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Meet the Artists

Graham Breedlove, Trumpet

Graham Breedlove began playing the trumpet at age twelve in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. Since then he has performed on four continents, in more than twenty countries, with headliners representing more than forty Grammy nominations including Wynton Marsalis, Ray Charles, The Saturday Night Live Band, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The New York Voices, Conrad Herwig, Donald Harrison and The National Symphony Orchestra. In 1995 he enjoyed the honor of being awarded first prize in The International Trumpet Guild's Jazz Solo Competition. Not only active in the DC area as a freelance artist, Graham Breedlove currently serves as trumpet soloist with The United States Army Blues, the premiere jazz ensemble of The United States Army Band, Pershing's Own. He can be heard on The Army Blues 25th Anniversary CD featuring The New York Voices and is featured himself on The Blues latest CD, Things Ain't What They Used To Be. In addition to his duties with the Army Blues, Graham serves as Special Bugler at The Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, and participates in official ceremonies at The White House, The Pentagon and at The Department of State. Holding a Master of Music Degree and Performer's Certificate from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Louisiana State University, Graham Breedlove has studied with world famous masters such as; David Baker, Alvin Batiste, Stephen Burns and Byron Stripling. A master teacher himself, Graham Breedlove is a sought after clinician, presenting master classes at high schools and universities across the United States.

Dave Brown, Clarinet/Saxophone

Currently a member of The United States Army Blues, Dave Brown has performed for audiences on six continents! Versatile and comfortable on multiple instruments and in multiple genres, he has enjoyed everything from being a frequently featured soloist with The United States Army Blues; three national and two international tours as lead alto for The Glenn Miller Orchestra; to performances with The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; a stint as a resident musician at Disneyland and a tour of Jordan with the show Aladdin. Dave Brown has also served as a staff musician for Royal Cruise Line touring Africa, Central and South America, Mexico, Europe And Hawaii. He has played the National tours for numerous productions, including the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, La Cage Aux Folles, and Jesus Christ Superstar and has performed with numerous Artists including The Fifth Dimension, Manhattan Transfer, Johnny Mathis, Rosemary Clooney and The Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He can be heard on several CDs including the Grammy nominated CD Carnival with Wynton Marsalis, Doc Scanlon's Rhythm Boys, and is featured on The Army Blues' most recent CD, Things Ain't What They Used To Be. Not only heard, he can be seen in the on-screen big band in Touchstone Picture's Billy Bathgate. Dave Brown has served as woodwind faculty at George Mason University, Eastern U.S. Music Camp at Colgate University and acted as clinician at schools throughout the country. A graduate of The Eastman School of Music, Dave Brown also holds Certificates in Aviation as a licensed commercial pilot and a Certified Flight Instructor and Advanced Ground Instructor. In May 2000, David and his wife Lorrie Berkshire Brown travelled to Ukraine to conduct master classes in jazz improvisation and oboe instrument repair in the conservatories of Lviv, Odessa and Kyiv.

Steve Fidyk, drums

One of the most musically adept set drummers in the country, Steve Fidyk got hold of his first set of drums at age four. Encouraged by his parents, he began studying at age seven with Angelo Stella, and went on his first "wedding gig" with his father at age eight! A member of the Musicians Union by the time he was eleven, he joined his first society band and began a professional freelance career in the Pocono North East region that lasted throughout high school. After meeting Ed Soph at a Percussive Arts Society Conference, he began a rigorous practice schedule focusing on coordination and hand development, he went on to study with Joe Morello who provided adequate inspiration for him to increase his practice sessions from three to five hours a day, furthur refining his technique. He credits his study with John Riley as exposing him to transcribing and connecting the tools with the music, and consequently was asked by Peter Erskine to transcribe the solos for his book, The Drum Perspective. Steve is a former member of The United States Army Field Band with whom he toured throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Cuba. Currently a member of The United States Army Blues, Steve performs regularly at numerous diplomatic functions and ceremonies, at The White House and at gatherings of Heads of State.

He has performed and recorded with artists including Michael Abene, Mark Taylor, Phil Wilson, Arturo Sandoval, Dennis DiBlasio, Steve Turre, The New York Voices and Chris Vadala. Steve Fidyk can be heard on soundtracks and commercials including The Learning Channel, Giant Foods, Red Roof Inn, The Sylvan Learning Center, The Hair Cuttery and Provident Bank. He has also performed at The Hollywood Jazz Festival, The Walt Disney World Jazz Festival, The University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festival and for The International Association of Jazz Educators. Steve Fidyk holds a Bachelors Degree from Wilkes University and a Masters Degree from the University of North Texas. Maintaining a private studio and busy schedule as a clinician, he is the Director of Drum Set Studies at The University of Maryland.

Tony Nalker, Piano

An accomplished pianist, arranger, composer and trombonist, Tony Nalker finds himself in demand as an accompanist and studio musician with over thirty CDs to his credit, including three Grammy Award nominations.

His recordings and performances, ranging from children's recordings to jazz, with artists such as Urbie Green, Paul Smoker, Charlie Haden, Jimmy Knepper Jack Walrath, Jim Pugh, The New York Voices, and The Capital Bones.

Tony Nalker has composed and produced soundtracks for Iowa Public Television, and accepted the challenge of numerous commissions by schools and universities as well as by professional dance and theater companies, including a musical adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter. Currently the solo pianist for The United States Army Blues, the premiere jazz ensemble of The United States Army, Tony has played for numerous diplomatic functions and occasions at The White House, The Vice President's mansion and for visiting Heads of State. He has accompanied such jazz luminaries as Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Jon Faddis, Phil Wilson, Bill Watrous, Stanley Turrentine, Carl Fontana and countless others. Tony Nalker holds a Masters Degree from the University of Iowa, where he also served as Jazz Studies Instructor and Staff Accompanist for the dance department, and a Bachelors Degree from James Madison University.

Dallas Smith, Bass

A graduate of The Eastman School of Music, where he studied clarinet, Dallas Smith has maintained a busy and varied professional career. As a current member and solo bassist of The United States Army Blues, the premiere jazz ensemble of The United States Army, Dallas Smith has led a dual musical life. Initially a member of The Army Blues as a woodwind doubler, playing saxophone, flute and clarinet, he became equally comfortable on upright bass and electric bass. He has performed regularly for The White House, The Vice President's mansion and diplomatic functions for at least seven presidential administrations. Dallas Smith has recorded and performed with such artists and personalities as Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Clark Terry, Patti LaBelle, Stanley Turrentine, Louis Bellson, Herbie Hancock, Arturo Sandoval and Carl Fontana. Maintaining a busy freelance schedule, Dallas can be heard on recordings for Warner Brothers, Hal Leonard, CPP Belwin, Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion.

Harry Watters, Trombone

A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Harry grew up in a musical family. His mother, a french hornist in the Huntsville Symphony and a senior producer and co-host of a Saturday morning radio show Sundial with his drum playing father at WLRH radio, his brother an accomplished trumpeter and his wife a professional flutist. Harry is no stranger to the limelight himself, being featured as a soloist throughout the United States, Europe and Australia in every type of venue imaginable from jazz festivals, clubs, concerts with orchestras to international military tattoos! Harry Watters has released several solo CDs including; Tiger Rag on the Pro Jazz Label, Wonderful recorded with the Janacek Philharmonic on the Centaur label, Brothers I and II and most recently The Island of Dr. Trombone.

He served as a staff musician for Walt Disney World and was Musical Leader and Director at the Main Street Station Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. After graduating from the University of North Texas, Watters spent four years, 3 touring and recording with the renowned Dukes of Dixieland.

While working at night on Bourbon Street, Harry attended The University of New Orleans by day, serving as graduate assistant to professor Elis Marsalis.

Harry Watters has been on the faculty at South East Louisiana University and The University of New Orleans. A Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at Louisiana State University, Harry is widely considered to be one of the most fluent "jazz trombone-technicians" in the country. Harry Watters is currently a member of The United States Army Blues.