Bios | Just Jazz Band

Bob Putnam

Piano/Singer

A native of Boston Massachusetts, has been playing piano since the age of six. No stranger to Jazz growing up in a very musical family. His grandfather lead a big band in the Boston area during the 20’s and 30’s, and his father lead a jazz band as well. Bob played piano/organ for more than 20 years with Sounds Unlimited (Boston, MA). He has also performed on piano with The Dixie All Stars (Providence, RI), The Smugtown Stompers (Rochester, New York), the Fort Worth Classic Jazz Orchestra (Fort Worth, TX) the Alamo City Jazz Band (San Antonio, TX) the award winning Moslah Shrine Dance and Dixieland Bands (Fort Worth, TX) and the Southlake Swing Band (Southlake, TX). Bob has worked for more than 50 years at keeping the classic Jazz style of music alive.

Lynn Putnam

Flute/Alto Flute/Percussion

A native of Providence, Rhode Island, has been playing flute with the group Just Jazz since its inception. She has been playing for her personal enjoyment for most of her adult life. Her background is in Classical music, but was highly influenced by her Dad at a young age. Even though jazz was not her first love at that the time (Rock n’ Roll prevailed), she still appreciated the type of music her Dad played with his jazz band, the “Stardust Four”. Lynn had stopped playing by the time she left college. In 1984 she met her future husband, Bob. When they started dating, Bob got her to start playing again. He mentored her to the Jazz genre and she has been honing her jazz improvising skills since. She has a great love for jazz and enjoys listening to the music of Stan Getz, Frank Sinatra and Diana Krall.

Doug Brown

Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, and Clarinet

A native of Buffalo, New York, has been playing reed instruments over 50 years. He enjoys playing a wide range of music from Trad Jazz, swing, big band jazz, 50’s rock-n-roll, rockabilly, to jump blues. He has recorded on an album with Pat Green produced by Grammy winning producer Lloyd Maines, and backed up Rock and Roll legends Roddy Jackson and Lloyd Price at Viva Las Vegas. In addition to Just Jazz, Doug currently plays in the Maxwell Hall Jazz band and freelances with other groups in the DFW area.

Byron Swann

Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Byron Swann has been playing trumpet since the 6th grade after seeing the film "Hello Dolly" which featured Louis Armstrong. After earning his Bachelor of Music Education at Angelo State University, he began his career as Band Director. Byron has performed in bands of all genres including Gospel, Latin, Blues, R&B,Top 40 Cover, and of course Jazz Ensembles of various sizes. He played in and was also the Adjunct Director of the Waco Jazz Orchestra at McLennan Community College. His travel experience came while he played in the Temple Jazz Orchestra. TJO toured Europe in 2009 and again in 2012. While there, the band performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz a Vienne, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and also the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Getting to perform on stage with such jazz greats as: Carl Fontana, Bobby Shew, Ernie Watts, Bill Watrous, Eddie Daniels, Brian Lynch, Ed Calle, Eric Marienthal, Lew Solof, Allen Vazzutti, Wayne Bergeron, and Randy Brecker have been some of the great experiences of his life. While in education, (38 years) Byron has been an Adjudicator, Clinician, and featured Artist for many TXMA Region 8 Middle and High School jazz bands including ATSSB, and TAPPS organizations. He also served as the Choir Director at Second Missionary Baptist Church for many years while living in Waco, TX. Having relocated to the Ft. Worth area, he is now sharing his gifts and/talents locally and meeting new friends.

Tom Halbouty

Drums

Tom Halbouty, a native Texan from Houston, started drums in middle school and continued in high school playing with the Houston All City Orchestra and later playing in several house bands at AstroWorld (a Six Flags Park). Tom studied percussion with David Wulliger of the Houston Symphony, and drum set with Joe Raynor and Jack Dudney. His favorite drummers include Joe Morello, Buddy Rich, and Bobby Colomby. Tom currently plays in the Southlake Swing Band, the Maxwell Hall Jazz band and played for years with the East Fort Worth Jazz band and the TCC NE Campus Jazz Band.

Sydney Hamil

Singer

Sydney Hamil has a BFA in musical theatre from UT Arlington, where she studied with their jazz program. You can see her performing all around the DFW area, currently you can catch her performing with the Gunfighters during Fright Fest at Six Flags, in the play Noises Off at Theatre Frisco, or with A Charlie Brown Christmas at Dallas Children's Theater. Sydney also performed in the Mainstage Irving’s production of Gypsy in the main role of Gypsy. She also sings jazz around the Dallas/Fort Worth area with Pirate Jazz Band and, of course, here with Just Jazz. Sydney has a passion for classic jazz and enjoys singing tunes from the Great American Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Cole Porter and the Gershwin’s.

David Fike

Bass

David Fike (bass) has performed extensively throughout Texas for many years. He has participated in a variety of jazz festivals including multiple performances at the Montreux International Jazz Festival (Switzerland), the Texas Jazz Festival (Corpus Christi) and Jazz S’Alive Festival (San Antonio). David has performed with nationally-acclaimed artists and entertainers including Tommy Tune, Bobby Shew, Dave Samuels, Butch Miles, Richie Cole, and Dave Tull, to name a few. He has also played acoustic and electric bass in 20 music theater shows, a host of recording sessions and live TV/radio shows. David taught bass at Amarillo College for 6 years. He has a PhD from Touro University.

Marva Lewis

Lead Vocalist

Marva Lewis is a dynamic lead vocalist with a rich and diverse background that spans both military service and an impressive music career. A proud veteran, she served as a Petroleum Supply Specialist (77F) during the Persian Gulf War from 1990 to 1991 with the 15th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Her commitment to serving her country laid the foundation for her remarkable journey in music. After her deployment, Marva was stationed at Camp Casey, Korea, where her talent for singing blossomed. While performing karaoke at a unit function, she caught the attention of the head of MWR/Army Entertainment, leading her to tour the Republic of Korea, supporting fellow troops through her music. Marva’s talent was quickly recognized as she was selected for the prestigious Army Soldier Shows in 1993 and 1994, performing at over 50 military installations across the United States, Panama, and Europe. A highlight of her military music career came when she was chosen by the Sergeant Major of the Army to perform with the All-Army Band at the grand opening of the Army’s Shades of Green Hotel at Disney in 1994. She later returned to Fort Hood as the vocalist for the 1st Cavalry Division Band. In December 1995, Marva auditioned for and became the featured vocalist with the Jazz Knights at The United States Military Academy Band at West Point, NY, serving in this role for four years. Her performances have taken her to all 50 states, Canada, and across Europe, with notable appearances at Carnegie Hall, where she performed twice under renowned conductors Eric Kunzel and Marvin Hamlisch. Marva has also graced stages at international jazz festivals, including prestigious events in Rhode Island, Newport, and Toronto, and has collaborated with major orchestras such as the Boston, Cincinnati, Colorado, Detroit, New York Pops, National, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and San Diego Symphony .With years of successful experience in both the military and music, Marva Lewis continues to inspire and entertain audiences, making her a celebrated figure in the world of performance and beyond.”