Mitch Latting:   Band Leader/Trumpet / Flugelhorn/Vocals

Mitch has performed with The Temptations, Red Skelton, The Four Freshmen, Marvin Hamlish, Bobby Shew ,  Matt Catingub, and the Royal Garden Swing Orchestra.  Mitch has also played lead trumpet for the Manhattan Transfer.  He's been on seven tours to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland with the Cuesta College music groups.  The greatest musical influences in Mitch's life have been his parents, as well as Frank Sinatra and the amazing Maynard Ferguson.  Since 1979 Mitch has been with The San Luis Jazz Band as bandleader, trumpet player and lead vocalist. 

 

Gary Drysdale:  Guitar/Vocals

Gary originally played clarinet in his school band in Whittier, CA before switching to the guitar and electric bass in 1965.  He attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood and joined the Jazz Studies program at Fullerton College.  His professional performances began shortly thereafter.  In the Central Coast, he's active as a clinician and player, having performed with Lanny Morgan, Charlie Shoemake, Red Holloway, Mike Vax, Julie Kelley, Doug McDonald and John Stowell, to name a few.  He has studied with Lee Ritenour, Tommy Tedesco, Howard Roberts, Ron Eschete, and Bruce Forman.  "El Diablo" (a nickname he rather enjoys) currently performs with the Sugar Daddy Swing Kings, and The Royal Garden Swing Orchestra.  Gary is very highly respected and admired in and around San Luis Obispo and maintains one of the most active private guitar studios in the area.  Gary is a 23-year veteran of The San Luis Jazz Band.

 

Darrell Voss:   Drums/Vocals

Darrell has played drums since the age of 3.  After graduating from San Luis Obispo High School, he pursued a career as a drummer and percussion instructor.  He obtained an A.A. at Cuesta College in 1989 and a B.A. from Cal Poly -San Luis Obispo in 1994.  He has studied with Jeff Hamilton and Steve Houghton and has taught percussion at Cuesta College since 2000.  Darrell has performed with Vocology, Red Holloway, Matthew Van Doran, Scott Underwood, Henry Lee, Blue Latitude, Paul Rinzler Trio and is currently active in the Famous Jazz Artist Concert Series, the Mozart Festival Orchestra and The Royal Garden Swing Orchestra, as well as performing under his own name.  Darrell is a 20-year member of The San Luis Jazz Band.

 

Bruce Beck:  Piano/Vocals

Bruce has been performing in and around San Luis Obispo County area for some 20 years.  In addition to being a 10-year member of The San Luis Jazz Band, he enjoys playing music with fellow Cayucan Jim Conroy in several incarnations.  Bruce also enjoys performing with the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble at their spring concerts.  As one of his creative artistic characteristics, Bruce is a welding design contractor living in Cayucos, California.  Many of his beautiful creations grace homes and businesses throughout San Luis Obispo County.

 

David Becker:  Soprano Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones /Clarinet/Flute

David has been the saxophone instructor at Cuesta College since 2001, after receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Florida.  He spent several years performing around the world as bandleader and sideman for many luxury cruise lines in addition to performing in many ensembles at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.  In addition to his 13 year relationship with The San Luis Jazz Band, David has performed with The Temptations, Manhattan Transfer, Smokey Robinson, Sam Rivers, and Marvin Hamlish, to name a few.

 

Ken Hustad:  Bass/Vocals

Ken has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music and Philosophy from St. Cloud University, Minnesota.  He studied privately with Clifton Swanson, John Hornschuh, and Buell Neidlinger.  Ken is a teacher and studio musician at Cuesta College-San Luis Obispo and performs in classical, jazz, and commercial groups.  Along with being a 20-year member of The San Luis Jazz Band, he is a member of the San Luis Obispo Symphony, the Mozart Festival Orchestra, and Tolosa Strings.  Ken is a well-respected private bass instructor throughout San Luis Obispo County and has his own studio in Morro Bay.