Saxophones:
Jeff Drew (Tenor Sax)
Jeff grew up in the Midwest and was a member of the Missouri All-State Jazz Ensemble during his Junior and Senior years in High School. During that time, Jeff enjoyed the direction of famed jazz educators/arrangers Rick Stitzel and Dr. Don Verne Joseph. Jeff attended Northeast Missouri State University on a music scholarship and studied under Dr. David Nichols, Dr. Roger Cody, and famed musician/author/educator Willie Thomas. Jeff currently works outside of the music industry, but performs around the Metro Atlanta area in a multitude of bands. Jeff is thankful for the opportunity to play and share music with others.
Robert Moore (Alto Sax, Clarinet)
(bio and photo to come)
Charlie Kinamon (Alto Sax, Clarinet)
Charlie began playing clarinet and saxophone in middle school and went on to graduate from the Naval School of Music. Charlie was assigned to Naval Show Band “The Ambassadors” (3+ years) – played for events in Iceland, Bermuda, the Azores, and recruiting assignments across the USA including high school band clinics. While serving on board the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the band played in several Northern and Western European countries during a NATO cruise. Charlie has played in numerous big bands, community bands, and orchestras around Chattanooga, TN, Cleveland, TN, and Gwinnett County, GA. Charlie currently plays in: Jubal Ministries – Jubalheir Orchestra & Jubal Symphony Orchestra – alto sax, Ivy Creek Baptist Church Orchestra – clarinet & alto sax, and Metro Jazz Club – alto sax & clarinet.
Tatyana Ruskevich (Tenor Sax)
(bio and photo to come)
Ron Wincek (Baritone Sax, Clarinet)
Ron started his music journey on clarinet in elementary school and later added the baritone sax and flute to his instrumental repertoire in the high school. College years were spent playing clarinet with the Florida State Marching Chiefs and summers playing alto sax in a youth group band called Exodus. It was music that influenced his decision to move to Atlanta after graduating from college to play saxophone in a Contemporary Christian Rock group called Ransom (despite parental pressures on getting a real job.) Since then Ron has muscled that Bari to venues in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, and Central and South America, and has had the opportunity to play in groups with Camp Kirkland, Babbie Mason, Lee Greenwood, Mathew West, and also the Guy Lombardo Orchestra. He currently plays baritone sax with several local Atlanta big bands and is involved in the music ministry at church. Ron is married to Patty, and has four daughters. Ron thanks to God for the amazing gifts and opportunities provided through music.
Trumpets:
Fonnie Harlan (Trumpet, Tuba)
Fonnie is the lead trumpet for MJC. He was born in New Orleans, LA., and moved to Chamblee GA. in 1969 at age 10. Fonnie has been playing trumpet since age 12, including 5 years at Chamblee High School and 3 years at DeKalb College and Technical School. He started playing in church at Dunwoody Baptist Church in the late 70’s, and has been playing trumpet and electric bass for First Baptist Snellville since 1988. Maynard Ferguson was the main influence to his playing.
John Groeninger (Trumpet, Flugelhorn)
John started playing trumpet at an early age in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana. He participated in All-City Honor Bands and theatrical pit bands in addition to high school Marching, Symphonic and Jazz Bands. While attending Bosse High School he was able to perform under the direction of famed grammy winning jazz cellist David Darling. He went on to play in the Purdue University Marching, Symphonic, and Jazz Bands, and was fortunate to tour Japan and Venezuela with the Purdue Bands. After moving to Atlanta and a hiatus to raise 4 children, John returned to his musical roots and has played with various community bands in the Atlanta area since the mid-1980’s. He currently plays with Northwinds Symphonic Band, Metro Jazz Club and Smooth Sound Collective as well as other neighborhood and church ensembles.
Tom Ehlen (Trumpet)
(bio and photo to come)
Jacob Garcia (Trumpet)
(bio and photo to come)
Trombones:
Don Presley (Trombone, Director)
Don Presley plays tenor trombone, leading the section for MJC, and is also lead trombone for the Orchestra and Jazz group at First Baptist Snellville. His background in formal/informal music education stretches back to 1980 and covers a number of different instruments. He currently operates an engineering/contracting firm out of Lithonia, but remains hopeful that the trombone will once again become a mainstream lead instrument in modern popular music, resulting for the first time in respect and demand for garage trombonists everywhere.
Ben Crider (Trombone)
(bio to come)
Brad Gwynn (Bass Trombone)
(bio and photo to come)
Sue Kraft (Trombone)
Sue Kraft has worked as a trombonist, pianist and vocalist in the Atlanta area for more than 40 years. In her college years, Sue played shows with Bob Hope, Robert Goulet and Joe Lovano. More recently, Sue enjoyed playing in the horn section for shows with salsa stars Ray Sepulveda and Roberto Blades. Sue has played for many years in Atlanta area big bands and salsa bands, as well as classical music groups and pit orchestras for musicals. Currently, Sue plays primarily with jazz combos and big bands, Callanwolde Concert Band, and the occasional call for salsa bands. Sue also works with The University Of Georgia’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) giving programs on the lives and stories behind the music of songwriters from the Great American Songbook.
Rhythm Section:
Terry Creedon (Drums)
A graduate of the Naval School of Music and U.S. Navy Band, Terry performed professionally with Vegas show bands, jazz and pop groups, theater groups, and circus acts. His credits include Margaret Whiting, Della Reese, George Gobel, Nipsey Russel, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Maureen McGovern, and Ike Cole. Today, Terry plays drums/percussion in church, and plays regularly with several local bands.
David Lane (Piano)
(bio and photo to come)
Andy Makely (Guitar)
Andy went to South Gwinnett High School, and studied at Georgia Tech while marching in the GT band and performing with the GT Jazz Ensemble. Andy resides in the Lilburn area with his wife Alison, and is currently a Lead Developer at Dragon Army. He has been playing in bands around Atlanta for a couple of decades, including season-long gigs with the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Hawks. He formerly led his own blues group, The Andy Makely Band, performing in many of Atlanta’s favorite blues clubs.
Dave Goodson (Bass)
Dave’s grandfather, an Alabama old-time/barn dance musician in the ’30s & ’40s, got Dave started on guitar and banjo when he was just a lad. Dave picked up the bass and tuba in the mid-’70s as a high school sophomore, and continued playing bass in the high school jazz and musical pit bands, as well as a local rock band “Exodus.” He then went on to play bass in the Jazz Band at the University of Alabama, as well as playing drums with the “Million Dollar Band.” He continued to play bass in a melodic jazz group “Jazzmatics” in the late ’80s, while living in Washington D.C. Since moving to Atlanta in 1990, Dave has played with several blues, R & B, and pop bands, including his current band, “Leonard Blush,” a power rockin’ blues band.
Vocalists:
Jason Joines
From an early age, Jason loved music. From performing as a featured singer in his elementary school’s annual Irish program, to being a lead singer for Faith ‘n Pain, a late 80’s rock band, he found that he felt most alive on stage. While growing up, his parents introduced him to the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, and Nat King Cole. He quickly found a love for the Great American Songbook and came to the conclusion that he was born about 40 years too late. Over the next two decades, Jason watched as this genre came back to the attention of music fans with growing popularity of artists such as Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble. In 2007, Jason decided it was time to find a way to fulfill his dream of performing his favorite songs with a big band. After singing with a few local swing bands, Jason found his home with the Metro Jazz Club in 2010. In addition, Jason currently sings with the choir at Transfiguration Catholic Church in Marietta.
Renee Jansma
(bio and photo to come)