MEET THE BAND & BACKGROUNDER

BIG BAND MUSIC

Listing of band members

The Big Bands had their greatest years from 1935 through 1946.

This was more than “wartime music”; it was music everyone liked, danced to, listened to on the radio and looked forward to seeing in person whenever the big bands came through the larger cities and dance halls.
It was an era that offered a marvelous musical bazaar of bands, names, places and memories. It was a time to go dancing. Radio networks began nightly remote LIVE broadcasts from hotels, huge dance halls and venues you could only imagine in your mind.
The biggest and most successful bands established their own style, composed their own instantly recognizable theme song, and featured prominent musicians and vocalists that became their “brand” as we would call it today.
Global war conflicts helped create the thirst for the music and memories but also led to the significant demise of large touring bands. Many of the musicians and band leaders became involved in military requirements leaving vacancies in every section of the bands.  Singers became band leaders, recordings and television brought more big band music into homes and theaters. The costs associated with traveling became prohibitive.
Very few of the original bands exist today but the MUSIC LIVES ON through regional Big Bands playing all the original Big Band favorites while including the music of contemporary vocalists, Broadway and movie music, and new genres regularly emerging.

MEET THE BAND

Our music appeals to wider audiences and diverse age groups. Big Bands are back and represent one of the fastest growing LIVE elements of professional performance on the music scene.

The professional musicians and vocalists featured in The Northcoast Big Band come from a lifetime of professional experience performing all types of music in all kinds or bands and settings. Their dedication to their musical artistry and stage presence sets them apart from all the other musicians.
Each band member has been carefully selected and invited to join the Northcoast Big Band,…which prides itself on recruiting “the best of the best” talent available. Their individual gifts and talents in performing music of a wide variety comes from decades of training and experience.
Our band is considered a “family of like-minded music makers” that loves music and performing it in professional venues for appreciative audiences throughout Northeast Ohio.

THE BIG BANDS ARE THE GREAT BANDS, Enjoy this experience with The Northcoast Big Band.

Saxophone Section

Mike Sherwood

Saxophone
Section Leader
John Smith - Saxophone

John Smith

Saxophone
Brad Vandrasik - Saxophone

Brad Vandrasik

Saxophone
Logan Trudgen - Saxaphone

Logan Trudgen

Saxophone

Joe Rongone

Saxophone

Trombone Section

Jim Klann - Trombone

Jim Klann

Trombone
Section Leader

Doug Rohn

Trombone
John Simna - Trombone

John Simna

Trombone

Kyle Crowley

Trombone

Trumpet Section

Eric Holler - Trumpet

Eric Holler

Trumpet
Section Leader

Aaron Moen

Trumpet
Deb Csikos-Vandrasik - Trumpet

Deb Csikos-Vandrasik

Trumpet

Ryan Harris

Trumpet

Rhythm Section

KD DRUM

Karl Dustman

Drums, Vibes, Percussion
Ed Wiles - Keyboards

Ed Wiles

Piano – Keyboard
Lee Zacharias - Bass, Music Artistic Director

Lee Zacharias

Bass

Vocalists

Barbara Rosen - Vocalist

Barbara Rosene

Vocalist
Jay Nye - Vocalist

Jay Nye

Vocalist

Operations Team

Mike Sherwood - Saxophone

Mike Sherwood

 Artistic Director

Karl Dustman

Band Manager/Producer/Marketing
BAND PHOTOGRAPHER & SOCIAL MEDIA, Barbara Wilson-Dustman
Announcer & Commentator
John R. Smith