John and Frank Cocuzzi TOGETHER by Frank and John Cocuzzi

Over the past ten years, John has made several festival appearances, including the Atlanta Jazz Party, the San Diego Jazz Party, the West Texas Jazz Party, Dixieland Monterey, the New Jersey Jazz Society, as well as festivals throughout Holland and Belgium.

John has performed and recorded with such notable musicians as Bucky and John Pizzarelli, Russell Malone, Howard Alden, Warren and Allan Vache, Ken Peplowski, Chuck Hedges, Bob Wilbur, Ed Polcer, Snooky Young, Milt Hinton, Joe Ascione, Louis Bellson, Mark Shane, Johnny Varro, Dick Hyman, and other world-class musicians.

FRANK COCUZZI - drums, percussion, vocals

Frank began his musical career at the age of eight, taking group piano lessons in the Rochester, NY public schools. He soon switched to drums and played his first professional gig at age thirteen. Frank went on to earn degrees in music education and performance at the Eastman School of Music. While at Eastman, he performed at Carnegie Hall with the Eastman Wind Ensemble and toured Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S.S.R. as a percussionist with the Eastman Philharmonic Orchestra.

After graduation from college, Frank entered the United States Marine Band ("The President’s Own") in Washington, D.C., and for the next eight years played drums in the dinner orchestra and dance combos at the White House for presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He also toured the United States with the Marine Concert Band as timpanist and marimba soloist. While serving in the Marine Band, Frank earned a Masters Degree in Music Education from the Catholic University of America. After leaving the band, he began a teaching career in the Fairfax County, Virginia public schools.

Frank has been playing drums, singing, and teaching in the Washington, D.C. metro area since 1962. He has worked with some of the area’s finest musicians, including his son, pianist and vibraphonist John Cocuzzi. He has also appeared with many world-class musicians, including cornetist Ed Polcer and clarinetist Allan Vache. Since 2003, Frank has been privileged to play drums at the Crystal City Jazz Celebration, which is held in Arlington, Virginia each year during the last weekend of August.

STEVE WOLF - bassist

Steve has been a fixture on the Washington music scene since the late 60's. During that time, he has performed throughout the United States and Europe with such DC area notables as Danny Gatton, Tom Principato, The Nighthawks, Catfish Hodge, Bob Margolin, Ron Holloway, and a diverse group of national artists ranging from Chuck Berry, The Coasters, and Bo Diddly to Doctor John, Brian Auger and sax man Clarence Clemmons. His well-respected work in the blues arena has led him to back Chicago blues legends Sunnyland Slim, Pine Top Perkins, Charlie Musselwhite, and Guitar Junior, among others. Steve has also garnered an impressive list of recording credits as both a performer and producer. For the last 15 years, Steve has led the popular swing/jazz ensemble Swing Speak.

BRUCE SWAIM - tenor sax, flute

Bruce attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as a performance major in saxophone. He has also studied with acclaimed saxophonist James Houlik. A full-time professional musician since the late '70s, his performance credits include Danny Gatton, Keeter Betts, Carl Allen, Rosemary Clooney, Martha Reeves, Millie Jackson, and The Spinners, among others. Active in studio work, including numerous film and TV soundtracks, jingles, and recording projects, Bruce has performed at many venues around the United States and Canada, and in the Washington, DC area, including Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, the Corcoran, and Constitution Hall. He has been teaching saxophone in Maryland and Virginia for 15 years and is currently involved in a saxophone quartet that provides educational school programs and workshops.

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