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Bob Strickland

Bob Strickland grew up in Dallas, Texas, and his earliest memories of jazz music are from age three, when he first heard his mother’s 78 RPM records of Tommy Dorsey, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Harry James, and Gene Krupa. He has since become a player, as well as a jazz and big band historian, familiar with hundreds of different musicians, arrangers, and styles.

Although the great trumpeter, Ziggy Elman, instilled a burning desire in Bob to play trumpet, Bob did not begin playing trumpet until age 22, completely missing musical training in a college setting. However, after graduating, he joined various university jazz bands where he was living at the time. He also organized and played in several “kicks” rehearsal bands, for which he purchased all of the arrangements.

During graduate school, interrupted by service in the Navy, Bob began leading his own performing groups. Later, he played under the professional leadership of Bill Kimple, Don Joseph, and Myron Floren. From 1994 until moving to Everett, Washington in 2001, Bob led and performed with his 17-piece big band, Swingtime 2000; the band still performs in the Dallas area, playing the arrangements of Billy May, Nelson Riddle, Dennis Farnon, Dave Wolpe, Nat Pierce, Ernie Wilkins, and others.

Since moving to the Seattle area, Bob has played with Doug Reid, Al Lindbom, Brian Kent, John Spencer, Jeremy Jones, Arturo Rodriguez, Andy Roben, Andrienne Wilson, Doug Zangar, Chris Clark, Karin Kajita, Kevin McCarthy, the Duwamish Dixieland Jazz Band, Tammy Burdett, and Bob Hill. He currently is in residence, beginning a third year, at the Prohibition Grill in Everett, Washington.

Gear

Trumpet: Calicchio, Kanstul, Besson, Getzen Flugelhorn: Couesnon Cornet: Getzen


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