Transitt

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Date: 1/6/2005 UserName: jazzfan01 Vote: Comments:

Band Members:
Lee Gilliland (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, violin) started studying piano when he was two. He studied classical violin for eleven years under the University of Memphis Suzuki program. In college, Lee studied opera at the University of Tennessee and later returned to University of Memphis to study advertising. During his time at University of Memphis, Lee was in the commercial music department's ensemble, Sound Fuzion. Lee has also been in several local theater productions.

Jason Barden (lead guitar) is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Musicology from the University of Memphis. He received a BA in International Relations from University of Memphis where he also pursued jazz. Jason's music career started at an early age of 9 when he took up the guitar. A few years later he excelled in drums and percussion, performing with “Aria”, “blank” (now “Seven Four Slide”), “Floyd the Barber”, “Pink Fuzzy” as well as many others. He has studied guitar with Charlton Johnson, Lily Afshar and Chip Henderson. He has also studied with Tim Goodwin, Jack Cooper, Jeff Kirk and Steve Ebe. As well as performing with various university ensembles (Due’s Jazz Ensemble, U of M Jazz Singers and U of M Jazz Combos), he also performs regularly with local Memphis band “Transitt”, local reggae band “Sons of Soil” and with his jazz trio/quartet.

Richard Dolan (trumpet, vocals) majored in Music Education and studied trumpet at the University of Memphis. He has toured the US and Europe with Bobby "Blue" Bland and other artists for the past few years performing at such venues as Royal Albert Hall, the Apollo Theater, and on the set of Austin City Limits. He has also been a regular on the Memphis music scene for a number of years.

Andrew Austin (saxophone, vocals) graduated with a bachelors degree in Exercise Science from the University of Memphis. He also studied saxophone at the university. He has played in many different ensembles in and around Memphis. His primary instructors have been Allen Rippe and Don Sinta. Andy studied saxophone for three years at the Interlochen National Music Camp at which time he was a product tester for Yamaha band instruments.

Tommy Sexton (drums) has been playing piano for twenty years and drums for fifteen years. He attended Florida State University as well as University of Memphis. In addition to Transitt, he is currently the drummer for Second Baptist Church in Memphis. Tommy is also a referee for basketball games. Tommy appears on the album "Say Hello" by The Henrys.

Alan "Otto" Compton (percussion, vocals) has been a percussionist for twenty years. He is a percussion performance student at the University of Memphis and is also the caption head for the drumline . Alan has performed in the Original Broadway, London, and US Touring Casts of the stage show, Blast!, for the past 3 years. He appears on all existing Blast! and Brass Theater CD's as well as the Blast! PBS special. He spent ten years of his percussion career in the world champion drum and bugle corps, Star of Indiana.

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