Steve Brown and the Alumni Big Band

• Steve Brown '64 - Director, Guitar.  Guitarist, composer, arranger, Steve Brown, is a professor of music and the director of the jazz studies program at Ithaca College.  He has four recordings available under his own leadership, Good Lines and Child’s Play both on Café records, and Night Waves and Crossroads on his own Brown Cats Productions. He is also coauthor with Ray Brown of an instructional book and recording entitled An Introduction To Jazz Improvisation.  He has recorded with Chuck Israels’ National Jazz ensemble, Chuck Mangione, and The California big band, Full, Faith,and Credit. His writing projects have included commissioned works for The Hal Galper Trio and the Airmen of Note, the Ithaca Ageless Jazz Band, the Celebration of The Arts Jazz Festival (C.O.T.A. Cats) featuring himself and Phil Woods, and a piece for the Harvard University Band.  Other releases as a guitarist/arranger under the leadership of Steve Gilmore, include four compact discs, I’m All Smiles, Silhouette, The Jazz Dancer And The Bass Player, and Reflections In The Night with Bill Charlap on Jazz Mania. He has also recorded four compact discs under the leadership of drummer Danny D’Imperio, Blues For Philly Joe, Hip To It, and Glass Enclosure on V.S.O.P., and The Outlaw on The Sackville label. He is very active as a performer/clinician both in the United States and Europe, and has performed with Chuck Israels, Billy Hart, Bobby Watson, Bill Goodwin, Jimmy Smith, Steve Gilmore, Barry Harris, Gerry Niewood and many others.  He is also featured on the Brown Cats Productions CD, Impressions of Point Lobos by the Ray Brown Great Big Band.  He has performed at major jazz festivals including The Newport Jazz Festival, The Berks Jazz Festival, and The Edinburgh Jazz Festival.

• Ray Brown ’68 – Director, Trumpet.  Composer, arranger, trumpet player, and teacher, Ray Brown has worked as trumpet player and arranger for the orchestras of Stan Kenton, Bill Watrous, Bill Berry, Frankie Kapp-Nat Pierce, and the Full Faith and Credit Big Band. Some of his playing credits include performances with Mundell Lowe, Leroy Vinegar, Ray Brown (bass), Thad Jones, Jimmy Heath, Steve Gadd, and Billy Hart. Ray conducted the recording session of the Roy Hargrove Quintet entitled “Roy Hargrove with Strings, Moment to Moment,” released in May 2000 on Verve. He has appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival frequently as conductor of his wife Sue Brown’s Monterey Jazz Festival Chamber Orchestra in collaboration with Charlie Haden, Kenny Barron, Michael Brecker, Ralph Towner, Gary Burton, and Terence Blanchard. Ray Brown now leads his own big band, the Great Big Band, which has appeared to SRO audiences at the Monterey, San Jose, and Santa Cruz Jazz Festivals, the Lake Tahoe Music Festival, and various clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band’s CD, “Impressions of Point Lobos,” consisting entirely of Ray’s writing, has received critical acclaim. Ray is currently on the faculty of Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, teaching Jazz improvisation, arranging, and Jazz ensembles.

• Jay Ashby ’84 – Trombone.  Jay Ashby is a four time GRAMMY winning producer and has received multiple nominations in other categories, including Arranging and Engineering.  His discography includes over 100 recordings, ranging in style and genre from Jazz and Pop, to World Music.  In recent years, he has performed, traveled extensively, and recorded with some of the most renowned artists in the industry.   As a member of the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Star Big Band, under the direction of Jon Faddis, Ashby has had the opportunity to play next to some of the most significant figures in jazz today, including Jimmy Heath, Frank Wess, Randy Brecker, Slide Hampton, Mulgrew Miller, and Roy Hargrove.  Other recording and performance credits  include such notables as Paquito D’ Rivera, New York Voices, Emily Remler, Stanley Turrentine, Herbie Mann, Phil Woods, Tom Scott and Nancy Wilson.  In 1999, Jay Ashby began his first foray into the pop world as trombonist, percussionist and arranger with Paul Simon.  Since then, Ashby’s tenure with Simon has included a number of world tours, the recording of a feature DVD Live from Paris, as well as performances on The Today Show, Saturday Night Live, The Late Show With David Letterman, Oprah, Good Morning America, and the 2001 GRAMMY Awards Show.

• Marty Ashby ‘83 – Guitar. Marty Ashby is Executive Producer of MCG Jazz, a division of the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, presenting and promoting jazz.Marty has been artistic advisor, producer and performer at jazz concerts and festivals around the country for over 20 years. Since 1987, in addition to MCG Jazz, Marty has been the Artistic Director of the Animal Crackers Jazz Series in Racine, WI; for five years he was the Artistic Director of the Jazz on the Circle Series at Severance Hall in Cleveland, OH. Marty also produced the Jazz at Seven Springs Jazz Festival from 1988-2000. Marty has led workshops and panel discussions for major arts and jazz organizations and has served as a panelist for several state arts councils. Marty was recently asked to chair a programming committee for Jazz Appreciation Month by the Smithsonian Institute.  As a guitarist, Marty performs all over the world and has recorded with The Dizzy Gillespie™ All-Star Big Band, Nancy Wilson, Paquito D’Rivera and Herbie Mann. As a producer, Marty has won four GRAMMY® Awards. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Ithaca College and a Masters in Music from Duquesne University.

• Tom Baldwin ’90 - Bass.  Tom Baldwin '90 earned his BM in Jazz Studies, studying with Steve Brown and Henry Neubert.  Soon after graduating, he returned to his home state of Maryland and is now among the most in-demand jazz bassists of the Baltimore - Washington area.  In 1995, Baldwin was the second place finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Bass Competition.  Baldwin has performed and/or recorded with such prominent jazz artists as Eric Alexander, Gene Bertoncini, George Garzone, Tutti Heath, Fred Hersch, Harold Mabern, and Walt Weiskopf.  He has appeared on over 20 CDs, including his own from 2002 entitled “Glom On To This,” which features original compositions and arrangements.  An active educator and clinician, Baldwin is the jazz bass instructor at the University of Maryland.  He frequently participates in IAJE summer workshops, is a faculty member of the Maryland Summer Jazz camp, and an adjudicator at area high school jazz festivals.

• Joe Bouchard ’70 – Bass.   Joe has been a gigging musician since the age of 10.  He studied classical piano at Ithaca and played bass with Steve Brown’s Que Pasa from 1968 to 1970.  After graduating from IC, he moved to Long Island and became a founding member of Columbia recording artists Blue Oyster Cult.  The group became world famous in the late 70s and over the years was awarded nine gold and two platinum awards.  He retired from BOC in 1986 and has worked as a producer, author and freelance musician since then.  He currently teaches guitar in three private schools in Connecticut.  The catalog of original songs recorded by BOC continues to be very popular and has been used in television, movies and most currently the widely popular video games, Guitar Hero and Rockband.He is currently working on his first solo CD which will be released in early 2008. For more information on Joe see www.joebouchard.com.

• Miles Brown – Bass.  Born in Ithaca, NY, Miles comes from a musical family and began playing the bass at the age of ten.  In high school, Miles won several awards for music, and was nominated to be the bassist for the All-State Jazz Ensemble.  During his undergraduate years at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, he was given the opportunity to play with Joe Lovano, Peter Erskine, Bill Holman, and John Clayton, Jr.  Miles has also performed with several upstate New York ensembles such as the Central New York Jazz Orchestra, the Danny D’Imperio Big Band, as well as singers such as Nancy Kelly and Tish Oney.  He is the regular bass player for the Steve Brown quartet, and performs with several New York City based ensembles including the new music ensemble, Alarm Will Sound, and the David Berger Sultans of Swing.  Miles has performed with Barbara Morrison, Ralph LaLama, John Mosca, Bill Goodwin, Ben Monder, Joe Magnarelli, Walt Weiskopf, and Harold Danko.  In 2003, he received a Master’s Degree in String Bass Performance from Mannes College of Music, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Jazz Performance at Eastman.

• Randi Brown - Vocals.  Randi Brown, daughter of Steve and Barbara Brown, has been surrounded by music her entire life. She attended Ithaca High School, and then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology at Boston University. She then returned to Ithaca and completed her Master of Science degree in Communications at Ithaca College. She has interned at Sony (before it became Sony/BMG) and worked for a time for the digital cable channel Music Choice. She is currently working in New York City as a Trademark and Copyright Researcher. 

• Scott Castle ’76 – Saxophones, woodwinds.  Scott holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and a Masters Degree in Performance (contemporary music) from New York University. A clarinet major during his years at Ithaca College, he played tenor saxophone with the Jazz Lab and clarinet with the Concert Band and Orchestra. Scott is the recipient of several awards including: Hudson Valley Philharmonic Youth Scholarship, Ithaca College Music financial grant, NYU full graduate teaching fellowship with stipend, BMI composer’s scholarship, Barney Josephson Jazz Award. Private studies include: Leon Russianoff, clarinet (Julliard), Gerardo Levy, flute (New York City Opera), Ted Nash, saxophone (Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra).  As a saxophonist Scott toured with R&B reviews and performed in concerts with numerous solid gold recording artists such as: Little Anthony, Drifters, Sammy Davis Jr, Paul Anka, Aretha Franklin, Four Tops. As a reed player, his employment has included musical theatre gigs in New York and on national tours including Chorus Line, Cats, Chicago, Candide and many others. Scott is a tenured HS music teacher and teaches various music ensembles at the Westchester Summer Music Center.  Scott continues to maintain a busy and versatile gig schedule throughout the tri-state area.

• Scott Cho ’05 – Trombone.  Scott Cho has enjoyed performing, writing and arranging music for the past 14 years. He was fortunate enough to study and develop at Ithaca College under the great Steve Brown and Hal Reynolds, where his ambition grew and professional goals were established. After spending some time pursuing his Masters degree at Manhattan School of Music and freelancing, Scott is working towards finishing a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Scott is currently studying with Luis Bonilla, Michael Phillip Mossman and Antonio Hart and has studied trombone with Dr. Hal Reynolds, Wycliffe Gordon, John Mosca, and Rick Chamberlain. He plans on spending the rest of his days growing as a musician and spreading the gospel that is jazz.

• Tim Collins ’99 – Vibraphone.  Tim Collins has been called “nothing less than exemplary” (Downbeat), “one of the best vibraphonists” (KMVR-FM), and “an exciting player” (All Music Guide).  His debut album Valcour (Arabesque Records) has received high praise throughout the jazz world.  Tim’s second album, Fade features Charlie Hunter and is due to be released this May on Ropeadope Records.  Tim has also performed with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra at the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has toured the U.S. and Europe with the Sam Barsh Band, Matthias Bublath Band, and Trionada.  In 2007 Tim also formed the band Elephantbear with songwriter Mike Pedersen.  The two recorded and released their first record Hide and Go Seek, on which Tim played drums, piano, vibes, percussion and arranged/co-produced.  He has taught at Manhattan School of Music, University of New Orleans, Virginia Commonwealth University, SUNY Plattsburgh, and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

• Brian Connolly ’03 – Saxophone.  Saxophonist Brian Connolly graduated from IC in 2003 with a B.M. in Music education. While at Ithaca he played in collegiate ensembles as well as playing in jazz, latin and rock/funk small groups in the upstate NY area. After college Brian went out to sea, playing on the English transatlantic liners of Cunard, most notably the Queen Mary 2. After two years of international travel Brian was offered a job with the US Air Force Band of Liberty, twenty minutes outside of Boston. He and his newlywed wife Jasmine now call Boston their home. 

• Cookie Coogan ’89 & ’00 – Vocals.  Lauri Robinson-Keegan (“Cookie Coogan”) arrived in the Central New York region as an undergraduate student at Ithaca College in 1984. While earning her degrees in music education, she pursued her passion for jazz through the school’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble directed by Professor Dave Riley, and through study and performance with guitarist Steve Brown. She settled in Ithaca and pursued a career as a performer and teacher. She currently directs the Ithaca College Vocal Jazz Ensemble and teaches jazz singing at Cornell.  Cookie performs frequently throughout the region. She leads her own bands, plays/sings solo and appears frequently with other regional bands. She has performed with the Salt City Jazz Collective, the Central New York Jazz Orchestra, the Catskill Symphony Orchestra, Gap Mangione, Ithaca Ageless Jazz Band, Voices Multicultural Choir (Ithaca), and many others. She is also active as a clinician, guest conductor/artist, and private instructor.

• Tony DeSare ’98 – Vocals, Piano. Tony DeSare left Ithaca to pursue a career in jazz.  After moving to New York City, his first steady gig was a five-night-a-week engagement at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square.  After that, he was cast in the Off-Broadway hit, “Our Sinatra.”  In 2005, Tony signed a recording contract with Telarc Records and a publishing deal with Warner Brothers.  His two CD’s, “Want You” and “Last First Kiss,” have been released to international acclaim. Tony has appeared on the CBS Early Show, Fox News, Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on NPR, and was a featured guest on Weekend Edition on NPR.  He also co-wrote and sang the title song from My Date With Drew, the indie film smash starring Brian Herzlinger, a fellow IC grad.  His latest CD peaked at #5 on the Billboard Jazz Charts. Tony tours extensively throughout the United States and internationally and can be currently seen at a weekly engagement, Sundays at 9pm, at the legendary Carlyle Hotel’s Bemelmans Bar. Check out schedule and mailing list info www.tonydesare.com.

• Joey Devassy ’01 – Trombone.  While attending Ithaca College, Joey Devassy was a member of the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and the Tuesday-Thursday Jazz Ensemble. He was also a founding member of the IC Jazz Club and IC Jazz Bones. In 2001, Mr. Devassy was selected as a finalist in the Eastern Trombone Workshop’s National Jazz Competition held in Washington D.C.Currently, Mr. Devassy resides in Long Island, NY where he teaches in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District. He directs the 6th Grade Advanced Band which has earned Gold and Gold with Distinction honors at the NYSSMA Majors Festival. Mr. Devassy is also the director of the entire jazz program in the district where he leads the 6^th grade, 7^th and 8^th grade, and high school jazz ensembles. Mr. Devassy continues to be an active jazz performer, playing in various small groups and ensembles across the Long Island and NYC areas.

• Viet Gragg ’89 – Vocals.  After graduating from high school in 1977, Viet Gragg appeared as a vocalist in nightclubs as well as in productions of Porgy and Bess, Damn Yankees, and West Side Story. He then began writing and appearing in his own musical productions, and he later created advertising and promotional campaigns for the March of Dimes, United Way, and other nonprofit organizations.  After graduating from Ithaca College in 1989, Gragg became an entrepreneur and established a number of businesses, including Entertainment Collectibles of the Stars with producer/songwriter Quincy Jones. In addition to forming a network of worldwide manufacturing and marketing companies, Entertainment Collectibles of the Stars provided management services to entertainers seeking to merchandise their names and likenesses.  Mr. Gragg has also promoted the legendary Tony Bennet.  Presently, Mr. Gragg is preparing to launch Artists In Bloom, a non-profit arts foundation promoting the artistry of youth in third world countries.

• Al Hamme ’61 – Saxophone, Woodwinds.  Albert Hamme, Professor Emeritus, Binghamton University, is a woodwind artist, producer, arranger and composer. He founded the jazz program at Binghamton University in 1964 and directed it for thirty-three years. Other responsibilities while on the faculty at Binghamton University included: Director of the Concert Band and Wind Chamber Music Program (1967-1989); Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Music (1975-1985); and Chairman of the Music Department (1980-1985).  He has recorded with Slam Stewart, Phil Woods, Tom Harrell, Peter Appleyard, Richard Wyans, Bucky Pizzarelli, Tony Marino, Mike Holober, Sherrie Maricle, Ann Chamberlain, Steve Gilmore, Steve Brown, Tom Whaley, Bill Carter, Fred Hersh and Gene Bertoncini.  He also served as the director of the Cornell Jazz Ensemble for six years and was chosen to be the First Artistic Director of the School of Jazz Studies for the New York State Summer School of the Arts Program (1985-1991). He currently performs with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra, Danny D’Imperio’s Big Band Bloviation, and is a founding member of the Presbybop Quartet.

• Jim Hynes ’78 – Trumpet.  Jim Hynes is perhaps the busiest studio player in New York City.   He has recorded many TV themes including ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, The Price is Right, NBC’s Today Show, the CBS Early Show, 20/20, The View, and the theme to Masterpiece Theater.  He has also played many Broadway shows including Cats, Starlight Express, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Chess, The Full Monty, Les Miz, Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, and many more.  He has recorded with many great artists like Tony Bennett, Cyndi Lauper, Nancy Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Queen Latifah, Jimmy Webb, Lyle Lovett, Gato Barbieri, Michael Franks, The New York Voices and the Manhattan Transfer.  He has also performed with Paul Simon, Sting, Cheryl Crow, James Taylor, Beyonce, Luther VanDross, Alicia Keys, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and many others.  Jim has also recorded many movie soundtracks and is active as a clinician.  Jim plays a lot of golf and tennis, and enjoys fishing off the coast of Cape Cod.

• Joe Kaczorowski ’01 - Alto Saxophone.  Graduating from Ithaca College with a degree in accounting, Joe currently lives in New York City, where he is the Senior Internal Audit Manager for Aeropostale, Inc.  As a musician, Joe maintains an active performance schedule in New York, where he leads Los Bandidos, an eight-piece Latin jazz dance band formed in Ithaca over eight years ago.  The band features several other musicians performing in Steve’s retirement concert.  Joe is also the director of Kazz Music (www.kazzmusic.com), an agency that provides music for weddings and events throughout the Tri-State area.  In addition to music and auditing, Joe is an active volunteer in working with children.  He recently completed a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Hunter College and works as a high school counselor in Queens one day per week.  Joe is also a Wishgranter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he helps to grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. 

• Tom Killian ’92 (MM) ‘87 (BM) – Drumset.  Originally from Auburn, NY Tom has been playing jazz in the area  for the last 20 years.  Tom performs regularly with John Stetch, Nicholas Walker, Dino Losito, Paul Merrill, Salt City Collective Big Band, and Steve Brown and many others and has recorded with various upstate NY jazz artists on 6 CD recordings.  Tom has been an adjunct professor at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY where he conducted the Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and taught private lessons.  Tom was an adjunct faculty member at Ithaca College with the Wednesday Jazz band from 1992-1994.  From 1996-2002 he served as Jazz Band Director as Signature Band and Choir Camp at Ithaca College each summer. Tom has been a guest conductor at numerous High School All County Jazz Band Festivals and has been guest artist at Fredonia State College School of Music.  Tom has given clinics at the New York State School Music Association Winter Conference in Jazz Drumming and presented clinics at Ithaca College and various other schools in upstate NY.  He has taught all levels of public school and currently teaches in Corning, NY where he lives with his wife Patricia, daughter Amanda, and son Peter.

• Thomas Kline ’03 - Drumset.  Thomas Kline holds a Bachelor of Music with an Outside Field in Business degree from Ithaca College.  While at IC, Tom held the drumset chair in the Ithaca College Big Band for three years and had the pleasure of performing with Gary Smulyan, John McNeely, Joe Magnarelli, and Vincent Herring.  Tom currently performs over 100 gigs each year with a variety of groups including Travis Rocco Band, Jared Campbell, Orchestra of the Southern Fingerlakes, Panigma Steel Band, and Salt City Jazz Collective. Tom is also an active educator with a private studio in Cortland, NY and returns each summer to Ithaca College to teach jazz and percussion at the Signature Music Camp.  In addition to performing and teaching, Tom has spent the previous year as the Project Coordinator for the Enduring Masters program, has been the Director of Sponsor Relations for Signature Music, and founded the national talent agency Third Encore Entertainment.  Tom recently accepted a new position as the Director of Admission Programs for the Ithaca College School of Music which will start in May 2008.  Tom currently resides with his wife Gina (Alduino) ’02 in Endicott, NY.

• Darmon Meader ’84 - Tenor Saxophone, Vocals.   Recognized in both the jazz vocal and instrumental worlds, Darmon Meader is a distinguished vocalist, arranger and saxophonist.  Darmon has achieved international recognition as the founder, musical director, chief arranger, composer, saxophonist, and tenor vocalist with New York Voices.  As a member of NYV he has released numerous recordings, and has performed and recorded with a variety of artists including Ray Brown, George Benson, Bobby McFerrin, Don Sebesky, Patti Austin, Jon Hendricks, Jim Hall, Paquito D'Rivera and the Count Basie Orchestra.  Touring in the U.S. and abroad, he has performed at such renowned venues as Carnegie Hall, Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and the Blue Note Jazz Clubs in New York and Japan.  In addition to arranging and orchestrating the majority of the NYV songbook, Darmon has arranged music for various artists including Nancy Wilson, the Boston Pops, Ann Hampton Calloway, and Ilona Knopfler.  Many of his vocal jazz and choral works have been published by Carl Fischer Music, Shawnee Press and Alfred Music.  Recently, Darmon completed a long awaited solo CD entitled “And So Am I,” which was released in January of 2008.

• Paul Merrill ’01 - Trumpet.  Trumpeter/composer Paul Merrill has been making music since his early childhood years.  He has toured with Hank Roberts, Half Pint, John Brown's Body, and the Grammy nominated Phil Woods Big Band. As a trumpeter and/or big band director he has performed and collaborated with Vincent Herring, Terell Stafford, Maria Schneider, Brian Lynch, Rufus Reid, Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Alexander, Carl Allen, Kevin Mahogany, Darmon Meader, Claudio Roditi, and Steve Gilmore, among others, while recording and arranging for Schanachie and I-town Records. Merrill's trumpet can also be heard on such films as Suckerfish (Jury Award winner at the Santa Barbara Film Festival), and The Substitute II (HBO).  He has recently been awarded a third commission with the Commission Project (TCP) for Chad Lefkowitz-Brown and his compositions continue to be performed by many college and high school ensembles. Currently pursuing a DMA in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media at the Eastman School of Music, Merrill remains active as a clinician, Area All-State director, improvisation teacher, and freelance trumpeter. He holds a B.M. in Jazz performance from William Paterson University, M.M. in performance from Ithaca College (2001), is currently The Gussman Director of Jazz Ensembles at Cornell University, and former faculty at Ithaca College School of Music.

• Ralph Meyer ’74 - Baritone Saxophone.   Ralph Meyer is Director of Organizational Effectiveness for Tremco - a 1.2 billion subsidiary of RPM Inc. He was a HS Band Director in NJ for 13 years. His work in HR for hospitality, service, manufacturing, operations and high tech organizations now totals over 20 years.  Ralph has a Masters in Business and HR from Rutgers.  He has taught business management courses as an Adjunct Professor at the Community College level. He has a BFA from Ithaca College.    A Hudson, OH resident since 1994, he co-founded and conducts the Western Reserve Community Band, a 60 member ensemble that rehearses in Hudson and performs regionally. He has performed with and conducted in a wide variety of musical settings including community bands, pit orchestras, community and youth orchestras. Ralph and his wife Carol (Ithaca ’75) have three grown children. He currently serves as an officer on the board of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.

• Kim Nazarian ’83 - Vocals.  A native Upstate New Yorker and Magna Cum Laude graduate of Ithaca College, Kim Nazarian is a founding member of the Grammy award-winning group New York Voices, formed in 1987. She has recorded numerous CD's and toured the world with this outstanding vocal quartet.  In Japan, Kim has a solo CD on the JVC label entitled "Red Dragonfly In New York.”  This educational project is a collection of Japanese folk songs that have been translated into English and arranged in “western“ musical settings.  Kim is also a featured artist on a number of other CD's released on the MCG Jazz label, including “Afternoon In Rio” with Joe Negri, “The 21st Century Swing Band,” and the highly acclaimed “A Nancy Wilson Christmas.”  Kim currently teaches privately and conducts clinics, workshops, master classes, festival adjudication and guest conducting.  Additionally, soon to be completed are Kim's vocals educational book and video/DVD.  Kim truly enjoys being a wife and mom, whether at home or on the road.

• Nick Pauldine ’89 - Baritone Saxophone.  Nick received a BM Music Education from Ithaca College 1989, and a MA Conducting George Mason University 1994.  After a short career as a public school music teacher, Nick went to work in the vacation entertainment industry as a musical director, leading multi-purpose ensembles providing musical support for Las Vegas-style production shows, formal dancing, and variety show entertainers. He has performed with John Pizzarelli, Nell Carter, Diane Schurr, Nancy Wilson, Ann Hampton Callaway, and many other artists.  In 1997, Nick returned to Ithaca to “settle down,” and took over directorship of the Ageless Jazz Band, a position he still holds today. He has overseen production of 2 recordings with the AJB, several Caribbean tours, and a commissioned work (“Catch Phrase” by Steve Brown).Nick, his wife Kerry, and two children (Riley and Isabella) reside in Ithaca.  Nick maintains and an active clarinet and saxophone studio, as well as freelances under the Something of Note brand. 

• Chris Persad ’84 – Trumpet.  Chris Persad received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College, and his Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music.  He then went on tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra as featured Trumpet Soloist throughout the United States, Iceland, Brazil, and Japan.  After moving to New York, Persad performed with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Slide Hampton Orchestra, as well as various Broadway Shows.  As a sideman, Persad has recorded with drummer Danny D’Imperio from the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, Guitarist Steve Brown, and Bebop pianist Barry Harris.  Recently, he recorded a CD with Bassist Steve Gilmore that was nominated for a Grammy award.  As well as guest artist appearances at schools and Colleges, Persad has also worked with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City.  Currently, he is a freelance Trumpet player in the New York Metropolitan area, as well as director of Bands at Warwick Valley High School.

• Tish Rabe ’73 – Vocals.  Tish Rabe is a best-selling children’s book author and television producer whose credits include Sesame Street, Big Bird in China, Clifford and I Spy, among others.  In 1996 she was selected by the Dr. Seuss estate to create a new line of science books featuring the Cat in the Hat.  Her latest book “Miles and Miles of Reptiles” will be released in 2009.  Tish met Steve Brown during her freshman year at IC when she auditioned to be a vocalist in his jazz band, Que Pasa and remained with the band throughout her college years. She was also a vocalist for the IC jazz band, including an appearance at Avery Fisher Hall.  In 1987 she wrote the lyrics to Steve’s tune “Sweet Angel” and in 2007 introduced her own musical show, “Tish Rabe and Friends”  featuring Steve on guitar and her son Johnny Rabe (IC 2011) and daughter Melody on vocals.

• Steve Reichlen ’00 - Drumset.  Steve received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, Ithaca College in 2000. He has lived in both Central New York and New Orleans, Louisiana and has performed and recorded with several artists including: Terrence Blanchard, George Porter, Mem Shannon, Chubby Carrier and the Zydeco Swamp Band, and the Louisiana Philharmonic. He attended The Henry Mancini Institute in 2000 and studied privately with Steve Houghton, John Vidacovich, Gordon Stout, Steve Brown, and Tony Monforte. He now lives in Ithaca and teaches private lessons and performs locally and regionally with several artists.

• Jamal Rossi ’80 - Saxophone.  Jamal Rossi, Senior Executive Associate Dean and Professor of Woodwinds at the Eastman School of Music, has received acclaim as an academic leader and as a saxophone soloist and chamber musician.  Prior appointments include Interim Dean at Eastman, Dean of the School of Music at the University of South Carolina, and Associate Dean of the Ithaca College School of Music.  An active saxophone soloist and chamber musician, he is featured on numerous recordings and he has commissioned/premiered more than fifteen compositions. His articles and reviews have appeared in leading wind publications.  A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he holds a BM from Ithaca College, an MM from the University of Michigan, and a DMA from the Eastman School of Music.

• Daniel Ian Smith ’87 – Saxophones.  Daniel Ian Smith is a jazz composer, saxophonist, performer and educator with over 20 years of experience. He is an Assistant Professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he has taught for over 12 years.  Smith has performed throughout the United States, Japan, Germany, and England.  In 1992, he founded Big and Phat Jazz Productions to serve as the production company for his Jazz in the Sanctuary Concert Series, which has produced over 85 concerts in the last 11 years. Smith has performed with a variety of jazz, classical and pop artists including: Arturo Sandoval, Claudio Roditi, Maria Schneider, Jack Walrath, John Lewis, Jimmy Giuffre, George Russell, Greg Abate, Steve Gadd, Abe Laboriel, Jamey Haddad, Artie Shaw Orchestra, Harry James Orchestra, Gloria Estefan, Donna Summer, The Temptations, Herb Reed and the Platters, Patti Lupone, The O’Jays, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, and Johnny Mathis.  As the recipient of the prestigious Uchida Fellowship in 1996 (from the Japan Foundation), Smith spent six months performing and touring around Japan and studying Japanese traditional music and culture.  He was the featured soloist at the Yokohama Port Festival, Yokohama, Japan in June of 1996.  Daniel Ian Smith is currently endorsed by Alexander Superial Reeds.

• Howie Smith ’65 - Saxophones.  Howie Smith has performed throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and Australia, working with musicians, organizations and composers as diverse as Luciano Berio, Lester Bowie, John Cage, the Cleveland Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Mike Nock, Elvis Presley, Double Bass Drum, and the Tone Road Ramblers.  His recorded performances range from the big bands of Phil Wilson and Frank Mantooth to the Australian quartet Jazz Co/op to saxophone concertos written for him by Edward Miller, Salvatore Martirano and David Baker.  His catalogue of compositions includes works for conventional big bands; for string, wind and percussion ensembles; for electronics; and for mixed media. He was Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Cleveland State University from 1979 through 2005 and has twice served as co-chair of both the Jazz Fellowships and the Music Overview panels for the National Endowment for the Arts.  He has been associated with Yamaha as an artist/clinician since 1971.

• Lane Stowe ’90 – Trombone.  Lane Stowe currently works as the lead vocalist with the “Family Affair” band in the Philadelphia area as well as a freelance vocalist with bands in NYC and the Atlantic region.  In 2006, Lane released a solo CD “Have Groove, Will Travel” on the Clark Records label.  Lane also works as an artist-in-residence with high school choirs and jazz ensembles in New York, Pennsylvania and Arizona.  Lane currently resides in Lancaster, PA with his wife Michal and daughter Lauryn.  For more information please visit www.lanestowe.com.

• Brian Thomas ’98 – Trombone.  Brian began playing trombone at age 10 in his hometown of Rochester, NY. Brian studied classical trombone with Dr. Harold Reynolds and jazz with Steve Brown at Ithaca College. Brian landed his first professional gig as a member of the Chuck Mangione Studio Orchestra. After multiple tours with Boston/Ithaca based roots reggae band John Brown’s Body, Brian settled in Boston.  Upon moving to Boston, Brian studied with Jeff Galindo and Hal Crook.  He landed a gig at the legendary Wally’s Jazz Café, hosting a weekly jam session.  While hosting the jam session, Brian performed with Roy Hargrove, Christian Scott, Sam Kininger, Eric Krasno, Mark Kelly, Charles Haynes, Andre Heyward, Jeff Lockhart, John Blackwell, and many of the most killin’ cats in Boston.  Since moving to Boston, Brian has also performed with Melvin Sparks, The Boston Horns, Soulive, New England Jazz Educators Orchestra, Pressure Cooker, The Brazilian Girls, Matisyahu, Ken Clark, Scott Aruda, Jon Ellis, Adam Deitch, Andre Ward, Jiggs Whigham, Robin McKelle, Melvin Henderson & Paradigm Shift.  Brian is on faculty in Franklin, MA Public Schools, Dean College, Brookline Music School and Derby Academy in Hingham, MA.

• Gordon Vernick ’76 – Trumpet.  Dr. Gordon Vernick is an Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Georgia State University.  He holds a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY; a Master of Music in Education from the University of Miami, and a Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley.  As a professional trumpet player, Gordon has performed in all musical mediums from symphony orchestra to jazz quartet and has free­lanced in Miami, New York, Denver, Kansas City, and the Caribbean Islands.  He is currently active in the Southeast United States as a clinician, an adjudicator, and a freelance trumpet player.  As a jazz educator Gordon is the past president of the Georgia Asso­ciation of Jazz Educators, past chair of the International Association of Jazz Educators Curriculum Com­mittee and was recently appointed as the Southeast Coordinator of that organization.  Gordon is the co-editor of the book “Teaching Jazz: A Course Of Study,” published by MENC and co-wrote the college textbook, “Jazz History Overview,” published by Kendall-Hunt.  Gordon has performed with such world-renown jazz artists as Kenny Werner, Clare Fischer, John Hart, Kevin Hays, Conrad Herwig, Marc Copland, Randy Brecker, Paul McCandless, and many others.  Gordon is also director he GSU Faculty Jazztet which has performed in national and international venues.

• Walter White (adjunct faculty ‘03) - Trumpet and Flugelhorn.  Walter White has served as lead trumpet player and soloist with many top-name artists including: Maynard Ferguson, Bob James, Wynton Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval, The Mingus Big Band, Dave Holland, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded six Swing Journal award winning records with David Matthews’s Manhattan Jazz Orchestra and tours Japan bi-yearly. As a Yamaha Performing Artist, Walter travels extensively as a clinician and soloist, and as a recording studio owner, frequently composes and produces music for records, television and film.

• John Whitney ’64 – Piano.  Uniquely versatile, John Whitney has distinguished himself in both classical and jazz arenas through conducting, performance, composition, arranging and teaching.  His teaching career of 43 years includes 19 at the University of Central Florida.  He placed second to Marcus Roberts in the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition.  He has performed at the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals and has more than forty orchestral publications with Alfred Music.  John is also the founding music director of the Southern Tier Symphony, based in Olean, NY, which he has guest conducted on three continents.  Additional performances range from Cab Calloway, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles and Luciano Pavarotti to Doc Severinson, Frank Foster, Clark Terry, Dave Samuels, Henry Mancini, Bill Conti, Liberace and the Irish Tenors.  A native of Glens Falls, NY, Whitney earned his masters at the New England Conservatory and studied at Eastman with Rayburn Wright.