Band Bios

Andy Woodson

Andy Woodson is one of the most in-demand bass player in central Ohio. Andy began playing bass guitar at the age of 12 and later studied double bass at the Ohio State University, where he received his BM in Jazz Studies. Since then, Andy has performed and recorded with many local and nationally known musicians, including pianist DD Jackson, David Murry, Billy Hart, Jack Wilkins, Kim Pensyl, Bobby Floyd, Mark Flugge, Vince Andrews, Paul Brown and Pete Mills. In addition to his performance schedule, Andy is currently the Jazz Bass instructor at the Ohio State University. http://andywoodson.com/

Chris Young

Chris Young has over thirty years experience as a musician and arranger. Chris excels on both trumpet and piano and is currently playing with the Hoo Doo Soul Band on Sunday nights at the Rumba Café in Columbus. He also just released a new CD with the Chris Young Trio titled “Fiction”. http://www.chrisyoungmusic.com/

Jim Curlis

Jim Curlis taught Jazz Drum Set at Capital University and The Ohio State University for over a decade. Jim has performed with well-known entertainers such as Bob Hope, Perry Como, Red Skelton, Michele Legrande, and many nationally known Jazz artists including the Brecker Brothers, Sonny Stitt, Tom Scott, Bill Waltrous, Frank Foster, Marv Stamm, Roland Hanna, Oliver Nelson and internationally renowned vocalist, Joe Williams. At present Jim is the drummer in a local Dixieland group of current and former Ohio State University Professors called The High Street Stompers and owns and runs the Lake Hill Sound recording studio. http://lakehillsound.com/

Kelley Delaveris

Kelly Crum Delaveris has been a regular on the Central Ohio music scene since for years. Her early music education came from her father's record collection, containing Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O' Day, and Carmen MacRae. An extraordinary singer, Kelly has performed with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and as the opening act for Tony Bennett, Joan Rivers, Sarah Vaughan and Buddy DeFranco. Kelly performs regularly with her own group, Brasileira. http://kellycrum.com/

Michael Cox

Dr. Michael Cox is a tenured Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies who has taught at Capital since 1990. Michael currently performs in the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and various other bands including Brasileira, Powerhouse Trio, Science Gravy Orchestra, Andy Woodson Band, Madrugada and the High Street Stompers. In 1999 Michael released the rare but highly acclaimed "Abstractions," "Dedications and Red Dirt" (CoJazz CJ-1007). In addition to the Retro-Blue CD, Michael is currently recording other projects including a new jazz CD and a CD of French classical chamber music composed by Pierre Max Dubois.

Michael has a Doctor of Arts degree in Saxophone Performance and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado, a Masters degree in Music Performance from Wichita State University, and a Bachelor's degree from Cameron University in his home town of Lawton, Oklahoma. http://www.jazzartsgroup.org/cjo/cox.php

Tom Battenberg

Thomas (Tom) Battenberg was born in Dayton, Ohio and came to Columbus on a piano scholarship to pursue a music education degree at The Ohio State University. Once at Ohio State, he switched his major to trumpet and was playing in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra by his senior year. Following graduation, he moved on to Arizona State University, where he earned his masters of music degree in performance and played in the Phoenix Symphony. Following graduation at ASU he won the position of 2nd trumpet in the Dallas Symphony. It was then that Jack Evans, director of the OSU Marching Band, invited him to teach trumpet at his alma mater. For the next 26 years, Battenberg taught trumpet and performed in the Faculty Brass Quintet. From 1970 to 1990, he was the director of the internationally acclaimed OSU Jazz Ensemble, recording 10 albums and winning many awards. He also founded the OSU Faculty Jazz Sextet and the High Street Stompers Faculty Dixieland Band. Since 1966, he has played with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and since 1979 he has played principal trumpet in the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus.

Don Nichols

Don Nichols graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in jazz performance from The Ohio State University in 1979. He has performed on drums, vibes, and marimba with Marilyn Martin, Frank Fontaine (Crazy Guggenheim), and Bob Hope and has been the band leader for many music ensembles including The Big Gas Band, Project One, Murphy’s Law, and the Don Nichols Jazz Ensemble among others. Don was also the producer and co-writer of the “It’s About Time” album by Project One and is currently the president and CEO of Project One Productions, LLC in addition to his work with Retro-Blue. http://www.project-one-productions.com/

Stan Smith

Stan Smith is an assistant professor of music in the Jazz Studies / Music Industry Program at Capital University in Columbus where he has been the head of the jazz/contemporary guitar curriculum since 1978. He is also on the staff of the National Guitar Workshop. As a guitarist he was a member of the Moacir Santos band in Los Angeles, and as a band leader in Columbus has accompanied various artists such as Ali Ryerson, Mark Vinci and David Amram. As a composer he has received Fellowship Awards from the Ohio Arts Council and the Greater Columbus Arts Council. Smith's compositions have been performed internationally and recorded by the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Michael Cox, The Keith Henson Octet, The Afro Rican Ensemble and Spectrum. He is featured as guitarist and composer on Madrugada's self titled CD on the COJAZZ label. Stan has released several CDs under his own name including "Pathways", "No Discussion" and "Silent Memory". He is the author of “Jazz Harmony on the Guitar, A Linear/Structural Approach” published by Hal Leonard. http://www.stansmithguitar.com/

Bob Miller

Bob Miller has been involved in the music industry for most of his life— as a musician, music producer, promoter, recording studio engineer, live sound & light engineer, DJ and owner of RAM SOUND, a recording studio in Columbus. As a well sought after bass player, Bob has traveled with numerous bands over the years, performing in all kinds of venues from intimate clubs to large outdoor arenas. Stratus, Teaser, Serious Boys, Bonneville Strut, Murphy's Law, Project One, Rhythm City Rockers, and Groovebelly are just some of the bands with whom Bob has performed.

In addition to performing, Bob is involved in many business aspects of the music business including: recording albums and demos for various artists; recording and producing audio for television and radio commercials and jingles; design and production of promotional materials (album/cd cover design and photography, posters, t-shirts, etc.) and live sound reinforcement.

After several years on the road touring, Bob decided to return to Columbus, re-establishing his roots in the local music scene. Besides playing for Retro-Blue, Bob is also involved in several recording projects and plays bass for the Columbus based band "Janet's Planet."

"I put my heart and soul into music and it is truly what I live for. I love playing bass and being a part of the exciting local music scene. I have been blessed to play with many talented musicians over the years, and it has been a rewarding and fulfilling adventure. Music is truly the international language of our world and I am thrilled to be a part of it!" — Bob Miller

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