JOI Jazz Orchestra

Daniel Falcone began working professionally in Las Vegas at age 15. The son of Vincent Falcone, musical director, pianist and conductor for Frank Sinatra, he literally grew up on stage. Starting in high school, Daniel backed the likes of Tony Bennett, Rita Moreno, Jerry Lewis, George Burns, Andy Williams, Jack Jones, Paul Anka and many other headliners on the Las Vegas Strip. After high school Daniel performed and toured with some of the world’s finest orchestras, including the London Philharmonic. He graduated from UNLV in 1993 and continued to perform for many headliners and production shows until he was asked to join the Tom Jones band as the lead trumpet player in 1998. Daniel spent two and half years with Tom Jones, including a world tour, after which he returned to Las Vegas to perform in a Ricky Martin production, “Storm”, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. The musical director was Jerry Lopez, leader of the iconic band Santa Fe. A few years later Daniel joined Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns and has been with the band ever since. Two years later, Daniel joined Paul Anka full-time and toured for many years playing split-lead, then lead trumpet, recording two albums and a DVD. He then joined the Las Vegas production of Broadway Musical “Hairspray”. Daniel performed with Toni Braxton for more than a year before joining the Las Vegas production of Broadway hit “Jersey Boys”. At this same time, Daniel was hired to perform with Bette Midler (The Showgirl Must Go On), for her two and half year run at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace culminating in an HBO concert performance. For almost 10 years, Daniel was the lead trumpet player for Celine Dion, both in Las Vegas and around the world on tour. Daniel currently plays lead trumpet with Lady Gaga on her Jazz and Piano show. Daniel continues his father’s legacy by touring with the Frank Sinatra concert recreation “One More For the Road” which recently appeared at Carnegie Hall. Daniel also mentors young Las Vegas musicians through a non-profit program called Jazz Outreach Initiative. TV credits include Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The American Country Music Awards, The Billboard Music Awards, The American Music Awards, Lionel Richie and Friends, The American Country Music Awards, The Latin Grammys, The Michael Parkinson Show on BBC, The BET Awards, Men Strike Back on VH1, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, The Today Show, Good Morning America and has been a member of the Jerry Lewis Telethon Orchestra. Dan has also performed and recorded with many artists including Alicia Keys, Kenny Loggins, Journey, Luis Miguel, Christopher Cross, D’Angelo, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Bill Champlin, Cheap Trick, Gladys Knight, Patti Austin, Martin Nievera, Frankie Valli, Vince Gill, Victor Manuelle, Destiny’s Child, Hunter Hayes, Big and Rich, Barry Manilow, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, Brian Bromberg, Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Jordan Sparks, Frank Sinatra Jr., Jon Secada, Gino Vannelli, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Hugh Jackman, Maren Morris, Dwight Yoakam. Daniel is heard on the Chainsmoker’s “Ipad” as well as Kanye West’s album “Jesus is King” and performed live at Lincoln Center with Kanye West’s Opera “Mary”. Most recently Daniel has performed live on the Grammy’s with Lady Gaga, performed with Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson, recorded a live DVD with Journey and performed with The Who and the Jonas Brothers.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, trumpet player Gary Cordell has been on the Las Vegas music scene for over 35 years. He has been a member of many of the Las Vegas Strip Orchestras including Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers, Sinatra – Dance With Me, Spamalot, Legends in Concert, The Golden Nugget Orchestra, and Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular. He has performed with many top headliners including Billy Joel, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Seth MacFarland. Barbara Streisand, Sarah MacLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Heart, Josh Groban, Tears for Fears, Metallica, Scorpions, Lynyrd Skynyrd, David Foster, Natalie Cole, Johnny Mathis, Andrea Bocelli, Gloria Estefan, Robin Thicke, Seal, Chaka Khan, Graham Nash, The Turtles, Kenny Rogers, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, Frankie Valli, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The O’Jays and many others. He is a co-founder of T.A.P.P.S - an organization that serves fallen veterans and first responders by providing a professional trumpeter to perform taps at final honors and funeral services. He is the co-founder of Jazz Outreach initiative.

Has lived in Las Vegas since 1987. Graduated from UNLV in 1991. He has performed on the strip for 30+ years with countless performers including, Don Rickles, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, The Latin Grammys, Tony Bennett, and Lady Gaga, just to name a few.

Wes Marshall is currently playing trumpet with the JJO. Originaly from the Phoenix area , He has lived in Las Vegas since 2000 where he has played with such acts as Wayne Newton, The Temptations, Paul Anka, Johnny Mathis, Lady Gaga and many others.

Curt Miller – Trombonist/Entrepreneur – after attending UNLV as a music major, Curt’s professional career began in 1977 with an Elvis Presley tour that turned out to be the King’s last tour. But the work continued with a year in Lake Tahoe performing the “Bedazzle” (Viva les Girls) show, then he returned to Las Vegas to join the prestigious Lewis Elias Relief Orchestra as lead trombonist. The relief orchestras played a different showroom every night to give the house orchestras a night off, which provided Curt with the opportunity to play with literally every star that set foot on a Las Vegas stage including Frank Sinatra (Sr. and Jr.), Sammy Davis, Dean Martin, Natalie Cole, Liberace, Mel Torme, Doc Severinson, Lena Horne and literally hundreds of others over that 5-year span. During subsequent years Curt played lead trombone at the Desert Inn Hotel, the Frontier Hotel and Caesar’s Palace Hotel. He also spent 5 years travelling to Los Angeles to play on numerous scoring sessions for Disney Productions, including the well-known ‘Oliver and Company’ animated movie. From 1991 to 1995 he was hired as the orchestra contractor and band-leader for all of the Steve Wynn properties (Mirage, Treasure Island and Golden Nugget), and also continued to work regularly for John Haig on the Caesar’s Palace Orchestra. By late 1994 Curt had played over 10,000 Las Vegas shows. Curt has a long background in teaching, 11 years as a full-time lecturer teaching music technology at UNLV, and 10 years teaching personal and business leadership skills for a large leadership development company. In 2001, he founded an IT Services company that grew to be one of the top 5 managed services IT companies in the state of Nevada. Curt sold that business in 2021 to a large IT services firm in Texas. Curt continues to be a “first call” trombonist in Las Vegas and is currently the lead trombonist for the Lady Gaga Jazz and Piano show at the Park Theatre.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, David was chosen as a high school junior to represent Colorado for the 1992 McDonalds Grammy band in NYC. David then moved to Las Vegas in 1993 to pursue a bachelors in Jazz Performance from UNLV. David then took his passion to NYC where he earned his Masters in Jazz Performance, Trombone from SUNY Purchase. David gained great experience in the early 90’s playing the lounges in Las Vegas, subbing on Broadway shows in NYC, and touring the east coast with the Artie Shaw Orchestra. After a year playing trombone at Huis Ten Bosch (a Dutch themed amusement park in Japan), David returned to Las Vegas where he has been blessed to play with a long list of incredible headliners. Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Lady Gaga, Michel Legrand, Neil Sedaka, Alisha Keys, Deep Purple, The Who, Andrea Bocelli just to name a few. David has also had the fortune to play shows like The Lion King, Phantom The Las Vegas Spectacular, Wicked, Book of Mormon and numerous other touring shows at the Smith Center, and enjoyed a long run with Donny and Marie at the Flamingo. Currently David is Chair of the Performing Arts at the Adelson School in Summerlin, plays with The Las Vegas Boneheads, the Sunset Trombone Choir, funk band Home Cookin’, and is lucky to sub in on Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns, and Moksha, and is freelancing whenever possible.

An alumnus of UNLV, Nathan Tanouye holds a Bachelor of Music with dual concentration in Applied Trombone and Jazz Studies. He also holds a Master of Music in Trombone Performance from Texas Tech University. Tanouye’s musical endeavors are diverse, both as a trombonist and as a composer/arranger. As a freelance trombonist, he has worked with some of the biggest names in the business including Natalie Cole, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, Bette Midler, Martin Nievera, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Alicia Keys, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Maren Morris, Kanye West, The Chainsmokers, Journey, The Who, and The Jonas Brothers. He has spent nine years as Celine Dion’s trombonist, which has included multiple tours in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In addition, he plays Principal Trombone in the Las Vegas Philharmonic and is Trombonist, Composer & Arranger with Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns, the internationally recognized band which was presented with the Dean’s Medal Award at the 2019 Hall of Fame ceremony at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As a composer, he has written works in a diverse range of styles for numerous types of ensembles, ranging from flute and harp duo to full symphony orchestra. Notable commissions include Kokopelli’s Dance (2005), 11 Colors (2009), Loki’s Revenge (2010), and Desert Flight (2015), Tanouye has also done extensive work as an arranger and orchestrator for internationally acclaimed artists like Human Nature, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, and Kanye West. He is also Music Director/Composer/Arranger/Producer/Trombone soloist for the Las Vegas Jazz Connection orchestra, which has recorded four albums of his compositions and arrangements: Crossings (2005), Remembering Russ (2008), 11 (2013), and Las Vegas Suite (2019). Currently, Tanouye holds the position of Associate Professor of Jazz and Commercial Music, and Studio Trombone at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He also plays in Lady Gaga’s Jazz & Piano show at the Park MGM. He continues to find inspiration writing, playing, and teaching music and spending time with his wife Bonnie and their four boys – Nickolas, Oliver, Alex, and Jeffry.

Mr. Hernandez is a retired Clark County School District middle school band director with 30 years of service to the students and community of Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also a professional bass trombonist and tuba player who has performed in all the house bands on the famed Las Vegas Strip from 1980 to present. He has worked for over 100 entertainers such as Billy Eckstein, Sammy Davis Jr., Keely Smith, Steve and Edie, Frank Sinatra Jr, Vic Damone, Jack Jones, Tony Bennett, Michel LeGrand, and was selected to perform with Lady Gaga’s “Piano and Jazz”. He is a current member of The Jazz Outreach Orchestra, Bruce Harper Big Band, Gary Anderson’s Summitt Band, Nevada Pops, and Las Vegas Boneheads.

Lauren Cordell, a Las Vegas native, her professional career was launched during high school with performing engagements in the Nevada Symphony Orchestra and the Henderson Civic Symphony. Lauren is one of the youngest members ever to win a tenured position with the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Lauren is currently performing with Lady Gaga’s Jazz Piano Show at the Park MGM in Las Vegas, NV. Lauren has also performed in major headline shows, videos, and recordings including Jean Michael Danton’s The Sorcerer, Featured Fiddler for Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, Frank Sinatra’s Memorial Concert, The B.E.T. Awards, The Latin Grammys, The Country Music Awards, The Billboard Awards, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera – The Las Vegas Spectacular, Mel Brooks’ The Producers, Walt Disney’s Lion King, Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers and many others.

A 50+ year resident of Las Vegas, UNLV and Berklee School of Music alumnus, Phil is one of the most in-demand saxophone soloist in Las Vegas. By 1991, Phil had become a featured soloist with Sheena Easton, and toured with her for eight years. Phil was also asked to tour with songwriter Babyface and Matchbox 20, but declined both to stay home to raise his two daughters. Phil has since performed with some of the greatest names in the entertainment industry, including Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Clint Holmes, Joe Williams, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, and has been a member of Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns for over 24 years. Phil has co-written and collaborated on a track with Santa Fe leader Jerry Lopez and saxophone legend Tom Scott, on Scott’s “Reed My Lips” LP. Phil can be heard on numerous recordings, most notably his own self produced CD’s titled “Cosmic Soul” (released in 2000), inspired by John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” the futuristic dystopian “2031” (released in 2012), inspired by the movie Bladerunner, and a soon-to-be-released 3rd album of ambient works under the pen name “Great Basin 71.”

Eddie Rich has been a mainstay on the Las Vegas music scene for over fifteen years and currently plays 2nd alto saxophone with the JOI Jazz Orchestra. Some of his other credits include Lady Gaga, Boyz II Men, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Tower of Power, Postmodern Jukebox, The Righteous Brothers, and The O’Jays. Eddie has also played in several Las Vegas production shows including Jersey Boys, Showstoppers, Vegas! The Show, and the Cocktail Cabaret. Eddie is also active as a music educator. He teaches combo and jazz language classes with the Las Vegas Youth Jazz Orchestra as well as serving as a mentor for the LVYJO. Eddie also teaches jazz saxophone at the Las Vegas Academy for the Arts in addition to his large studio of private students.

Rob Mader is a freelance woodwind player who has worked constantly since moving to Las Vegas and is a featured member in Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns, and performs with The JOI Jazz Orchestra, Lady Gaga, Kyle Martin’s Piano Man, The John Abraham Project, The WindJammer’s and much more.

John Summers is a Las Vegas native, and local musician specializing in woodwinds. After graduating from the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts in 2002, John attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas where he earned a Bachelors degree in Jazz Studies in 2006, and a Masters degree in Jazz Composition in 2013. Professional highlights include performing on a variety of local and national touring Broadway musical productions as well as performing with many internationally recognized artists, such as Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Brett Eldredge, Johnny Mathis, and The Who.

Tenor saxophonist Wayne de Silva started his music career in the nightclubs of Waikiki in the 1970’s. He has music degrees from the Berklee College of Music and UNLV and has been active in the Las Vegas music scene since 1998.

Jimmy Tripi is a guitarist, singer, and multi instrumentalist from New York City. He earned his bachelors and masters in music at New York university, where he was a jazz performance major. He has made his home in Las Vegas for the last 23 years. He has shared the stage with the likes of of Mary Wilson, Valerie Simpson, Lamont Dozier, The Righteous Brothers, Terry Fator, and Paul Shaffer. Locally, he performs often with David Perrico, The Raiders House Band, The Lon Bronson Band, America’s got talent winner, Michael Grimm, and of course, Jazz outreach initiative. JOI has enriched his life and helped him grow leaps and bounds musically. Jimmy is honored to play with this stellar group of musicians and friends.

Since beginning his professional career in New York City, bassist John Belzaguy has performed with a diverse collection of artists. He has recorded on albums, television and movie soundtracks and played concerts, festivals, and clubs throughout the country and the world. A short list of artists he has performed and/or recorded with includes: Vocalists Patti Austin, Rosemary Clooney, Natalie Cole, Celia Cruz, Kurt Elling, Gloria Estefan, Michael Feinstein, Johnny Mathis Jane Monheit, Frank Sinatra Jr., Nancy Wilson Instrumentalists: Francisco Aguabella, Regina Carter, Eddie Daniels, Herbie Mann, Poncho Sanchez, Arturo Sandoval Bands: The Benny Goodman Band, The Percy Faith Orchestra, The Gene Krupa Memorial Band, The Buddy Rich Memorial Band Soundtracks: Last Vegas and The Mule.

Dave Loeb is an internationally recognized pianist, conductor, arranger, musical director, composer and educator. He performed with jazz artists such as Joe Williams, Freddie Hubbard and Nancy Wilson, played on the soundtracks for television shows, recordings and feature films recorded in Los Angeles studios including Ted, The Birdcage, Pocahontas, Family Guy and the Grammy Award-winning album, Ask Your Mama, with Questlove and others. Dave was principal pianist with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, arranged for The Academy and American Music Awards, orchestrated for George Benson and Doc Severinsen, and composed music for PBS and Dolly Parton. As musical director for Ben Vereen, Dee Dee Bridgewater and many others, he conducted notable ensembles including the Philadelphia Orchestra and conducted the "Sinatra 100" CBS television production in Las Vegas with Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Usher and Celine Dion. Dave is Director of Jazz Studies at UNLV, has received the Nevada System of Higher Education Regent's Creative Activity Award and was inducted into the UNLV College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame. Students under his direction have received distinguished honors including 44 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards, performed at prestigious venues worldwide and garnered Grammy Consideration and outstanding reviews for CD releases.