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Brian Casserly - Trumpet, vocalist & Band Leader:
Brian Casserly, who also goes by the name "Big B" plays trumpet, trombone and is also a vocalist with the band. A professional musician since the age of 14, Brian has played for many greats in the music business, including Tony Bennett, Tex Beneke, Stan Kenton, Chuck Berry and even Tiny Tim. He has also played the prestigious Monterey Pops Festival for several years. An in-demand session musician, Brian has performed in
many commercials, recordings and musicals in the U.S. and Canada and is the past musical director for the S.S. Admiral, a riverboat on the St. Louis riverfront. After touring the U.S. and Europe for several years with his own jazz band and a St. Louis-based blues band, he decided to devote his musical talents entirely to traditional jazz, playing concerts and festivals as well as recording with several St. Louis bands.. To hear Brian in a live performance,
Click here: "Long Way From St. Louis" "I Want My Donut Blues"
Tom Tucker - Trumpet & Co-Band Leader:
Thomas "L - Jay Cool Poppa" Tucker began playing trumpet at age 11 under a retired Marine bandmaster who Tommy says "still thought he was in the Marines." He played in high school and college, did a 4-year tour in the Navy, then went into the finance and auto dealership business for 25 years. After Tommy sold the dealership in 1987 and retired, he decided to get back into the music scene. He started a band called "All That Jazz" and progressed from there, becoming a fixture in the St. Louis traditional jazz scene..
Brian leads off with: "Struttin With Some Barbecue"
Paul Reid – Piano:
Paul is an all-round entertainer who’s done just about everything in the business. His experience runs the gamut from playing solo piano in bars to performing with big bands, writing advertising jingles to performing voice-overs for commercials, reading music production for cartoons to composing songs and lyrics. He was a member of the Night Blooming Jazzmen from 1988 to 2001
Watch Paul playing: "DISNEY Medley on Main Street USA"
Jerry Epperson - Reeds:
Jerry Epperson’s professional career began in 1959 performing in local dance bands, and continued at Truman State University playing in Dixieland and jazz bands. He was fortunate enough to have the chance to meet Louis Armstrong at this time. Trained in classical music, Jerry was a music educator for several years, and was active in several area jazz bands. During the late '60s, Jerry was aided by local legend Buddy Moreno in getting established in the St. Louis area. During the past few years, he has performed with The Dixieland Rhythm Kings, Bob Havens, New Orleans' Wes Mix, and many others. Jerry makes frequent appearances at jazz festivals, and performs regularly in the St. Louis area. - wait to the end: "Look There, Ain't She Pretty"
Jim Lawlor - Drums:
Jim got his start in music in 1979 while broke and hungry in Atlantic City NJ, as the city made its first steps into its years as the east coast gambling mecca. Borrowing a snare drum from a local drummer he talked his way into a band and played simple rhythms for little money. At the same time he took lessons from Chris Columbo, long time drummer with Louis Jordan's Tympani Five and father of drum legend Sonny Payne. He eventually joined with Chris Sooy, whose Swing Band enjoyed many fans and predated the new swing revival by many years. His accomplished tenor guitarist brother John was also a member. Jim describes those exciting and sometimes dangerous years in "A.C." as a cross between "Boardwalk Empire" and "The Sopranos" and a never ending supply of musicians, celebrities, and characters helped him hone his craft. He has since played in every casino, club and "joint" in the town. For the last 22 years Jim has enjoyed an exclusive role as drummer and sometime singer with the Midiri Brothers, and with them has played all over US at various jazz festivals, as well as Europe. Jim and his family make their home in Moorestown, NJ.
The Midiri Brothers Sextet - "Runnin' Wild" Jim Lawlor on Drums
Brett Stamps - Trombone:
Brett Stamps, retired Professor of Music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, taught jazz trombone, composition/arranging, improvisation, pedagogy, history and directed the SIUE Concert Jazz Band and Jazz Combo. He founded the jazz studies program in 1979 and served as the director until 2011. He continues to teach trombone, arranging and Concert Jazz Band as adjunct faculty. A well-respected trombonist internationally, Brett is based in the St. Louis area. He performed worldwide with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the U.S. Army Field Band “Studio Band”, the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, the Jim Widner Jazz Band and Cornet Chop Suey. Locally, St. Louis Jazz Orchestra, Dave Dickey Big Band, Fox Theater Orchestra, Legacy, Bob Kuban, Mo-Town Review, Galaxy and the SIUE jazz faculty. On the Trad circuit with the St. Louis Rivermen and now Cornet Chop Suey. Brett has three CDs as a leader, In Your Own Sweet Way, Bad To The Bone and In Retrospect. The latter features 12 original charts for five trombones and rhythm. His CD’s are available on iTunes and CD Baby. A member of ASCAP, Brett writes for big band, combo, trombone ensemble, guitar ensemble and concert band. He is a Board Member for the St. Louis Lower Brass Consortium and is involved with the St. Louis Jazz Club. He holds degrees from the College of William & Mary and Univ. of Miami.
. Listen as Bret solos in band's front line in: "When My Dreamboat Comes Home"
Jay Hungerford - Bass:
Jay Hungerford, the newest member of Cornet Chop Suey, received his degree in Music Education from SIU-C. He performs at jazz festivals and clinics across the country. He has taught at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, Fontbonne College, Meramac College and has been a member of the Webster University Jazz Faculty in St. Louis MO for over 2 decades. Jay was acknowledged as "Best Local Bassist" by the Riverfront Times. Concerts include performances with Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Bill Charlap, Buddy Defranco, Richie Cole, Scott Hamilton, Chris Potter, Roger Williams, Vanessa Rubin, Maynard Ferguson, Bill Watrous, Eddie Higgins, Warren Vache, Howard Alden, Ralph Sutton, Jay McShann, Carl Fontana, Jake Hanna, Butch Miles, Grady Tate, Joe Ascione, Johnny Varro, Bob Draga, Mike Vax, Bobby Shew, Tom Hook, The St Louis Symphony, including the Carnegie Hall premiere of William Bolcom’s “Songs of Innocence and Experience.” Jay is also a member of the St. Louis "Fox Orchestra" and has performed with numerous national tours. He has over 60 recordings to his credit including 26 Integrity Worship recordings. Using the exact methods and lesson plans found in his book, Walking jazz Lines for bass, he has produced a variety of protégés who have since gone on to acclaim and notoriety, not limited to Avishai Cohen (Chick Corea, International Vamp Band), Neil Caine (Harry Connick, Jr.), and Steve Kirby (Cyrus Chestnut, James Carter)
Jay plays with the Stephanie Trick Trio: "Minor Drag" |
