Dave has been a freelance musician living in New York City since graduating from the University of North Texas in 1987. He has toured with the bands of Harry Connick, Jr., Jon Fedchock, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, and Maria Schneider. He has also performed with Paul Anka, Ray Charles, Liza Minnelli, John Pizzarelli and the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Since1994, Dave has been the lead alto saxophonist with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. Pietro has three CD's under his own name on the A-Records label featuring musicians such as Brian Blade, Dave Holland, Bill Stewart, Scott Wendholt and Kenny Werner. He is a Selmer clinician and gives many concerts and workshops at schools throughout the country. He recently completed his Masters Degree in Jazz Composition at New York University.

For more information - visit Dave's website at: www.davepietro.com

Mary Fettig was born in San Francisco, and raised in the suburb of Concord. Her earliest musical training was on marimba, and she moved on to clarinet, sax and flute in her school bands. Her high school jazz band was the first group to win the Monterey Jazz Festival high school competition in 1971. Her band teacher, a big fan of Stan Kenton, secured a scholarship to the Stan Kenton camp in Redlands for Mary, and the rest is history. After 2 years at UCLA, Mary joined the Stan Kenton group as the first woman to play in the band. From there, she has made her way in the music business as a performer, teacher, and clinician. Besides Stan Kenton, she has toured with Flora Purim and Airto, Marian McPartland, Tito Puente, Toninho Horta, Joe Henderson and numerous short tours with celebrity acts. She has performed at many jazz festivals, including Concord, San Francisco, Monterey, Playboy, Hollywood Bowl, Mt. Hood, Chicago, Detroit, Mobile, world's first Women's Jazz Festival in Kansas City, Buffalo, Montreaux, and North Sea. She resides in the San Francisco bay area, and maintains a busy teaching, recording and performing schedule. She is currently on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Diablo Valley College.

For more information - visit Mary's website at: www.maryfettig.com

Tom Luer originally hails from Chippewa Falls, WI, and now resides in Los Angeles, CA. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a Master of Saxophone Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi, and additional Doctoral studies at the University of North Texas. He has served on the faculty of the University of North Texas, Texas Christian University, California Polytechnic University-Pomona, North Lake College-Irving, TX, and Bethel College-North Newton, KS. Tom is in-demand as both an educator and performer, and can be heard most recently on the following recordings: Brian Mullholland "Deco", on Brian Mulholland Records Stockton Helbing "Lodestar", on Nojoh Records The University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band "Lab 2003" on UNT Records.

For more information - visit Tom's website at: www.tomluer.com

Chip McNeill is a jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator. In addition to his responsibilities as associate professor and chair of jazz, studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign, McNeill is the musical director and jazz tenor saxophonist for Grammy award-winning recording artist Arturo Sandoval. McNeill has recorded with Sandoval on his CDs Americana and Hot House. Hot House won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Performance. Professor McNeill has also worked closely with legendary jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. He produced, wrote, and performed on five recent CDs with Ferguson and has toured with Ferguson, Sandoval, and many other notable jazz performers. Chip has performed at countless jazz festivals and clubs around the world, including the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Monterey Jazz Festival (U.S.A.), and Noto Jazz Festival (Japan), as well as performing at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall (Sydney, Australia), London Palladium, and on numerous jazz radio and television productions in Europe, Japan, the U.K., India, and Indonesia. In addition to recording with Sandoval and Ferguson, McNeill has recorded with such musicians as Nat Adderley, David Liebman, Duffy Jackson, Ira Sullivan, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Ted Shumate, and Larry Willis, and has performed with such entertainers as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joe Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, and Wynton Marsalis. Prior to his position at the University of Illinois, McNeill held similar academic positions at Florida International University and at Virginia Tech University.

Josh Murray grew up in New York City where he studied saxophone under Daniel Wilensky and David Mann, playing with the likes of Gregory Hutchinson, Walter Blanding and Scott Wendholt. He attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, learning from Reggie Workman, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Werner, Ira Gitler and Joanne Brackeen, among others. Josh's performing credits include shows with Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Peter Erskine and the Drifters. He has been a full-time teacher at Sacramento's Rio Americano High School since 1998. Rio is a seven-time winner of the Monterey Jazz Festival, and has performed at the Essentially Ellington Festival four times.

Saxophonist Steve Lishman earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master of Arts degree in Music from California State University, Sacramento. Steve has also attended Berklee College of Music and Hartt College of Music. He has studied saxophone with Joe Viola and Frank Chase, and clarinet with Fred Westphal. Steve began teaching in 1970, and has taught all levels of music from elementary through college. In addition, Steve has been an active performer, private instructor, adjudicator, and clinician. Currently, Steve is an adjunct faculty member of the Music Department at American River College in Sacramento. Steve is a founding member of the group KAIROS, and is a freelance performer throughout Northern California and Nevada.

For more information - visit Steve's website at: http://www.kairosquartet.com

Aaron Joseph Lington received his BM in music education from the University of Houston, Moores School of Music, and both his MM in jazz studies and DMA in saxophone performance from the University of North Texas where he studied with James Riggs. His performing and compositional credits include collaborations with the University of North Texas One O'clock Lab Band, Maynard Ferguson, The Count Basie Orchestra, Bo Diddley, Jamie Davis, and many others. In addition, he has won awards for both his playing and writing from Downbeat Magazine, ASCAP, and was the 2003 recipient of the Sammy Nestico Award. He was recognized in the 55th Annual Downbeat Magazine Critic's Poll as a "Rising Star" in the Baritone Saxophone category. The San José Mercury News praises Dr. Lington's playing as "revelatoryÉhe obviously relishes the beautiful, blustery bark of his instrument..." Cadence magazine praised Lington's recent album Cape Breton, saying that "...Lington and his companions are topnotch musicians...these gentlemen are by no means amateurs, and this is a pleasurable album of largely mellow yet invigorating post-Bop Jazz." In addition to his position as assistant professor at San José State University where he serves as Coordinator of Jazz Studies, Dr. Lington is also a member of the faculty at the Texas Music Festival Jazz Institute, hosted by the University of Houston, and a judge for the Next Generation Jazz Festival, hosted by the Monterey Jazz Festival. Aaron Lington is a saxophone-performing artist for Rico Reeds.

Mike is the former lead trumpet with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the Clark Terry Big Bad Band, and the US Navy Show Band, as well as an international artist for the Getzen Company. He has performed or recorded with such greats as Terry Gibbs, Lennie Niehaus, Art Pepper, Al Grey, Freddie Hubbard, John Handy, Don Ellis, The Four Freshman, the Glen Miller and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, and the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans. He has appeared as soloist with the symphony pops orchestras in New Orleans, Atlanta, Oakland, San Diego, Sacramento, and the All-American Collegiate Orchestra at Epcot Center. He is currently leading his own groups: TRPTS (Trumpets), the Mike Vax BigBand (Featuring Alumni of the Stan Kenton Orchestra), The Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra, and the Mike VaxQuintet/Sextet. Recent recordings include: "Live on the Road" and "Next Stop" by the Mike Vax Big Band (featuring alumni of the Stan Kenton Orchestra), "bigbandjazz.net" by the Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra, and "Creepin' with Clark" by the Mike Vax/Clark Terry Sextet, which was on the GAVIN Jazz Charts for over five months. Mike has been on the faculty of such schools as: Loyola University, the University of New Orleans and University of the Pacific. He has performed clinics in over 2000 schools worldwide over the past 35 years.

For more information - visit Mike's website at: http://www.mikevax.net

John is a native of Ohio, and received his Bachelor of Music Education degree form Ohio State University and Masters of Music Education from Wright State University. He performed as first trumpet with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in 1974-75 recording albums "Kenton Plays Chicago", "Fire, Fury, and Fun", and the famous trumpet solo on Send in the Clowns on the Kenton "76" album. Harner was an active freelance musician in the Los Angeles area, as well as first trumpet at the Dunes, Sahara, Sands, and Caesar's Palace hotels in Las Vegas. He has performed with many entertainers including Johnny Carson, Don Rickles, Mel Torme, Vic Damone, and Jack Jones. He is an artist and clinician for the Conn Corporation and maintains an active schedule as a freelance musician and music educator in Xenia, Ohio.

Jazz and lead trumpet player Peter Olstad has performed and toured with the bands of Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Brian Setzer, Frank Mantooth, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Russ Morgan, Ray Anthony and Mel Torme. After graduating from Evergreen High School in Colorado, he attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston, and the University of Northern Colorado. While in college, Peter received Downbeat magazine's best jazz soloist college division, and later was one of the 5 finalists in the Thelonious Monk Institutes' Louis Armstrong jazz trumpet competition in Washington DC. Peter moved to Los Angles for a 10-year stint as a freelance artist, and later lived in New York for another 10 years. In 1999, Peter was hired by Tom Jones and toured as lead trumpet for 9 years. Now residing in Denver, Peter is an active clinician for the Yamaha Corporation, performing concerts and clinics throughout the world.

Clay is currently the Associate Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Jenkins has recorded and performed with several professional jazz ensembles including The Stan Kenton Orchestra, the Buddy Rich Orchestra, the Harry James Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Jenkins has also recorded small group projects with Harold Danko, Kim Richmond, Bill Perkins, Steve Houghton, Gary Hobbs, Joe LaBarbera, Rich Perry, Dave Scott, Reggie Thomas, and Kurt Elling.

For more information - visit Clay's website at: www.esm.rochester.edu/Jazz/jazz_jenkins.html

Steve has been the Director of Jazz Studies at Sacramento State University since 2001. He has also served as the Director of Jazz Studies at Baylor University and has held teaching positions at the University of Northern Colorado and Northern Illinois University. Steve directs both large jazz ensembles and the Latin Jazz Ensemble at Sacramento State. He also teaches courses in jazz pedagogy, jazz styles, and teaches private jazz trumpet lessons. Steve holds a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance from Indiana University, a Masters of Music degree from Northern Illinois University, and a Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado. Roach has performed with a wide variety of jazz & pop artists such as Tito Puente, Louis Bellson, the Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, Conrad Herwig, Lou Rawls, Jon Tchicai, Ben Vereen, Melissa Manchester, Toni Tennille, Roberta Flack, Rosemary Clooney, Jeffrey Osbourne, Jack Jones, and others. Steve is currently serving on the Executive Board for the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz and the Capital Section of the California Music Educators Association.

visit Sacramento State's Jazz Studies website at: www.csus.edu/music/jazz

Hermon Mehari has been playing the trumpet since the seventh grade. Originally from Jefferson City, Missouri, he developed an affinity for the instrument and jazz music while in high school. He currently goes to the University of Missouri-Kansas City on a full ride scholarship where he is a senior pursuing his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance. Hermon recently won the jazz division of the 2008 National Trumpet Competition. He also won the 2008 Gene Harris Jazz Competition as part of a jazz group called Diverse. By winning that competition, Diverse received the chance to record for Origin Records and they will have a CD released in the summer of 2009. Hermon has performed overseas with Bobby Watson at the Blues to Bop Festival in Lugano, Switzerland. He has studied with Terrell Stafford, Paul McKee, Dave Scott, Clay Jenkins, Jaleel Shaw, Michael Carvin and Bobby Watson.

Scott Whitfield (trombonist, composer, arranger, and vocalist) is rapidly gaining international recognition for his work with contemporary big bands, including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra and the new edition of Johnny Griffin's Big Soul Band, as well as his own Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestras (East AND West). In addition to Whitfield's own recordings, his compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by such artists as Diva, Maurice Hines, The Pied Pipers, Bill Allred's Classic Jazz Band, and Pete Petersen's 23-strong Collection Jazz Orchestra. The discography of Scott Whitfield includes 7 recordings as leader and more than 50 recordings with other artists. A frequent clinician and guest artist for Bach Stradivarius trombones, Whitfield has appeared throughout the world, from Australia to Zurich, sharing his expertise on trombone technique, improvisation, composition, arranging, and jazz history. His "The J.J. Johnson Collection" (published by Hal Leonard) has inspired many trombonists, young and old. Upon settling in New York in 1993, Scott became a member of the Nat Adderley Sextet, which also included Jimmy Cobb, Walter Booker, Vincent Herring, and Rob Bargad. The group's engagements at Sweet Basil led to fruitful associations with Nnenna Freelon, Frank Wess, and Steve Turre, among others. From 1998 to 2002, Whitfield served on the jazz faculty at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, teaching trombone, composition and arranging, and improvisation, while also coordinating the school's combo program. During this period, one of Scott's composition students placed third in a worldwide field of contestants in the Thad Jones International Jazz Composition Competition. The Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra (first founded in 1986, while Scott was pursuing his Master's degree at North Texas State University) now has TWO incarnations: the SWJO East, based in New York; and the SWJO West, based in Whitfield's new home of Los Angeles. Both of these aggregations feature some of the top players in the business. Plans are in the works for a large project featuring the combined, bi-coastal orchestra. For more than a year, the Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra East was in residence at New York's Birdland, the Jazz Corner of the World, culminating in the exciting "Live at Birdland" CD, released in April 2004 on Summit Records. "The Minute Game," featuring the SWJO West, was released in February 2005, and features Whitfield's groundbreaking composition "Hiccups." Most recently, "Diamonds For Nat," released in February 2006, is a special 75th Birthday tribute to Scott's mentor, the late Nat Adderley, featuring the SWJO East once again. Although Scott now makes his home in Los Angeles, he continues to commute to New York for appearances. His writing has been compared to that of some of his biggest influences, including Thad Jones, Sammy Nestico, Bill Holman, Rob McConnell, Bob Florence, and Ernie Wilkins.

For more information - visit Scott's website at: www.scottwhitfield.com

Paul McKee, Assistant Professor of Jazz Trombone, received the Bachelor of Music in music education from the University of Northern Iowa and the Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Texas at Austin. Since 1984 he has been a member of Woody Herman's Thundering Herd and continues to tour and record with the band. In addition to making frequent appearances as a guest artist and clinician, Paul has served on the jazz faculty at DePaul University, Northern Illinois University, Youngstown State University, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded worldwide by professional and academic jazz ensembles. Paul's recording Gallery was released to critical acclaim on the Chicago-based Hallway Records label and features special guests Carl Fontana, Bobby Shew, Tim Ries and Ron Stout. Paul is a clinician for the Conn-Selmer Company and plays King trombones exclusively.

For more information - visit Paul's website at: http://music.fsu.edu/mckee.htm

Dyne Eifertsen is a performer, educator, clinician, and composer. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in trombone performance from Berklee College of Music in Boston, a Master of Music degree trombone performance from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trombone performance from the University of Washington in Seattle. Among his trombone teachers have been Phil Wilson, Tom Plsek, David Sporny and Don Immel. Dyne is freelance musician and a member of the Sacramento music group Kairos Quartet that has recently released its latest CD, riverrun. Performances include the Capital Jazz Project, Sacramento Philharmonic, Sacramento Ballet, Seattle Creative Orchestra, and Tacoma Symphony. Dyne is Director of the Jazz Studies program at American River College and conducts the ARC Latin Jazz Ensemble, Studio Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Collective, and Concert Band.

For more information - visit Dyne's website at: http://www.kairosquartet.com

Thomas Matta has earned a B.M. and M.M. (Theory and Composition) from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the University of Northern Colorado, respectively; he also holds a Certificate in Performance (Bass Trombone) from DePaul University. An active performer, Thomas has performed extensively across North America, Europe, and New Zealand, and is one of the most sought-after bass trombonists in Chicago's recording studios, concert halls, theater pits and other live-music venues. Thomas has performed and recorded with a diverse array of talents including the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Frank Mantooth Jazz Orchestra, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Jimmy Heath, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Fulcrum Point, The Colorado Symphony, Concertante di Chicago, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra and others. His compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by premier orchestras, big bands and chamber ensembles worldwide. He is published by Kendor Music, Doug Beach Music, Andel Editions, and the UNC Jazz Press. Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the DePaul University School of Music, where he teaches jazz composition and arranging, directs the Jazz Orchestra, and teaches applied tenor and bass trombone.

For more information - visit Tom's website at: http://www.thomasmatta.com/

An alumnus of the Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, and Glenn Miller big bands, Jim Widner is celebrating his "21st" year of hosting summer camps all across the United States. As a bassist with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Jim was strongly influenced and motivated by Kenton's dedication to young student musicians. He was a faculty member of the Kenton camps for 10 years and helped Stan organize and expand his camps from California to other locations across the United States. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Jim also holds an MA degree from Memphis State University and has done postgraduate work at the University of North Texas. Jim has performed at the world famous Lionel Hampton and Montreaux Jazz Festivals. His performance background includes concert dates with Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Mulgrew Miller, Louis Bellson, Randy Brecker, Bill Watrous, Marilyn Maye, and an appearance before former President Bill Clinton. Jim also serves as guest conductor for numerous All-State Jazz Bands. In 1999, students at the University of Missouri-Columbia renamed the music wing of the fine arts residential college, "Widner House," in honor of him. In April of 2006 Jim was inducted into The Statesmen of Jazz. Currently Jim is Artist in Residence/Coordinator of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri - St. Louis and is a Yamaha performing artist. He also maintains an ambitious clinic and festival schedule at high schools and colleges throughout the United States. This includes a series of summer jazz camps, spearheaded by members of the Jim Widner Big Band, which records with Chase Music Group. Their critically acclaimed CD's include "Yesterdays and Today," "Body and Soul," "Live," and the band's newest CD, "Flying High".

For more information - visit Jim's website at: www.jimwidnerbigband.com

accompanist, and later joined the faculty as an adjunct jazz instructor. He has appeared with such noted artists as Bill Watrous, Bobby Shew, Buddy DeFranco, Pete Christlieb, Louie Bellson, and Clark Terry. He also appears regularly with the Jim Widner Big Band. Currently living in Jefferson City, Missouri with his wife, Annette, Ken is in demand as a freelance pianist, clinician, and adjudicator around the state, and maintains a full studio of piano and jazz piano students as well as serving as adjunct jazz piano instructor at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

Gary has performed with such notables as Bud Shank, Anita O'Day, The Four Freshman, Pete Christlieb, Anthony Braxton, Dave Frishberg, Kurt Elling, and many others. He has recorded with Stan Kenton, Tom Grant, Dan Siegel, Dave Friesen, Clay Jenkins, Nancy King, Glenn Moore Band, Dave Frishberg, and others totaling 40 recordings, including his own; Low Flight Through Valhalla and Of My Times. Gary is a Yamaha Drum and Zildjian Clinician.

For more information - visit Gary's website at: www.garyhobbs.net

Steve has been performing professionally for over 30 years. He has played with a variety of notable jazz artists including Howard Alden, Herb Ellis, Jimmy Smith, Joe Williams, Ed Thigpen, Hugh Masakela, Art Van Damme, Anita O'Day, Joey Calderazo, Mel Martin, Diane Schuur, and the Nelson Riddle Concert Orchestra. Steve has also appeared on recordings with Anita O'Day and Pete Jolly (At Vine Street Live) and Vibraphonist Gene Estes (In A Sentimental Mood). In 1998 Steve performed at The Glasgow International Jazz Festival in Scotland with Jazz Organ Legend Jimmy Smith. He has also performed at The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts Millennium Stage in Washington D.C. for the 1998 & 2000 Jazz Ambassadors program. Steve currently serves as adjunct Professor of Jazz Guitar at Sacramento State University where he teaches courses in improvisation, jazz styles & analysis, directs jazz combos, and provides private instruction in jazz guitar. He also holds adjunct teaching positions at Cosumnes River College and American River College. In addition to maintaining an active freelance schedule, Steve provides instruction at a variety of Northern California Summer Jazz Programs including The Jazzmasters Workshop Jazz Guitar Series in San Francisco, the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Camp, and The Brubeck Institute Jazz Camp at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.

For more information - visit Steve's website at: www.stevehomanjazz.com