Who's Who

SUZI STERN Based in Austin, Texas, jazz vocalist Suzi Stern performs and records throughout the USA, Canada, and Europe. She studied classical voice in N.Y. and later in Austin at the University of Texas. Her studies with vocal wizard Bobby McFerrin were, without question, one of her most inspired learning experiences.

Through her own inventive lyrics and her selection of jazz classics not typically performed by singers, Suzi expresses a relevant, deeply personal perception of life as a woman at the beginning of this new century. A published poet as well as an accomplished lyricist, Suzi has written words to numerous contemporary and classic jazz compositions such as Denny Zeitlin's "Quiet Now" and Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus" which have been recorded by artists worldwide. From collaborations with famed bassist David Friesen, her lyrics to several of his tunes appear in Friesen's transcription book "Years Through Time," a Hal Leonard publication, and most recently her words set to Bill Evans tunes, have been published in another Hal Leonard compilation of Evans compositions.

Stern worked in the Portland/Seattle area with numerous members of the music community including Denny Zeitlin, Joe Henderson, David Friesen, Jerry Hahn, Graham Lear, Leroy Vinegar, Jesseca Williams, Shiela Jordan, Nancy King, Randy Porter, John Stowell, Allen Jones, Mal Waldron, and others. In New York she collaborated with Joshua Redman, Russell Ferrante, Tonino Horta, Deduka de Fonseka, Siro Baptista, and Nilson Matta. In Texas, she played and recorded with Mitch Watkins, Gene Ramey, Bill Ginn, Paul Ostermayer, Eric Avinger, Alex Coke, John Mills, Doug Hall, and the late A.D. Mannion.

Stern is also a respected jazz educator. She was on the faculty of Marylherst College in Oregon and presently teaches jazz clinics at universities in the U.S. and Europe.

BILL WATROUS Grammy nominee Jazz Trombonist Bill Watrous has carved out an impressive career for himself, performing with jazz greats including Woody Herman, Roy Eldridge, and Count Basie. He has been voted the “Number One Jazz Trombonist” in Downbeat Magazine’s readers’ poll seven years in a row and has won the magazines Critics Award twice. Bill Watrous is considered to be one of the greatest trombone virtuosos of all time. His talent is truly staggering.

In addition to an active schedule of performances at colleges and high schools across the country, Bill Watrous is one of the most “in demand” Los Angeles studio musicians and has recorded nineteen solo albums. His album, “The Tiger of San Pedro (released on Columbia Records) was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Performance by a Large Jazz Ensemble. He has also been a guest soloist on countless albums by other prominent jazz musicians throughout his career such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Freddie Hubbard, Auturo Sandoval, Michel Legrand, and others too numerous to mention. In addition, one of Bill’s projects included his big band playing with the very successful jazz-rock group Chicago on their album “Night and Day”.

Bill Watrous is today considered to be a master craftsman. He has influenced an entire generation of trombone players. He is one of the very few musicians that are admired by both the jazz and the classical music communities. He continues to make strides as a trombonist and continues to amaze audiences. He recently received a four-minute standing ovation at the Lionel Hampton Jazz festival. Watrous was also the featured soloist with the Glendale Symphony with special guest Tony Bennett.

Bill currently resides with his wife Mary Ann and their son Jason in the Los Angeles area. He is doing exactly what he loves and only wants to do more. His career goals are right on track. Bill has indicated that he would like to do more extensive traveling and participate in more festivals as a soloist or with his Big Band.

RANDY BRECKER has been shaping the sound of Jazz, R&B, and Rock for more than three decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Chaka Khan, George Benson and Parliament-Funkadelics to Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, David Sanborn, Horace Silver, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa.

Randy Brecker's history is as varied as it is distinguished. Some of his first gigs were with Clark Terry's Big Band, the Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and the Duke Pearson Big Band, and Blood, Sweat and Tears. He then performed with Horace Silver, and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers before teaming up with brother Michael and others to form the seminal fusion group Dreams. After recording the now classic "In Pursuit of the 27th Man" (Blue Note) with Horace Silver, Randy joined Larry Coryell and released “The 11th House."

In 1975 he and brother Michael formed the Brecker Brothers, who were to become a band of immeasurable influence and impact. Hailed by pop and jazz critics alike, their six albums, including the still popular "Heavy Metal Be-Bop," garnered seven Grammy nominations between 1975 and 1981.

Randy continued his varied performances over the next few years with artists such as Frank Zappa, Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorius, Joe Henderson and Stanley Clarke. In 1992, exactly ten years after they disbanded, Randy and Michael joined forces again in a much-heralded reunion featuring the triple-Grammy nominated GRP recording, "The Return of the Brecker Brothers."

Randy won his first Grammy as a soloist in 1998 for “Into the Sun’ for "Best Contemporary Jazz Performance."

In 2007, the album “Some Skunk Funk” received the Grammy award for “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album” which featured Randy Brecker with Michael Brecker, Jim Beard, Will Lee, Peter Erskine, Marcio Doctor & Vince Mendoza conducting The WDR Big Band.

Randy Brecker continues to influence and inspire young musicians, and thoughout the years, has been in constant demand as a Yamaha Clinician, performing at colleges and universities the world over.