Trumpet: Corey Gemme, a native of Los Angeles, picked up the trumpet at about age 10 being inspired first by the Tia Juana Brass, then by Louis Armstrong, Red Nichols, Harry James, Charlie Shavers, Bunny Berrigan, and Bix Beiderbecke among others. Corey has performed with many groups including the Hot Frogs, Conrad Janis and the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, The 10th Avenue Jazz Band, Janet Carroll, Johnny Crawford, Dean Mora's Modern Rhythmists, The Black Swan jazz Band, Jim Cullum's Happy Jazz Band, The Reynolds Brothers' Rhythm Rascals, The High Sierra Jazz Band, The Titan Hot seven, and Banu Gibson. He currently performs with South Burgundy Steet Jazz Band. Corey has traveled throughout the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and China, England, Sweden, Europe, and appeared as a featured guest at the Sancy Snow Festival in France.

Clarinet (Leader): Mike Olson - Mike got an early musical start. With his dad, George, providing the influence, Mike began playing at age 6 on the piano & then expanded to banjo at age 10. He began performing at 15 & adds to his list of groups Jack Martin’s Pearly Band at Disneyland in the 60’s, Lloyd Byasse’s Bay City Jazz Band, The Cores of Jazz & The Miss Misbehavin’ Jazz Band. A premier clarinetist, Mike is often compared to Joe Ashworth & Bob Draga.

 

Tuba: C.J. Sams - Recently spotlighted with a front page feature article in The American Rag, CJ brings a dedication to the traditional jazz art form. He was fortunate to play with & learn from the great Rosy McHargue during the last few years of his life. Well known as a sousaphone player & vocalist ( a 38 year member of the Society for the Preservation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America ), CJ sang with The Dapper Dans of Disneyland & played with such groups as The Firehouse Stompers, “CJ & Katie”, The Cherry Willow Jazz Band, & The Crazy Rhythm Hot Society Jazz Orchestra.

 

Trombone: Robert Butler - Robert, an artist by trade, has worked with Frank C. Smith, a Disney artist, doing production illustrations for Steven Speilberg’s “Goonies” & “Baby”. Adding to his credits are advertising, cartoon strips & annual cover art for The American Rag. This artistic creativity found musical focus when he heard his first Firehouse 5 + 2 album. Playing with George Probert’s Monrovia Old Style Jazz Band, he became friends with several of the FH5+2 alumni, including Ward Kimball, Frank Thomas, & George Probert, who became his mentor on cornet. After 21 years as a band leader, Robert is now having a blast as a sideman on trombone, drums, & sousaphone.

 

Piano: Pat Aranda - He's been playing in dixieland bands since high school. Was the leader of the Dixieland Delinquents Jazz Band, played piano in the Firehouse Stompers and has worked as a professional jazz musician at Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm and the Queen Mary. He has been featured as a pianist at many Ragtime festivals including the Sutter's Creek Ragtime Festival, the Orange County Rag Festival and at the El Segundo Old Time Music Hall. He also teaches jazz at Chaffy College in Pomona. Pat is definitely one of the finest piano men on the festival circuit today.

 

Banjo: Howard Wheaton – began his musical career on clarinet during his teens, and while attending his junior and senior years in college played banjo with the well-received Dixiecats, then the ‘Official Dixieland Road Band’ of Cal Poly State University at Pomona, CA. and at several Shakey’s Pizza locations from Oceanside to Van Nuys. After a career as a computer Systems Engineer, he began attending jazz clubs and playing more seriously, having picked up the instrument again and migrating from tenor to plectrum banjo. He has played with the South Coast Dixie Jazz Band (six years and counting), the Hotel Wolverine Jazz Band, the Dixieland Grand Jazz Band, and the Cherry-Willow Jazz Band. Howard has a collection of over 1,700 traditional jazz tunes, and has been married to wife Bobbie since 1985. He recently added a tenor guitar to his instrumental stable, and has always loved rarely-heard tunes. He stubbornly refuses to answer to ‘Howie

 

Drums: Jon Lundgren - Jon is one of the greatest drummers playing today. Whatever the style Jon knows how to approach it. (rock, country, all styles and eras of jazz etc.) Jon also doubles on washboard and sings. He is very entertaining just to watch him play and one thing you can always count on with Jon, he always has a smile. Jon and Mike played at Disneyland together a long time ago and last year they decided to do this new project together along with these other fine musicians.