Each member of our band brings unique talents and experiences to the stage.
- Tenor Sax - Michael Carney
- Mike hails from Medway and is a software engineer at a large Metro-West company. Besides handling the tenor sax and doubling on flute at times, he is the band’s sound engineer, which is a fancy name for the person who gets to haul around the PA system and gets blamed for everything.
- Musical Influences: Lester Young, Cannonball Adderly, Paul Desmond, Miles Davis, Scott Hamilton, Michael Brecker
- Years Playing: 35
- Other Interests: Golf, my IPOD
- Best Gig/Worst Gig: Played with John Lee Hooker/No bad gigs
- Alto Sax - Don Iacovelli
- Don is from Milford and is a career musician, composer, arranger, and educator. He arranges most of the band’s tunes, and plays alto sax and clarinet.
Don graduated from the New England Conservatory and spent many years as a music teacher in local school districts.- Musical Influences: Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Jackie MacLean
- Year Playing: Since the Ice Age
- Other Interests: Painting, Folk Art
- Best Gig/Worst Gig: Played with Stan Kenton once/ No bad gigs!
- Favorite Drink: Martini
- Trumpet - Steve Katz
- Steve is from Holliston, where he has his own chiropractic office. Just to keep things interesting, Steve also provides chiropractic services to horses!
As the only trumpet in the band, Steve gets a good workout but always seems to have plenty of energy.- Musical Influences: Miles Davis, Roy Hargrove, Sade
- Years Playing: 40
- Other Interests: Leather work
- Best Gig/Worst Gig: Most gigs are good / Almost passing out during outside gig when it was about 100 degrees outside!
- Favorite Drink: Beer
- Piano - Bill McManus
- Bill McManus is from Belmont. He recently retired as Chair of the Music Education Department at the Boston University School of Music. Prior to his appointment at BU, He spent 37 years as a public school music educator, most recently as Director of Fine and Performing Arts for the Belmont Public Schools (1984-2001). As a professional musician he has played both saxophone and piano, and he is very active as a conductor, composer, and arranger.
- Musical influences: Bill Evans, Jackie McLean,
- Years playing: over 50
- Other interests: sailing, Italian, history, current events
- Favorite drink: vodka tonic
- Best Gig/worst gig: Conducting the Concord Band/Playing in a National Guard Band
- Bari Sax - Gail Ferr
- Originally from Toronto, Gail now resides in Attleboro. She has been playing sax since she was 13 and also plays a little piano. Someday, she hopes to get a regular-sized piano. Don’t mess with her because not only do you have to be pretty strong to haul around the giant baritone sax, but Gail was a police officer in Toronto.
- Musical Influences: Bob & Doug Mackenzie
- Years Playing: This information remains classified by the Canadian government.
- Other Interests: Wheaton Terriers, Hockey
- Best Gig/Worst Gig: Playing atop a floating stage in an Olympic-sized pool as part of a 22-piece band / I only remember the good ones!
- Favorite Drink: Hockey (No Gail, drink, not rink!) …make that Pinot Noir
- Bass - Dylan Maguire
- Dylan joined us a few months ago and has made a tremendous contribution to our sound.
- Drums - Brent Ferguson
- Brent is the K-8 Music Coordinator for the Northborough Public School System. His teaching duties include directing the 7th and 8th grade Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles I/ II. Mr. Ferguson graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts/Lowell College of Music in 1982 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, and a Masters of Performance/Conducting in 1984 with a graduate assistantship in conducting. While at the University of Massachusetts/Lowell, he studied percussion with Fred Buda and conducting with Willis Traphagen.
Brent remains very active professionally. He is an active freelance musician throughout New England. He has performed with Andrea Bocelli, Sandy Duncan’s traveling revue, the Assabet Valley Mastersingers, and the Reagle Players. As a professional conductor, Mr. Ferguson has directed the Quabbin Valley Music Educator’s Association Concert Band, the New Hampshire All-State Junior High Concert Band, and most recently was named Music Director and Conductor of the Reagle Players in Waltham, MA.
As a member of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, he has served as an adjudicator/clinician in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. He also co-founded the Massachusetts Central District Junior High Jazz Ensemble with Mr. Daquil. - Vocals - Sue Dewsnap
- Sue is a native of Franklin and works in financial services. As a youngster, she was influenced musically by her dad (Don) and started playing the clarinet. Unfortunately, Sue’s clarinet playing was just horrid and she was asked to leave the band for the sake of all humanity.
After some counseling, she began singing and dancing and continues to wow the crowds with her vocals, especially when she remembers to bring her microphone cable. We haven’t seen much dancing come to think of it. (…and don’t worry, she is not allowed near any of the actual instruments!)- Musical Influences: Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Diana Krall
- Year Singing: As long as I can remember…
- Other Interests: Yoga, Chocolate
- Best Gig/Worst Gig: I love them all!
- Favorite Drink: Pomegranate Martini