Masterful Musicians

Live music for events in Colorado

Doug

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Doug has over 40 years of experience as a professional freelance pianist, specializing in jazz. He studied with pianists Bobby Timmons and Herbie Hancock in high school, joined the Navy Show Band (’71-’75), and then majored in jazz studies at NorthTexas State. International tours followed with The Lettermen (’78-’81).

Coming to Denver in the mid-80’s, he played the exclusive Moulin Rouge room at the Denver Fairmont Hotel backing such national acts as Kenny Rankin, The Mills Brothers, The Modernaires, Lanie Kazan, Johnny Otis, Carol Lawrence and Red Skelton. In the San Francisco Bay area (’88-’90), he performed with the Full Faith and Credit Big Band.

Since making Denver his permanent home in 1990, Doug has performed with a cavalcade of jazz icons, including Buddy De Franco, Joe Farrell, Nick Brignola, Teddy Edwards, Terry Gibbs, Red Holloway, Eddie Harris, Richie Cole, Lew Tabakin, and Bobby Shew to name a few. 1993 and 1996 found him backing Roseanna Vitro and Giacamo Gates, respectively, at the Telluride Jazz Celebration (broadcast on NPR). Also in 1996, Doug served as pianist and assistant musical director for “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the
Blues” at the Cleveland Playhouse in conjunction with the opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Currently, Doug teaches jazz piano privately and does recording projects at his home studio “Studio By the Lake”. He can be heard performing at many different venues around Denver such as the Brown Palace and others.

Charlie

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Charlie Z has played professionally for over 40 years, playing classical music to jazz. As a clarinetist, he started studying privately with the woodwind professor in residence at Kansas State College of Pittsburg, Kansas at the age of 12. During high school, Charlie started playing gigs with local rhythm sections developing his ability to improvise on standards. After high school, Charlie received his degree in music from the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, Missouri. During his college years, Charlie began to also include the Alto and Tenor Saxophones and began playing in some of the night clubs in K.C.

In 1967 Charlie joined the Air Force Concert Band in Washington D.C. For the next four years, he performed for U.S. Presidents and dignitaries both nationally and internationally. In 1974, Charlie made his home in Denver, Colorado, and has lived there since.

Over the years, Charlie has performed with such jazz notables as Roseanna Vitro, Dick Hindman, Richy Cole, Dave Zoller, Eric Gunnison, Bruce Forman, Paul Warburton, and many others. He has toured with Doc Severinson and Red Skelton and has performed at many jazz festivals including Telluride, CO. His Jazz Quartet was one of the featured groups at the Queenstown, New Zealand Jazz Festival in 2004.

Arlo

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Arlo is a classically trained violinist, performing as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player in Denver and throughout the Colorado area. Along with performing in the Fort Collins Symphony, he has performed with the Greeley Philharmonic, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and many Colorado based chamber groups.

He began his studies In Flagstaff Arizona at the age of 9 under the Suzuki method. From there, he moved to the Tucson area to study with Professor Mark Rush at the University of Arizona for two years before coming to Colorado to continue his studies at the University of Denver, where he received a Bachelor’s of Music in Violin Performance, and a Performance Certificate.

During his studies, he became very interested in modern music, and since then has premiered orchestral works by Shafer Mahoney and Glenn Stallcop, the chamber work Deux pas de Deux for violin and piano by Charles Zoll, winner of the 2013 “Rapido!” composition contest, and was the violin soloist with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra in the premier performance of Sarah Perske‘s Therese’s Elevator.

In addition to classical music, Arlo enjoys other genres including pop and jazz, and performing with a looper to create unique music. He also performs in musical theatre pits around the country, and as a session violinist in recording studios.

He has held a studio of ~15 students in the Denver area since 2014, and works with Manifest String Studio and City Strings to bring the joy and excitement of music to kids and adults alike throughout Denver. When he is not performing or teaching, he is likely enjoying what Colorado has to offer and building small electronics projects.

Roger

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Roger is an award-winning guitarist and bassist, originally from Indiana, now based in Denver, Colorado. His expertise is supported by a Bachelors in Music from Indiana Univerisity as well as a Masters in Music from the University of Denver. With a foundation in classical guitar, he excels as an in-demand performer of all styles including jazz, folk, and rock. Roger has shared the stage with artists including Alabama, Umphrey’s McGee, Victor Wooten, Trout Steak Revival, and Green Lemon.

In the orchestra pit, Roger played guitar and bass for Chess the Musical (Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA), Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Peter Pan. He has composed music for film and currently composes and records the music for the popular Colorado podcast Mile Hi Locavorist. 

Clint

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Clint is a professional guitarist who specializes in jazz and is fluent in a variety of styles. He holds a BA in jazz performance from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY. He has served on faculty at Long Island University, Greenwich House Music School, and the Village Community School in New York City.

In 2009 Clint received a Masters Degree in Jazz Composition with an emphasis on Big Band arranging from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. His compositions for big band have been performed in Europe and the U.S. by bands such as the Air Force Academy big band, The Falconaires.

He has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan with artists such as Houston Person, Etta Jones, and Bobby Watson. He currently makes his home near Denver, Colorado where he has taught guitar at the Community College of Aurora and directed band and choir at Academy Charter School in Castle Rock.

Clint is comfortable in settings ranging from solo guitar to big band. He has a warm, rich sound and a flowing improvisational style.

Susie

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Susie has been a professional Classical violinist for over 30 years.  After receiving a Bachelor’s degree with Performance Certificate from the University of Texas at Austin, she pursued a Master’s degree in violin performance as a full scholarship student at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.  Susie has played with symphonies in Mexico and across the U. S., and since moving to Denver, has been a member of the Colorado Symphony as well as Central City Opera, Boulder Philharmonic and Opera Colorado.  She loves playing weddings and events throughout all of gorgeous Colorado!

Katie

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As a soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and activist, Katie aims to use the cello to engage people in unique and meaningful musical experiences. Katie enjoys bringing cello music to a wide range of settings and venues, performing at churches, yoga studios, art galleries, Syntax Physic Opera (CO), The Preservery (CO),The Bluebird (CO), and Red Rocks Amphitheater (CO).

Under the direction of William Grubbat Butler University and Matthew Zalkindand the Lamont School of Music, Katiehas presented five full-length recitals including repertoire from the Baroque through the Modern era.

As an accomplished orchestral cellist, Katie serves as Principal Cellist of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra and has played for various musicals, ballets, operas, film recordings, and season concerts since 2003. Katie’s true passion as a cellist lies in performing chamber music.

She currently collaborates with guitarist Russ Callison, formed in 2016 out of a shared desire to offer captivating and intimate performances of cello and guitar music. In 2018 she collaborated with the renowned Harlem Quartetin a special performance of the Mendelssohn Octet.

Katie’s experience as a chamber musician brought her to four seasons of the Zodiac Chamber Festival and Academy where she spends two weeks collaborating on standard repertoire as well as premiering new compositions throughout the south of France.

Kari

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Kari is a Colorado native and creative cellist who performs, teaches, and composes music in the Denver-metro area. Kari has been performing professionally since 2012 and holds a BM in classical performance from Metropolitan State University of Denver where she also studied jazz and improv. As a classically trained musician with a love for all musical styles, Kari aims to bridge the gap between classical music and just about everything else resulting in a style that can fit any event.

We had a cellist by the name of Kari. She played beautifully. My daughter was able to choose the music to be played before, during and after the ceremony. Masterful Musicians was very easy to work with and listened to what my daughter wanted for her dream wedding. I highly recommend this company and Kari if you are looking for a cellist!

T. S.