All "Jazz At Noon" concerts will take place at the Heritage Center, 2140 14th Avenue in historic downtown Vero Beach.

Thanks to our sponsor, Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce*

The Treasure Coast Jazz Ensemble

Ron Bartol

This 7-pc outfit introduces jazz to local high school and college students on behalf of the Treaure Coast Jazz Society. These all-stars will play great jazz for us as well. The personnel includes:

Ron Bartol - leader and nationally acclaimed guitarist, recording artist, clinician and educator. Ron has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Cab Calloway, the Supremes and Bob Hope among others. He is also a director of the TCJS and has spearheaded this school project.

Ed Metz, Sr. - piano. Ed has played with most of the top traditional jazz names over the years. He has composed over 300 songs and also leads the Bob Crosby Bob Cats for concerts, festivals and cruises. He's also the father of one of our favorite drummers, Ed Metz, Jr.

Bunny Carfagno - trumpet. Bunny has enjoyed a wide reputation as a freelance musician in Philadelphia, Maryland and Florida. He has backed such names as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis Jr. He was trumpet soloist in the Boca Raton Pops Orchestra for many years.

Paul Hubbell - reeds. Paul made his debut at Carnegie Hall at the age of 19 with Stan Rubin's Tigertown Five. He played for President Reagan's 2nd Inaugural Ball with Bob Crosby. Numerous other stints include playing with Tex Beneke, Bob Wilber and Buddy Morrow.

Frank McCallum - trombone. Frank has played with the bands of Les Elgart, Ray Anthony, Buddy Morrow and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. For two seasons he was the principal trombonist with the Palm Beach Pops. He continues an association with Buddy Morrow.

Stix Nickson - drums. Stix's performances include playing with such varied groups as Duke Jordan, Larry Coryell, the Drifters and Pink Floyd (The Wall album) as well as many backup bands. He also has his own jazz trio, EEPHUS, which plays Florida dates.

Kent Taylor Brown - bass. Kent is a local favorite; he is accomplished on several instruments - bass, guitar, keybard and woodwinds. He played the Montreaux Jazz Festival with his college band. He has also shared the stage with perfomers Merle Haggard, Ricky Skaggs and Exile.

The Christian Tamburr Quartet with Ira Sullivan
Christian Tamburr	Ira Sullivan

Christian Tamburr is a multi-instrumentalist, whose instrument of choice is the vibraphone. He was our TCJS scholarship winner in 1999 and has gone on to a remakable professional career. At 25, Christian has worked with many jazz legends including Ira Sullivan, Clark Terry, James Moody, Benny Green, Bucky Pizzarelli and Nicholas Payton, to name a few. He has performed as a guest artist with Dave Brubeck, as solo percussionist with Michael Feinstein, opened for Harry Connick, Jr. and is currently the pianist for Julio Iglesias with whom he has just completed an international tour.

When Christian was 13 years old, he met Ira Sullivan and they've often played together ever since. Ira, of course, is a jazz legend. Also a multi-instrumentalist, he excels at many instruments - including trumpet, flugelhorn, flute and alto, tenor and soprano saxes. His amazing technique has been recognized by other musicians; Miles Davis was a Sullivan fan. Art Farmer hired Ira to be a Jazz Messenger and Pat Metheny's band attended one of Ira's summer jazz camps.

Christian's quartet also includes Elisa Pruett on upright bass, Justin Varnes on drums and Scott Giddens on piano.

The Jim Roberts Saxtet

Jim Roberts worked for 20 years in New York City as a top professional jazz pianist. In the book "Jazz Piano, a Jazz History," Dr. Billy Taylor (a leading pianist in his own right) thought enought of Jim's playing to include him in his list of mainstream keyboard influences for the late 1970's. While in New York he studied with Sir Roland Hanna and has appeared on more than thirty recordings.

Jim has recorded will Illinois Jacquet, Howard McGhee, Frank Wess, Charlie Rouse, Ron Carter and the Ink Spots, among others. He has appeared on NBC's Today Show, ABC's Good Morning America, the PBS series, Jazz Adventure, and currently performs with his Saxtet as well as with Walt Disney Productions in Florida.

The Jim Roberts Saxtet includes the following musicians: Eddie Marshall, alto and tenor saxes, and flute; David MacKenzie, alto and tenor saxes, bass sax and flute; Rex Wertz, alto and tenor saxes and flute, Bob Burns, bass; and Ed Metz Jr., drums.