David Janke - Lead Vocals, Harmonica
David Janke, also known as Lil' Davy Max, is an American blues musician deeply rooted in the Chicago blues tradition. David’s journey into the genre began at a young age, learning guitar, harmonica, and piano, and watching blues legends perform in Madison, Wisconsin. He became friends with artists like Muddy Waters, and was similarly inspired by Magic Sam, Otis Rush, and John Lee Hooker.
David has won the prestigious Paramount Blues Challenge and represented Wisconsin in The International Blues Challenge in Memphis,Tennessee.
A longtime veteran of the recording industry, David, a soulful, powerhouse vocalist as well as an extraordinarily talented multi-instrumentalist, has produced multiple projects of his own. He has also been featured on numerous other tracks, including "Georgia on My Mind" with Fox Menagerie.
Dr. Ron Cole - Band Leader, Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI)
Dr. Cole is an accomplished trumpeter who also performs on the Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI).
Throughout his musical career, Ron has performed in a variety of contexts. This includes numerous performances with leading artists and ensembles, ranging from Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Yes drummer Alan White, Amy Grant, the Mills Brothers, Michael W. Smith, Deniece Williams, and Don Lanphere to the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Cascade Symphony Orchestra, and the Bellevue (Washington) Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as various studio session work (Hawaii 5-0, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, etc.), chamber music, and church work. He has been a founding member of Brass Band Northwest and the Seattle Wind Symphony.
Dr. Cole holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance from the University of Washington, a Master of Music (Performance) and a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies) from Western Washington University.
Ron also served on the faculties of Olympic College, Music Works Northwest, St. Norbert College, and Northwest University. Ron’s arrangements and compositions have been featured in the repertoires of saxophonists Don Lanphere and Richard Cole, the New Jazz Messengers big band, Extensions, and the video game Infinite Scuba.
His jazz record, Eighty-Seven (on Common Tone Records), can be found on all downloading and streaming platforms.
Dr. Patrick Phalen - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Dr. Phalen has been involved in education and music education for over 30 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s degree in Education Leadership from Marion College, a master’s degree in Trumpet Performance with a jazz emphasis from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and a Doctoral Degree in Education Leadership from Edgewood College in Madison, WI.
Dr. Phalen is currently a professional musician and educator. As a performer, he has played several Broadway tours, and has accompanied such artists as The Temptations, Frankie Valli, Burt Bacharach and The Manhattan Transfer. He performs regularly with local acts Hip Pocket, Brass Differential, as well as Big Mouth & the Powertool Horns. Dr. Phalen is also active in music education, giving jazz and trumpet clinics at the high school and college level.
Additionally, Pat is the leader and driving force behind Alive Again, the popular Chicago tribute band.
Sam Stranz - Saxophone, Flute
Sam graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with bachelors degrees in Jazz Studies and Arts Management, and the University of Northern Iowa with a masters degree in Jazz Pedagogy. He worked as a middle school band director for two private schools in Green Bay before moving to his current position as the Front of House and Events Supervisor at The Weidner Center. In addition, Sam is the director of the Jazz II Ensemble for the Sharon Resch Institute of Music at UW-Green Bay and the President of the Green Bay Jazz Orchestra.
Sam regularly performs with his groups The Standard Collective (a jazz quartet) and The Little Big Band (a swing ensemble), and is a member of other ensembles including the Salute to Sinatra Big Band, Swingshift, and The Four Brothers.
William (Bill) Hill - Trombone
A Crivitz, Wisconsin native who currently resides in Green Bay, Bill cites his influences as James Pankow, Wycliffe Gordon, Conrad Herwig, and Troy Andrews.
After receiving his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2002 from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Bill accepted the band director position at Notre Dame de la Baie Academy in 2003 and held the position until 2016. Bill is a founding member of the Green Bay Brass Band and Brass Differential, in addition to being a regular member of Hip Pocket, Alive Again, and the Green Bay Jazz Orchestra.
Bill has recorded with Jive Deluxe, River Cities Jazz Orchestra, Brass Differential, Chocolateers, Feed the Dog, Fox Menagerie, as well as Stephen Cooper and the Nobody Famous.
Aside from his local ties to the music scene in northeast Wisconsin, Bill’s professional performance credits include: 1999-2000 national tour with Jive De Luxe and the 2010 European tour and Montreux Jazz Festival with the River Cities Jazz Orchestra. In 2018, Bill was a nominee for Jazz Artist of the Year by WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry).
Bill is currently serving as director of bands for the Brillion School District.
Matt Hillman - Guitar
Matt has been a professional guitarist and veteran of the music industry for more than twenty years, composing and performing in multiple genres. He is currently employed as the guitar instructor at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, and is guitarist/co-founder/composer for the band Pegasis, as well as the guitarist for Brass Differential, the Green Bay Jazz Orchestra, and The Standard Collective.
Paul Sucherman - Keyboards
Paul Sucherman is the eldest son of two prominent Chicago performers and has two younger brothers who are also professional musicians, the youngest being the drummer with the acclaimed rock band Styx.
Paul began playing piano as soon as he could walk, and was reading music before he could read sentences. Studying with world renowned pianist George Rosenberg and later Bob Acri, he was one of the youngest musicians ever to join the Chicago Musician's Union. After studying at Northwestern and DePaul Universities, he moved to Wisconsin to further his career in composition, arranging, and theatrical direction.
In Europe, the Caribbean, and Mexico, as well as Las Vegas, Paul has performed with or shared stages with Count Basie, Joe Piscopo, Maynard Ferguson, Tim Allen, Reba McIntyre, Wayne Newton, Eddie Rabbit, Haley Reinhart, Sal Valentinetti, Pete Barbutti, Gregg Edelman, Daniel LeClaire, Sal Viviano, and many other stars.
Paul’s band hosted the Home State Ball for the Obama Inaugural as well as other state functions. He has arranged strings for two Dove Award winning albums, and has arranged music for countless artists, theme parks, cruise ships and nightclubs internationally.
Paul is a member of Jazz Orgy, Brent Bel and The Boys,The Generations Big Band, The Water City Jazz Orchestra, and directs the Doghouse Big Band as well as the Lakeshore Big Band.
Terry Iattoni - Drums, Percussion
An active performer and educator, Terry has been playing drums and percussion for over 43 years and teaching music for nearly as long. His performance credits include playing with Geoff Keezer, Richie Cole, David Hazeltine, Ellis Marsalis, WAMI Award-winning “The Mr. Lucky Syndicate”, Jeff Pietrangelo, Chris Salerno and ZIJI, Allen Vizzuti, Ernie Watts, top-of-the-charts doo-wop group “The Diamonds”, and Green Bay area ensembles Groove Revolution, the Tribute to Sinatra Big Band, and the Packers Tailgater Band. Terry has studied with Carl Allen and Matt Wilson, and has provided clinics, master classes, and camp instruction throughout the state of Wisconsin.
Dr. Craig Hanke - Bass
Craig attended Lawrence University, majoring in both biology and music, where he studied classical double bass with Milwaukee Symphony bassist Catherine McGinn and jazz bass with Fred Sturm. His experiences with Fred were central to his development as a jazz musician and later career in teaching.
Craig has performed with jazz musicians such as JJ Johnson, Diane Schuur, Ellis Marsalis, Clark Terry, Ernie Watts, Howard Levy, Bobby Shew, John Harmon, and Janet Planet. He was a member of the Janet Planet Band and credits Janet and Tom Theabo as major influences on his playing.
Pursuing his biology interests, Craig completed a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He then worked as a professor in the Human Biology Department at UW Green Bay and taught bass lessons in the Music Department. He is currently Assistant Dean at the Medical College of Wisconsin - Green Bay.
Craig plays with a variety of local groups, including the Salute to Sinatra Big Band, Bay City Swing, Groove Revolution, and Lucretia’s Reprise. He enjoys playing a wide variety of music ranging from Motown, funk, and rock, to salsa and modern jazz.