Mark Wells - Trombonist and part of our family friends the Wells family

Dave Stryker - Great guitarist. We were supposed to be on tour with MSU but covid :(

Shelia Earley - Good friend from Phoenix/Wisconsin. Met as she was looking for the Jeff Hamilton concert at West Ottawa. I said this is the place! Been friends since! 

Tim Froncek - How do you thank someone who you owe so much to? I have many fathers but this was one of my first. Next to my birth father, this man follows close behind. (my birth father by the way, feels the same way I do about this man. Pure love for him) The way I hear music is so influenced by this man. My love of drums came from this man and Buddy Rich who is one of his favorites too! My first professional gig came from this man. (which comes with stories that we laugh about now. I'll just say the punch line is "Welcome to showbiz Max" ) Mom and Dad Froncek have been some of the most loving, caring, giving, supportive, selfless people I have ever met in my life. My life would not be the same without them in. From every aspect of life, they have been my teachers. Tim is a lifelong learner that passes on every bit of knowledge he gets. I grew up listening to him and then started sharing the stage with him. In big band, he taught me about the relationship with the drummer and the lead trumpet player,(the only other person I learned this from was Jeff Hamilton who Tim also loves). Tim and I know what we are going to play before we play it, (partly because he kids me with his line, I like that lick you always play! haha) on the bandstand I keep one eye on him one eye on my music. The other thing that's cool is his influence has now gone through generations seeing as my nephew Elijah has studied with Tim.  I could go on for days but as Dizzy said about another Pops, " No him no me" I feel the same way about my Pops and my other Pops and the Pops! LOL Love you more than you know Pops! Thank you as Duke says "In the Beyond Category" 

Dan Wilson - Great Jazz Guitarist

Michael Brecker - One of the all time great jazz saxophonists

Kengo Nakamura - Bassist from Japan who I met through Wess Anderson

Dr. James Sawer - Trumpeter and Friend who I have played many a gig with!

Greg Alley - Was my 3rd trumpet teacher. I was so blessed to have such amazing teachers and hope I will some day bring honor to them demonstrating the incredible teaching I received. 

Liany Mateo - great bassist from MSU. Lot of great memories!

​Tia Fuller - Saxophonist

Lew Tabackin - Great Jazz Saxophonist

​James Moody - Also Great Jazz Saxophonist

Mimi Jones - Great jazz bassist. Had a great tour with at MSU!

Sherman Irby - Great Saxophonist with J@LC

Renee Rosnes - Amazing Pianist who I had so much fun with on tour with MSU!

Stefon Harris- Amazing Jazz Musician and now part of my ever increasing jazz family after our tour with MSU!

George Benson - Jazz Guitarist and Vocalist

Tanya Darby - Great trumpeter and friend.