Gwinnett County GA-based group specializing in Jazz Standards and a variety of musical styles.

 

Dave Reesman, Keyboard: Dave is a founding member of the Jazzlites and holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Georgia, a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, and has completed the candidacy requirements for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from Florida State University.  His performing expertise crosses over a broad spectrum of musical styles from classical to jazz, rock, pop, R&B, and sacred music. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

John Harriman, Bass: John is a founding member of the Jazzlites and has earned the Bachelor/Masters/Specialist degrees in Music Education at the University of Georgia with a concentration in cello. He has performed as bass guitarist with the UGA Redcoat Band and Jazz Ensemble, the Emory Jazz Ensemble, and the DeKalb/Perimeter Jazz Ensemble. He is a past member of Capitol City Xpress, and subs for many of Atlanta’s top swing bands.  His versatility in musical styles has allowed him to play with a variety of rock and country bands, and he is the bassist for the Back in Time band. John has directed and/or performed in such venues as Musical Theater, open air concerts, orchestral and band concerts with both cello and bass guitar, free form jazz groups, studio recording on cello and bass guitar and vocals, jazz clubs, weddings and receptions, small private parties and large corporate meetings/parties.  John is a retired GMEA/GCPS Orchestra Director, Clinician and Adjudicator in the state of Georgia, and holds memberships in NAfME, ASTA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Rick Simon, Drums:  Rick is a recent addition to the Jazzlites. He minored in music at the University of Arizona School of Music, and has played throughout Europe and the US since the late 60s. Combining ethnomusicology and theory, he is a student of the styles of orchestral through free form jazz through aboriginal percussion. Experienced in professional performance on drums, percussion, guitar, and bass, Rick has survived playing in Musical Theater, open air concerts, symphonic, atonal jazz groups, hotel chain circuits, studio recording, road bands, the list goes on and on…

 

The Jazzlites would like to thank all of the special guest musicians that have performed with us over the years.

“Once a Jazzlite, Always a Jazzlite!”

The Honorable Bucky Johnson*, drums – *Founding Member of the Jazzlites

Melvin Hodges*, saxophone – *Founding Member of the Jazzlites

Jonathan Jackson, vocals and guitar

Chris Costigan, sax

Rick Burgess, guitar

Tom Wallace, trumpet

John Marsh, vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn

Melvin Jordan, guitar

Candace Devaney, vocals

Ken Simpson, drums

Carey Brague, saxophone

Scott Slade, saxophone

Maria Howell, vocals

Eric South, saxophone

Jeff Simmons, saxophone

Tom Grimm, guitar

Laura Reesman, vocals