The Musicians
The musicians behind the music.
Saxophones/Winds
Doug graduated from UWEC in 1981 with a degree in Sax performance and cut his teeth in the professional musical world in the Seattle Jazz scene from 1981-1991.A pivotal moment came for Doug one Monday night at Jazz Alley, when he went to hear Sir Roland Hanna play a solo act. After a conversation with Hanna, Doug set a personal goal that night to write 10 big band charts.Having long since passed that mark, Doug continues on that course today.As Doug was completing his 8th chart, he was approached by James Rasmussen (no relation) to start a big band. It began in 1986 and is called the Jazz Police. Doug has written extensively for them and has charts on 3 CDs they have recorded. In 1991 Doug and his wife moved back to the Twin Cities. He soon joined the Stan Bann Big Band. Due to his sustained success writing and arranging, and at the urging of his fellow musicians, Doug founded his own big band, the Acme Jazz Company.The Band debuted at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival on June 21, 2008, and is actively playing in the Twin Cities.
Miles Mortensen
Originally from Maine, Miles moved to the Twin Cities in 1993 and has performed steadily over the last 15 years. He has been a member of the following R & B bands; Liberty Street, Power of Ten and High and Mighty but in the last 5 years turned back to jazz performance as a member of the Stan Bann Big and most recently the Acme Jazz Company. Miles is in his 21st year of teaching and has been director of bands at Minnetonka High School since 1997. At MHS Miles instructs the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Pit Orchestra for the annual musical, AP Music Theory and the Jazz Ensemble. He holds a Master of Music in Conducting from Western Michigan University and Bachelors Degrees in Saxophone Performance and Music Education from the University of Southern Maine.
Robert A. Parsons, Writer/Arranger
Arranger and woodwind performer Bob Parsons grew up in St. James, Minnesota and lived in the Twin Cities until 1990. In 1990, after receiving an M.A. in composition from the University of Minnesota, Parsons left the Twin Cities scene for a temporary position at Casper College in Wyoming. In 1991 he moved to New York City. He received a Ph.D. in music from New York University in 2004. He moved back to Minnesota in 2008. Parsons performs on saxophone, flute, clarinet, and piano.
(While in Minnesota, Bob played with just about everybody including three albums with the Wolverines. Other associations included Steve Wright, Bernie Edstrom, Red Wolfe, Cedar Avenue Big Band, and Ruperts.)
During the NYC years he was involved in composition, arranging, and production work for major label recording projects, jingles, and film scores. Parsons provided in-studio arranging services for Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, John Scofield, the Brecker Brothers, and many others. Bob has performed and arranged on four albums with New Jersey-based guitarist Dave Stryker. His arrangements are also in the library of the all-female Diva Jazz Orchestra. The UMO Orchestra in Helsinki, Finland, also recorded several arrangements. In 2001 Bob orchestrated a Stryker arrangement of Marvin Gaye’s “Pride and Joy” performed by the Carnegie Hall Big Band under Jon Faddis with Kevin Mahogany, vocal, and Russell Malone, guitar.
While in NYC, Parsons assisted Bob Belden in the recording of several Blue Note albums including Turandot and Black Dahlia. Also in New York, Parsons was co-leader (with fellow Minnesotan, trumpeter Charlie Caranicas) of the Blue Note Jazz Club late night band for several years.
Since
returning to Minnesota, Bob Parsons joined the Acme Jazz Company. It
is a natural association since Acme, unique on the Twin Cities scene,
features original arrangements and compositions of its members giving
Bob a forum for his personal eclectic style. Bob is also involved
with the Chaska-based Bellagala Big Band led by Don George. Bob is
assisting with the re-creation of a portion of the Les Brown big band
library the group features in its performances.
Tom Schmitt
Mike Gartner
Trombones
Lance Strickland, Writer/Arranger
Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Lance moved to the midwest in the 1960’s where he attended the Universities of Illinois and Minnesota. After playing trombone with numerous territorial bands throughout the midwest, he settled down in Minneapolis where he established a productive relationship with the Wolverines Big Band, contributing to the library as an arranger and playing trombone. His career also included teaching in the St. Louis Park school district. There he was band director and jazz lab instructor before retiring in 2000. Most recently he has established another productive relationship with the Acme Jazz Company, again contributing to the library and playing trombone.
Ben Link
Brooklynne Nelson
Trumpets
Peter Davis began *playing* the trumpet at the young age of 4 while living in a Mongolian prison camp with his family. Having found what is believed to be the very first example of a Chinese made trumpet, the young Peter was able to incapacitate his family's captors by playing (what would later be known as) the head to the Charlie Parker tune "Kim" at up tempo and up two octaves, and at a ridiculous volume. Over the next few years, Peter honed his skills on his instrument (as well as his habit/taste for fine Vodka) as the family worked its way across Asia and Eastern Europe. Known by many monikers, "Mr. Fabulous" got his most famous nick name at 18 while playing lead on his first cruise ship gig... The Titanic. (You do the math.) While many people are familiar with the story of the ship's tragic last voyage, what is less commonly known is that while the rest of the musicians were thrown overboard, numerous rich old ladies insisted that the young Peter be spared from Davy Jones' Locker. After his eventual arrival in the US, Peter enrolled simultaneously at M.I.T. and The Berkeley School of Music where he completed his two PhDs in Trumpet Performance and Computer Science (respectively). His thesis, "Practical Algorithms for Ultra-high Pitched Trumpet Soloing in Service Oriented Architectures" is widely regarded as the definitive tome on the topic, and is required reading for all incoming freshman at Hennepin County Community College. Following a brief stint with the CIA, Peter and his family relocated to the Twin Cities where he is currently leading the trumpet section (when he shows up) for the ACME Jazz Company. This bio has been approved by the CIA, DOD, and the International Society of Trumpet Owners/Operators. He can be seen the first Monday of each month at O'Gara's, in St. Paul, MN. Peter is the one playing the Chinese trumpet. (No, not that Chinese trumpet, the other one!)
Michael Hillman, Writer/Arranger
Mike graduated from High School in Michigan and entered the Air Force where he played with the United States Air Force Concert Band, Wright-Patterson AFB. While in the Air Force he began trumpet studies with William Adam at Indiana University. He then transferred to the University of Nevada, where he studied trumpet with Walt Blanton and received a B.A. in Trumpet Performance. After graduating he returned to Indiana and played with several ensembles in the Evansville area until beginning a Masters Degree at Arizona State University. Before finishing that degree he moved to the Twin Cities and met his wife Lola. While in the Twin Cities he studied trumpet with Manny Laureano, Principal trumpet with Minnesota Orchestra and played with the Wolverines, Classic Jazz Orchestra, Mill City Brass, Stan Bann Big Band, DMP Jazz Quartet, Bloomington Symphony, Dakota Valley Symphony and Lynhurst Baroque Ensemble. Meanwhile, Lola was in pursuit of an opera career so in 1984 they moved to San Francisco where Mike attended San Francisco State University and received his Teaching Credential in instrumental music. During that time he studied trumpet with Joseph Alessi, former trumpet with New York Philharmonic Orchestra and played with the Berkeley Symphony, Theatreworks, Full Faith & Credit Jazz Band, Firm Roots Jazz Quintet and Berkeley Opera Orchestra. Lola’s career also took them to New York where Mike played with New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, Quintessence Brass Quintet and Brooklyn Lyric Opera. While in New York he finished his Masters Degree at Lehman College, New York with a M.A. in Music Education. He also studied trumpet with Mel Broiles, Principal trumpet with the Metropolitain Opera Orchestra. In 1999 Mike and Lola returned to the Twin Cities and Mike has been the music director at Roosevelt HS in Minneapolis since then. He does as much playing as his teaching schedule will allow and is honored to be a founding member of the Acme Jazz Company.
Web site: http://web.mac.com/divajazz
Bob Hirte
A St. Paul native, Bob first picked up the horn at the delicate age of 12. His parents signed him up with the St. Paul Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, probably to get he and his brother out of town for the summers! He has been playing pretty much ever since and in his 40+ years playing trumpet he has performed in a variety of situations including local orchestras, opera, musical theater (where he met his wife, Betsy), rock/funk bands, brass ensembles and big bands. More recent projects include a series of studio gigs at BehrTrax Studios in Plymouth where he can be heard on CD releases by nationally acclaimed smooth jazz guitarist Boday and on the self titled release by the group Aryastone. Following the advice given by his musician friends, Bob is not planning to quit his day gig (an account manager for 3M).
Denis Lodin, Vocalist
Rhythm Section
Geoff's talent caught the attention of Acme Jazz Company leader Doug Rasmussen while Geoff was a student at Minnetonka High School. Geoff was playing in the school's jazz bands and musicals, mostly under the direction of Miles Mortensen, Geoff's performances with the Acme Jazz Company have, once again, proven Doug's ability to spot young talent. Geoff's outstanding guitar work and musical maturity (which rivals that of even the most seasoned players) are featured on a number of Acme Jazz Company charts. He is currently attending the University of St. Thomas.
Miles Porter - Bass
Miles is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado where he studied music and mathematics. He has played extensively in Colorado and Minnesota for the last 15 years with several groups including the Greeley Chamber Orchestra, Dakota County Symphony, The Medtronic Symphony, The Smoking Room Jazz Combo, Friends of Miles Jazz Combo, The Insomniacs, Zink Whiskers, and Mitch Woods. Miles lives in Plymouth, Minnesota with his wife, two adopted kids from Korea, and any varying number of basses, other stringed instruments and two clarinets. Miles' musical compositions can be found on his website at http://paintedharmony.com
Andy Artz - Drums
Born in Pittsburgh, Andy grew up in Apple Valley, Minnesota. He started playing drums at age 11, and has been making lots of noise ever since. During the day, he teaches drumming privately. At night he's an in-demand sideman known for his versatility and professionalism. Andy runs the Andy Artz Society Orchestra, and currently plays with the Robert Everest ExpeditionChill 7Steve Clarke & The Working Stiffs, John "The Fishin' Musician" Koziol, and now the Acme Jazz Company as well. Other local acts he's worked with include the Stan Bann Big Band, the Jerry O'Hagen Big Band, the Twin Cities Jazz Orchestra, Piebald Dog, and Robby Vee. He also works on cruise ships for Celebrity Cruises and the Yachts of Seabourne, at recording studios, in local churches, and for stage productions of all kinds. Through his career on land and sea, he's backed up many national and international performing artists, including Claudia Acuna, Barry Danelian, Eric Kloss, Elliot Finkel, Mark Preston, and Jack Walker.