Cornet Chop Suey – Biographies The Cornet Chop Suey Jazz Band has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity since its arrival on the jazz scene in 2001. The band's unique front line with Brian Casserly on trumpet, Tom Tucker on cornet, Jerry Epperson on reeds and Brett Stamps on trombone is driven by a powerful rhythm section consisting of Paul Reid on piano, Al Sherman on bass and John Gillick on drums. Best known for a wide variety of styles, Cornet Chop Suey applies its own exciting style to traditional jazz, swing, blues and "big production" numbers. Every performance by Cornet Chop Suey is a high-energy presentation and is always a memorable experience for the audience. Named after a somewhat obscure Louis Armstrong composition, Cornet Chop Suey now has six CD's available. The "St. Louis Armstrong" CD includes many of the tunes performed in the special Louis Armstrong show. The band is in great demand at jazz festivals, jazz cruises, conventions and concerts around the country. Brian Casserly, who also goes by the name "Big B" plays trumpet, trombone and is also a vocalist with the band. A professional musician since the age of 14, Brian has played for many greats in the music business, including Tony Bennett,Tex Beneke, Stan Kenton, Chuck Berry and even Tiny Tim. He has also played the prestigious Monterey Pops Festival for several years. An in-demand session musician, Brian has performed in many commercials, recordings and musicals in the U.S. and Canada and is the past musical director for the S.S. Admiral, a riverboat on the St. Louis riverfront. After touring the U.S. and Europe for several years with his own jazz band and a St. Louis- based blues band, he decided to devote his musical talents entirely to traditional jazz, playing concerts and festivals as well as recording with several St. Louis bands. Thomas "L - Jay Cool Poppa" Tucker began playing trumpet at age 11 under a retired Marine bandmaster who Tommy says "still thought he was in the Marines." He played in high school and college, did a 4-year tour in the Navy, then went into the finance and auto dealership business for 25 years. After Tommy sold the dealership in 1987 and retired, he decided to get back into the music scene. He started a band called "All That Jazz" and progressed from there, becoming a fixture in the St. Louis traditional jazz scene. Paul Reid is an all-around entertainer who's done just about everything in the business. His experience runs the gamut from playing solo piano in bars to performing with big bands, writing advertising jingles to performing voice-overs for commercials, creating music production for cartoons to composing legitimate songs and lyrics, producing recordings to performing on recordings, producing radio shows to being the featured celebrity interviewer, singing radio jingles to leading the Paul Reid Singers, playing everywhere from strip joints to Las Vegas while performing all styles of music from Dixieland to Harry James and beyond! Paul has worked with Harry James, Lionel Hampton, Trummy Young, Bud Freeman, Shelly Mann, Arthur Lyman, Barney Kessell, Pete Daily, Joe Darensborg, Ella May Morse, Herb Geller, Clare Fischer, Mel Blanc, Gary Owens, the Hot Frogs and others. He was a member of the Night Blooming Jazzmen from 1988 to 2001. Jerry Epperson’s professional career began in 1959 performing in local dance bands, and continued at Truman State University playing in Dixieland and jazz bands. He was fortunate enough to have the chance to meet Louis Armstrong at this time. Trained in classical music, Jerry was a music educator for several years, and was active in several area jazz bands. During the late '60s, Jerry was aided by local legend Buddy Moreno in getting established in the St. Louis area. During the past few years, he has performed with The Dixieland Rhythm Kings, Bob Havens, New Orleans' Wes Mix, and many others. Jerry makes frequent appearances at jazz festivals, and performs regularly in the St. Louis area. John Gillick started playing drums professionally at the age of 14. While still in high school, he became the leader of The Impacts, a 12-piece rhythm and blues band. In 1969 Arthur Godfrey brought John out to California for several TV appearances on his College Shows. Afterward, John toured the west coast with the Asian Orchids and also played at Disneyland. Following a stint in the U.S. Army Band, John formed the Little Big Band, which became the house band at the Sheraton Hotel in Palm Springs, CA. After performing one of his solos and receiving two standing ovations, famed band leader, Buddy Rogers, went to the center of the stage and told the audience, “I used to have a pretty good drummer, Gene Krupa, remember him? Well, this young man is even better!” Frank Sinatra heard one of John’s solos with the Little Big Band and brought Harry James in the next evening to lend an ear. Harry immediately hired John to be a featured drummer with his band. He’s also played with numerous other big bands, namely the Tex Benecke Band, Buddy Moreno Orchestra, Russ David Orchestra, and the Gateway City Big Band. In the early 1970's John was introduced to dixieland jazz with the St. Louis Saints, Jean Kittrell and the St. Louis Riverman, the 1926 Jazz Band, the Mason Dixie Line, and the River City Ramblers. Most recently, John has been playing the jazz circuit with the Cornet Chop Suey Jazz Band and is featured in his renditions of Caravan, Found A New Baby/Sing Sing Sing, Bugle Call Rag and Buddy Rich’s West Side Story Medley. Brett Stamps has been the Director of Jazz Activities at Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville since he initiated the Jazz Performance Degree in 1979. He obtained his BA in Music from the College of William and Mary (1970) and his MM in Studio Music and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Miami (1975). He currently holds the rank of Professor of Music. Brett performed, recorded and arranged for the United States Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors (1970-1973), the Stan Kenton Orchestra (1973-1974), and the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band (1974-1978) before accepting a teaching position at Miami-Dade Community College New World Center (1978-1979). St. Louis area performance credits include the Jim Widner, Kim Portnoy, Mo Bottom and Gary Dammer Big Bands; Fox Theater & MUNY Orchestras; the St. Louis Rivermen; Cornet Chop Suey, Legacy; Galaxy; the SIUE Jazz Faculty; and various clinics, concerts and recordings (including his new CD release In Your Own Sweet Way for Victoria Records). He directs the SIUE Concert Jazz Band and teaches jazz combo, improvisation, arranging, trombone, education, and history. Brett remains active as a composer/arranger and clinician. Past endeavors include directing Missouri and Illinois All-State/All-District Jazz Bands, presenting trombone ensemble masterclasses (USF), writing music commissioned by the IMEA, private individuals and local schools, directing annual concerts of his original music at the historic Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, writing for trombone quintet, touring nationally with Cornet Chop Suey and the St. Louis Rivermen and teaching/performing at the Jim Widner Band Camps. Jay Hungerford, the newest member of Cornet Chop Suey, received his degree in Music Education from SIU-C. He performs at jazz festivals and clinics across the country. He has taught at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, Fontbonne College, Meramac College and has been a member of the Webster University Jazz Faculty in St. Louis MO for over 2 decades. Jay was acknowledged as "Best Local Bassist" by the Riverfront Times. Concerts include performances with Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Bill Charlap, Buddy Defranco, Richie Cole, Scott Hamilton, Chris Potter, Roger Williams, Vanessa Rubin, Maynard Ferguson, Bill Watrous, Eddie Higgins, Warren Vache, Howard Alden, Ralph Sutton, Jay McShann, Carl Fontana, Jake Hanna, Butch Miles, Grady Tate, Joe Ascione, Johnny Varro, Bob Draga, Mike Vax, Bobby Shew, Tom Hook, The St Louis Symphony, including the Carnegie Hall premiere of William Bolcom’s “Songs of Innocence and Experience.” Jay is also a member of the St. Louis "Fox Orchestra" and has performed with numerous national tours. He has over 60 recordings to his credit including 26 Integrity Worship recordings. Using the exact methods and lesson plans found in his book, Walking jazz Lines for bass, he has produced a variety of proteges who have since gone on to acclaim and notoriety, not limited to Avishai Cohen (Chick Corea, International Vamp Band), Neil Caine (Harry Connick, Jr.), and Steve Kirby (Cyrus Chestnut, James Carter). Jay is a member of the worship team at Grace Church in Maryland Heights, MO. .