Jazz Ambassadors Biographies

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Saxophone

Sergeant Major Eugene Thorne (NCOIC): SGM Thorne currently plays baritone saxophone and doubles on winds with the Jazz Ambassadors. He also arranges, composes, and performs as a freelance musician. SGM Thorne earned a B.M. at Catholic University and a M.M. at the University of Maryland.
Sergeant First Class Andrew Layton *: SFC Layton is the lead alto saxophonist and doubles on winds with the Jazz Ambassadors. SFC Layton attended the Berklee School of Music and earned a B.M.E. at the University of North Texas.
Sergeant First Class Patrick Shook: SFC Shook currently plays tenor saxophone with the Jazz Ambassadors. He holds a B.M. from the University of Idaho and a M.M. from the University of North Texas.
Staff Sergeant Bradford Danho: SSG Danho earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, and a Master of Music from the University of North Texas. He has studied saxophone with Jim Riggs and Vince Trombetta, and flute with Mary-Karen Clardy and Dave Shostac. SSG Danho is a two-time alumnus of the Henry Mancini Institute. He was also a finalist in the 2004 North American Saxophone Alliance Jazz Saxophone Competition. SSG Danho joined the Field Band in 2008.
Staff Sergeant Joshua Fox: SSG Fox earned a Bachelor of Music Education at the University of North Texas, where he studied with Jim Riggs and Leo Potts. Prior to joining the Jazz Ambassadors, he taught in the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake, Texas. SSG Fox has also performed with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and with Bobby Caldwell.
Staff Sergeant Paul White: SSG White holds degrees from Appalachian State University and the University of Texas at Austin, studying both saxophone and composition with Dan Welcher, Rick Margitza, and Donald Grantham. Prior to joining the Field Band SSG White led his own jazz quintet and was a member of The Acoustic Mayhem.

Trumpet

Master Sergeant Michael Johnston: MSG Johnston earned a B.A. at the University of North Florida. He has been a featured soloist with the Jazz Ambassadors and the Concert Band, and has performed with Harry Connick Jr., Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Della Reese, Dave Brubeck, the Count Basie Orchestra, and the St. Johns River City Brass Band.
Master Sergeant Kevin Watt **: MSG Watt has performed with Joe Williams, Art Farmer, Arturo Sandoval, Mel Lewis, Butch Miles, and Bobby McFerrin. He has recorded with the Jerry Ascione Big Band and the North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band. MSG Watt earned a M.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas and a B.A. in Business Administration from Hope College.
Master Sergeant Jack Wengrosky: MSG Wengrosky earned a M.M. at the University of North Texas and a B.A. at Elmhurst College. He served as lead trumpet for Steve Allen, Rich Little, and Doc Severinsen, and recorded with the University of North Texas Lab Band and the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet. He appears in DownBeat Magazine as an outstanding alumnus.
Sergeant First Class Paul Armstrong: SFC Armstrong earned a B.A. in General Psychology from St. Martin’s College while serving in the United States Air Force Bands program. He was a semi-finalist in the Louis Armstrong International Jazz Trumpet Competition and has performed and recorded with, and arranged for, numerous bands, including those of Diane Schuur and Maynard Ferguson. SFC Armstrong joined the Jazz Ambassadors in 2003.
Sergeant First Class Paul Stephens *: SFC Stephens toured as lead trumpet with Maynard Ferguson, Nicholas Payton, Maureen McGovern, John Pizzarelli, and the Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra. He served in the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia and the Band of the West. SFC Stephens performed on the motion picture soundtrack The Alamo, and Nicholas Payton's Grammy nominated CD Dear Louis.

Audio Engineer

Sergeant First Class Michael McLaughlin: SFC McLaughlin earned a B.S. in Aviation Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a A.S. at Troy State University. He is also a Digidesign Certified Pro Tools Operator. SFC McLaughlin served in the 24th Infantry Division Band, the 283rd Army Band, the 79th Army Band, the 1st Armored Division Band, and the Ground Forces Band.

NCOIC = non commissioned officer in charge
** = section leader
* = lead player

Trombone

Master Sergeant Michael Buckley**: MSG Buckley earned a B.M.E. at the University of North Texas and a M.M. at the University of Northern Colorado. MSG Buckley is the trombone section leader for the Jazz Ambassadors and has served as trombonist in the Concert Band. He performed for Premier Cruise Lines and is a recipient of a National Endowment of the Arts Grant.
Sergeant First Class Jeff Adams: SFC Adams has extensive experience in pit orchestras for musical productions and has worked on stage with performers including Lou Rawls, Tony Bennett, Kenny Rogers, Frankie Vallie, the Four Tops, and Mary Wilson. SFC Adams earned a M.M.E. from the University of Redlands and a B.M. in Commercial Music from California State University at Long Beach, and attended the Berklee College of Music.
Sergeant First Class Major Bailey: SFC Bailey served as bass trombonist with the Larry Elgart Orchestra and the St. Johns River City Big Band. He has also performed with Tito Puente, Maria Schneider, and Slide Hampton. He freelances as a television and film actor and has worked as a stand-up comedian. SFC Bailey earned a B.M. in Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida.
Staff Sergeant Michael Bravin *: SSG Bravin performed for four years with Electric Brigade of The United States Naval Academy Band before joining the Field Band in 2005. A native of Tulare, California, he studied at the University of North Texas and won the 1999 Eastern Trombone Workshop Jazz Competition. SSG Bravin has performed with the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, and Debbie Reynolds.

Guitar

Staff Sergeant Stephen Lesche: SSG Lesche earned a M.M. in Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University and a B.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida. He is an alumnus of the Stean’s Institute at Ravinia, where he studied with James Moody, David Baker, Nathan Davis, and Rufus Reid. He is a three-time winner of the DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award.

Drums

Sergeant First Class Todd Harrison: SFC Harrison has performed professionally for over twenty-two years with greats such as Kirk Whalum, Bill Watrous, Marvin Stamm, Clark Terry, and Paul Gilbert. SFC Harrison studied composition at San Jacinio Junior College and percussion performance at Houston Baptist University.

Bass

Master Sergeant Jeffrey Lopez **: MSG Lopez earned a M.M. at the Manhattan School of Music and a B.M. at the Berklee College of Music. In addition to playing bass, he also composes and arranges for the Jazz Ambassadors. MSG Lopez has performed with Kenny Werner, Dave Douglas, Craig Handy, Rick Margitza, Rita Moreno and others. He has a solo album entitled The Sun and the Rain, and is a contributing author to Jazz Player Magazine.

Vocalist

Master Sergeant Marva Lewis: MSG Lewis served as principal vocalist for the Jazz Knights at the United States Military Academy, the Soldier Show, and the Wiley College A Cappella Choir. She is a veteran of the Gulf War, Desert Storm, and Desert Shield with the First Cavalry Division. MSG Lewis earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in Hotel and Restaurant Management at Wiley College.

Piano

Sergeant First Class Timothy Young: SFC Young is the keyboard player for the Jazz Ambassadors. He works as a freelance pianist in the Washington D.C. area, and has performed with Ray Anderson, Charles McPhearson, Steve Swallow, Doc Cheatham, and Rebecca Parris. SFC Young received a M.M. in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas and a B.M. at Shenandoah University.