Award winning Pianist/Arranger/Composer Andy Nevala has been recognized by Downbeat Magazine on 9 different occasions, winning Downbeat Music Awards for composition (2002), arranging (2003), and performing/directing (2000, 2000, 2002). He completed a Master of Music in Theory and Composition from UNC in 2000, and completed a Doctorate in Jazz Piano Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

His newest CD, "Alone Together", was internationally released in 2007 on the Capri Label. He has toured Canada, Europe, Japan, South America, and has performed in every state in the US except Alaska and Hawaii as a sideman and with his own groups.

While at UNC he directed and performed in Combo's I and II, winning downbeat awards for Outstanding Performance by a College Combo and Best Blues/Pop/Rock Group winner, respectively. At UNC he performed with Conrad Hertwig, Brian Lynch, Louis Bellson, Peter Erskine, and Pete Fountain, as well as opened for Kurt Elling, Russell Malone, Poncho Sanchez and McCoy Tyner.

While at the University of Colorado, Boulder, he performed in Jazz Ensemble I and Combo I, winning downbeat awards for Outstanding Performance Original Song, Jazz Arrangement Co-Winner, Outstanding Group (Combo I) and Outstanding Jazz Ensemble (CU Jazz Ensemble I). At CU, he performed with Chris Potter, Jiggs Whigam, and James Carter. Andy has also been commission to arrange for the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Denver Brass, the Steve Lippia Big Band, Conjunto Colores, his own groups, and has recorded on over 20 CD’s released in the US, Japan, and South America.

Allen Brown is a lecturer in percussion at CSUS Stanislaus. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Oregon, the Master of Music degree from Western Michigan University and had done doctoral work at the University of Illinois. He has studied with John Bergamo, C.K. Ladzekpo, Ray Holman, Cliff Alexis, Michael Brucker, Michael Paradis, Ed Mann, Thomas Siwe, Robert Tilles, and many others. Prior to coming to UOP, he held teaching positions at Concordia College, Moorhead State University, North Dakota State University, and Western State College in Colorado.

Professor Brown's performance specialties include all areas of percussion in symphonic, solo, chamber, jazz, and commercial settings. He is the jazz vibraphonist and director of the Pacific Jazz Quintet. He has performed with Clark Terry, Sammy Nestico, Toni Tennile, Ed Mann, Diahann Carroll, Vic Damone, and with organizations such as the San Joaquin Ballet and Opera Orchestras, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockton Symphony Orchestra, and many others.

Professor Brown has authored articles on percussion published in the NACWPI Journal, The Percussionist, Woodwind World, Brass and Percussion; has composed several works for percussion; and has numerous arrangements to his name. At CSU-Stanislaus he teaches applied percussion, jazz combo, and is director of the percussion ensemble.

Jamie Dubberly, Low Brass. Jazz Chamber Ensembles

Email: bonejazz@aol.com

James ( Jamie) Dubberly is a lecturer at CSU Stanislaus in low brass. He holds a Bachelors degree in music from the University of Georgia, and a Masters degree in music from The Hartt School of Music ( University of Hartford), where he also participated in a doctoral program, and was on the faculty as an adjunct, part time instructor. James is a versatile performer, teacher, and composer and has enjoyed a performing and teaching career that spans many styles and genres. While doing graduate work at the Hartt School, James became increasingly interested in jazz and improvisational music and wound up in an ensemble led by Steve Davis, trombonist at the time with Art Blakey’s jazz messengers, and faculty member at The Hartt School. Exposure to the jazz program at Hartt, led by legendary alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, led to a further pursuance of jazz and the African-American music tradition for James. In 1997 , Dubberly moved to New York City, where he soon was performing with a wide variety of jazz and latin ensembles, including the Art Lillard Big ( “heavenly”) Band, Brooklyn Big Band, Bill Warfield Big Band, Lew Anderson Big Band, Luis Blasini, Neil Kirkwood’s “discovery” Orchestra, George Gee Big Band, Carol Sudhalter Big Band, Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra and many others.

Since moving to California in 2003, James has performed with many bay area jazz groups, including the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Realistic Orchestra, Mike Vax Big Band, and several salsa groups including award -winning “Avance”, of which he is a current member. James has performed with many notable salsa soneros since coming to the Bay Area, including Frankie Vasquez (Soneros del Barrio), Willie Torres ( Spanish Harlem Orchestra) and platinum selling artist Tony Vega. James has also performed with many of today’s top jazz and latin artists including Pete Escovedo, Poncho Sanchez, Arturo O’Farrill, Alan Harris, Endel Dueno, Karl Perazzo, Louis Romero, Jimmy Greene, Essiet Essiet, Wayne Escoffrey, Kenny Rampton, Marc Gross, and Doug Beavers, and many others.

James has toured four continents, and over 20 countries with ensembles ranging from chamber music, symphony orchestras, broadway style “pit” orchestras, to salsa and latin jazz. He performed on national and international tours of several broadway productions, including “Five Guys named Moe”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “How to succeed in business without really trying”, “Grease”, “West Side Story”, and “ A Chorus Line”. Having recently become enamored with latin jazz, James has formed his own band -“Orquesta Dharma” , which showcases his writing and arranging talents, and is currently in the recording process for a soon to be released CD. James has also recently started a jazz vespers concert series at the First United Methodist Church of Modesto, of which he is also a member.