The Well Rehearsed Big Band

Some of the most challenging fun I’ve had over the years is when I get to actually rehearse big band jazz arrangements (vs. sight read them). When I get to spend a few weeks with the arrangement I can crawl inside the tune and actually work out my own voice within the greater context of the jazz orchestra. Here’s a couple of old…

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The Cover Band - Vintage 1985

If you are professional musician that grew up in the decades I did, and you play drum set, then you probably played in a cover band at some point. While I must admit that there was a time when I would have loved to have played in a rock band, that time has passed. These days I’m much happier working out my…

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The Sugar Trio

Sometime around 1984, I discovered a jam session in San Diego at the Bahia Resort Hotel lounge every Sunday night. I think I started going there while I was waiting to turn 21. I remember getting bounced a couple of times and spending a lot of time in the hallway listening through a door. I gave out my business card…

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The Swizzle Chicks

Get the Swizzle Chicks CD

Carrie Rambo - Vocals Beth Kahlen - Vocals Stephanie Torres - Vocals

The Piping Hot Toddies

The Swizzle Chicks call their rhythm section The Piping Hot Toddies. This quote is from an online review of the band after playing a dance in Portland.

“I can usually tell when a rock band is trying to fake jazz: the drummers keep playing a…

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The Original Cats

One of my greatest honors in life was to share the bandstand with the fine gentlemen of this band. Everyone in that band had more years of professional music experience than I’ve had on this earth. The personal and professional lessons learned from these men will last me a lifetime.

Cleve (trombone), Bob (tenor sax) and Sweet Baby James have all now…

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The DC Big Band

The Dennis Costi (little) Big Band

Photo taken on the Queen of the West

Dennis…

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