Just Jazz Live

Tom has won numerous state and national awards as a high school jazz player. During this time he had the thrill of setting in with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and jazz legend Maynard Ferguson.

More recently, Tom is a retired Lead Pastor at Mansfield First Assembly of God, and maintains a busy music schedule performing with Just Jazz Live. Tom is a Trustee for the American Federation of Musicians, Local 159.

Julian graduated from Capital University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies. As an up-and-coming pianist/keyboardist in the Columbus music scene, Julian has amassed significant professional experience, performing over 500 gigs since 2014 in a wide variety of styles—jazz, pop/rock, funk, soul, salsa, and gospel.

Julian is the recipient of a number of awards, including The Mark Flugge Jazz Award (2017) and The Ohio State University Jazz Festival Scholarship (2014). He was also named a finalist for the Capital University Conservatory Undergraduate Scholarship Competition (2016, 2017, 2018) and the Hank Marr High School Jazz Award (2015).

Steve earned a degree in Music Education in 1995 from Ashland Univeristy. He has played professionally since the age of 16 and is a long time member of the AFM Local 159.

Over the years, he has played in many acts with some of the top players in Ohio. He can also be found most Sunday mornings behind the drums at Faith United Methodist Church.

Ohio native, Neil Ebert always found music to be an important thing. His father had played in the Army Band during the Korean War and his mother was a church organist and taught piano lessons.

Neil attended Ashland University and although a trumpet player, his father needed a bass player in his band so he quickly became a bass player and the bass soon became his instrument of choice.

After graduation from Ashland University, he began his teaching career at Ashland City Schools where he spent his entire career. He taught all of the various band ensembles, but his favorite was always the Jazz Bands. He is currently back teaching the Jazz Bands as a part time teacher.

Shortly after college, Neil started playing with pianist Louis Mendez, and a few years later, started his own band. From 1982-1996, played in a popular wedding band playing in most of the Country Clubs throughout north central Ohio.

Throughout the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, Neil was a regular with the Local 159 Big Band, The Eddie Chiudioni Big Band, as well as the Tom Reed Orchestra. He was the bass player for the Miss Ohio Orchestras from 1985-94.

After retirement from Ashland City Schools in 2008, Neil took a new position at the Kroc Center in Ashland, where he was the Music Coordinator and led a Big Band, Dixieland Band, Concert Band and Brass Quintet. He actively played in all of the groups until his recent retirement from the Kroc Center. He currently works part time directing the Jazz Bands and 5th grade bands at Ashland City Schools.

Damian has been a driving force as a teacher, band director and mentor in Ohio for over 20 years.. Damians many accompishments will be listed more in depth soon.