Upcoming Gigs

Saturday - 02/13/2010

Deja Vu Martini Lounge

Deja Vu Martini Lounge

Appleton, WI

 

Steve Cooper

Tom Theabo - Keys

Jerry Sparkman - Bass

Jeff Robely - Drums

Saturday - 08/21/2010

Private Event

 

Steve Cooper

Mark Martin - Keys

Andy Mertens - Bass

Mike Underwood - Drums

Saturday - 10/09/2010

Private Event

 

Steve Cooper?

Mark Martin? - Keys

Andy Mertens - Bass

Mike Underwood? - Drums

Past Residencies

9/22/2005 - 1/25/2007

Thursdays

Fusion

527 W. College

Appleton, WI

920.882.7432

9/27/2005 - 1/31/2006

Tuesdays

The Awlo Show

Washington Mall

Green Bay, WI

920.???.????

10/5/2004 - 5/31/2005

Tuesdays

Big Band Reunion

Frank's Pizza Palace

815 West College Ave.

Appleton, WI 54914

920.734.9131

2/4/2004 - 10/20/2004

Wednesdays

Ravens Lounge

215 E. College Ave.

Appleton, WI 54911

920.832.8230

3/5/2003 - 4/9/2003

Wednesdays

Fusion

23 S. Main St.

Fond du Lac, WI 54935

920.907.8003

Ross Catterton is a reed player from Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton. He currently lives in a small A-frame home, while his diet consists of chick peas and prime rib. His unique and varying musical ideas, firmly but subtly cohere to a wide palette of multi-faceted rhythmical conceptions, playfully interacting with the ensemble, yet producing a new tonal voice neither old nor new, but a bridge between the two, much like the monthly zodiacal cusps. Justification in such cosmopolitan ideology portrays the sophistication of the phrase "how many licks does it take to get to the center?" When Ross is asked the question, "How did you get so good?!," he casually replies, "Man, I don't know what happens to me." And if it happens that by chance, you and Ross are to cross paths, don't call him "Ross The Boss," - he really hates those names...and you if you call him that. Fo Sho, he hates those names FO SHO! Lock his ass up!

Stephen Cooper began the study of the saxophone in 1987 at the age of 12. After two years of formal study, he began studying jazz after attending the University of Wisconsin Green Bay summer jazz camp. While still in high school, he delved into the works of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Michael Brecker. During his senior year of high school (1994), Stephen performed with the Fond du Lac Goodrich High School marching band for a Green bay Packers half time show, was a featured soloist with the school's concert band during its successful Mexico tour, and also held the position of lead alto in the 1994 Wisconsin State Honors Jazz Band, one of only two seats for the entire state. Upon high school graduation and prior to entering college, Stephen held the lead alto chair for the UWGB Jazz 1 ensemble for its tour of Europe, which included performances at the world famous Monteaux Jazz Fest in Montreaux, Switzerland and the North Sea Jazz Fest in Den Haag, Netherlands.
The fall of 1994 began Stephen's attendance to the University of Wisconsin Green Bay towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Studies. While there, he had the opportunity to perform along with many jazz greats, including Joshua Redman, David Leibman, Nelson Rangell, and Bryan Lynch.

It was during this time that Stephen's professional career really began to pick up as well. He began performing with The Groove Hogs at the age of 17, a blues based horn band that he still performs with today. With them, he has performed at countless blues festivals in the U.S. and Canada, including the London, Ontario Bluesfest and the Windsor, Ontario Bluesfest, where they opened for guitar legend Buddy Guy on consecutive nights, for crowds of 8,500 and 13,700 people respectively.
It was during this time that Stephen began to sing lead vocals professionally. Taking what he had learned from his training on the saxophone, he began singing songs by R&B greats such as Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway, and Stevie Wonder. Progressing with time, Stephen has recently begun singing songs in the vocal style of King Pleasure.

Over the years, he has had the opportunity to also open for Kool and The Gang, Three Dog Night, The Beach Boys, Hootie and The Blowfish, Canned Heat, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bob Newhart, Walter Trout, Little Milton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mountain, Common, Steppenwolf, Rod Piazza, Debra Coleman, Eddie King, Tabenoi, Janiva Magness, Survivor, America, Fountains of Wayne, Douglas Spotted Eagle, Blair and Herman's Hermits.

He has had the chance to play or sit in with: Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Brian Lee, Larry McCray, John Lee Hooker Jr., Unity, Hot Sauce, Big Poppa Boogie, Big Mouth, Soul System, Aja, Rockin' Jimmy and the Blues Weasels, East Side Earl and The West Side Horns, Clambake, The Presidents, Unified Soul, The Sweet Baby Rays and the Groove Merchants among others.

2008 has already seen much success for Stephen, as he has taken on a larger role of booking The Jazz Orgy, along with being nominated for a WAMI award for the Reeds/Brass category. As of August 3rd, he has just recently attended the exclusive Saxophone Masterclass with David Liebman in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He continues to press forward, writing and performing throughout the United States.

Ken Skitch, Trombone/Bass Guitar (Sometimes)/Vocals, was born and raised a "canuck" (FYI...that's American for he's Canadian) in Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada. Ken graduated from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Music in composition and Trombone performance. While in Canada, he played with the Kingston symphony, recorded for the CBC on trombone and played bass guitar with The Revolving Parts band in Toronto.

Ken moved to the U.S. in 1987 (long story-ask him on a break) and began playing bass with the No Outlet Band, Nearvana, Former Members band and anyone else who needed a bass player for the night (or anyone else who would have him for that matter!). He has been a member of Bacchus Lotus, Russ Allen and Swingtown, Clambake and the Mother Shuckin' Horns, Big Band Reunion and has performed with various groups including the Temptations. He is currently in the band Fat Brass Inc. In addition to his many playing obligations, Ken has written, recorded and produced his own Jazz CD entitled "Springtime In The Valley". Ken is also a sought after session player and has many recording credits to his name.

When not playing in Fat Brass or any of the other dozen bands he is in, Ken can be found managing the instrument repair department for Heid Music. Ken has been repairing instruments since 1982, and has been heard to say, while on stage with Fat Brass, "I can fix that".

Brian's biography will be posted soon ...

Larry Darling has been actively touring throughout the United States giving concerts and music clinics at hundreds of colleges and universities. This includes appearances at the Monterrey, Telluride, Newport, Reno, Galveston, Chicago and Milwaukee's Summerfest Jazz Festivals. He is a former member of the Fox Valley's own MATRIX Jazz group based out of Appleton, WI. His resume also includes a seemingly endless list of concert sound engineering jobs for musicians like Gerry Mulligan, Bobby McFerrin, Dizzy Gillespie, Zoot Sims, The Hi-Lows, Diane Schurr, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby Shew, Carl Fontanna, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Jon Hendriks, John Faddis, John Scofield, Tim Hagans, and more.

Currently, Larry Darling is Director of Recording at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Supervising a recording crew of 20 student engineers and recording assistants, Mr. Darling oversees the recording and archiving of more than 250 ensemble, student, and faculty music recitals and concerts each academic year.

Rick Maki's biography will be posted soon ...

Flat out, this chick has a set of pipes. Her vocals bring forth images of smoky bars with drunk yet good-looking admirers cheering on from the back of the room at the close of every phrasing... which, by some strange coincidence, is exactly the place where you can see her next.

Heavily into older standards, Erin can change at will and at whim midstream to either the classic rendition of a song to something more modern and forceful. Federal officials have banned her from performing in the state of California, as her raspy beltings consistently rate a 4.2 on the Richter scale.