Cutler Jazz Festival Showcases St. Markers and Guests

The annual Cutler Jazz Festival, featuring music by the St. Mark’s Jazz Band, under the leadership of Director of Music David Fontes, Jazz Director Steve Fell, and Assistant Jazz Director Sean Mix, was held on Sunday, April 13, in the Class of ’45 Hall in the Putnam Family Arts Center. The festival also included music from the P. Brent Trottier Middle School’s Trottier Big Band, Algonquin Regional High School’s Algonquin Jazz Band, and a special performance by the Taylor Ho Bynum Quartet. 

Trottier Big Band, under the direction of Jamison Clark, director of music,  kicked off the evening with Don Menza’s “Groovin’ Hard,” arranged by Dave Barduhn, Doug Beach’s “Late Night Diner,” and Paul Clark’s “Dance Like No One’s Watching.” 

Algonquin Jazz Band, led by Jazz Director Eric Vincent, then took the stage to perform “Nasty Mingus,” by Quincy Jones, and Mike Tomaro’s arrangement of “Ginger Bread Boy,” by Jimmy Heath. 

The St. Mark’s Jazz Band followed with a performance that included two Mark Taylor arrangements: Charlie Parker’s “My Little Suede Shoes” and Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood.” The St. Markers closed with “ABC, by Alphonso Mizell, Frederick Perren, Deke Richards, and Berry Gordon, arranged by Mike Tomaro. 

The Taylor Ho Bynum Quartet–Noah Campbell, tenor and soprano saxophone; Luther Gray, drums; Brittany Karlson, bass; and Taylor Ho Bynum, cornet and flugelhorn, closed out the evening. 

Thanks to all the performers and to everyone who attended! 

To see photos from the 2025 Cutler Jazz Festival, select this link.

To watch a recording of the livestream, select this link.

The St. Mark’s Jazz Band: 
Alto saxophone: Shane Trabulsi 
Tenor saxophone: Lilli Fisher 
Baritone saxophone: Sean Mix (faculty) 
Trumpet: Ethan Ng 
Trombone: Jason Tae 
Clarinet: Eva Wilmot 
Percussion: William Li 
Drums: Thomas Arey (faculty) 
Piano: Lucas Jiang 
Bass: Harry Shin 
Guitar: Gabe Lopes 

Photo of Taylor Ho Bynum by Adam Richins Photography