Heather Paton - Vocalist
Heather Paton began singing in church choir as a child and hasn’t stopped since! Born a "Navy brat" in San Diego, Heather traveled with her family until her father retired and the family settled back in San Diego. She graduated from Valhalla High School and then went out on the road touring with "Primary Focus", an elementary school assembly team and gospel singing group.
After two years on the road, Heather came back to San Diego and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from San Diego State University. She is active in the San Diego theatre community and has performed with Starlight Theatre, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Diversionary Theatre and Cygnet Theatre and works as a House Manager at Lamb’s Players in Coronado.
Heather's favorite roles have included Heidi [title of show], Illona Ritter ("She Loves Me"), Princess Winifred ("Once Upon A Mattress"), Gertie ("Oklahoma") and Sugar ("Sugar"). She has been leading worship at Foothills United Methodist Church with the contemporary praise band, "Witness", since 1996.
Joe Zampi - Trumpet, Band Leader
Joe plays trumpet and produces Downbeat Big Band. He has played trumpet for more than four decades, and also plays flugelhorn, cornet, piano and valve trombone. Joe has played innumerable weddings, the Mayor’s Ball, nightclubs, military funerals, studio work, churches, off-Broadway shows, and in a seven-piece society band. He was an individual solo champion of New York, and directed a New York State championship marching band. Joe has performed with many notables, including Lou Soloff, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis; for Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Paul Seaforth, and Gilbert Castellanos; and in musical theatre. He plays in the Grossmont College Big Band, Southwestern College Jazz Ensemble, the RJ Big Band, Memory Lane Combo, and Sublime Jazz Band.
He has bachelor's, master's and juris doctorate degrees. Joe has been a physics teacher, trumpet teacher, band director, and musician. He is a practicing attorney and an adjunct instructor at the University of San Diego.
Chris Block - Trumpet
Chris Block is a native-born San Diegan who grew up in Lakeside and attended El Capitan High School. He began playing trumpet in 1984 at the age of ten. He has been a student of Charlie Lauer, John Wilds, and also Calvin Price while majoring in music at Grossmont College, Sacramento State, and San Diego State focusing on classical trumpet performance.
Chris has also freelanced as well as performed with La Jolla Symphony, The Original Old School Band, various churches, brass quintets, and weddings.
As a side note, when seeing Chris perform, look for his playing companion. While on tour with the Sacramento State Marching Band he went into a hotel gift store and found a stuffed frog with a wonderful-looking personality. He bought it and it was warmly appreciated by the marching band who then began requesting the frog's presence. Over time people began asking where the frog was, and Chris had to begin sharing his earning with his green friend. Now Chris has become known for the green fellow and people are disappointed if the frog is not there. So when you see Chris, look for the frog too.
Victor Daluiso - Trumpet
Vic started his musical career at age 10 with cornet lessons. He converted to the trumpet in junior high school and played in youth jazz bands in San Bernardino with Bill Hunter, who went on to become an international jazz piano player and dentist. In high school Vic took lessons in Los Angeles with Louis Maggio, teacher of Rafael Mendez and many other Los Angeles professional trumpet players. While majoring in music at San Diego State, Vic took lessons from Robert Dival of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Harold “Pappy” Mitchell, a well-known studio musician.
After college Vic started the Castle Park High School band in Chula Vista, became a counselor and later an administrator. During that time he played in various San Diego groups: the Dick Harvey Quartet, the Walt Boranda Quartet, a sextet with Jim Cusack, tenor bands of Oral Cunningham and Buster Carlson as well as a dixieland group of educators in the Sweetwater Union High School District. Currently Vic plays in the Grossmont College Jazz Ensemble and the Downbeat Big Band. Vic has a B.A. in music education, an. M.A. in education with an emphasis in counseling and a Ph.D. in Human Behavior.
Joel Giese - Trumpet
Joel has been performing in the San Diego area since 1986. His professional career includes productions of "And the World Goes Round", "Anything Goes", "Company", "Finian's Rainbow", "Gypsy", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Les Miserables", "The Lorax", "My Fair Lady", "Parade", "Peter Pan", "The Sound of Music", "Seussical The Musical", "Sweet Charity", "The Threepenny Opera", "West Side Story", and "The Wizard of Oz". He has played for the operas "Carmen", "Cavalleria Rusticana", "Die Fledermaus", and "The Marriage of Figaro" and also for the ballet "The Nutcracker" with the San Diego Ballet Company. Joel is currently principal trumpet with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and lead trumpet with the Grossmont Big Band.
Russ Mitchell - Trumpet
Russ Mitchell majored in music at the University of Maine, and served in the United States Navy Band. He has performed with notable musicians including drummer Ed Shaughnessy, trombonist Bill Watrous, singer Herb Jeffries, and local jazz artist Dave Scott. Russ has played under the direction of Sammy Nestico, Tad Calcara, Jimmy Cheatham, and Anthony Mostardo.
His theater credits include Lamb's Players Theater, San Diego Youth Theater, Christian Community Theater, Moonlight Amphitheater, Mira Costa College, Carlsbad Community Theater, and Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. Russ has performed with a number of local bands, including RJ Big Band, The Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame, Crown Island Dixieland Jazz Band, High Flyers Bid Band, Notables Big Band, Millennium Big Band, Coronado Big Band, Rancho Santa Fe Big Band, North Coast Symphony, Tim Gill Orchestra, and San Diego Concert Band.
He has made studio recordings with High Flyers Big Band, Millennium Big Band, and Old Globe Theater.
Mark Bahnmiller - Trombone
Mark Bahnmiller has been playing trombone for about forty years, but has never had any formal training. He plays from his heart and always gives one-hundred percent. He has played with a number of local big bands, including Music Makers Big Band, and has performed for years with the Christian Community Theater (CCT), in many different musicals. His inspiration for trombone is Urbie Green and J.J. Johnson. Mark's dedication is to his Mother, who helped him buy his first trombone and encouraged him to carry on.
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Kaitlyn Korogy - Trombone
Kaitlyn Korogy is Downbeat's long-time lead trombone player and has been a member since 2007. While she plays trombone with Downbeat, it has never been her primary instrument. A classically-trained cellist, she studied at San Diego State University.
A San Diego native, her love is performing cello and singing in local rock bands around town, as well as supporting the local music scene in any way she can. She performs in numerous genres, including rock, indie, progressive rock, acoustic, R&B, and jazz. She works in San Diego as a performer, studio musician, private cello teacher, and string coach.
Don Leaman - Trombone
Don is the son of a musician. His father, a trombone player, gave up an offer of a 4 year scholarship in February, 1942, quit high school and went on the road; first with Sonny Dunham and then with the Bobby Sherwood Orchestra. Don grew up listening to his dad play on radio and has a number of recordings by the Bobby Sherwood Orchestra which he still listens to.
When Don was eight, his father began teaching him the trombone. His three younger brothers also play musical instruments. His brother Jim is a retired Band Director/ School teacher who plays in the Lima Symphony and whose son, Joe, is now in college on a music scholarship.
Don has marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, played at the Kentucky Derby (with the US Army Band at Ft. Knox) and played on the road with 2 different bands in the 70’s. He has done studio recording in both Nashville and Memphis and performed in pit bands in numerous musicals including "The Music Man", "Cabaret" and "South Pacific". He attended Wright State University, University of Dayton (Ohio), and The Army/Navy School of Music in Norfolk Virginia.
He recently joined the Downbeat Big Band and is reunited with the music he grew up with and loves. “LONG LIVE BIG BANDS!” says Don.
Doug Buchanan - Saxophone
Saxophonist Doug Buchanan, originally from Bayou Le Batre, Alabama, is known about San Diego for his creative work with Sublime Jazz, the Grossmont Jazz Ensemble, and of course, Downbeat Big Band.
Doug played on tour with the great Charlie Musselwhite, and opened for Etta James, John Lee Hooker, Tower of Power, Canned Heat, and Roomful of Blues. Doug has a great tone, and always comes up with a way to make the song a lot more exciting, whether it's with his sax or adding extra rhythm sounds.
Jason Mangan - Alto Sax, Assistant Musical Director
Jason hails from the quaint town of Quartz Hill, Ca. He has a Bachelors & Masters in Music Education from the University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music where he studied classical saxophone with James Rotter.
While at USC he had the opportunity to perform at several high-profile gigs with the Trojan Marchning Band including the 2000 Academy Awards, at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic, and was on the 1997 Live Album "Dance" with Fleetwood Mac.
Jason is currently the Director of Bands at Bonita Vista High School. His various ensembles and performing groups have garnered admiration and respect for their performing abilities and professionalism all around the country.
Brian Mansfield - Tenor Sax
Brian grew up just down the street from the Monterey Fairgrounds, where he got to hear great music from the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Monterey Blues Festival. In 2000, he was a member of the MJF Honor Band and the MJF All-Star Band (now the Next Generation Big Band) with whom he performed in France, Spain, and Japan as well as main stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival.
After playing in the Willamette University Jazz Ensemble in Salem, OR, Brian worked as a musician for Carnival Cruise Lines and in the Phoenix, AZ area before coming to San Diego where he played in the SDSU Jazz Ensemble and various other groups. He has played and studied with many great musicians, such as Benny Golson, Ray Brown, Herbie Mann, Mel Brown, Roy Hargrove, Terrance Blanchard, Christian McBride, Herman Riley, Paul Contos, and Stan Bock to name a few.
Chris Nowlin - Musical Director, Lead Alto Saxophone
Chris Nowlin plays lead alto saxophone and is the musical director for Downbeat. He earned his Bachelors degree in instrumental and choral music, and received his teaching credential at Point Loma Nazarene University, where he also earned Masters and Educational Specialist degrees in teaching and learning.
Chris has played the National Anthem for the San Diego Padres over 20 times in the last 12 seasons. He currently teaches Independent Study and writes curriculum at a high school in the San Diego area. He is married with three children.
Steve Cochard - Tenor Sax
A native of Philadelphia, Steve has played alto and tenor sax since childhood. He played in the Philadelphia Eagles Band, Philly string bands, and parades. He spent many years as a rock and roller playing with various rock bands, car shows, and private parties.
Steve leads a jazz quartet playing weddings, private parties, corporate and charity events in San Diego and Orange counties. He also plays tenor with a local rock group, FlipSide; and the FlipSide of Flipside which is another jazz quartet playing restaurants. Steve plays Alto sax with the Grossmont College Jazz Ensemble, the Southwestern College Jazz Ensemble, and the Southwestern Jazz Improvisation group. Steve studied jazz with Joe Marillo and Christopher Hollyday.
Steve is a graduate engineer from Penn State University. His early working career was with Bechtel as a mechanical and structural engineering group supervisor designing nuclear power plants. He made a strategic career move in 1983 and has been a part of the software industry for the last 28 years. He owns Back To The Beach Software.
Phillip Steven Marcus - Guitar
Phillip plays guitar for Downbeat. A veteran of the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), he is currently Music Director at Standley Middle School. Phil received his a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, and went on to study at SDSU as a Graduate Assistant under Charles Yates and Harold Warman. He holds teaching credentials in California and Missouri.
A 19-time honoree of Who's Who Among America's Teachers, Phil has distinguished himself as an outstanding educator. He is the founder of the University City High School Centurion Band and co-founder of the San Diego Youth Philharmonic Orchestra Intermediate Symphony. Among his many honors are the PTSA Honorary Service Award, KUSI TV's "Class Act: Teacher of the Week," SDUSD Site Teacher of the Year, and Outstanding Young Men of America. He is the recipient of the David Paul Schuchman Memorial Award for Outstanding Secondary Music Teacher of the Year for SDUSD, and was selected as a national finalist in the Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year National Search. In 2005, he was selected as the Director of the SDUSD All-City Elementary Honor Band.
Phil has performed with the San Diego Opera, Charger Band, the Super Bowl "Bud Band," and on radio and TV in commercial spots and shorts. He received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Television Director for the drama "Waiting for Al"; the Video Expo '91 award for the orientation video "The Boys & Girls Club of Escondido Welcomes You"; and The Leading Edge Award for "The Next Generation is ASD". He is a member of the SCSBOA, CBDA, CMEA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Students of Mr. Marcus perform with Downbeat, The Jazz Ensemble, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, San Diego Youth Symphony, San Diego Young Artist's Symphony, Civic Youth Orchestra Palomar College, Grossmont Symphonic Orchestra, San Diego State University, the San Francisco Conservatory, UCLA Marching Band, USC's Thornton School of Music, and the cast of the original Broadway musical "Jersey Boys."
Albert L. Rubidoux III - Drums
Albert keeps the band in time on the drums. He has played for 11 years and also plays hand percussion. He has played with Southwestern College Small Jazz Combo and Latin Jazz Band, and currently plays in the Jazz Ensemble and Downbeat Big Band. Albert played in the pit orchestra for productions of Side by Side by Sondheim, Damn Yankees, and Working. He graduated from Southwestern College in 2003.
Albert works as an event manager for a corporate and private catering company, and is also an audio engineer for independent and student films. Albert is a Foley artist, audio consultant, and soundscape designer.
Alex Lopez - Bass
Alex is a local musician who joined Downbeat Big Band in April 2011. He enjoys the challenges of playing Bass in Downbeat and has participated in our recent concerts and events. Alex is busy with various projects including LX2, a guitar duo that plays Bossa Nova, Flamenco, and Jazz Standards. He performs with various Classic and Latin Rock groups as well as The RJ Big Band. Alex recently played in the Christian Community Theater (CCT) production of "Jump, Jive & Wail" on the flight deck of the USS Midway.
He is in charge of social media for the band, and obtains new, challenging, and special occasion charts for future Downbeat events. His primary equipment is a Fender Jazz Bass and Galien Kruger amps.
Eric Swadell - Keyboards
Eric Swadell, a native San Diegan, studied piano and organ with silent-movie organist Josephine Hutchinson. He obtained his B.A. in Music from Biola University where he studied piano with Laszlo Lak, and musical arranging with Dr. Edwin Childs.
He has served as organist and accompanist at many churches, currently playing the 1925 Wurlitzer Theater Organ at Emmanuel Faith. He accompanied "Alice in Concert" and "Wizard of Oz" for CYT, as well as "Annie" and "Jump, Jive & Wail" (2011) for CCT. He also plays with RJ Big Band, Palomar College Community Band, and other jazz combos. He and his wife Stephanie have three daughters, 2 sons-in-law and 1 grandson.
Kimberley Layton - Vocals
Kimberley Layton, a native San Diegan, began singing publicly at age 10 and has never stopped. She received her B.A. in musical theatre from the University of California, Irvine and has been performing locally for decades with many different musical groups and theatrical companies.
When not performing with the RJ Big Band, Downbeat Big Band, or the Club 33 Singers, Kimberley works as the Director of Community Relations for the San Diego Chargers.
Jeff Dooley - Trombone
Yo Shiguya - Bari Sax
