Liz Wu, Vibraphone and Percussion

Liz Wu is a versatile multi-instrumentalist with a focus on percussion. Since graduating from CCM in 2002 with a BA in Jazz Vibraphone Performance, she has traveled through Europe, Mexico and Guatemala and has played in many different bands and settings. Her love for Latin music began as a child, after hearing recordings of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Poncho Sanchez and Cal Tjader.

  Cesar Vanegas, Congas

Born in El Salvador and moving to Washington D.C. at the age of 2, Cesar began his musical career playing minor percussion instruments (whenever possible) when he was 7 years old in his fathers Latin band; (Famous Salvadorian singer Cesar Donald). In the early 90's Cesar joined Liberation an all-star Latin band. After one year of playing with Liberation; Cesar returned to play once again with his fathers band until his untimely death in 1993. In 1993 Cesar decided to stop playing Latin music and on a tip from a friend, he began playing southern rock for Boris and The Bush Pilots. Six months later he joined Tommy Lepson & The Lazyboys. Cesar played with Tommy for 10 years and along the way performed with some of the best musicians around the DC area: Nils Lofgren, The Nighthawks, Tom Principato, Paul Reed Smith, Mary Ann Redmond, Catfish Hodge, The January All Stars and playing twice at the White House for former President Clinton. Cesar could also be found in the recording studio playing on over 15 CD's including the Grammy Award nominated CD Dino Rock, from the Children's Category. After leaving D.C. in 2004, Cesar now calls Cincinnati home.

  G. Scott Jones, Trombone

G. Scott Jones holds a Master's of Music in Improvisation from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor's of Music in Jazz Studies from Central State University. He has performed and recorded with a variety of musical groups, including: The Funk Brothers, the Concordia University Faculty Brass Quintet, Aretha Franklin, Spyder Turner, Poco Loco, Global Theory, Baoku and the Image Afro-Beat Band, the G. Scott Jones Freedom Ensemble, Nomo, The National Jazz Orchestra of Detroit, the Eddie Brookshire Big Band, Yours Truly, and Donald Walden. He teaches "History of Jazz" at Central State University Dayton Campus. He also teaches courses in Music and Graphics Design at Edison Community College in Piqua, OH. He arranges Music, designs publications for print, and develops web solutions.

  AJ Braman, Piano

AJ Braman is a Jazz pianist from Buffalo, New York, AJ Braman is currently completing his BA in Jazz Studies at CCM. AJ is this year's pianist for the CCM Jazz Ensemble and performed in an opening group for Wynton Marsalis and the Lincon Center Jazz Orchestra performance last October.

  Chris Barrick, Timbales

Chris Barrick completed a Master's degree in percussion at CCM and also recently received the Terry Gibbs Vibraphone Scholarship from the Percussive Arts Society. Originally from Rockville, MD, he received his Bachelor's in percussion from Indiana University in Bloomington. In addition to Latin percussion, Chris enjoys playing drum set, Jazz vibraphone and orchestral percussion in various ensembles around Cincinnati.

  Dan Barger, Saxophone and Flute

Dan Barger holds a Bachelor of Music Composition and a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University (Oxford, OH) and a Masters of Music Composition from the University of Kentucky. He was one of the founding members of Salsa Caliente and contributed arrangements to that group. He has also written many big band jazz arrangements that have been premiered by the Pavilion Music Company Big Band and the Blanchester High School Jazz Ensemble. Dan has contributed marching band arrangements under the tutelage of Jerry Robinson to two local high schools.

Very active in the local music scene, Dan plays with a variety of groups including Acapulco, Zumba, Poco Loco, Frequency, Iolite, Lucky and the Magic, Los Honchos, RX2, the Windau Jazztet, Baoku and the Image Afro-Beat band, Lo Fi and others. In the past year, Dan has contributed his talents to 4 recordings, including releases by Los Honchos, G Miles and the Hitmen and Iolite. Dan has been a guest artist at the Vineyard and Horizon churches. Dan has also shared the stage with local groups Tropicoso and Super Massive.

  Josh Moore, Bass

Josh Moore is CCM graduate and has studied with esteemed bassists such as Ben Street, Henry Pierebune, and Tyrone Wheeler. He performs in many great bands around town, playing everything from Classical repertoire to Klezmer. Josh holds down the groove for Poco Loco, and also contributes original compositions.