The Band

Jay Rees (Bass, Band Leader, Composer)

Jay Rees formed Sylvan Street in 2008 to perform his innovative collection of original jazz compositions. Since then, both of the band’s CD’s have been selected for the GRAMMY Awards Entry List for Best Jazz Instrumental Album . Rees is an accomplished musician in jazz performance, having appeared throughout the U.S., Canada and Japan. He has performed with such notable jazz artists as Jimmy Cobb, Lenny White, Paul Horn, and Randy Sandke. Rees toured with the international recording act The Lettermen as bassist and musical director and is featured on their album release Now and Then. He also appears frequently throughout Southern Arizona with his own jazz quartet and as a featured performer at the annual AZ Jazz Concert Series. Rees has a diverse catalog of original music written for jazz, wind ensemble, concert bands, and athletic bands that is commissioned and performed by major universities and high schools nationwide. A native of Detroit, Rees lived in Miami and Los Angeles before moving to Tucson where he brings his wealth of experience as conductor, composer, arranger, and performer to his position as Professor of Music at the University of Arizona.

Kelland Thomas (Saxophone)

Comfortable in a variety of musical genres, Kelland Thomas performs frequently in the Southwest and throughout the U.S. with the Firecracker Jazz Band, the Original Wildcat Jass Band, Big Band Express, and Salsarengue. He has also performed with The Four Tops, Diane Schuur, Manhattan Transfer, The Spinners, Sam Moore, Rufus Reid, Jimmy Heath, Donald Walden, Louis Bellson, Marcus Belgrave, Reggie Workman, and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thomas is a world traveler who has performed in several countries. His original composition Arenal on Sylvan Street’s Here In America LP was inspired by a trip to Costa Rica. His performance on the band’s Poverty Stricken was selected for the 54th GRAMMY Awards Entry List for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. Thomas received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan and he is currently Associate Professor of Music at the University of Arizona.

Chad Shoopman (Trumpet)

Chad Shoopman performs regularly for Walt Disney World Co. in Orlando, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, and the hr-Big Band in Frankfurt, Germany. He is an artist for Powell Signature Series Trumpets and Warburton Mouthpieces. As lead trumpeter with The Chuck Owen Jazz Surge Big Band, Shoopman has worked and recorded with such artists as Randy Brecker, Chick Corea, and Bob Mintzer. Other credits include appearances with Patti Austin, Louie Bellson, Peabo Bryson, Kristen Chenoweth, Peter Erskine, Jon Faddis, Wynton Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval, and Bill Watrous. Shoopman has also recorded numerous projects for television, film, and radio. He is a graduate of The University of Arizona with degrees in Music Education and Conducting Performance.

Kenny Smukal (Trumpet)

Kenny Smukal performed as lead trumpet and jazz soloist with the United States Air Force “Airmen of Note” from the late sixties through the eighties. He has worked or recorded with top recording and jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Oliver Nelson, Frank Rossilino, Clark Terry, Sarah Vaughn, Bobby Shew, Phil Woods, Doc Severinsen, Donald Byrd, Count Basie, and many others. He has appeared on television shows and in jazz festivals around the world including Monterey Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Montreaux Jazz Festival, and The Tonight Show. Ken’s experience also includes performing on numerous radio and television commercials.

Frank Browne (Guitar)

Frank Browne resides in Los Angeles and tours regularly throughout the U.S. He has performed on stage with such national acts as the Big Brothers Big Band jazz ensemble, and the Zoot Suit Revue swing band. He is heard on ZSR’s album Bold, Borrowed and New as well as three CD’s with Gary Urwin’s Studio Orchestra. Browne has recorded with legendary saxophonist Pete Christlieb and trombonist Bill Watrous. He has also appeared in major cities from coast to coast at such notable venues as The Derby, The Coconut Club, The Supper Club NY, House of Blues, and the MGM Grand. Fluent in all musical genres, Browne maintains a large studio of private students. He originally hails from New York and is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Music.

Andrew Hix (Drums/Vocals)

Andrew Hix has a diverse musical range having performed and recorded with artists in both Chicago and Los Angeles. He toured throughout the U.S. and Canada playing with several name acts including The Diamonds, The Coasters, Little Anthony, Del Shannon, and The Platters. Hix works extensively in the jazz clubs of Chicago, including the Apollo Theatre. In addition to performing, he is co-owner of Hix Brothers Music, where he also serves as percussion faculty. Hix is a graduate of DePaul University’s School of Music.

Evan Rees (Piano/Keyboards)

Evan Rees is a jazz and classical pianist who performs frequently throughout Arizona, most recently appearing at the Oro Valley Fine Art & Jazz Festival, Old Pueblo Grille, the Tucson Holiday Piano series, and Glassman Foundation Evening of Love Songs (with the University of Arizona Jazz Ensemble). Evan was selected by the GRAMMY Foundation to attend the prestigious GRAMMY Camp L.A., performing on KTLA-TV and at the historic El Rey Theatre. Evan’s original jazz ballad Song For M, for piano and soprano saxophone, was selected as Best Instrumental Composition for The Recording Academy’s 54th GRAMMY Awards Entry List. Evan was also the featured pianist on a 2010 big band recording recognized nationally by the Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition. Evan has studied and performed with award-winning pianists/composers Jeff Haskell and Otmaro Ruiz, Barb Catlin, bassist Joel DiBartolo, and international recording artists and saxophonists Brice Winston, Ben Schachter, and Jason Goldman.

Michael Faltin (Percussion)

Michael Faltin is a renowned ethno-percussionist. Over the years, he has worked with steel bands in Trinidad, and has studied and performed with numerous African and Cuban musicians. As a drummer, Faltin plays in a variety of professional settings including clubs and touring stage musicals. He is a multi-instrumentalist, working as a dance accompanist and as bass player for the trio Steel Jam. A longtime music educator in the Arizona public school system, Faltin currently owns and operates Instrumental Music Center in Tucson.