Rock River Jazz Band, Inc.

 Current Players

Saxes

Jessica Dempsey - Lead Alto

Brandi Spreeman- Alto

Cathy James - Lead Tenor

Donald Burnett - Tenor

Pete Fink - Baritone

Trumpets

Aaron White - Lead

Tom Whitcombe - Solo

Becca Quintana -Third

Jon James - Fourth

Trombones

Bruce Bogen - First

Matt Senneff  - Second

Chuck  Comella- Third/Fourth

Rhythm

Eric Murphy - Upright Bass

Sister Philomene - Keys

Doc Lyon - Drum Set

Director - Jon James

Trumpets

Aaron White - Lead Trumpet

Aaron White grew up in hometown of Rockford, IL.  Studied music privately with Phyllis Hogberg, of Winnebago, IL, through high school. Attended Northern Illinois University and received Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1999.  After graduation, Aaron was a music educator for three years.  Two years in the West Pike School District in Kinderhook, IL, and one year in the Chadwick-Milledgeville School District.  After deciding to quit teaching, Aaron worked for 5 years for Griggs Music in Davenport, IA as a music salesman and then as shipping/receiving/inventory manager.  Aaron is currently loading truck at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Sterling, IL. Currently performs with: The Sterling Municipal Symphony Band, Rock River Jazz Band, As well as “Sterling Brass” Brass Quintet. Instruments performing on: Trumpet:Cannonball 725 in Black Nickel finish - Bach Strad Limited Edition Flugelhorn: Olds; Piccolo Trumpet: Getzen (4-valve, long bell)

Jon P. James - Director & Trumpet

Tom Whitcombe - Third Trumpet

Becca Yuswak - Fourth Trumpet

Trombones 

Bruce Bogen- Lead Trombone

Matt Sennef- Trombone 2

Chuck Comella - Bass Trombone

Saxophones

Jessica Dempsey - Alto 1

Cathy L. James -   Lead Tenor

Cathy started playing clarinet at the age of 10. Her idols were Pete Fountain and Benny Goodman. Cathy played in every group she could going through school.   In high school the band director started a stage band; he was not accepting clarinet players. Cathy went home on a Friday, pulled her brother's old tenor out of the closet and learned to play over the weekend. On Monday she tried out for the stage band and took the lead chair. Cathy currently plays solo chair clarinet in the Dixon Municipal Band and oboe, Bass Ckarinet in the Byron Civic Band, and whatever is needed in the Sauk Valley Community College Band. She also plays flute,  alto-tenor and bari and Bass Sax.  She plays Bari Sax, Clarinet & Flute in the Class Act II Big Band.  Cathy founded Rock River Jazz Band, Inc.  Cathy has her own combo, A'int Misbehavin' and enjoys playing in area pit orchestras and collecting instruments. She is now the proud (or foolish) owner of a sopranino as well as the bass sax, and has her eyes on a Contrabass Saxophone. Cathy's husband is Jon James of the Rock River Jazz Band.

Brandi Spreeman - 2nd Alto

Brandi Spreeman has been playing music and teaching professionally for 16 years.  Mrs. Spreeman has been a private music instructor in Iowa, Missouri, and now Illinois.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Truman State University and a Master of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.   Mrs. Spreeman is currently a junior high teacher at Christ Lutheran School.  Mrs. Spreeman resides in Sterling with her husband Chad and daughter Kimzey.  In addition to the Rock River Jazz Band, she also performs with the Sterling Municipal Band.

Pete Fink - Bari Sax