostrom Brothers Band, as well as previous projects Irie Minds and Boardwalk Arcade. Looking ahead, David plans to continue building his career as a performing musician/songwriter, as well as exploring new avenues to support, platform, and center Minnesota’s diverse community of independent musicians.
Nancy Long
Drums • Aux Percussion • Vocals • Arranging
If your nickname is Bongos, it’s a fair guess that you were born with music dancing through your blood, itching for an outlet. Why not the dinner table? Nancy’s first drumsticks were a knife and fork, whose staccato taps fueled her love for the drums.
That internal, musical drumbeat only increased as Nancy grew up. She competed and won top honors in solo and ensemble contests in high school. An invitation to audition for the All United States Band earned her the honor of touring Europe with the group.
Not only has Nancy shared her gifts live onstage in many bands, but she has recorded music and contributed her talents as an independent player in the studio. She has been a go-to fill-in for many western Wisconsin and Twin Cities bands, thanks to her adaptability and versatility.
Her limitless ambition and adventurous spirit has allowed her to master many musical styles and genres, such as big band swing, indie/Americana, contemporary Christian, blues, classic rock, Top 40 hits, disco, funk, country, rock and pit orchestra.