Dave Bilodeau
Trumpeter Dave Bilodeau from Hadley, MA is also a professional freelance mechanical engineer. He has performed for over 50 yearsin various jazz, rock, show, pit and big bands as well as orchestras and brass groups locally and around the Northeast. He studied engineering at Northeastern University and music at The Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music.
Among the groups he has played with are The:Amherst Jazz Orchestra, Creacion Latin Big Band, the Premier Brass Quintet, the Premier Swing Band, Fanfare Brass Choir, Dixieland Stomp, Ragtime Five, Charles Neville and the Skeletones, Intertrip and the Interplay.Jazz Band.
Mark Dunlap
Bassist Mark Dunlap, from Holyoke, MA, is a retired PASS Region I Assistant at the Federal Aviation Administration. He has studied bass with accomplished NYC bassists Santi DeBriano and Joe Fonda, and composition and improvisation with long-time mentor, Dr. Ed Byrne. He is a founding member and serves on the board of the Western New England Double Bass Society, a group of 200 performing double bassists that sponsors bass workshops and concerts in New England. Mark serves as the Chairman for the Holyoke Cultural Council under the Massachusetts Cultural Council. He co-leads The Interplay Jazz Band, Frain/Dunlap Jazz Trip, and InterTrip and performs with other bands including Berkshire Jazz Underground, Eastern Standard Time, and Disciples of Cool in New England and New York. He co-owns the independent recording label and publishing company Simmer Music has released a CD with guitarist David Frain entitled "Pull The Shades" and has organized festivals including the Holyoke Latin Jazz Festival and the Reggae Rager and Future Roots Festival.
Guest Artists
Dick Poccia
Reedman Dick Poccia, a Professor Emeritus of Biology at Amherst College, has played in jazz groups in Western Massachusetts for 30 years, recording with the Valley Big Band, Jeff Holmes Big Band, and the Lowe-Jaffe Repertory Big Band. He is currently a member of the Amherst Jazz Orchestra, Creacion Latin Big Band, Ask Me Now, and the Jeff Holmes Big Band.. He has played in back up bands for the Temptations, Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson, Ernie Watts, Claudio Roditi, Yusef Lateef, John Abercrombie, Steve Turre, Al Cohn, Rufus Reed, Karrin Allyson, Steve Davis, Sheila Jordan, George Garzone, Peter Erskine, Paul Winter, John Fedchock, Avery Sharp and the Ringling Brother Circus, twice toured in Russia playing at the White Nights Jazz Festival, and has performed at Sculler’s, the El Morocco, Sandy’s, Berklee School of Music, the Philharmonic Jazz Center in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Estrada State Theater in Moscow, and DOCKS television program in Lisbon. He has played with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Festival Orchestra with Gunther Schuller at Amherst College.
Bill Matthews
Drummer Bill Matthews Ph.D., from Sunderland, MA, is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts in Psychology and Education, He has been playing drums since his teenage years. In the late 1980's, he studied music intensively, taking workshops and lessons at the Drummer's Collective in NYC and Jazz in July at the University of Massachusetts where he had the opportunity to play with the legendary Archie Shepp.. Since, the early 1990's, Bill began and continues his study with the great Boston based drummer, Bob Gullotti of the Fringe. Bill played for two years in the Valley Jazz Ensemble under the direction of trombonist Ed Byrne and with DBRAZZ, a piano trio. He has performed in numerous concerts at local venues in the Pioneer Valley including Moment's Notice and the Eclectic Jazz Quartet.
Ken Forfia
We are thankful to former members Jim Argiro, Rob Faulkner, George Plouffe and Jeff Bucs and the many subs and guests who have stepped in to help us on various occasions Claire Arenius, R.J. Avellone, Dave Elvin, Jay Elfenbein, Andy Jaffe, Pat Kennedy, Riley Godleski, Adam Scotera, Frances Rahaim, Carol Abbe Smith and Chris Bakriges, ..
Pianist Ken Forfia from Williamsburg, MA is a graduate of the Thayer Academy and studied music at UMass Amherst. Originally a classical pianist, he expanded his expertise to include jazz about 20 years ago. He is a Professor Emeritus at Springfield Technical Community College where he served as Music Department Chair. He performs regularly with the Juke Joint Jazz Ensemble and Off Minor Trio and as a classical soloist.
