The following are scheduled to perform.
Clarinetist Bob Draga is arguably one of the most popular and talented jazz musicians in the country. A consummate entertainer, he has mastered the art of pleasing an audience with his classy appearance, his seemingly unending list of jokes, and his superb musical talent. He intuitively understands what an audience wants to hear and provides it, whether hard and driving or exquisitely beautiful and soulful. In addition, Bob is a friend to young jazz musicians everywhere, taking time to coach and encourage whenever asked.
A true jazz clarinetist, Bob’s musical style is equally at home with both traditional jazz and swing. He even sounds great with a zydeco band! All of which easily explains why he has become a staple at jazz festivals and cruises everywhere.
2016 Special Guest Artists
Bob Draga
Multiple Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Black is a legend and revered figure in the music world whose roots go straight back to the honky-tonk era of Hank Williams and Lefty Frizell, Bobby was a key figure in the rediscovery of Western Swing in the 1960s and '70s. His membership in such bands as Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, Asleep at the Wheel, New Riders Of The Purple Sage and Barbara Mandrell's Do-Rites was decisive in introducing the sound of Western Swing to a new generation of listeners
Ultimately returning to his home in the San Francisco Bay Area, he initially made San Jose's Cow Town nightclub his steady gig. But he was in constant demand, so he freelanced and backed many touring artists. Today he can be spotted at about any special musical event in the San Francisco Bay area, performing with anyone who wants a player who can do it all. He is a player with skill and poise, who cut his musical teeth playing western swing.
Bobby Black
Emmy Award winner for his musical direction in the production "Liquid Roads" and leader of one of the most popular jazz bands in the country, Cornet Chop Suey, Brian Casserly is one of the most sought after musicians on the Jazz Festival circuit. Casserly, who also goes by the name "Big B," plays trumpet, trombone and is also a vocalist. 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.
Brian Casserly
Internationally renowned, Grammy Award-Winner Danny Coots is a versatile percussionist who marches to the beat of his own drums! One of the most sought after performers on the jazz festival circuit, he captures your attention on stage as he radiates equal rhythm throughout his whole body and into his drums. Coots’ style is fluid and fun. It’s easy to “hear” his passion for music transferred into melodic beats of Traditional Jazz. Danny helped found the Titan Hot Seven, has performed in 100 countries across the globe and has played drums on over 90 recordings with an array of talented artists.
Danny Coots
Dennis Lichtman is a multi-instrumentalist (clarinet, violin, mandolin) deeply entrenched in the worlds of traditional jazz, western swing, and bluegrass. In June 2011, he was featured in the Wall Street Journal as the leader of Mona's traditional jazz jam session in Manhattan, which was described as “ground zero for an emerging late-night scene of young swing and traditional jazz players.” Dennis has performed at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, Lincoln Center, and at Severance Hall in Cleveland following the Cleveland Orchestra; he has toured throughout the nation, in Europe, China, and Hawaii; played at major jazz, bluegrass and world music festivals; and has recorded on over two dozen albums on his clarinet, violin, and mandolin. Recently, Dennis released a CD from his western swing band, the Brain Cloud, and has been touring the world.
Seattle-based guitarist and composer Greg Ruby plays diverse styles of vintage jazz. Described as “truly hot jazz” by Vintage Guitar Magazine, his CD, Look Both Ways, celebrating the 100th birthday of guitarist Django Reinhardt and featuring 12 original compositions, reached #1 on the Roots Music Review jazz chart. A former member of Pearl Django, Greg has toured throughout the United States, Canada and Europe and appeared at the prestigious Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois-sur-seine, France. Greg’s compositions have been heard on television and documentaries including NBC’s Parks and Recreation. Here Greg will be collaborating and leading New York, New Orleans and California musicians in an All-Star Django tribute.
Greg Ruby
Jason Wanner took an interest in the piano at the age of four. From that point he began classical training and at the same time became interested in ragtime and jazz piano. At the age of 12 he attended the Sacramento Trad Jazz Camp for one week where he studied with Johnny Varro and K.O. Eckland. Immediately following the camp, he received opportunities to perform with many different established bands.
Jason attended the University of Southern California with a major in jazz studies. Having attended the Sacramento Jazz Camp since age 12, he graduated to become one of the camp's teachers of piano that same year. He has also taught at jazz camps in Mammoth Lakes, CA, and Helena, MT. Jason will be performing with Bob Draga & Friends, The Au Brothers and guest appearances.
Jason Wanner
An American jazz, blues and swing musician who specializes in the vibraphone and piano as well as drums. His primary influences on vibes are Lionel Hampton and Red Norvo, while his piano playing is influenced by piano greats from both the jazz and blues worlds.
John has been a member of Big Joe & the Dynaflows as well as The Big Three Trio with Big Joe Maher and John Previti in Washington, D.C. John will be performing with his quartet, Cocuzzis & Coots Courtet, as well as a guest with other bands in the festival.
John Cocuzzi
Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Kristy Reed Cocuzzi has a sultry voice that has thrilled audiences everywhere and was featured on vocals, sax and clarinet with Big Tiny Little for almost 10 years. She has toured as lead alto, clarinet, and vocalist with the “Live Lawrence Welk Show” throughout the United States and Canada, as well as being a member of the “Champagne Music Makers” at the Welk Resort in Branson, Missouri. She has worked with the Temptations, Franki Valli, the Russ Morgan Orchestra, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Cab Callaway orchestra, the Drifters, and has appeared alongside great musicians including Dave Bennett, Arthur Duncan, Sandor Benko, Jack Imel, and Anacani.
Kristy Cocuzzi
Tamar Korn (vocals) has been hailed in the press as a “one woman jazz revival” and “one of the freshest and most exciting new voices on the New York scene”, who will “amaze you with her voice. [...] she can improvise to any tune, taking on jazz dissonance in her vocals and also imitating instruments.”
She has toured the US, Canada, Scandinavia, Europe, and China with New York favorites the Cangelosi Cards, and also performs with western swing band the Brain Cloud, Mona's Hot Four, and gypsy jazz ensemble Gaucho. Raised by musically inclined parents, Korn was classically trained on piano, and as fascinated as she was by the sound of jazz, she still felt a bit intimidated of scatting and diving head first into the chaotic feel of the sound. She continued her exploration through her college years, during which she studied experimental theater and started to learn the bounds of her voice. The California native has found herself in New York for the last 11 years, due in large part to collaborators guitarist Jake Sanders and clarinet player Michael Magro.
Tamar Korn
Dennis Lichtman
