The Jazz Police

THE JAZZ POLICE has received numerous awards including Best Acoustic Jazz Group and Best Jazz Concert from Earshot Jazz Magazine, and Best Jazz Recording from the Northwest Area Music Association. The four Jazz Police compact discs have been hailed by local and national reviews seen in JazzTimes magazine and JazzIz magazine as well as local publications and online reviewers. The consensus opinion lauds the originality of their music, the tight and powerful ensemble playing and the high quality of the many soloists in the group.

THE MUSIC
The band's repertoire consists almost exclusively of original compositions written for the group. Composers include band members Daniel Barry, Greg Metcalf, Jim Cutler, Chris Monroe, Greg Fulton, Jim DeJoie, James Rasmussen and Evan Beuhler, as well as northwest composers including David Jones, Al Farlow, Jeff Ogle, Doug Rasmussen, and Jeff Sizer. Music styles cover a very broad range, including Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz, straight-head and mainstream jazz, blues, fusion, rock, funk, and even classical opera. Whatever the style, the energy, precision and musicianship shines through to the listener.

THE MUSICIANS
All 18 members are professional level musicians dedicated to refining their skills as artists, contributing to the local music scene and enjoying the performance and recording of music. Members have studied music at Cornish School of Fine Arts, Berklee School of Music, Central Washington University, University of California Santa Barbara, Queens College NY, University of Northern Colorado and the University of Washington. Many are full time musicians and music educators while others have such varied daytime occupations as software developer, music publisher, record store proprietor and architect. Prior to the Jazz Police, members performed with Stan Kenton Orchestra, Toshiko Akioshi, The Four Tops, Cedar Walton, Buddy DeFranco, Diane Schuur, Dizzy Gillespie, Urbie Green, Dee Daniels, Carl Fontana, The Temptations, Carla Bley, Ron McCroby, Bill Holman, Carl Fontana, Jiggs Wigham, Bernadette Peters, Bobby Shew, Linda Ronstadt, Buddy Rich, Diva, Joe Williams, Dave Brubeck and James Brown.

BAND MEMBERS
Director: James Rasmussen
Saxophones: Greg Metcalf, Warren Pugh, Jim Cutler, Cynthia Mullis, Jim DeJoie
Trumpets: Mike Mines, Dennis Haldane, Alan Keith, Daniel Barry
Trombones: Dan Haeck, Steve Kirk, Pat Moran, Dave Bentley
Vibraphone: Evan Beuhler
Guitar: Greg Fulton
Bass: David Pascal
Drums: Chris Monroe

RECORDINGS
Original compositions and arrangements by band members are featured on all four of the Jazz Police compact discs. Their new CD, The Music Of Daniel Barry on the Origin label is receiving rave reviews and is available at local record stores. The second and third CDs, Freedom of Music and Butterfly are also available at local jazz record outlets including Bud's Jazz Records and online at Marinamusic.com. Their first self titled CD on BBC Prestige Records received the Northwest Area Music Association (NAMA) Best Jazz Recording award (it is unfortunately is no longer in print). The group is currently preparing to record their fifth CD later this year.

PERFORMANCES
The group’s longstanding second Sunday of the month performance at Tula’s in Seattle’s Belltown has become a tradition for area jazz fans. The Jazz Police are also active in festivals and club appearances throughout the northwest. Venues have included: Bumbershoot, The Bite of Seattle, the Columbia Basin Jazz Festival, Port Gardner Jazz Festival, Bellevue Jazz Festival, Gig Harbor Jazz Festival, Pike Place Market Festival, Northwest Jazz & Blues Festival and Frontier Jazz Festival, Tacoma Art Museum, Jazz Alley and other local clubs. While typically performing as featured artists, they also have backed up legendary musicians including: Eddie Daniels, Dave Weckl, Dee Daniels, and Ernie Andrews.

Please call 206-443-4221 for reservations. 

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