JIM CULLUM
Jim Cullum is a jazz cornetist and band leader who has been active mostly in San Antonio, Texas - for about 50 years. Beginning in a partnership with his late father, a clarinetist, Mr. Cullum also has specialized, developing an individual sound from the pre-World War II traditional jazz stylings. He is influenced, though not dominated, by the playing of Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Texas cornetist Garner Clark and the blues singing of Bessie Smith.
One of the highlights of Mr. Cullum's career that has brought national acclaim is his development of and performance in "Riverwalk Jazz," a highly successful weekly nationwide public radio program.
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band, under Mr. Cullum's direction, has become widely known. The Band has, on numerous occasions, toured internationally, performed at Carnegie Hall and often included other legendary greats in appearances.
MIKE PITTSLEY
Mike Pittsley took up the trombone when he was 10 and was playing
professionally in high school. The Northern California native gained an abiding appreciation of vintage jazz from his involvement with the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society. He was also associated with the Sacramento Symphony brass and percussion demonstration ensemble and played with a wide variety of bands from Dixieland groups to pit orchestras.
He joined the Jim Cullum Jazz Band in 1978 and during his initial 12-year stay Mike appeared on over 100 broadcasts of Riverwalk, Live from the Landing. After leaving the band, he worked as a freelance musician, taught low brass and co-led the Mission City Hot Rhythm Cats -- a traditional jazz band which also included JCJB alumni Mark Hess and Eddie Torres.
For several years, Mike was the principal substitute for Kenny Rupp with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band. When Kenny departed the band in April, 2011, Mike rejoined the band as the full-time trombonist.
EVAN ARNTZEN
Clarinetist and saxophonist Evan Arntzen learned about New Orleans Jazzfrom his grandfather Lloyd (who is also a clarinetist). After completing the Capilano University Jazz Studies program in 2007, Evan quickly became an in-demand performer in his native British Columbia and the U.S. with such bands as Simon Stribling’s New Orleans Ale Stars, Bria Skonberg’s Hot 5 and Bryan Shaw’s Hot Shots. Evan’s own group, Blackstick, included his grandfather on clarinet and concentrated on the music of Sidney Bechet.
As a guest soloist, Evan appeared at the Jazz Aux Sources festival in Chatelguyon, France and at the Breda Jazz Festival in the Netherlands - where he performed with Jon-Erik Kellso, Dan Barrett, Roy Williams, Jason Marsalis and Ed Metz Jr. among others. Evan’s numerous musical awards include: the Kobe (Japan); the Mayor of Vancouver’s Arts Award for an Emerging Artist in Music; the Montreal Jazz Festival’s Grand Prix de Jazz; the CARAS/Musicounts Fred Sherratt Award; the Vancouver International Jazz Festival’s Galaxie Rising Star Award; the Fraser MacPherson Scholarship; and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Jazz Award of Merit. This world-class reedman joined the Jim Cullum Jazz Band in September, 2011.
JOHN SHERIDAN
At the age of seven, John Sheridan started studying piano. After hearing a
recording of the 1938 Benny Goodman concert at Carnegie Hall, Jess Stacy and Teddy Wilson became two of his biggest influences.
He graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio in 1968 and enlisted in the US Navy. During his assignment with the US Navy Band in Washington, DC, John began arranging music. Following his discharge from the Navy, John received a Master of Music degree from North Texas State University at Denton. He joined The Jim Cullum Jazz Band in 1979 and wrote over 1,000 arrangements for the group, including the music heard on their recordings of Porgy and Bess, ‘Tis The Season To Be Jammin’, and others.
John left the Jim Cullum Jazz Band at the end of 2002, to work as a freelance musician and arranger. He performed at jazz parties across the U.S. and recorded extensively with his own “Dream Band” which included vocalist Rebecca Kilgore. John returned to the Jim Cullum Jazz Band in August, 2011.
HOWARD ELKINS
Howard Elkins is a world class banjoist and guitarist. His fabulous beat has sparked the Jim Cullum Jazz Band's rhythm section since 1978! His vintage equipment includes a 1930s-era Gibson tenor banjo and an Epiphone archtop tenor guitar from the 1920s.
Besides playing superb banjo and guitar, Howard is also an excellent vocalist--with a repertoire that spans the classic jazz era, from New Orleans to 52nd Street. He is a composer, too; his "Nightspell" is the theme of the Riverwalk Jazz radio program.
Away from the bandstand, Howard is the proud owner of a 10-acre pecan grove outside San Antonio.
BERNIE ATTRIDGE
Bernard “Bernie” Attridge hails from Southend, England. He discovered jazz in his father's collection of 78s. Bernie obtained a banjo in 1961 and taught himself to play it. He played with traditional jazz bands in the Bristol area and then took up the string bass. Later he played with Benny Carter, Charlie Shavers, Barney Kessel and Wild Bill Davison when they toured the United Kingdom. He also worked with the Avon Cities Jazz Band and Sweet Substitute.
He emigrated to the U.S. in 1980 and settled in Chicago. In the Windy City, Bernie played with Erwin Helfer, Mama Yancey, Ikey Robinson, Franz Jackson, Art Hodes, Sunnyland Slim, Big Walter Horton, Norm Murphy, Eric Schneider, and musicians from the Salty Dogs Jazz Band. He also played banjo with Ted Butterman’s Cubs Quintet-- the strolling Dixieland band that performs at Chicago Cubs home games at Wrigley Field.
Bernie moved to New Orleans in January of 1989, where he played with Wallace Davenport, the Dukes of Dixieland, Banu Gibson, Jacques Gauthe’, John "Kid " Simmons and Lars Edegran and at venues including Preservation Hall, the Palm Court Jazz Cafe’, the Steamboat Natchez and Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub. He joined the Jim Cullum Jazz Band as full-time bassist in July, 2011.
BENJI BOHANNON
Benji Bohannon has performed in festivals and concerts across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Before joining the Jim Cullum Jazz Band he worked with the Climax Jazz Band, The Big Bang Jazz Band—led by trumpeter Bria Skonberg—as well as Bria’s Hot 5, and Messchya Lake and the Little Big Horns. While living in Vancouver B.C., Benji led his own group, "The Metropolitan Society Stompers" (a local favorite) and performed for the 2010 winter Olympic games.
Benji has appeared on stage with Ed Polcer, John Royen, the Grand Dominion Jazz Band, The New Orleans Ale Stars (led by Simon Stribling), and many others. In 2009 he performed at the Breda Jazz Festival in the Netherlands and has worked with bands in France led by Jerome Etcheberry, including the Internationale Quartet du Jazz.
