Jeff Brooks, Clarinet, Jazz Bio
Jeffrey Brooks, clarinetist, performed live with the legendary jazz clarinetist Eddie Daniels on the main stage during the 2007 Jazz in the Valley Festival. Jeff has also performed with Bill Frissel at the Ear Shot Jazz Festival, Jon Pizzarelli, Doc Severinson, the Brubreck Brothers, Karyn Allison, Dick Hyman, Mark O’Conner, Lenny Price, and Abe Most. Jeff formed the Jeff Brooks Quartet in 2007, which performs throughout the northwest at a variety of venues and festivals. Jeff released his debut album, “One Take”, with the Jeff Brooks Quartet, which includes 6 Jeff Brooks originals, 2 Jeff Brooks cross-over arrangements, and a Dave Metzger tune, on July 26, 2008 at his quartet’s 9:30 pm Jazz in the Valley Festival performance. Visit CLARINETMONSTER.COM for more information on Jeff, the album, and how to purchase the album, or email Jeff at clarinetmonster@gmail.com.
Jeffrey Brooks, Clarinet, Classical Bio
Jeffrey Brooks (a.k.a. clarinetmonster) has been Principal Clarinetists of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra since 2000 and has performed as soloist with the Everett, Yakima, Walla Walla, and Wenatchee Symphony Orchestras, and as substitute clarinetist for Seattle Symphony, Tacoma Symphony, Tacoma Opera, and Ranier Symphony. Some of the artists with whom Jeff has worked include: Eddie Daniels, Jon Pizzarelli, Karyn Allison, the Brubeck Brothers, Allen Vizzutti, Doc Severinsen, Dick Hyman, Mark O’Conner, Marvin Hamlisch, Abe Most, and Lenny Price. In March of 2008, Jeff gave the world premiere performance of the Weiss Clarinet Concerto with the Octava Chamber Orchestra after only three days advanced notice, due to the regular soloist’s illness. A video of this exciting performance can be found on myspacetv.com. Jeff holds a BA from Central Washington University and his teachers include Eddie Daniels and Laura DeLuca. Jeff is the adjunct clarinet lecturer at CWU in Ellensburg, WA and lives in Olympia, WA, with his wife and two cats. In addition to his orchestral and freelancing work, Jeff is a recitalist, and jazz performer/composer. Jeff recorded his first jazz album, “One Take” in March of 2008, which was released on July 26, 2008 at the Jazz in the Valley Festival in Ellensburg, WA and is available for purchase online at www.clarinetmonster.com. In the fall of 2008, Jeff will be attending FSU in Tallahassee where he will be a teaching assistant for Dr. Frank Kowalsky. Jeffrey Brooks can be contacted at clarinetmonster@gmail.com, can be found on myspacetv.com, facebook.com, and www.clarinetmonster.com.
Jeff Brooks Quartet Bios 2008
Jeff Brooks Quartet Bios 2008
Dan Taylor, Keys
Dan Taylor was born in Bremerton, Washington and now lives and teaches in Seattle. He received his bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University in 2006 and has before and since performed with some of the best young talent in the state. In 2004 he co-founded the Galileo Quartet with Lenny Price and currently performs with his live drum and bass band, Manazma Sheen. Dan has performed in Thailand, Europe, and the Bahamas, as well as numerous festivals in the U.S. including the I.A.J.E national conference in Long Beach, California and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. Now at 25, Dan teaches children and adults of all ages for Prosser Piano in Tukwila and looks forward to getting married and completing his masters of piano performance starting in the fall of 2008.
Tom Pell, Bass
Tom Pell is a versatile musician, composer, and producer who has played with artists such as: John Pizzarelli, Diana Krall, Kurt Elling, David Sanborn, George Probert, Craig Hoyer, and many more. He has toured nationally with the Continental Singers and has received 1st prize numerous times as a part of various jazz ensembles at the Lionel Hampton and Reno Jazz Festivals. Presently, Tom is finishing his degree in audio and video production at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, where he has been featured on the Evergreen CD Project. Tom is a founding member of Fungus Riot and the Jeff Brooks Quartet both of which have an album that will be available in June 2008.
Tony Paustian, Bass
Tony first picked up a bass at age fourteen to play in the school jazz band at the advice of his father and never looked back. He went on to play bass at Central Washington University and Pacific Lutheran University. He has studied with Kristin Korb, Clipper Anderson, John Hamar, among many others and now loves to teach any and all students who take lessons with him. Tony has performed as a guest artist at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Currently, as of 2008, Tony is performing with Manazma Sheen, an electronic drum and bass band out of Seattle, WA and can be seen performing in many venues in Seattle with a wide array of ensembles. He is also composing and arranging jazz for many different genres with a focus on young ensembles. Tony can be reached via email at tp5string@gmail.com.
Davy Nefos, Drums
"Defos" aka Davy Nefos, enjoys long walks in the park, adventure films
and playing music with his friends. Defos has been crafting beats for
18 years, and in that time has earned a bachelor's degree in
percussion performance from Central Washington University, and now
plays professionally in the Seattle area. His current project is
leading the band Manazma Sheen, which is focuses its energy on the
genre of jungle/drum 'n' bass, a style of electronic techno music.
The Jeff Brooks Quartet Bio
In 2007, Jeffrey Brooks, clarinetist, formed the Jeff Brooks Quartet, which actually consists of five musicians including clarinets, piano, drums, and two simultaneous bass players. This enables the band to create music that will take you to new places, while playing different jazz styles—including: band member originals, modern, classical cross-over, bebop, and depression era jazz—the Quartet offers a riveting and interactive audience friendly show. The Jeff Brooks Quartet performs throughout the northwest at a variety of venues and festivals, and released their debut album, “One Take”, with the Jeff Brooks Quartet, which includes 6 Jeff Brooks originals, 2 Jeff Brooks cross-over arrangements, and a Dave Metzger tune, on July 26, 2008 at their 9:30 pm Jazz in the Valley Festival performance. The album is available at clarinetmonster.com, digstation.com, and will be available at itunes.com, cdbaby.com, and other on-line download sites.
