Hot Cross Bones

admin January 17th, 2009

Don Navis

Don is the lead trombonist and director of Hot Cross Bones. He is an alumnus of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps and the Madison Scouts Alumni Reunion Project (MSARP). Don has played with over 35 groups or ensembles, and played in over 30 pit orchestras. Musical highlights include “having Dizzy Gillespie sit down next to me and get us started on a trumpet/trombone vamp to kick off Dizzy’s own ‘Night in Tunisia’ at the 1983 Wisconsin Jazz Festival. Yeah, it was as cool as you might imagine.” Favorite musical memories also include the countless churches, schools, care facilities, and community centers where he’s been blessed to be able to share the joy of live music.

Dan Gould

Dan is a charter member of the group and has contributed many arrangements to our repertoire. He is an extraordinary soloist who can rapidly doodle-tongue his way through the most demanding chord changes. His extensive bag includes multiphonics and plunger work that add color to his inventive solos. Dan is also a 25-year veteran of the Jeff Peronto Jazz Orchestra.

Bob Kaiser

Bass trombonist Bob Kaiser is the third long-term member of the group. Also a talented tuba player, pianist, and arranger, Bob has contributed many of his arrangements to the group as well. You can hear Bob playing tuba with the BrassWorks Brass Quintet.

Mike Clipson

Mike joined Hot Cross Bones in 2006. He also plays in the Madison Community Jazz Band and A Perfect Fifth Brass Quintet. He is also responsible for everything that you don’t like about this Web site.

Tom Brys

Valve trombonist Tom Brys joined the group in 2007 and is one of our three members who marched with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. Tom also played in a rock band, back when rock bands still had horns! If you haven’t heard him play Flight of the Bumblebee you owe it to yourself to listen to the sample on our General Playlist page.

Dave Goplin

Dave joined our group in 2008.

Al Chase

Dr. Chase’s distinguished career includes principal trombonist for the Detroit Symphony and professor of music at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He now anchors the rhythm section on his electric bass for Hot Cross Bones, All That Jazz, and the Madison Community Jazz Band. Al has also added several of his own creative arrangements to our repertoire.

Paul Muench

Pianist Paul completes our rhythm section with a tremendous talent for improvisation. Paul has also played with the Jeff Peronto Jazz Orchestra.

Dave Heilman

Dave is our third connection with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and he currently serves on their board of directors. He recently retired after a 30-year career as a band director, but remains active as a clinician, program coordinator, visual designer and adjudicator. Additionally, Dave is the treasurer for the Wisconsin Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and is also the current and founding director of the Wisconsin State High School Marching Band Championships. Dave also performs with All That Jazz and American Jazz Express.

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