2025 Prescott Jazz Summit Lineup

Master of Ceremonies

Comedian and Master of Ceremonies Pete Barbutti is back for 2025!

Pete Barbutti continues to be one of the most famous stand-up comedians in history. Born in Scranton, PA, Pete Barbutti started accordion lessons at 11 and within a year was earning money playing at weddings.

Later, Pete formed a musical- comedy-vocal quartet group called “The Millionaires” and toured the country. Settling in Las Vegas, “The Millionaires” quickly became a Las Vegas favorite.

He has appeared over 1,000 times on national television, and over 90 times on “The Tonight Show.” Pete continues to have a busy performing and traveling schedule. Pete is also a fine musician, having worked with such stars as Frank Sinatra, Henry Mancini, & Nat King Cole, and he has also won many prestigious music awards.

Featured Artist – Scotty Barnhart

Scotty Barnhart is an acclaimed jazz trumpeter, leader, composer, arranger, educator, author and now in his twentieth year with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra has been appointed as their new Director.

A Two-time Grammy Award winner with the Basie Orchestra, three critically acclaimed recordings by pianist Marcus Roberts and over ten recordings with the likes of Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Ray Charles, and Tito Puente, Scotty released his debut solo CD ‘Say It Plain’ on the Unity Music label. Scotty invited Clark Terry, Ellis and Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Jamie Davis and Etienne Charles to share his compositions and love of standards on Con Alma, Giant Steps and Barnhart’s own, Dedicated To You. Say It Plain achieved No. 3 in the Jazz Charts and has received celebrated reviews.

Acknowledged as one of the authorities on the history of jazz trumpet, he intently researched and wrote the ground breaking book The World of Jazz Trumpet – A Comprehensive History and Practical Philosophy. Published by Hal Leonard, it is a valuable source tool for jazz trumpeters, students and jazz fans with interviews from Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison to Chuck Mangione, technical tutorials, historical events and illustrated with unpublished photographs.

Musicians Performing Throughout the Weekend Include:

Trumpet:  Mike Vax, Scotty Barnhart, Louise Baranger, Dave Coolidge, Bruce Gates. Mike
Gurciullo
Trombone: Greg Varlotta, Brian Zabriskie, Art Swanson, Calvin Audis
Saxophone:  Dave Schmidt, Gary Anderson, Tony Vacca, Dave Russell, Paul Brewer
Piano: Beth Lederman,
Bass: Rob Wren, Chris Finet
Drums:  Kenny French,
Guitar:  Howard Alden, Rick Schmidt
Vocals:  Ronnie Rose, Mike Gurciullo

More about the musicians scheduled to perform at the 2025 Prescott Jazz Summit

Michael “Gooch” Gurciullo started playing trumpet at 9 years old and started singing when he was in high school. His musical journey has
taken him from Australia to Europe and all over North America. He studied music at the University of North Texas, worked the Las Vegas Strip for 15 years, and played the lead/jazz trumpet chair for Wayne Newton for 6 years. He also formed the “Las Vegas Big Band” in 2004.

In 2008, Gooch returned to his hometown of Omaha, where he reassembled a Las Vegas Big Band with the finest players in that area. In 2016, Gooch joined the touring show, “Official Blues Brothers Revue,” a show written by Dan Aykroyd and Judy Belushi.

In November of 2019, Gooch relocated to Phoenix and quickly assimilated into the local jazz scene. Along with all his performances, education programs and shows around the country, Gooch still tours with the Official Blues Brothers Revue.

We are pleased to have the great Ronnie Rose return to the 22nd Jazz Summit. In addition to joining us since 2019, Ronnie Rose has performed at thousands of corporate and private functions, including for luminaries including former President George Bush, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

He’s also performed in concert with The Beach Boys, Barry Manilow, Kool and the Gang and The Four Tops. A multi-year winner of the Las Vegas Black Music Awards for “Best Jazz Male Vocalist” and “Best Blues Male Vocalist,” he has performed at almost every major casino in Las Vegas.

In 2011, Ronnie received the Las Vegas Excellence in Entertainment Award for “Entertainer of the Year”. In 2012, he was inducted into the Las Vegas “Entertainers Hall of Fame.”

Louise Baranger was born in Hollywood, CA where she played with the bands of Harry James, Nelson Riddle, Bill Berry, Jack Wilson, and Ray Anthony and a host of others. Television credits include The World Music Awards, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Swing Time w/Barry Manilow, Dallas, Falcon Crest and The Flash. Louise has appeared in music videos with Joe Cocker and Bobby Womack.

Beth Lederman has been playing keyboards professionally for more than 35 years. She is a mainstay in the Phoenix jazz and latin scenes; but her influences and experiences are widely spread across many different musical styles. From samba to swing to pop music, it’s all played with heartfelt integrity.

An Arizona native, Beth’s family ran Lederman Music Co., a chain of music stores in the Valley until the 1980s. Beth began classical studies at age 5 and went on to earn a B.A. in Music from ASU. She has backed many different groups and played concerts, clubs, churches, and casuals in Arizona, Canada and Mexico backing many Arizona singers and groups and such nationally known artists as The Diamonds, Carmen Bradford and Bobbie Vinton. She has played with her own group at the Desert Botanical Garden, The Ravenscroft, The Nash, Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Tempe Center for the Arts, Chandler Jazz Festival, and appeared with the Phoenix Symphony just to name a few of her many appearances.

What she brings to every performance is a spirit of creativity, a sense of humor, and a commitment to excellence. Some of her career highlights include being band leader for the Brazilian jazz group Novo Mundo, salsa band Más, Brazilian group Zum,Zum,Zum, musical director for a touring production of “Phantom of the Opera,” and, of course, her own group, Jazz Con Alma. 

Check out her website and discography at www.bethlederman.com

Reed player Tony Vacca (Phoenix) is a local favorite who has played at the Prescott Jazz Summit numerous times. Tony has performed with Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Doc Severinson, The Temptations and Richie Cole.

Mike Vax (Prescott) Mike has played in the big bands of Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey and Harry James. He served in the US Navy Show Band and has also played with the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans. He leads the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra.

Howard Alden (Phoenix/New York) The Concord Jazz recording artist has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Scott Hamilton, Ken Peplowski and George Van Eps.

Dave Schmidt is an esteemed jazz musician and educator based in Phoenix, Arizona. With a career spanning over three decades, Dave has dedicated his life to the mastery and teaching of jazz music. He held a prominent position as a music professor at Glendale Community College (GCC) where he imparted his knowledge and passion for jazz to aspiring young musicians

Dave is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, is renowned for his mastery of the saxophone and has been a mainstay in the local music scene for years. 

Schmidt’s distinctive sound blends modern nuances with a straight ahead jazz approach. Dave has performed locally with various commercial projects including Mr.Dad, Groove Merchants, Repeat Offenders, Extreme Decibel Big Band, Eight-Bit Mammoth, Swing Kings, Nate Nathan and the Macdaddeos, and the Raun Alosi Band in addition to the Phoenix Symphony and the Phoenix Theater. Schmidt has also had the honor of performing with national touring groups such as The Temptations, Michael Buble’, The Miracles, Four Tops,Taste of Honey, Peaches & Herb, Heatwave, Sam Moore, Donna Summer, O’Jays, Deniece Williams, GQ, Manhattans, Pussy Cat Dolls, Delfonics, Suzanne Somers, Debbie Reynolds any many more. You may even find him center court at a Suns game playing the national anthem!

Gary Anderson (Las Vegas) Played for Woody Herman and arranged a definitive version of Herman’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.” He is a veteran of numerous Las Vegas Show Bands and performs with the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra.

Kenny French (Phoenix)  US Air Force Academy Falconaires Big Band, Cab Calloway Orchestra, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, Shirley Jones, Ernestine Anderson, Kirk Whalum and Frank Mantooth.

Greg Varlotta began his musical career at a very early age, beginning trumpet under his father’s instruction when he was just 5. Furthering his interest in music on piano and guitar in high school, Greg went on to earn his Bachelor of Music in performance from Arizona State University in 1985. Immediately upon receiving his degree, he landed the full-time job as trumpeter with the house jazz band The Side Street Strutters at Disneyland in California. He held that position for over 21 years, while also touring the U.S. and Europe with the Strutters. In 1997, Greg began playing trombone with the Strutters as well, and in 2002 became the trombone instructor at the Teagarden Traditional Jazz Camp at Sly Park, CA. Greg has also been tap dancing professionally for over 20 years. Upon moving back to Arizona in 2006, he joined The Brian Setzer Orchestra for two Christmas tours, and also became the other half of an acoustic duo with Nils Lofgren, lead guitarist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.

Chris Finet (Flagstaff) Director of Jazz Studies at NAU, Flagstaff Symphony. Chris has performed with Doc Severinson, Roy Hargrove, Dave Douglas.

Paul Brewer (Phoenix) Paul is the Director of Jazz Studies at Mesa College. He has played with Doc Severinson, Michael Buble, Dianna Ross, Frankie Valli and the Temptations.

Dave Russell was for many years a fixture on the R+B scene in Phoenix, playing most notably with the popular singer “Small Paul” and with the group, “Cold Shot and the Hurricane Horns.” He lives in Prescott now and enjoys the wealth of fine musicians in the area. Dave has played the Jazz Summit regularly since 2001 and also plays with the Trailblazers Big Band at Yavapai College.

Trombonist Art Swanson was a member of the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, DC for 26 years, and a trombonist and soloist with numerous Navy bands. He also served as National Tour Director for its five performing units. As a freelance musician, Art also played with musicians from the National Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, and the Fairfax Symphony. Since retiring to Kingman, Arizona, he has taught music on the Hualapai Reservation in Peach Springs, and also for the Mohave Community College. He currently conducts the Lake Havasu Regional Orchestra and the Mohave Community Orchestra.

Phoenix-based trumpeter and music contractor Dave Coolidge has performed across Arizona and around the world. He spent more than a decade playing at Walt Disney World, and besides his jazz chops is known for his playing in orchestras and ensembles. He’s also skilled in Classical composition and music production.

Ted Bouras is a Prescott-based Drummer/Bandleader that formed The OrganNauts in 2022 and has welcomed regional musicians such as: Natalie Gallatin, Chris Finet, Andrew Gross, Adam Roberts, Stan Sorenson, Beth Lederman, Chris Counelis, Dave Len Scott, Josh Moore, Dave Henning and others as guests to the Raven Cafe bandstand. Bouras also co-leads, with Dave Henning, the I-17 Connection band. Outside of Prescott, Ted has appeared at The Century Room (Tucson), The Nash Jazz Club and Jazzbird/Ravenscroft (both in Phoenix). Ted has a BA in Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City; was mentored by Jay Cummings; and was recently taken to the woodshed by Joseph Farnsworth and Kenny Washington. Bouras gives back by coaching local high school big band drummers through the Yavapai Jazz Institute and at Prescott High School. 

Paul Brewer is the Director of Jazz Studies at Mesa College. Paul plays all saxophones in all styles and is an in-demand freelancer in the area. He has performed with artists/bands like Frankie Valli, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Idina Menzel, Gunhild Carling, Diana Ross, The Phoenix Symphony, Doc Severinsen and Michael Buble´, plus playing with Broadway touring shows. At Mesa College, Paul also teaches concert band and music history classes.

Trombonist Brian Zabriskie was a veteran musical conductor for many major cruise ship lines across two decades. He is featured regularly in and around Prescott in a variety of groups, including the Great American Jazz Band. He’s played in the Big Band at numerous Prescott Jazz Summit events and participates in the student clinics.

Bruce Gates musical career includes five years as lead and jazz trumpet with an Air Force regional band, followed by 15 years as lead trumpet with the world-renowned Airmen of Note in Washington, D.C. Bruce also released two critically acclaimed CDs on the Sea Breeze label with his own groups. Dedicated to music education, Bruce lives in the Phoenix area, where he is the adjunct trumpet instructor at Chandler/Gilbert Community College. He is a clinician, guest soloist, adjudicator and Schilke artist.

Calvin Audis is a bass trombonist, arranger, and teacher. Dr. Audis holds positions in the Prescott POPS Orchestra, the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra (sub), the Verde Valley Sinfonietta, and the Mike Vax All-Star Band. Audis also enjoys a busy freelance schedule around Northern Arizona and the Hub City. He served as the low brass instructor for Yavapai College from Fall 2016 through Spring 2018. Calvin has recently accepted the job as Band Director at Prescott High School, where he directs the concert band, marching band, jazz band, and orchestra.

Rick Schmidt, lifetime professional multi instrumentalist and vocalist, has played all over the world on big and small stages and recording sessions… playing guitar, bass guitar, and pedal steel guitar in almost all genres. Blues, R&B, Pop, Rock, Country… but with a lifelong love of Jazz behind it all!