2024 Festival Jazz Clinicians

Dr. Steve Roach — TJF Director

Steve has been the Director of Jazz Studies at Sacramento State University since 2001. He has also served as Director of Jazz Studies at Baylor University and has held teaching positions at the University of Northern Colorado and Northern Illinois University. Steve’s duties at Sacramento State include directing large jazz ensembles, the Latin Jazz Ensemble, and teaching courses in jazz pedagogy and jazz history. In addition, Roach directs the annual Winter Jazz Festival and Trad Jazz Youth Band Festival at Sacramento State. Steve holds a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance from Indiana University, a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from Northern Illinois University, and a Doctor of Arts degree in trumpet and jazz pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado. Professional appearances as an assisting artist by Roach include studio and live sessions with such jazz/pop musicians as Tito Puente, Louis Bellson, Conrad Herwig, Lou Rawls, Jon Tchicai, Ben Vereen, Melissa Manchester, Toni Tennille, Roberta Flack, Rosemary Clooney, Jeffrey Osbourne, Carl Fontana, Paquito D’Rivera, the Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, and others. Steve is currently serving on the Executive Board for the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz and the Capital Section of the California Music Educators Association. Roach also works as a clinician and adjudicator for jazz festivals and workshops nationwide and has directed several California high school honor jazz ensembles including the Sacramento Capital Section Honor Jazz Band, the San Mateo Honor Jazz Band, the Fresno-Madera County Honor Jazz Band, and the Solano County High School Honor Jazz Ensemble. For more information on the Sacramento State Jazz Studies program, visit:https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/music/jazz-studies.html

Gunhild Carling/ Featured Guest/ Vocal and Multi-instrumentalist

Gunhild Carling is a renowned Swedish jazz musician known for her extraordinary talent as a multi-instrumentalist and her charismatic stage presence. Born on May 7, 1975, in Gothenburg, Sweden, she comes from a musical family and started performing at a young age. Carling is particularly famous for her ability to play a wide range of instruments, including the trombone, trumpet, bagpipes, recorder, harp, and even tap dance as part of her performances. She is best known for her work in traditional jazz and swing music, often drawing comparisons to jazz legends of the early twentieth century.

Gunhild has gained international recognition, performing at jazz festivals and collaborating with artists worldwide. Her energetic performances and love for the vintage jazz style have made her a beloved figure in the jazz community. Gunhild has played with several big bands and orchestras and has led her own bands. Her performances often feature her juggling multiple instruments, sometimes even playing three trumpets at once, showcasing her incredible breath control and technical skill. She has also appeared on various television programs and has a strong online presence, sharing her music with a global audience. In addition to her musical performances, Gunhild Carling is also known for her ability to sing and dance, making her a true entertainer. She often blends humor with her musical acts, engaging audiences with her vibrant personality.
She has released several albums that reflect her love for jazz, including both original compositions and classic jazz standards. Her music is heavily influenced by the swing era, with a particular emphasis on the works of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and other jazz greats.

Over the years, Carling has performed at notable jazz festivals around the world, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. Her appearances on television, such as on the show Dancing with the Stars, have further expanded her audience beyond traditional jazz enthusiasts.

Despite her international fame, Gunhild Carling remains closely connected to her Swedish roots, often performing with her family members and keeping traditional jazz alive in her home country. Her passion for music and her commitment to the jazz genre continue to inspire audiences around the world.

Dr. Roach is pleased to announce the following outstanding clinicians for 2023 Festival (in alphabetical order):

Justin Au – Trumpet

Justin was introduced at a young age to a fun world of traditional jazz by his uncle Howard Miyata (trombone), and his older brothers Brandon (trombone) and Gordon (trumpet).  He is an alumnus of the former Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s jazz education programs and Rio Americano, one of the finest high-school jazz programs in the nation. Playing a variety of jazz styles, Justin has toured New York, Japan, Puerto Rico, China, and Brazil.  He has also played at jazz festivals all over the nation.

While earning his Bachelor and Master degrees at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Justin served as co-director of the official youth band of the Basin Street Regulars Jazz Society in Pismo Beach, and has worked as a clinician with student musicians at the Teagarden Jazz Festival. As a passionate music educator, he taught after-school jazz programs in the San Juan and Sac City Unified school districts for 4 years and substitute-taught in music for 2 years, before becoming a fully-credentialed teacher in 2019. He currently serves as the Director of Jazz Ensembles for the Sacramento Youth Band (since 2018), and instrumental music teacher for Vacaville Unified School District (since 2019). Justin can be heard regularly with such various groups as The Crescent Katz, Peter Petty, Harley White Jr. Orchestra, Jessica Malone, The West End Stompers, Element Brass Band, Jessica Malone, Katie Knipp, Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Cap City Brass and the Cunha Big Band.

Clint Baker / Trumpet / Trombone/ Tuba

Clint Baker is one of the few musicians to lead a traditional jazz band at the world-renowned Monterey Jazz Festival, joining the ranks of Louis Armstrong, Turk Murphy, and Jack Teagarden.  He has been a bandleader since 1984, and he produced his first record album in 1991. Since then, he has produced seven recordings including “In the Groove,” “Going Huge,” and “Tears.”

Clint Baker’s New Orleans Jazz Band appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1992 and has toured festivals in the U.S. and Canada.

A multi-instrumentalist, Clint performs regularly with The Yerba Buena Stompers (tuba), The Delta Stompers (guitar/banjo), Hot Club of San Francisco (bass), The Cafe Borrone All-Stars (trumpet, trombone, drums, clarinet, guitar, etc.), The Reynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascals (clarinet, trombone, and bass), The Ray Skjelbred Quartet/Ray Skjelbred and His Cubs (bass), The Grand Dominion Jazz Band (trumpet) and Usonia Jazz (various).

Clint is also a noted jazz educator. He taught on staff with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band at the Stanford Jazz Workshop. He frequently guest-lectures at San Mateo Community College and the Community School of Music and Arts at the Finn Center, and is currently an instructor at numerous adult jazz camps including the Teagarden Jazz Camp. He has been the Staff Archivist and Curator for the San Francisco Traditional Jazz Foundation.

Katie Cavera – Bass/ Vocals

Katie Cavera has made a name for herself on the West Coast and in Europe playing 20’s and 30’s classic jazz. She is a rhythm guitar specialist in the style of Freddie Green and Al Casey. She also plays hot 20’s plectrum and tenor banjo, New Orleans style string bass, and sings in the 20’s pop style of Helen Kane and Ruth Etting.

Jazz critic Jim Leigh and bandleader/multi-instrumentalist Clint Baker have dubbed her the “California Sunshine Girl” because of her upbeat singing style and sunny stage personality. She currently works at Disney California Adventure with the Ellis Island Boys and with the cabaret performance group Vaud and the Villains.

Originally from Southern Indiana, Katie attended Indiana University and studied jazz performance and composition with Dr. David Baker, playing with his Jazz Ensemble in a special presentation of Duke Ellington Masterworks at the Smithsonian Institution.

Since moving to Southern California, Katie has become a sought-after guitarist, banjoist, and bassist. Her credits include working with Jug Band legend Jim Kweskin, Jim Cullum’s Jazz Band at The Landing in San Antonio, Texas, and members of Turk Murphy’s Jazz Band including Bob Helm, Leon Oakley, and Ray Skjelbred.

From 2006 – 2009 she was part of the Jerome Savary production of “à la recherche de Josephine (Looking for Josephine)” a musical about New Orleans Jazz, Hurricane Katrina, and Josephine Baker. Katie played guitar and tenor banjo in the production, and notated the original score written by David Boeddinghaus. The musical premiered at the Opera Comique in Paris, France in the fall of 2006 and returned for an encore presentation in the spring of 2007.  The show was nominated for a Molière Award (the national theatre award of France bestowed by APAT, the Association Professionnelle et Artistique du Théâtre) and toured extensively through France and Spain from 2007 – 2008. In 2009 the show toured Austria and Germany and had its American premiere in Montclair, New Jersey.

Katie is a member of ASCAP, a Loar Performing Artist, and a member of the Academy of Magical Arts.

Chris Dawson / PIano

Chris is a versatile and in demand Los Angeles based pianist, working within the traditional and modern jazz scene. Dawson has performed with vocalists Tierney Sutton, Patti Austin, Nancy Wilson, and has also collaborated in duo piano performances with renowned pianist Dick Hyman.

Chris has recorded numerous projects for producer David Foster, and was sought by pianist and composer Larry Goldings to contribute Harlem stride piano stylings in the Netflix original series, “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker”.

Dawson has recorded for Warner Brothers, Verve, and Arbors Records on projects that feature singers Renee Olestead, Rebecca Kilgore, and legendary jazz bassist Charlie Haden.

While attending the USC Thornton School of Music, Chris studied privately with jazz greats Cedar Walton, Jimmy Rowles, Alan Broadbent, and arranging-composition with bassist John Clayton.

Bill Dendle / Trombone/ Tuba/ Banjo/ Guitar

Bill began playing banjo in 1963, and by 1967 he performed at Mickie Finn’s in San Diego as leader of the South Market Street Jazz Band.  Bill was the lead banjoist at Capone’s Warehouse in Monterey for nine years. 1977 found Bill as an entertainment consultant, banjoist, trombonist, bandleader and entertainer at Florida’s Disney World, where he opened on the Empress Lilly Showboat.  In late 1977 he revived the South Market Street Jazz Band. From 1982 to 1995, Bill appeared as one-half of the duo called Goodtime Banjos.  Bill is currently director of two trad jazz camp programs and is the lead clinician in the STJS Traditional Jazz Project. He plays trombone, guitar and banjo in Shelley Burns & Avalon Swing, and with Fast Eddie Erickson. Bill has performed with Bob Haggart, Bob Crosby, Johnny Varro, Dick Cary, Abe Most, Nick Fatool, Bob Draga and others. A retired Vice-Principal, Bill is the former director of the annual Teagarden Trad Jazz Camp. Many of his jazz campers have not only continued playing Traditional Jazz, but also become accomplished professional musicians and band directors, who continue passing the torch.

Craig Faniani / Piano

Craig has been a professional music educator since 1977 and performer since 1969, in myriad musical settings and styles. He has traveled worldwide with students, competed in hundreds of jazz festivals, been clinician, adjudicator and conductor for numerous honor bands and jazz bands, and gathered a barn full of trophies. His awards include: eleven different “teacher of the year” awards, seven Monterey Jazz Festival wins, twenty-five years developing the Rio Americano Band Program, and Administrator of the Year – California Music Educators Capitol Section 2012. Music education, and jazz study in particular, is being recognized as a significant source of student creativity – namely critical thinking, problem solving/finding multiple answers, developing imagination/new ideas, teamwork/collaboration, passion, and teaching perseverance, grit and concentration. These are essential 21^st Century skills for college and career not being taught and assessed in most current conventional classrooms. Jazz study is a thinking strategy for success. Enjoy the process.

Chloe Feoranzo / Reeds

Chloe Feoranzo is a clarinetist and saxophonist who has been performing professionally since the age of 15. She grew up playing in youth orchestras, musical pits, along with swing, traditional jazz bands and guest artist at festivals of the Southern California area.  She completed a three-year tour with Pokey LaFarge from 2013-2016 appearing with the group on various shows such as The Late Show with David Letterman, Prairie Home Companion, the Grand Ole Opry and The Voice. She has three featured videos through Postmodern Jukebox with a combined total of 7 million views and rising. She has been on various tours since 2017 with Postmodern Jukebox, Asleep At The Wheel, and as a full-time clarinetist with Shake Em’ Up Jazz Band. She now resides in Los Angeles, CA performing with various groups around the city. Chloe has been part of the faculty at the Teagarden Jazz Camp.

Ron Jones / Drums

After Ron retired from playing drums with the US Air Force show bands for many years, he backed up such prime-time entertainers as Frankie Laine, Kay Starr, the Ink Spots, and Diahann Carroll.  Since he moved to Sacramento in the early 1980s, he’s played with many top West Coast jazz bands.  A member of the Youth Band Festival committee and a Past President of the STJS board of directors, Ron is a very popular drummer on the national jazz festival circuit and regularly performs with Sister Swing and the Draga Quartet. Ron and the TJYBF Clinicians Band were selected from a highly competitive, field of applicants to present a performance at the first west coast convention of the national JEN (Jazz Education Network) in San Diego in 2015. Ron is a living example of one of our festival’s tagline, Teagarden Jazz Festival: Jazz with Personality.

Tony Marvelli / Trumpet

Tony Marvelli has a Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies Performance from the University of North Texas and a Master’s of Arts in Band Conducting from the American Band College of Sam Houston University. He has performed with major touring acts internationally and continue to perform with the local funk band Joy and Madness. Marvelli’s teaching experience includes Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Improvisation and Styles, Wind Band Fundamentals, Digital Music Production, Choir, Jazz Band, Music Appreciation, and Piano. He has performed with Engelbert Humperdink, Paul Anka, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Jo Ann Castle, The Ink Spots, Carnival Cruise Show Band, Regent Cruise Lines Show Band, and The Cunha Big Band. Mr. Marvelli is proud to be an Alumnus of American River College and now a professor there.

Duncan McElman / Sax

Duncan McElman is an award-winning baritone saxophonist and educator noted for his powerful sound, ferocious sense of swing, and deep commitment to passing on the music to future generations. 

A native of Carmichael, California, McElman attended Rio Americano High School and as part of their renowned “AM Jazz Ensemble,” he earned soloist awards at various regional and national competitions, including the Charles Mingus Festival and the Essentially Ellington Festival and Competition. He was a two-year member of the SFJAZZ High School All Stars Orchestra, where he was part of a band that won first place in the prestigious Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival and the Charles Mingus Festival. During his high school years, Duncan was selected for the baritone saxophone chair in the 2017 Jazz Band of America, as well as the 2017 Monterey Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, with whom he performed at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the 60th Monterey Jazz Festival alongside Jeff Hamilton and Gerald Clayton. 

In May 2021, Duncan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. While at Frost, he studied with Gary Keller and Troy Roberts and was a featured soloist in performances alongside such jazz luminaries as Maria Schneider, Dave Leibman, Wycliffe Gordon, Brian Lynch, John Daversa, and Shelly Berg, among others. During his undergraduate degree, he was the recipient of several notable awards. In 2019 he was selected as the baritone saxophone chair for the prestigious JAS Jazz Academy in Aspen, Colorado, working under the direction of Christian McBride. In 2020 his combo focusing on early (pre-1940) jazz music was awarded “Best College Combo” by the Teagarden Jazz Festival, where Duncan also earned the honor of being selected “best overall college musician.” 

In 2023, Duncan received his Master’s degree in Music Performance (Jazz) at California State University, Sacramento, where he served as a Graduate Assistant and studied under professors Brian Landrus and Jacam Manricks, as well as performed with the school’s top big band and jazz combo. He was recently awarded a coveted “Outstanding Performance” award in the Graduate College division by Downbeat Magazine during their 2022 Student Music Awards. He went on to win the Graduate College Small Ensemble Division in 2023 as a member of the Sac State Grad Combo. That same group also won the college combo division of the 2023 California Jazz Championships. Duncan is now a Lecturer in Music at Sac State University.

Tim Metz / Drums

Tim Metz is a native of Sacramento, having left to attend William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ earning a BM in Jazz Studies in 2001. He returned to Sacramento in the Fall of 2001 where he quickly became one of the top call jazz drummers. In between a heavy teaching schedule—over 40 drum students per week—Metz continues to consistently perform with some of the world’s greatest musicians, including alto sax masters Jeff Clayton and Jacam Manricks, pianists Joe Gilman, the legendary Donald Brown, Art Hirahara, and Jim Martinez, guitarist Larry Koonse, bassists Darek Oles and Todd Johnson, and The Santa Rosa Symphony Pops to name a few. He is also one of YouTube’s most popular Jazz Drum Lesson Creators with over 2 million views on his channel. Tim has been a faculty member of the Teagarden Jazz Camp.