Dave Frackenpohl is an active jazz guitarist and composer/arranger in the Atlanta area. Collaborating with such jazz artists as Hank Crawford, Bobby Watson, Buddy DeFranco, Jeff Clayton, and Wycliff Gordon, he has performed at Spivey Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, Fox Theatre, and the Rialto Center for the Arts. Recent jazz festival performances include the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and the Atlanta Jazz Festival.  A versatile player, he has appeared with big bands such as Moments Notice and Les Elgars, played with touring Broadway shows High School Musical I & II, Chicago and 42nd Street, as well as performed with the Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Chamber Players, Florida Orchestra, and Alabama Symphony.

Composer/arranger credits include his 2012 CD/Digital release of Refractions, several Mel Bay publications including A Practical Guide to Jazz Band Guitar and Jazz Standards for Guitar I & II, as well as recorded tracks for Atlanta artists Sam Skelton, Ike Stubblefield, and E.J. Hughes.

A graduate of the University of North Texas with degrees in Jazz Studies and Theory, Frackenpohl has worked with jazz great Gene Bertoncini and jazz guitar pedagogue Jack Peterson. He has held faculty positions at Ithaca College and Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York, the State University of NY at Potsdam Crane Youth Music, as well as the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan.

Frackenpohl has been an Instructor of Jazz Studies at Georgia State University for over a decade, teaching Jazz Guitar, Jazz History and Arranging, as well as coaching Jazz Combos and directing the Jazz Guitar Ensembles. Several of his jazz guitar graduates are performing professionally and holding collegiate faculty positions.

Not long after high school, Joe was on the road as a sideman with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. A number of A.F.M. contracted sideman gigs include Barry White, The Moody Blues, Kenny Rogers, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, The Whispers, etc. Eventually moving to New York City, he performed with numerous groups, including sub work with Toshiko Akiyoshi and Chico O’Farrill at the famous Birdland Jazz Club. Meanwhile, Joe formed his own group, which performed in Brooklyn each week and included the venerable guitarist Joe Cohn and ex-Betty Carter bassist, Matt Hughes. “Having my own group and being fortunate enough to travel, play, and record has been a dream come true,” says Joe.

“Exploring the music with a steady group of great players has enabled me to continually grow.” Joe Gransden growing legion of fans around the country have obviously taken note. In Atlanta, where Joe plays steadily 5-6 nights a week in as many venues, his loyal following includes an array of people from blue-collar workers to upper crust businessmen and businesswomen who all share a love of good music.

A widening schedule has found Joe performing the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Café 290 in Atlanta w/his 16 Piece Big Band , The Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, South Carolina, The Ritz-Carlton at Reynolds Plantation W/Michael Fienstein, The Museum of Art and Design in midtown Manhattan, Spivey Hall in Atlanta, Ga and Tehema Golf Club in Carmel, California (where Joe regularly plays events for Clint Eastwood). Joe also just released his brand new cd “Close To My Heart” produced by Saxophone great Kenny G. The cd is a collection of smooth jazz covers and originals written by Joe and Kenny. Joe has been performing w/Kenny G and his band around the country for the past year or so. His brand new project entitled “Songs of Sinatra & Friends” features Joe singing and playing w/his 16 piece Big Band & String Orchestra! The CD has been getting great reviews and lots of airplay around the country.

Randy Hoexter is a jazz pianist, composer and educator living in Atlanta. He is currently the Director of Education at the Atlanta Institute of Music.

His recent release, “Fromage” Featuring bassist Jimmy Haslip, Drummer Dave Weckl, and the finest of Atlanta jazz musicians has been receiving rave reviews. His previous recording “Radiant” with Mike Stern, Dave Weckl and more, also received critical acclaim.

Randy’s keyboard work can be heard on many records and commercials; his talents have been sought by artists as diverse as guitarists Jimmy Herring , Bill Hart and Shane Theriot (Neville Brothers), drummers Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs), Sonny Emory (Earth, Wind and Fire, Bruce Hornsby) and Jeff Sipe, bassists Chuck Rainey (Steely Dan) and Adam Nitti, saxophonist George Howard, gospel group “NewSong,” Atlanta Symphony Pops, Georgia Symphony Jazz, and others.

As a commercial composer, Randy has written and produced music for Bank of America, Yamaha Corporation, Univision, Nippon Television (Japan) Timberland, 615 Music, Arby’s, Kohler, Novo/Nordisk, SunSports (Fox Sports Florida) and many others, and produces records for local and regional artists.

Randy has taught Theory, Jazz Improvisation, Production and Composition at the Atlanta Institute of Music since 1988, and currently serves as Director of Education. In that capacity, he has worked with many notable artists including Peter Erskine, John Scofield, Robben Ford,  Victor Wooten, Joel Rosenblatt, Wayne Krantz and Scott Henderson. Randy is also on the faculty of Lagrange College,  where he teaches jazz piano and jazz theory.

Derrick Jackson is currently in his 15th year of teaching in Georgia public schools. He is in his sixth year as director of bands at the Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts. He currently leads a program comprised of two jazz combos, big band and 3 symphonic bands. Prior to coming to the Magnet School full-time, he served as band director at Morrow Middle School and music teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School. Mr. Jackson has also had the privilege of conducting the All-County Middle and High School bands and the All-County Musical “Joseph”,”Willy Wonka” pit and the Stilwell School of the Arts musical performances of “Aida”,”Footloose”, the Shuler Hensley Musical Awards Honorable Mention for Best Pit Orchestra “Shrek”, “Ragtime” and “A Chorus Line.”

Mr. Jackson’s symphonic bands have earned 7 superior awards at large group performance evaluation at the District 6 East evaluation held at the Henry County Performing Arts Center and Starr’s Mill High School. Derrick’s students have earned places in the district, all-state and jazz all-state bands in Georgia.

Derrick received the Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Florida A&M University and the Master of Education degree from Central Michigan University. Mr. Jackson  has served as middle school lead band director and currently serves as a lead high school band director of Clayton County Public Schools. He wrote the middle school band curriculum for all 6th through 8th grade band programs in the Clayton County School district. In 2013, Mr. Jackson was selected by the state of Georgia, as a member of the GACE committee for the music education certification examination. Mr. Jackson was appointed to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s Fine Arts Task for the State of Georgia. This spring, Derrick conducted the Georgia Music Educator’s Associations District 5 Middle School Jazz Honor Band. Derrick also had the privilege of conducting the Shorter College Honor Band in Rome Georgia.

Also, Derrick was a clinician and conductor for the Joe Gransden 2nd Annual Jazz Camp held at Cambridge High School in Milton, Georgia. During this week long day camp, Mr. Jackson conducted a 20 piece big band, taught trombone pedagogy and also, lead one of two middle school jazz combos represented at the camp. He is also a guest clinician for Georgia State University Jazz Workshop and trombone instructor for the Georgia Rialto Youth Jazz Program lead by Dr. Gordon Vernick. Recently, Mr. Jackson was voted unanimously as a new Georgia Teaching Artist with the Georgia Council for the Arts.

Mr. Jackson is also a professional musician and been seen performing with many Grammy and Grammy nominated and considered groups across the city of Atlanta.

Atlanta based Saxophonist, Composer, and Educator Chris Otts has been active in the Atlanta music scene since moving to the area in 2010. Otts is currently Artist Affiliate in Jazz Saxophone at Georgia State University. In addition to his teaching, Otts is an award winning performer, composer, and arranger for many groups of varying styles. Most recently Otts was recognized for the compositions on his debut album Layers for which he received the BMI Future Jazz Masters Scholarship.

As a performer Otts has been able to share the stage and collaborate with incredible jazz artists including Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Reed, Jim Snidero, Scotty Barnhart, Paquito D’Rivera, and Kenny Werner. Otts is well versed in all styles of music and has worked with several pop and rock bands including performing with Blood Sweat and Tears and recording with The Whigs 2016 release “Live in Little Five”.

The Chris Otts Group debut album “Layers” features some of the finest musicians Atlanta has to offer. The group has performed at numerous jazz venues throughout the southeast as well as jazz festivals including the Appalachian Wine and Jazz Festival, and the Candlelight Jazz Festival. Several prominent reviewers have remarked positively on the album.

Otts remains an active performer, educator, and composer throughout the Southeast. To hear music, view upcoming show dates, or any other inquires visit Otts’s website at www.chrisotts.com

William “Billy” Vann Thornton, is the bass instructor at Georgia State University School of Music. Prior to Georgia State University, he taught at Jacksonville University in Florida. Mr. Thornton has been performing for over twenty years in the United States, France, Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, and Qatar.

In addition to the bass, he plays the guitar and electric bass. Influenced by various reggae, jazz, rock and Motown artists. You can see Mr. Thornton performing with the likes of Dominick Farinacci, Christian Tamburr, Doug Carn, Houston Person, Clint Holmes, Kevin Bales, Russell Gunn, and others.

He has performed in the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Blues to Bop Festival in Lugano, Switzerland, San Jose Jazz festival, Bahamian Jazz Festival, Magnolia Festival, and the Electric Forest. In addition, he has recorded with numerous musicians, Christian Tamburr “Voyage”, Darren English “Imagine Nation”, and other groups.

He can be seen throughout Atlanta performing at venues like the Velvet Note, the legendary, late Churchill Grounds, and various performance events.

Mr. Thornton holds a Bachelors degree in music from the University of North Florida. He resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife and two children.

Ben Weatherford is currently the adjunct Professor of Jazz Guitar at Columbus State University, where he teaches Jazz and contemporary music concepts to both Jazz and Classical guitar students.  He is a sought after educator that teaches at multiple institutions in the region.  Ben has been a featured guest artist and clinician at Jacksonville State University as well as Columbus State University and has performed with John Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi, Anat Cohen, Nnenna Freelon, and John Mayer.

In addition to Jazz Education, Ben Weatherford is a working musician that performs in multiple genres and ensembles throughout the southeast.  This professional experience informs his Jazz Guitar Studio providing students important insight into the skills necessary to flourish as a professional musician.  Ben holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Georgia State University and Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance from Berklee College of Music.

Larry Wilson is a nationally renowned Percussionist, Pianist, Producer and Writer currently based out of Atlanta, Ga . Specializing in ALL MUSIC!

Dr. Gordon Vernick is an Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Georgia State University. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY; a Master of Music in Education from the University of Miami, and a Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley.

As a professional trumpet player, he has performed in all musical mediums from symphony orchestra to jazz quartet and has free¬lanced all over the world. He is currently active in the Southeast United States as a clinician, an adjudicator, and as a freelance trumpet player.

As a jazz educator, he is the past president of the Georgia Association of Jazz Educators, past chair of the International Association of Jazz Educators Curriculum Com¬mittee. He is currently the Director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth High School Jazz Band and the musical director of the Rialto Jazz for Kids middle school jazz program. He co-wrote the college textbook, Jazz History Overview, published by Kendall-Hunt. The text is in its 2nd printing and has been adopted by numerous universities around the country.

He is director of the GSU Faculty Jazztet which performs regularly in Atlanta and has appeared at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the High Museum Jazz Series, the International Association for Jazz Education Conference and many other venues in the southeast. He has performed with such world-renown jazz artists as Kenny Werner, Clare Fischer, John Hart, Kevin Hays, Conrad Herwig, Marc Copland, Randy Brecker, Paul McCandless, and many others. The Jazztet has performed twice in San Jose, Costa Rica, Moscow, and Beijing, China. The group was invited to perform in November 2004 at the Curso e Colegio Bardal in Florianopolis, Brazil. As a jazz clinician he has served residencies and performed at the Conservatory of San Juan, P.R., the Taipei American School in Taiwan, the Singapore American School, the Bangkok International School, the Jakarta International School, Columbia College Chicago, Montana State University, The Conservatory of Bordeaux,the University of Capetown, South Africa, and Manchester Royal Music Academy, Manchester, England

His podcasts, Jazz Insights, are available on I-Tunes and all 225 of them will soon be available on his new website: jazzinsights.org. The programs have been featured on a number of websites including the New York Times and have been downloaded over 12 million times since May 2009. His CD, The Strangest Thing, was released on Jbird Records in May 2008 and his most recent CD, Destination, was released in May 2012.