The core membership of Novak & Haar is made up of guitarist Jon Novak and bassist Mark Haar. Novak & Haar has been performing together as a jazz duo since 1998. Prior to forming Novak & Haar, Jon and Mark had played together in various small jazz combos, large big bands, musical theater ensembles, Blue House with the Rent to Own Horns, and various worship bands in the Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, metro areas. When Novak & Haar performs as a trio, they add Carlos C. Figueroa on the drumset. In the Spring of 2005, Novak & Haar was added to the Nebraska Arts Council's Nebraska Touring Program roster. Jon Novak has been playing guitar professionally since 1970. He has played a wide variety of guitar styles from classical to blues and has played with numerous musicians and bands, including Bo Diddley, the Platters, the Coasters, the Shirellels and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. He has also played for the Broadway touring productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Annie. Jon now concentrates his efforts on his love for jazz guitar. He also spends time composing and arranging; his jazz and blues Lutheran church liturgy was premiered early May of 2003. He has recorded four CDs - “Live at the Zoo!” recorded with Blue House and “A Summer’s Carol,” “A Winter’s Carol,” and “Old Friends,” recorded with Novak & Haar. Mark Haar has played bass in a variety of musical genres. Most often, he has been seen playing with many different jazz ensembles, everything from duos to big band jazz ensembles. Mark also performs with symphonic orchestras. In and around Nebraska, Mark has played with the Omaha Symphony and Chamber Orchestra and was Principal Bass of the Sioux City Symphony. Currently he is a member of the Lincoln Symphony. Mark has also played with blues bands, worship bands and musical theater pit orchestras. He has appeared on several CDs, most recently on Lars Erickson’s “Altered Inventions” and Novak & Haar’s “A Summer’s Carol,” “A Winter’s Carol.” and “Old Friends.” Mark is an adjunct artist/faculty member at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he teaches double bass.