Marc Rosen & Sweet Thunder Jazztet: Bio

Marc Rosen - Leader, Baritone Sax, Tenor Sax and Clarinet

Rosen's first professional gig was at the age of 14.playing with a variety band called "Sweet Thunder". They played all over the Midwest for several years. Rosen went to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a music major on the baritone saxophone and played with several of the jazz groups there. Over the years Rosen appeared with or opened for such greats as Urbie Green, Don Ellis, Bobby Rosengarden and Joe Williams.

Rosen played baritone sax, clarinet, and soprano sax with Big Time Operator, a very successful, 10 piece swing band which played often in Las Vegas, including gigs at the Desert Inn and monthly appearances at the Hard Rock Cafe Casino, as well as regular appearances at the Derby, the Viper Room, the Hollywood Athletic Club and other high profile venues in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Big Time Operator also appeared in some national TV shows. Big Time Operator recorded a CD called "High Altitude Swing", which sold several thousand copies throughout the country.

Rosen has also recorded with Deuterium, a jazz quartet on the CD "Dreams of Madrid". Rosen also appeared on and produced the CD "Soul Space" with Julie Stewart and the Rio Chama Trio.

Sweet Thunder Jazztet

The Sweet Thunder Jazztet includes a group of talented and dedicated musicians who create a synergetic collaboration of musical spirit to bring power, beauty, and passion to the music. Dave Davidson plays keyboards, Scott Baekeland plays bass and Fred Johnson is on drums.

Dave started music at age 5. He played with many bands throughout southern California in the 1980's. He's been playing with a local big band for many years, and became the musical director in 2005.

Scott plays bass and guitar, and studies the works of Wes Montgomery. He has played with blues and jazz groups for many years.

Fred has played drums almost all his life. He studied at the Army Music School, and played with the 36th Army Band.