THE BAND- Trombones
The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (SRJO) is an award-winning, 17-piece big band comprised of many of the region's leading jazz soloists and band leaders. The SRJO is the Northwest's only permanent ensemble dedicated to the accurate and historically observant performance of the great works of big band jazz. Drummer Clarence Acox nationally recognized former director of bands at Seattle's Garfield High School, and saxophonist/arranger Michael Brockman, a long-time faculty member at the University of Washington School of Music, founded the SRJO in 1995. As early as 1988, however, many of the players had assembled for a now-annual concert of the Sacred Music of Duke Ellington, presented by Seattle's Earshot Jazz Society. A 1992 "Evening of Ellington" program, presented by Brockman at the University of Washington's Meany Theater, brought together players not normally included in the sacred concerts and featured new transcriptions by Brockman of classic Ellingtonia.
Dan Marcus (trombone/tuba) started playing semi-professionally at age nine alongside his father in several Bay-area Dixie bands. He toured extensively with the Ray Charles and Woody Herman Orchestras, among others. Dan performed for a number of years in Teatro Zinzanni and now appears regularly with the Oliver Groenewald “NewNet,” Jay Thomas’ “Cantaloupes,” “The DNA Trio” with his brother, Michael, and son, Max; along with extensive arranging, freelancing, studio and Broadway musical work at the 5th Avenue and Paramount Theatres.
Scott Brown (trombone) is a graduate of the University of Washington. He is the recently retired, 38-year, nationally recognized Director Of Bands at Seattle’s Roosevelt High School. Scott is the recipient of many awards for his teaching, including Downbeat Magazine Outstanding Jazz Educator, a 2022 inductee to the Washington Music Education Association Hall of Fame, and the Washington State Golden Apple Award for excellence in education. Scott has been a faculty member for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Band Director Academy and serves as an adjudicator for their Essentially Ellington regional competitions.
Jerome Smith (trombone/tuba) was born in Austin, TX. He has been a professional musician for almost 20 years. Playing music has taken him all over the world including Los Angeles for the Grammy's; Orlando for Disney World show bands, Beijing and Shanghai, China on orchestra tours, United Kingdom and South America on Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines; teaching at the International School of Moscow, Russia, just to name a few. Jerome has also worked with Arturo Sandoval, Carlos Santana, Bobby Caldwell, Robert Glasper, and others in his professional career. He delights in teaching, as music enriches the soul.
Bill Anthony (trombone) has been a professional trombonist for 40 years. In that time he has performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, J. J. Johnson, and many others. In addition to the SRJO, he locally appears with the with the Full Circle Jazz Ensemble and has a very busy private teaching schedule in Bellevue and Issaquah.
David Bentley (bass trombone) is director of bands at Mercer Island High School and Islander Middle School. He is a graduate of both the University of Washington and the University of Miami. His bands are frequent finalists and award winners in regional festivals. David was chosen last year as a “Teacher of the Year” in the Mercer Island School district. As a Bass Trombone player, he can be frequently heard in the area with many ensembles, including the Jazz Police and Daniel Barry’s Celestial Rhythm Orchestra. He and wife Cathy are the proud parents of children, Jake and Anna.
