Dr. Doug Snapp, the band's founder and Artistic Director, has degrees in jazz studies from the University of North Texas and a doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado, where he led the college jazz ensembles to several Downbeat Awards. In addition to playing trumpet and directing the JazzMN Big Band, Snapp is a Professor of Jazz Studies and Trumpet at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and plays principal trumpet in the Mankato Symphony.

For the 2004-2005 season, the JazzMN Big Band will feature some well-established, if not all well-known brass specialists in concert with some of the best of the area's vocalists. For tickets to any show, call the U of M arts ticket office - 612-624-2345.

October 9: Carl Saunders, Trumpet, With Patty Peterson, Vocals.

Trumpeter Carl Saunders had little choice but to become a jazz musician - his mother was the first vocalist to appear with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, leading her son to become a self-labeled "Kenton junkie" from a young age. His first five years were spent on the road with his uncle Bobby Sherwood, a trumpeter-bandleader, and his mom Gail, who also sang vocals for the Sherwood Orchestra. Settling in LA in 1947, young Saunders and his mother lived with another uncle, tenor sax player Dave Pell and his family. He picked up the trumpet in 7^th grade and was largely self-taught, playing in school bands until high school graduation. Then mom stepped in and arranged an audition with Stan Kenton, who offered him a seat in the orchestra if he was willing to play the mellophonium, pending an opening in the trumpet section.

After a year with Kenton, Saunders spent a year in the Sherwood Orchestra. His career since has been one of diverse opportunities. He moved to Las Vegas in the early 1960s, spending the next 20 years performing with many different artists, including playing lead trumpet with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet, and Frank Sinatra. Says Saunders, "That's where I learned to play under pressure and fine-tune my reading skills." He also groomed his chops in the big bands of Si Zentner, Harry James, Maynard Ferguson, Benny Goodman, and Charlie Barnet.   In 1984 Carl Saunders moved to Los Angeles where he became a first-call jazz and studio musician, and lead trumpeter for the Bill Holman Orchestra. Today he leads his own big band and small groups, still plays lead trumpet in the Bill Holman band, plays with the Bob Florence's big band, and performs regularly with Gerald Wilson, Phil Norman, and Dave Pell.

With four highly regarded recordings as leader, today Carl Saunders is regarded as "probably the best trumpet player you've never heard" (Carl Fontana, Jazz Journal International), with "breathtaking long lines of delicate swinging filigree... ...the way Art Pepper would have sounded had he played trumpet" (Ron Lipka, International Trumpet Guild Journal). Noted Chris Chapman of Down Beat, Saunders "shows the breathtaking melodies and never-ending supply of creative improvisations that make him a highly regarded player." (See http://www.carlsaunders.com/)

Vocalist Patty Peterson shares with Carl Saunders a childhood surrounded by musicians. Daughter of jazz matriarch Jeanne Arland Peterson and sister of recording artists Linda, Billy, Ricky and Paul Peterson, Patty Peterson has performed at nationally renowned jazz venues, including The Vine Street Bar and Grill in Hollywood and at the Dakota here in the Twin Cities. She has received the Minnesota Music Award 7 times for Best Female Vocalist and Best Group, and for "Best Jazz Recording" for her debut CD, The More I See You. In addition to her singing career, she has worked as an actress, print ad model, and national anthem singer, and, for seven straight years, was the number one female radio personality on WCCO radio. Said Jon Bream (Minneapolis Star Tribune), "She can cover anything from Chaka Kahn to Cole Porter with equal authority, exhibiting star quality and drive!" (For more information, see www.pattypeterson.com)

The collaboration of Carl Saunders and Patty Peterson, backed by the JazzMn Big Band, should be a virtual starburst.