JIM CULLUM - cornet, leader
Jim Cullum is a jazz cornetist and band leader who has been active mostly in San Antonio, Texas for over 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 - trombone
Mike Pittsley took up the trombone when he was 10 and was playing professionally by the time he was in high school. The Northern California native gained an abiding appreciation of vintage jazz from his involvement with the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society. He joined the Jim Cullum Jazz Band in 1978 and during his initial 12-year stay 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 Jim Cullum Jazz Band 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.
JOHN SHERIDAN - piano
John Sheridan began his musical training, studying the piano, at the age of seven. His life was forever changed when at the age of eight, his father brought home the recording of Benny Goodman’s 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. He was immediately taken with the piano playing of Jess Stacy and Teddy Wilson, who remain two of his primary influences to this day.
After graduating from Capital University in Columbus in 1968, Sheridan enlisted in the US Navy. He was assigned to the prestigious US Navy Band in Washington, DC, serving there until his discharge in May, 1972. It was during his military service that John began arranging. John joined The Jim Cullum Jazz Band in 1979 as pianist and principal arranger for the band. He has written over 1,000 arrangements for the ensemble.
He left the 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.
ZACK SAPUNOR - string bass
Zack Sapunor is an upright bass player who began performing in his Sacramento hometown in 1994. He was quickly drawn to the American roots music that he discovered in his father's record collection and which he continued to study at San Francisco State University. Zack has since honed his chops with bebop swing duo The Afterlife, "gypsygrass" troubadours Blvd Park, and has recently spent over a year touring with juke joint swing impresario Wayne Hancock.
The slap bass sound plays a large role in Zack's style and he has been fortunate enough to take lessons from such "slap" luminaries as Djordje Stijepovic and Jake Erwin. Zack is very excited to be playing with the titans of swing in the Jim Cullum Jazz Band who he has been a fan of since he heard them on his car radio... whereupon he was promptly pulled over and issued his first ever speeding ticket.
HAL SMITH - drums
Hal Smith took up drums in 1963 and became a full-time professional musician in 1978. He was inspired by hearing Ben Pollack, Nick Fatool and Wayne Jones in person, and took lessons from the great Jake Hanna. He is considered to be one of the best current-day interpreters of vintage drum styles.
Hal has played many well-known jazz groups including the Dukes of Dixieland, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Butch Thompson Trio, Banu Gibson and New Orleans Hot Jazz, Grand Dominion Jazz Band, Yerba Buena Stompers, Climax Jazz Band and a previous stint with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band. He also led groups such as the Roadrunners (featuring Bobby Gordon and Rebecca Kilgore) and Hal's Angels. He has made over 200 recordings and is a respected jazz journalist, contributing countless articles to publications in the U.S. and Europe. Hal rejoined the Jim Cullum Jazz Band in December, 2012.
(photos by George Nash)
Note: For full-band presentations, the Jim Cullum Jazz Group is augmented by great musicians such as Allan Vache', Evan Arntzen, Bob Leary and others.
