Jake Thomas

Jake ThomasHailing from Haiku, Jake Thomas is a New York based trumpet player, composer, and arranger. He has performed at landmark jazz venues including Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, The Django, and Blue Note Hawai’i. Thomas has shared the stage with musical luminaries including the Birdland Big Band, Delfeayo Marsalis, and Samara Joy.

Thomas has just finished his third year at SUNY Purchase, and as a student of trumpet legend Jon Faddis, he plays lead trumpet with both the Purchase Jazz Orchestra and the Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra.

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Colin John

Colin JohnBorn in Ohio to a British architect father and Italian artist mother, Colin spent his youth in Memphis, picking up guitar by accident:

“I was playing trumpet in the school band and I punctured my ear drum in a football game. So the Band director put me in the concert band playing double bass with a bow, and from there I progressed to electric bass in the jazz band at school and then switched to guitar.””Colin was also busy soaking up classic Chicago blues and Memphis soul during this time.

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Sheryl Renee

Sheryl ReneeThe dynamic versatility of Colorado’s Sheryl Renee comes from a literal lifetime in and around the entertainment business. An audience favorite, Sheryl moves effortlessly between music genres, artistic avenues, and her entrepreneurial pursuits. Her voice can be heard on hundreds of recordings and commercials. She gets great joy from nurturing and introducing extraordinary talent.

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Tom Stryker

Tom StrykerTom received his first harmonica at the age of 15 in San Francisco as a Christmas gift.  It was then he engaged former “Harmonica Rascal” Ray Tankersley to teach him to play.   

Tom played lead with the “Harmonica Express,” and the world famous “Johnny Puleo Harmonica Gang.”.  Tom then went on to perform around the world on his own, also performing with the Harmonica Aces on Holland America Cruises Lines to South America.  He is continues to perform as a soloist in Asia including China.  Tom also performs in the Reno area clubs/restaurants and at Jazz Festivals along with Jazz Bands and Symphonies worldwide.

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Paul January

Paul JanuaryPaul January got his first paying gig when he was 11 years old, playing piano for a children’s fashion show in Denver, Colorado. By 1972 he was attending music school, teaching piano and trumpet, and working every weekend, and when his former piano teacher said, “Let’s move to Vegas and play in the orchestras!” he was all in.

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