T H E B A N D
ANTONIO ORTA
alto saxophone
Antonio Luis Orta started studying music and saxophone with professor Jose "Junior" Lozada, in his hometown of Guánica, Puerto Rico in 1983. Antonio has a bachelor's degree in music from the University of North Texas and a master's degree in music from the University of Miami. Throughout his 31-year career in music Antonio has accompanied many well-known artists from different music genres, from Latin pop music to American pop music, to classical music and jazz, including Poncho Sánchez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Olga Tañon, Menudo, Jimmy Heath, Bobby ValentÃn, Bonny Cepeda, Joe Lovano, Paquito D' Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Kurt Elling, and Bob Mintzer, among others. Since the year 2000 Antonio has been the lead alto saxophonist for the U.S. Army Blues, has accompanied artists such as Chris Potter, Randy Brecker, Slide Hampton, Conrad Herwig, Joe Morello, Terrell Stafford, Bill Watrous, Peter Erskine, Phil Wilson, and Doc Severinsen, among others."
GRANT LANGFORD
alto saxophone
Saxophonist Grant Langford is a current member of the US Air Force’s Airmen of Note. Prior to that service he was a touring member of the Count Basie Orchestra from 2005-08. Mr. Langford made 5 recordings with the historic band with legendary artists such as Tony Bennett and Ray Charles. Mr. Langford resides in the DC metro area and is featured on 2014 recordings with the NY Voices, Bobby Caldwell, and Anthony Manough. He received his Bachelors in Music from the New England Conservatory.
LUIS HERNANDEZ
tenor saxophone
A native of Miami, Fla., Chief Musician Luis Hernandez began his musical career at the age of 14. He joined the US Navy Commodores as tenor saxophonist in 1996. Prior to the Navy Band, in 1987, he attended the New World School of The Arts, and enjoyed the opportunities to perform alongside jazz greats such as Ira Sullivan and Freddie Hubbard. In 1991, Hernandez attended the University of North Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and played in the internationally acclaimed One O’clock Lab Band. During his 3 1/2 years in this great ensemble, he performed with world renowned artists such as the Brecker Brothers, Jon Hendricks, Louie Bellson, and Gerry Mulligan, and was featured on six recordings. In the National Capital Region, Hernandez has performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Loston Harris, Keter Betts, Dave Samuels, Poncho Sanchez, Arturo O’Farrill, the Temptations, Vanessa Ruben, Mary Wilson, the Richmond Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony featuring Ray LaMontagne, and the Washington Symphony Orchestra featuring Leslie Uggams, just to name a few. In 2002, he was a semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, and won a Latin Grammy in 2008 for best Latin Jazz Album of the year with his group Afro-Bop Alliance.
Tyler Kuebler is originally from Agoura Hills, CA, and currently performs as Lead Alto with the world-renowned USAF Airmen of Note. Prior to rejoining the USAF Band, Dr. Kuebler was an Assistant Professor of Saxophone, Jazz Studies, and Music Theory and Director of the Studio Jazz Orchestra at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. During his tenure at SIUC, Tyler was also a member of the New Arts Jazztet, a faculty jazz quintet. Throughout his career, Dr. Kuebler has had the opportunity to perform and record with some of the biggest names in jazz and popular music, including the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson, Sammy Figueroa, Julio Iglesias, Randy Brecker, Paul Anka, Jerry Bergonzi, Clark Terry, Bobby Caldwell, Joe Lovano, Louie Bellson, Slide Hampton, Rosemary Clooney, Kenny Werner, Bob Mintzer, Gerry Mulligan, Conrad Herwig, Ernie Watts, on Hendricks, Pete Christlieb, Peabo Bryson, the Temptations, and the Four Tops, to name a few. Dr. Kuebler earned his B.M. and M.M. degrees from the University of North Texas, where he was a member of the world-renowned One O'Clock Lab Band for four years. The University of Miami conferred his Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He remains committed to educational outreach and stays active as a guest artist and clinician at universities throughout the United States.
DOUG MORGAN
baritone saxophone
Doug Morgan is a graduate of the University of North Texas and the University of Maryland. He is a member of the USAF Airmen of Note. He resides in Southern Maryland with his wife (also a graduate of UNT) and their three children.
MARK WOOD
trumpet
Mark Wood hails from Gainesville, Florida. Upon completing a Master's Degree in music in 1995 he joined the United States Army Field Band. There he served as co-principal/solo cornet and founding member of the official brass quintet of the Field Band called The Embassy Brass. In 2000 Mark joined The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" where he has served as trumpeter, bugler, and herald trumpeter for the Ceremonial Band. He is currently a member of The US Army Blues, and regularly performs with several other components of "Pershing's Own."
ALEX NORRIS
trumpet
Trumpeter Alexander Pope Norris is a 20- plus year veteran of the New York Jazz scene. He has performed with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider, Betty Carter, Slide Hampton, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, and others. He currently performs with the Mingus Big Band, Ron Carter's Great Big Band, Kyle Eastwood, Miguel Zenon, Helen Sung, Amina Figarova Sextet, Andy Gonzalez, and many other jazz and Latin jazz artists. He has performed on over 60 recordings as a sideman, has one CD as a leader, and will release another CD as a leader in early 2015. Alex has taught in the Jazz Studies programs at City College of New York, Towson University and the University of Miami. Currently, he is on the Jazz Faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.
TIM LEAHEY
trumpet
Tim Leahey earned a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance from Youngstown State University in 1991. While at Youngstown State University, he won the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Improvisation Competition, and was named the All Ohio Collegiate Musician of the Year. He has studied with Ray Detwiler, Ron Dekker, Esotto Pellegrini, Sue Sexton, Tony Leonardi and Sam D'Angelo. A native of Altoona, Pa., Tim joined the USAF Airmen of Note in 1993.
MICHAEL CHRISTIE
trumpet
Michael, from Buffalo, NY, is a sophomore jazz studies major at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester VA. where he currently studies trumpet with Dr. Scott Nelson and Craig Fraedrich. He has performed under Alan Baylock's direction at the National Jazz Workshop, held annually at Shenandoah University. Michael is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work with these great musicians on their latest project.
BEN PATTERSON
trombone
Ben Patterson is a trombonist, composer, and arranger living in the Washington, D.C. area. He is lead trombonist for the USAF Airmen of Note and the Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra. Ben teaches jazz trombone at the University of Maryland. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas where he played lead trombone with the One O’clock Lab Band.
JEFF MARTIN
trombone
Jeff Martin is a trombonist with the Airmen of Note. A native of Newton, Kan., his career in the Air Force began in 1996. After graduation from Newton High School in 1991, Martin attended the University of North Texas on the Rich Matteson Memorial Scholarship. While at UNT, he performed with the world-renowned One O'Clock Lab Band for three years, touring across the United States, Japan and Hong Kong. He can be heard on four compact discs with theOne O'Clock Band. An accomplished writer/arranger, Jeff's arrangements have been recorded and performed by the Airmen of Note, UNT One O'Clock Lab band, SIU, in addition to numerous high schools and colleges throughout the country. He has performed professionally with the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Pete Peterson's Collection and the Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra among many other top flight big bands. He has also performed with jazz legends David Liebman, Joe Lovano, Herbie Hancock, Slide Hampton, Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, Peter Erskine, Jerry Bergonzi, and many others.
Matt Niess is the Lead Trombonist with The U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble in Washington, DC. He is a former high school band director and has taught on the jazz faculties of Shenandoah, Towson and West Chester Universities. He is the founder and director of the Capitol Bones, a jazz trombone ensemble, which has received national recognition and has performed throughout the country. He has appeared as a soloist, clinician, and adjudicator at jazz festivals, schools, and universities throughout the country and has recorded and performed with numerous artists.
JEFF CORTAZZO
bass trombone
Jeff Cortazzo was appointed bass trombonist of The U.S. Army Blues in 1992 and holds a Bachelor's degree in music education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Music degree in bass trombone performance from DePaul University in Chicago and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He has performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the National Sympnony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra. He has also performed as bass trombonist/tubist with Frank Sinatra Jr., Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, and many others. In addition to The U.S. Army Blues, he currently is bass trombonist with The National Philharmonic, The Capitol Bones, the Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra, the National Gallery Orchestra and the Washington Trombone Ensemble. A published composer, he is a member of ASCAP. Most of his works for chamber ensembles, wind ensemble, orchestra and chorus are published by BRS music publishers. His principal teachers include Charles Vernon, and Lee Southall on trombone; and Larry Nelson, Steven Gorbos, Andrew Earle Simpson and Stephen Strunk for composition and counterpoint.
SHAWN PURCELL
guitar
Shawn Purcell is a jazz guitarist, bandleader, arranger, composer and educator. An accomplished musician, Purcell is active as a featured soloist with small ensembles and jazz big bands. Purcell received a Bachelor of Arts from Duquesne University and upon graduating spent two years touring as the staff guitarist for Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Upon leaving, Purcell won the slot as the guitarist in The Airmen of Note, based in Washington D.C. During his nearly eight years with "The Note" Purcell performed countless nationwide and overseas venues including major music festivals IAJE and PASIC. Purcell has shared the stage with many of the world’s top jazz artists including The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra, Afro-Bop Alliance, The Army Blues, The Steve Allee Big Band, Dick Oatts, Jim Pugh, Chip McNeill, Dana Hall, Jeanie Bryson, Chip Stephens, Eddie Daniels, Chuck Redd, Gene Ludwig, Bob Berg, James Moody, Kevin Mahogany, Jerry Bergonzi, Pat Coil, and has performed at jazz clubs, The Jazz Kitchen, The Blue Wisp, The Jazz Factory and Blues Alley. Purcell has served on the jazz faculty at Middle Tennessee State University, George Mason University, and Tennessee State University and is an in-demand clinician leading master classes. Purcell has been a faculty member for The National Jazz Workshop, The National Guitar Workshop as well as a columnist for Premier Guitar magazine, Jazz Guitar Life and DownBeat magazine. As a composer/arranger Purcell’s works have been commissioned by The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Tito Carillo, Joan Hickey, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Chapel Jazz Ensemble and Texas Tech University Jazz Ensemble I; and are published by Really Good Music, LLC. and 3-2 Music.
BOB LARSON
piano
Dr. Robert Larson joined the faculty of Shenandoah Conservatory in 1982. He is the Director of Jazz Studies at Shenandoah Conservatory, and has served three terms as chair of the Instrumental Division. He holds degrees from Eastern Washington University, the University of Oregon, and Shenandoah Conservatory. He conducted the Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Ensemble from 1987-2000, and during that time the ensemble performed with Randy Brecker, Billy Taylor, Bob Berg, Conrad Herwig, Allen Vizzutti, Vince DiMartino, Chris Vadala, and many others. During that time, the ensemble performed in China, Japan, Spain, France, and Iceland as well as throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Dr. Larson teaches courses in jazz history, jazz improvisation, jazz repertoire, jazz pedagogy, and private jazz piano instruction. His recent book, Arranging for the Small Jazz Ensemble (Armfield Academic Press) has been adopted by numerous institutions and has received positive reviews from jazz educators and students. He has published articles for the Virginia Music Educators Association Journal, the International Association of Jazz Educators Papers, and has an article pending for the Music Educators Journal. Dr. Larson has presented at conferences for the Jazz Educators Network, the National Jazz Workshop, and for the National Association of Jazz Educators. He has provided clinics throughout the region and adjudicated at many jazz festivals and competitions. Robert Larson performs with his own trio, as well as with the Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra (Two Seconds to Midnight), the Capitol Bones, the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, and many others. Larson has served on the touring panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and is the host of the National Jazz Workshop.
PAUL HENRY
bass
After receiving his BA in Music Education from St. Olaf College in 1978, Paul Henry began freelance work in the Minneapolis area including full time substitute with the Minnesota Orchestra from 1978-1985, a member of the San Antonio Symphony from 1985-1988, and, in 1988, became the bassist for the Airmen of Note, serving until 2014. He has recorded with artists such as Mike Tomaro, Eric Felton, Mark Taylor, Alan Baylock, Craig Fraedrich, Steve Erickson, and many albums with the Airmen of Note. Since 2008, Henry has been an adjunct bass instructor at the University of Mary Washington. Henry has performed with Peter Erskine, Randy Brecker, James Moody, Doc Severinson, Jon Faddis, George Benson, Diane Schuur, Dave Liebman, Nicholas Payton, Pat Martino, Slide Hampton, Paquito D’Riverra, Joey Defransesco, Al Jarreau, Kirk Whalum, Allen Vizzutti, Butch Miles, the New York Voices, and many others.
TODD HARRISON
drums
Todd Harrison started his professional music career at the age of 14 in Houston, Texas. He quickly became known for his ability to excel at any style of drumming, including Middle Eastern and Latin styles, rock, R&B, Broadway, country & western, and funk. After high school, Harrison studied jazz under Shelly Berg at San Jacinto Junior College and classical percussion at Houston Baptist University. He has performed with Paul Gilbert, Clark Terry, Russell Malone, Kirk Whalum, Grupo Mazz, Joel Frahm, Rob Levit, the Unified Jazz Ensemble, and many others. He is also an accomplished illustrator and cartoonist, and enjoys participation in local triathlons, cycling, scuba diving, and fishing.
BOB DAWSON
sound engineer
CV DASHIELL
drums
Carroll V. Dashiell, III is a drummer/percussionist living in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. CV was born in DC and raised in Greenville, NC. Displaying an interest for the drums at an early age, he performed at Carnegie Hall as the featured drummer and soloist with the East Carolina University Jazz Ensemble at the age of 14. CV was the drummer for the 2006 and 2007 International Association of Jazz Educators Annual Conference Vocal Jam Session. Jr. In 2008 C.V. also appered as the Drummer/Principal Percussionist for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 100th Anniversry Celebration in Washington D.C. with the Kelvin Washington Orchestra. He has also appeared as the drummer from 2005-2012 Congressional Black Caucus Awards Television Show with the Clarence Knight Orchestra featuring artists Sheryl Lee Ralph, Isaiah Washington, Stephanie and Marlon Jordan, Alfre Woodard, Avery Brooks, Regina Bell, Phil Perry, Gabriel Union and Louis Gossett Jr. CV has also worked with Wallace Ronney, Geri Allen, Grady Tate, Benny Golson, The Yellowjackets, Bob Mintzer, Antone “Chooky“ Caldwell, The National Symphony Orchestra, The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, Connaitre Miller, Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra, Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, Ashford & Simpson, Terell Stafford, Bobby Watson & Horizon, Patti Label, and Debbie Allen just to name a few. During his time at Howard University, CV was the drummer for the Howard University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Fred Irby, III where he was the 2006 and 2008 Zildjian Scholarship Recipient. In 2010, CV was named Best Collegiate drummer in Downbeat Magazine’s Student Poll edition. Currently, CV serves as the drummer/programmer on the Music Ministry at the Historic Metropolitan Baptist Church where Dr. H. Beecher Hicks Jr. is the Senior Servant.