The Rhythm Section... keeping time with the changes...

Rick Brunetto -- Drums, Leader

Rick Brunetto, a native of Piqua, Ohio, earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music in 1974, and a Masters in Percussion at Ohio State University in 1976. He went on to study timpani in New York with Fred Hinger, world-renowned timpanist, with the Philadelphia and Metropolitan Opera Orchestras.

In 1974, he joined the well-known Bob Allen Trio at the Christopher Inn located in Columbus, with whom he performed and recorded for over 13 years. In 1978, he joined the faculty of Denison University, teaching in the areas of percussion, jazz studies, and music technology. He served as Chair of the Music Department from 1992 to 1998. He has also taught at Kenyon College, Mt. Vernon Nazarene College, and Capital University. He has performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra and Welsh Hills Symphony. Rick has conducted and directed concerts with many artists including Louie Bellson, Frank Foster, Marvin Stamm, and Bill Watrous.

In 1984, he fulfilled a life-long musical ambition to create a 17- piece big band. Today the Rick Brunetto Big Band enjoys great success on the Columbus music scene and appears regularly at festivals, clubs and special events. The band's recordings include: "Tuxedo Junction", "Pick Your Take", "Stand Up and Swing "and their latest CD "So Many Stars So many Dreams." He has written arrangements and compositions for percussion ensemble, big band and symphony orchestra.

Currently Rick is on faculty at St. Charles High School and Mount Vernon Nazarene University where he directs bands and teaches courses in percussion and audio engineering. He continues to perform, write and arrange for the band.

Mike Clark-- Bass

Mike Clark is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he played with the OSU Jazz Ensemble.  He originally played with the Rick Brunetto Big Band in 1994 and has recently rejoined the band. Mike can also be seen with the British Invasion, a fabulous tribute band that covers the music of the Beatles and many of the original British bands. He also leads his own band County Line Junction and has played with the Smith Bros. Mike has been a songwriter since the tender age of 15. His love of Power Pop music fuels much of his songwriting ideas and led to many accomplishments as a writer including the purchase of “Without You” by the Fox Television Network for their show Undeclared. “Without You” was used in all of Fox’s promotional advertisements for the show. Michael also composed the theme song for the 2006 Wing Bowl Competition in Columbus Ohio. Wing Bowl is sponsored every year by 1460 The Fan.

Mark Donavan -- Keyboards

Mark Donavan became a part of the Rick Brunetto Big Band while working on his music education degree at the Ohio State University in the mid-1990’s. Initially playing saxophone with the group, he now holds down the piano chair. Originally from the Massillon/Canton area, Mark teaches middle school music in the Columbus City Schools. He is the founder and director of the Columbus Youth Jazz Workshop – a big band jazz experience for late middle school and early high school students in the Central Ohio area.

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Vocalists

Rhythm Section

Saxophones

Trombones

Trumpets