Patrick
Swindell and Pizzazz is fronted by vocalist and lawyer Patrick Swindell
and performs what Swindell describes as true jazz standards. The band
performs the works of Cole Porter, Ira and George Gershwin, Sammy Cahn
and Jules Styne. The songs are presented from "The American Songbook"
in the style arrangement prepared for Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Tony
Bennett and Michael Feinstein. Members include Patrick Swindell on
vocals, Roger Lester on Trumpet, Western Swing “Hall of Famer” Chet
Calcote on Bass, Dustin Adams on Piano, and Terrance McDaniel on Drums.
Band
Members
Patrick
Swindell, vocals
Dustin
Adams, piano - Dustin Adams' musical personality is an amalgamation of
a wide variety of influences, none of which he wishes to deny or extol
at the expense of another. From his roots in punk rock to his Classical
and Jazz training on piano and percussion, to his expedition into the
vast universe of the Hindustani and Carnatic musical traditions of
India, Dustin strives to honestly explore any direction his ears leads
him. More information about Dustin can be found at his website:
www.dustinadams.com
Roger
Lester, trumpet and Flugelhorn - Roger graduated from the Naval School
of Music and has been playing in bands since he was 15. (almost 30
years!) He has played music on both coasts as well as in Russia. Roger
and his wife and are retired and reside as current directors of an art
museum in Oklahoma.
Lloyd
Spoon, trombone and flute - Lloyd's musical career began in the ‘60’s
working in Las Vegas with such groups as Perez Prado, Les Elgart, Della
Reese, Buddy Greco, and others. Most of the 70’s was spent with the
Stan Kenton Orchestra where he played 2nd trombone. After teaching
public school from 1978 to 1988 he started working on cruise ships. He
was musical director for American Hawaii Cruises from 1990 to
1999. He and his wife Linda moved to Claude in 2003 where he
was band director up until 2007. He recently went back to working on
cruise ships. In 2007 he did a world cruise on the Queen Mary 2 along
with other cruises to Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean.
Chet
Calcote, bass - Chet was born in Amarillo but grew up in Texas and
Colorado where he learned to play guitar, fiddle, and bass at an early
age, He performed on a radio show at age 10, and later worked as a
radio DJ and had his own TV show in Pueblo until 1958. Chet then took a
job as bass player and vocalist with Leon McAuliff’s Western Swing band
in Tulsa for the next four years traveling the US and Europe. Chet was
introduced to Jazz and big band music from some of the great musicians
on Leon’s band. They performed at shows and dances and played Grand Ole
Opry tours along with headline shows at the Golden Nugget and Showboat
in Las Vegas. In 1962 Chet moved his family to Amarillo for a quieter
lifestyle and to raise a family. He worked with several groups
including Ed Wyrick’s Jazz group, “The Crown Four”. He later organized
“The Classics” in 1972 and worked as the house band at the Country Barn
Steakhouse in Amarillo for more than twelve years. Over the last few
years Chet has played bass with Bob Will’s “Texas Playboys” on several
occasions, and works with several Jazz and Country groups in the
Amarillo area. Chet was inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame in
Sacramento, CA in 1999 for his contribution to Western Swing music. He
has also acquired inductions into the Southwest Hall of Fame Society in
2005 at Oklahoma City, and in the Pioneers of Western Swing in Seattle
in 2007. Chet’s main focus now is his job of bassist with Patrick
Swindell’s Jazz combo, “Pizzazz”, in Amarillo, Texas. This group
consists of a great bunch of guys, and it’s exciting to look at the
challenges that lie ahead for these very talented jazz musicians under
the direction of Patrick Swindell.
Terrance
McDaniel, drums - Terrance McDaniel is currently working in the
entertainment retail industry for Hastings Entertainment, Inc. He has
been at Hastings for 13 years and is currently working in the
Merchandising Division of the Advertising / Marketing Team as the
Merchandise Operations Manager. While working in
the retail entertainment industry, he acquired a degree, Bachelor of
Arts with an emphasis on Musical Performance, from Arkansas State
University (1998). He has played several master classes
& clinics for high schools & colleges including the
Arkansas Tech University, the University of Central Arkansas in Conway
& Amarillo College. He has also played with solo
trumpeter, Bobby Shew, and University of North Texas faculty member,
Jim Riggs. McDaniel is currently holding down the drum chair
for the Jim Laughlin 4tet, the Martini’s featuring Chuck Alexander, the
Amarillo Jazz Orchestra, the Burberry’s Big Band and Patrick Swindell
and Pizzazz. He is also co-founder and co-chairman of the
Amarillo Jazz Society. McDaniel can be quoted for often
saying, “I don’t see how someone could hit a drum and not want to play
them for the rest of their life. You should try it.”
