Evan Dobbins
Trombone

  Evan Dobbins is a graduate of Harvard University and Eastman School of Music. From 1995-2001 he freelanced in New York City, where he was a featured soloist in the Phil Woods Octet and Big Band. He is co-founder of the Rick Holland/Evan Dobbins Little Big Band and in addition to the Po Boys, is an active member of Orqestra Antonetti and the Gap Mangione Big Band.

| back to the top |

Nick Finzer
Trombone
Personal Website: http://www.nickfinzermusic.com/

 Nick Finzer is an emerging young trombonist on the 21st century jazz scene. Nick will start a two year Master's Degree program at The Juilliard School in the fall of 2010, and will be relocating to New York City in August. A class of 2009 graduate of the Jazz and Contemporary Media department of the Eastman School of Music, and Rochester NY native, Nick has been performing around Rochester and leading his own groups since age 16. To date, Nick has performed with a number of nationally recognized jazz artists including the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Benny Golson, Wycliffe Gordon, Kurt Elling, Rich Perry, and Bob Sneider, to name a few. Around Rochester, Nick can be seen with the Gap Mangione Big Band, the Dave Rivello Ensemble, the Rick Holland Evan Dobbins Little Big Band, the New Energy Jazz Orchestra, Orquesta Antonetti, the Po'Boys Brass Band, and leading several of his own groups.

During his time at Eastman, Nick worked closely with The Commission Project (a Rochester, NY non-profit whose mission is to commission pieces for school ensembles of various levels) who chose Nick to participate in a program that teamed up Nick with Wycliffe Gordon to compose and perform four pieces specifically for Nick's own groups. The first piece in the series (a three part suite entitled "The Nick of Time" scored for jazz sextet) was premiered on Nick's first solo recital as a student at Eastman. The second sextet piece, "Bebop da Boogaloo" was featured on a live radio broadcast on Rochester's jazz station Jazz 90.1 FM. Nick had the pleasure of premiering the third piece (the first for full jazz ensemble) with his alma mater the Hilton High School jazz ensemble with Gordon in attendance, and additionally with the Fairport High School jazz ensemble. The fourth piece in the series features a duet for Nick and Wycliffe accompanied by full jazz ensemble and was premiered in the spring of 2009 with the Webster Schroeder Jazz Ensemble.

Nick is devoted to the pursuit of advancing and modernizing jazz in the 21st century, by fusing more contemporary styles with traditional ones, which can be seen in his wide range of musical output. Having thus far establishing a strong foothold in the Rochester area, Nick enjoys his constantly evolving role in both playing and teaching, and looks forward to pursuing his love of music.

| back to the top |

Mike Frederick
Guitar
Personal Website: http://www.myspace.com/mikefrederickguitar

  Michael Frederick began playing guitar at the age of twelve, taking private lessons for six months and then exploring the guitar on his own through high school. By the time he graduated, Mike had won several awards at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and was the guitarist in the 2000 Washington All-State Jazz Ensemble. Mike earned his B.A. in guitar performance from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, studying jazz improvisation with trumpeter Brian Ploeger, saxophonists Geoff Bradfield and Dave Hagelganz, and pianist Brent Edstrom. Performing with the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble and as an accompanist for the chamber choir afforded opportunities for travel including tours of Italy, Hawaii, and several regional tours of the West. During this time, he also studied classical guitar with Dr. Paul Grove, earning the Young Artist award in the guitar division at Musicfest Northwest 2004.

 After college, Mike worked in showbands and jazz trios on several Carnival cruise ships. During the 05-06 and ‘06-07 school years Mike taught guitar and coached jazz small groups at Whitworth University and Gonzaga University, taught guitar classes in high schools, played for theater productions, and freelanced around the Northwest with his trio, Localized Tenderness, and several other jazz and rock projects. Mike has performed with such artists as Jimmy Heath, Dave Weckl, John Stowell, Nicholas Payton, Steve Turre, Nnenna Freelon, and others. He has also recorded for Hal Leonard Publishing and Princess Cruises. In May 2008 Mike graduated with a master’s degree in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He currently maintains an active teaching and performing schedule.

| back to the top |

Erik Jacobs
Trombone

 Erik "Bigg E" Jacobs, Leader of the Po'Boys Brass Band, is enjoying a rising reputation in the music entertainment world both as a musician and entrepreneur. He is currently finishing a degree both in trombone performance and music education at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Before that he was a freelance musician in Florida, playing with the Sarasota Opera Orchestra, the Southwest Symphony Orchestra, and several musical theater tours in addition to his work both as a clinician and private music teacher.

While stationed with the Marine Band New Orleans, Erik developed his love for the culture, people and music of the Crescent City; a love that has guided his musical career ever since.

In addition to his work with the Po'Boys Brass Band, Erik has toured with the world famous Eastman Wind Ensemble, performed with the Eastman Philharmonia for the grand re-opening of Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He has performed under the baton of Neil Veron, Erich Kunzel, Jeff Tyzik, Joseph Flummerfelt, and Donald Hunsberger, and is the solo trombonist with his traditional New Orleans jazz band- The Crescent City Connection. With Orquestra de Antonetti, Erik has performed with several latin music stars, including Lalo Rodriguez, Johnny Rivera, and Grammy Award winning Salsa star Michael Stuart.

Erik is also very active as a clinician and composer/arranger. He has given master classes and lectures for Ithaca College, Penn State, the Eastman School of Music as well as Eastman's Institute for Music Leadership, among others.

When not performing, teaching, managing, booking, writing or arranging, Erik enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter and two basset hounds at their home in West Irondequoit, NY.

| back to the top |

T.J. Ricer
Sousaphone
Personal Website: http://tjricer.com/

 Dr. Thomas J. Ricer holds a Bachelor of Music from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, a Master of Music from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He has performed with the Cincinnati, Honolulu, Syracuse, Knoxville, Lima, and Middletown Symphony Orchestras, as well as Keith Brion's New Sousa Band and the Knoxville Wind Symphony. He is currently the principal tubist in the Springfield Symphony and is a former principal of the Lebanon Symphony Orchestra. Ricer plays modern jazz as the tubist for the Dave Rivello Ensemble and funk as a founding member of the Po'Boys Brass Band. In addition to his work as a tubist, Ricer has played bass trombone in the Blue Wisp, Streamliners, and Jack Carr Big Bands and as a soloist with the Eastman Wind Ensemble. He is a regularly contributing writer for the International Tuba and Euphonium Association's Journal. When not playing low brass, Ricer is the lead singer and bass player for "Cash Back" a tribute to the Man in Black, has completed a marathon, and holds a certification as a group aerobics instructor. Ricer's primary instructors include Mike Thornton, Sande MacMorran, and Don Harry.

| back to the top |

Chris Teal
Drums
Personal Website: http://www.christeal.com/

  Chris Teal is a drummer & percussionist currently residing in Rochester, New York. He performs with DubbleStuff, the Po'Boys Brass Band, and the Chris Teal Grouping as well as freelancing with other local artists and theater companies. Chris is a member of the groups Localized Tenderness, Fugu Apprentice, the Danny Songhurst Band, Jigsaw Republic, and Don Goodwin and Freefire. Originally from Spokane, Washington, Chris graduated with a BA in Jazz Performance from Whitworth College in 2005, and his MM in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music in 2009.

  He has recorded and performed with notable artists such as the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Trio East, The Eastman Jazz Orchestra, the Eastman New Jazz Orchestra, Dayna Stephens, James Pants, Dan Balmer, the Alvin Ailey Dance Company and the World's Oldest Living Sax Section. Other cross-country endeavors include playing for Carnival Cruise Lines beginning in 2003.

| back to the top |

Chris Van Hof
Trombone
Personal Website: http://www.vanhofmusic.com/

 Chris Van Hof is a low brass specialist who leads a varied and multi-faceted career in the arts. He is an ardent advocate for arts education, and is active as a teacher. He is the adjunct Instructor of Low Brass at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY where he also leads the Low Brass Choir and teaches music education methods classes. He has maintained a private teaching studio since 2002. He is also the weekday afternoon host of Rochester's WXXI Classical 91.5-FM, the top-rated per-capita classical radio station in the country.

 He has recorded with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, performed in Jazz at Lincoln Center's Allen Room, was a finalist in the 2003 International Trombone Association Larry Wiehe solo competition in Helsinki, Finland. Chris has played jazz with Slide Hampton, Stefon Harris, and Frank Sinatra, Jr. He has played classical with the Rochester Philharmonic, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, and the Eastman Trombone Choir.

  His arrangements have been performed by the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, The Eastman and Western Michigan University Trombone Choirs, and the Nazareth College Concert Band. Chris also supplies a number of compositions and arrangements for the Po'Boys. He publishes and distributes his compositions and custom arrangements at www.vanhofmusic.com. Chris earned a Master's Degree cum laude in trombone performance at the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor's Degree summa cum laude in trombone performance and music education from Western Michigan University. His primary teachers are Steve Wolfinbarger and Mark Kellogg (trombone), and Scott Cowan (jazz and arranging). He lives, runs, and cooks mean some vegan food in Rochester, NY with his wife Andrea, and their dog Elsa and black cat Guinness.

| back to the top |