David Tonkin studied jazz guitar with Ed Cory, Jay Azzolina, and Randy Roos. He has worked with the New Hampshire Artists in the Schools Program, led workshops at Dartmouth College, and taught at UNH- Manchester. He performs throughout New England, and is founder of the David Tonkin Group and Tonkin Toys. Tonkin performed in two sold-out performances with Straight No Chaser at the well-known New York City jazz club, The Blue Note, and at the Saratoga Jazz Festival. An active composer, his work has been heard on radio and television throughout the area.Richard Gardzina
Saxophone, jazz ensembles, improvisation, composition
Richard Gardzina received his bachelor's degree in music composition from North Texas State University and his master's in music composition from the University of New Hampshire, with further study at the Berklee College of Music. He is a producer, recording engineer, and owner of Sound Experience recording studio. and has composed works for various film companies in Los Angeles and New York, as well as for New York City choreographer Dianne Eno, the New Hampshire Theater Project, the Pontine Movement Theatre, Arthur Hall Dance Company, and the New Hampshire Dance Alliance. Gardzina has composed and produced more than 125 songs for children, and composed and produced 50 Songs for Social Dance. He has recorded three CDs of original jazz compositions. He has more than 40 years of performing experience in New Hampshire, Texas, and Los Angeles.
Matt Langley has studied with Lou Marini of Saturday Night Live, David Baker, Ted Dunbar, and Stan Strickland. Since 1988 he has been a member of the Charlie Kohlhase Quintet (CKQ), recording three CDs, touring the United States, and performing in jazz festivals from the Boston Globe Festival to the Rutabega Jazz Jam. CKQ’s fourth CD, Dancing on My Bedpost, made the top-10 lists of many jazz critics in 1999. Langley has recorded with Ron Carter, John Medeski, Billy Martin, Chris Wood, Roswell Rudd, and others. He performs regularly with Tonkin Toys.
Tom Robinson received a bachelor of music in jazz studies from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio. He has studied saxophone with Michael Cox, and piano with Mark Flugge and Joe Hunter. He was selected for Ohio Music Educator's All-State College Jazz Ensemble in 1992-1993. Robinson, who also teaches at Plymouth State University, performs throughout New England as a sideman with several jazz groups as well as leading and writing for his own trio. He has recorded five CDs.
David Ross earned a B.M. in guitar performance and a B.A. in both composition and theory from Keene State College before going on to earn a M.M. and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University, where he served as the teaching assistant to the renowned guitar department. Ross has studied classical guitar with Jose Lezcano, Julian Gray and Scott Tennant and jazz with Paul Bollenback, and also has performed regularly in master classes with Manuel Barrueco, Eliot Fist and Pepe Romero. He has performed extensively throughout the United States and has won several international prizes and awards in guitar festivals and competitions. As well as being an avid performer, Ross has been prolific as a composer. He premiered his recent work, the guitar solo Wake Me When It’s Over, at the Patterson Theatre in Baltimore with the Dilettante Dance Company, for whom the piece was written. As a teacher, Ross has maintained a successful guitar studio and has enjoyed teaching courses in music theory, ear training and music history at Keene State College, as well as classes in improvisation, jazz guitar and combo-jazz at the Vermont Jazz Center. He also has been active in promoting music in the community and directed the "First Saturdays" classical music series at The Starving Artist in Keene, NH.
Don Williams received a bachelor of science degree in music education at Plymouth State University, with further study in the master of fine arts program in music at the University of New Hampshire. He performs often with Raccoon Beach, Tonkin Toys, Plymouth State University FacultyQuartet,and the Loli Sterling Group. He has appeared at The Blue Note, Rainbow Room, and Saratoga Jazz Festival, and has performed with the Platters, Randy Brecker, Jack Wilkins, and Bob Guilotti. He is also on the faculty of Plymouth State University.