January 28-29, 2005

Dan belongs to a new generation of jazz musicians who have more than just a passing interest in the music's origins and development. Dan and his peers draw their inspiration from the many recordings still available from jazz's early years; they look to the past masters for musical foundations upon which to build their own personal styles. In addition to his free-lance activities, Dan continues to pursue his interest in arranging and orchestration. His writing can be heard on many Arbors Records CD's. I Saw Stars, featuring vocalist Rebecca Kilgore, and Look What I Found, vocalist Daryl Sherman's new release, prominently displays his skills as an arranger. An earlier recording for another label, arranged by Dan and featuring the great Bobby Short, garnered a Grammy nomination. Still another CD occasioned this comment about Dan's playing from John S. Wilson of The New York Times: "(He) is one of the delights here, a melodist, a colorist who knows how to use a plunger mute with taste and, in total, a player Duke Ellington would have loved."

Jim is replacing John Allred in these concerts due to John's commitment in Harry Connick's touring band, which is scheduled to perform in the Far East.

Jim began his professional career at age 16 in the Boston area.  In the three decades since, he has toured internationally many times, recorded on dozens of occasions and played television, radio, theaters and concert halls in a variety of musical settings.  First and foremost an exceptional jazz trombonist covering many eras of jazz styles, his talents also include jazz cornet, euphonium, tuba and vocals.

Since his first tour in 1988, Jim has returned regularly to the United Kingdom.  He has performed as a featured soloist at many of the most prominent festivals in the UK and Ireland, including Edinburgh, Brecon, Cork, Bude and Keswick.  He is the co-leaser of the Fryer-Barnhart International All-Stars and is also a member of the Titan Hot Seven. 

In his home state of Connecticut, he keeps a very busy professional schedule, performing throughout New England and New York City area.  He has played with many notables such as Ed Polcer, Peter Ecklund, Doc Cheatham, Kenny Davern, Butch Thompson, Slide Hampton, Rosemary Clooney, Dave Brubeck and Aretha Franklin. 

Jim is also a well known educator.  He performs concerts for young people via Young Audiences of Connecticut, teaches at Wesleyan University, Choate Rosemary Hall, and in his own studio.

JIM GALLOWAY, soprano sax
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The leader of several groups, including Jazz Canada and his 17-piece "Wee Big Band," for the past 20 years, Jim has also toured extensively on the international circuit carving a niche for himself through his extremely personal tone on saxophone and his warm, lyrical approach to playing.  Mark Miller, Toronto author of "Boogie, Pete and the Senator", a book of Canadian jazz profiles describes Jim's playing style perfectly…"His lines are all melody…melody, which in turn sings, purrs, smiles, lingers and arches into arabesques without obscuring the simplicity of Jim's fundamental design.  There is a pure, timeless quality to the playing something that exists outside any specific point of reference stylistically; as a result, it is remarkably adaptable - as indeed it must be given the breadth of Galloway's associations."  Galloway has recorded albums in Austria, Britain, Canada, Holland, South Africa, Switzerland and the U.S., including twelve for Canada's Sackville label.  Artists with whom he has recorded include highly respected and historically significant names such as Doc Cheatham, "Wild Bill" Davison, Carl Fontana, Art Hodes, Gus Johnson, Humphrey Lyttelton, Jay McShann, Buddy Tate and Dick Wellstood.  When not performing music in Canada, the U.S., and around the world, Jim's other passions include old cars, classical music, puns and serious research into the fascinating world of single malts.

JOHN SHERIDAN, piano
San Antonio, TX

John began his musical training at 7 years of age and his life was forever changed when at age 8 his father brought home a recording of the Benny Goodman 1938 Carnegie Hall concert.  He realized then that he wanted a career in music.  He was immediately taken with the piano playing of Jess Stacy and Teddy Wilson who remain two of his primary influences to this day.  John received his Bachelor of Music from Capital University (Ohio) and his Master of Music from the University of  North Texas.  John joined The Jim Cullum Jazz Band in 1979 where he remained for 23 years.  During that time, he performed and arranged for the band's radio series, "Riverwalk: Live From The Landing".  In 1996 he began recording for Arbors Records, an association that has produced several CDs.  He has recently completed a tour of Europe with The George Masso All Stars and is performing at jazz parties and festivals around the country.

Eddie began his career in the San Jose area in the mid 60s and moved to Monterey in 1969 to work at Capone's Warehouse. From there he went to Disneyland where he was featured in the Class of '27 show at the Diamond and Golden Horseshoe and for six years led the Riverboat Rascals show band on board Disney's Empress Lilly Showboat. He has been featured with organized bands as well as allstar groupings at jazz parties and festivals around the country. Eddie works regularly in a duo with Bill Dendle and also Big Mama Sue.

Paul Keller began studying string bass at age 12 and played his first jazz gigs in his hometown of Grand Rapids MI. He pursued a classical music education at the University of Michigan. Today he is one of the busiest jazz bassists in the Detroit Area leading a 16-piece big band which plays material from all periods of jazz history and is co-leader of a the Keller/Kocher Quartet. Paul is a prolific composer and arranger and plays at many festivals and concerts in the U.S., Canada and Europe. In 1995 he began working regularly with pianist/vocalist Diana Krall. Paul is currently on the faculty of the University of Michigan in the Jazz Studies Program and conducts improvisation clinics and workshops throughout the Midwest.

Born and raised in Dorchester MA, Jake grew up in the Boston area that provided the aspiring drummer with opportunities to listen to many great artists of the day and develop a growing interest in jazz music. Along the way Jake had long associations with Marian McPartland, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, and Eddie Condon. After 10 years on the road, he settled down on the Merv Griffen Show for the next 10 years that ultimately created the move from the East Coast to Los Angeles where he still lives. The mid-70s provided Jake with some of his fondest memories as a member of Bing Crosby's "Personal Quartet" consisting of Joe Bushkin, Milt Hinton and Johnny Smith. There's hardly any jazz artist that Jake has not played and recorded with both in the States and abroad and is a favorite at jazz festivals and parties around the world both with the musicians and the audiences. Jake considers himself very fortunate to be associated with all the great people he's met in the world and goes by this philosophy, "follow the 'golden rule' and 'know thyself'" and adds, "that second part should take just about a lifetime."