Swing Home :: "The entertainment should be a reflection of your good taste... why not shoot for the moon?" :: E-mail 410.756.2473 or 301.639.0770 Chris Poole | John Pritchett | Eric Wetzel | Joe Sullivan | Dan Wallace Baritone Sax / Soprano Sax / Bass Clarinet / Clarinet / Flute One of the band's first members, Chris has played bari sax, lead and second tenor, lead and second alto, soprano, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, and even drums (some guys just can't hold a job). A resident of Stewartstown, PA, Chris has also helped with studio direction on Blue Moon's CD projects and has arranged some of the band's music. His favorite song is "My Way" and he is a big Count Basie fan and also an Elvis Presley fanatic. When asked why he wanted to be in a big band, Chris simply responded, "Doesn't everyone?" His greatest musical memory was soloing at the age of 13 without a clue of what he was doing -- it's too easy to comment on that one! He is an orchestra director for the Maryland Summer Center for the Arts and is a graduate of Towson University where he holds both B.A. and M.S. degrees in Music Education. Chris also serves as full-time band director at Susquehannock High School in PA. * Band member since 1998 Alto Sax / Flute / Clarinet John lives in Baltimore, MD. He has played both lead and second alto with the band (and he says he "has" a flute and clarinet but is still working on mastering them!). His favorite song is Eubie Blake's "Memories of You" and he likes the music of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. John enjoys the opportunity to make some "big music" in a great sax section! He recalls playing a "really cool" saxophone and flute duet in an 11th grade music contest as one of his most memorable music experiences. John is an Engineer with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland. * Band member since 1998 Alto Sax / Clarinet / Flute Eric has been playing saxophone for over 20 years (looks like he started at age 2!). Originally inspired by his uncle, saxophonist Neil Wetzel (director of Jazz Studies at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA), Eric also studied with Mike Trach, Nelson Hill (protege of Phil Woods), and Ron Bridgewater. He has performed in both the U.S. and Europe with bands such as the Todd Rent Quartet, Miavana Latin Jazz, Mr. Joe, and the Inverted World Trio. Eric was also musical director for Adelante, the premier salsa orchestra in Champaign, IL, while playing sax and bass for the band. In 2002, with collaborator Dan Auerbach, he released the 10-track pop cd "Better than Eggnog", followed by 2003's "Six More Weeks of Winter." Eric enjoys listening to Mingus, Kenton, Basie, and Woods. A resident of Baltimore, MD, he is employed as an engineer with the U.S. Army. * Band member since 2003 Tenor Sax / Clarinet / Flute Joe joined Blue Moon Big Band early in 2007, just in time to be part of the band's fifth CD, The Polar Bear's Pajamas. He's one of those guys who will quietly do his job, not miss any gigs, and subtly make you realize he's a fantastic, versatile player. With one of the sweetest tones on tenor that the band has ever had (along with Kate Lodowski), Joe is a great section player and a fine soloist. A resident of Sykesville, MD, Joe enjoys the music of Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, and Don Ellis, to name a few. His favorite tune is "Jumpin' at the Woodside," which the band coincidentally recorded on its first album in 1998. He says he has enjoyed big band music since first hearing it in his early teens, and feels fortunate to be able to play it now. Among Joe's greatest memories is climbing Pike's Peak and enjoying the snowfall in July 2007. During the day, Joe teaches band and orchestra for the Carroll County Maryland School System. * Band member since 2007 [ Photo forthcoming ] Tenor Sax / Clarinet / Flute A resident of Catonsville, MD, Dan joined the band in the summer of 2011 following the departure of 10-year member Katie Lodowski. With big shoes to fill (Katie was a fan favorite), Dan stepped in immediately and simply wowed both the audience and his fellow band members with confidence, style, and immense talent. His favorite big band is The Maria Schneider Orchestra and his favorite song is "Train" by Chris Potter (as recorded on the album "Follow the Red Line"). Dan teaches saxophone at the Park School and contends that "there are few feelings in this world more powerful than playing with a tight sax section, a thundering brass section, and a swinging rhythm section." Recalling his best musical memory, Dan says that after he took a solo on the tune "There is No Greater Love," Terence Blanchard leaned over, pat him on the back, and whispered in his ear, "Good job, kid. You've got some good stuff " (and the proceeded to take his own solo and blow everyone out of the water! * Band member since 2011