Jason Bourgeois

Guitar/Vocals

Teamed with Scott for over ten years, Jason is a guitar master. He also teaches guitar and music theory to select students in his spare time. He has performed with the University of New Orleans Jazz Ensemble and has a Master of Science degree.

Robert May

Bass/Vocals

Robert is a solid bassist and handles most of the background vocals as well as sings lead vocals on several of the band's songs. He has a B.A. in Music from the University of New Orleans and a J.D. from Loyola University. In his spare time, Robert practices law.

Robert says:

"Playing with The Boogie Men is the best gig in town. I truly appreciate all of the people who come out to see us and, in doing so, allow us to keep it going."

Greg Hicks

Trombone

Greg graduated from Loyola University of New Orleans with a BM degree in May, 2004. Greg has performed with many fine groups in the New Orleans area, including Bonerama and the John Mahoney Big Band. Born in 1982, Greg enjoys being the youngest and newest member of The Boogie Men.

Dominick Lamandre

Drums

Nicky, as he is better known, is a drummer who plays with passion and commitment. He performed jazz with student groups at the high school and college level and later studied with New Orleans drum guru Ray Fransen.

Dino Noto

Tenor & Alto Saxes, Flute

Dino completed his music training in the U.S. Army School of Music and played throughout Europe with the Army's 8th Infantry Band. He has since played in many bands in a variety of styles including Jazz, R&B and Latin.

 dnoto5@cox.net

Brian Graber

Trumpet

The fact that Brian Graber is both a trumpeter and saxophonist is in and of itself a very rare feat because only a few horn players have attempted to learn both brass and reeds. Even those who have tried it do not usually perform both at a high level.

As a trumpeter Brian recorded CDs for famous musicians like Tori Amos (Boys from Pele), Better than Ezra (How does your Garden Grow), Bruce Hornsby (Music Video for VH-1), and Robbie Robertson (Storyville). The Meters also played on Robbie's CD.

Brian is also on the movie soundtracks to Twister and for the less known HBO film Jimmy Hollywood starring Joe Peschi. Brian is often employed as a session player creating music for TV and Radio with AD Sound advertisement agency. Some familiar local commercials in which he has performed are: Downtown is the pearl (for the Downtown Development District), Louisiana Lottery, Louisiana Hot sauce, Bally's Casino, New Orleans Original Daiquiri's, Kirshman's, Ruth's Chris steak house, and the Pepsi bottle cap game. Nationally aired commercials were done for Busch Gardens Florida and Miller Brewing Company. They later aired during the Super bowl and most of the 1998 NFL season.

As a saxophonist Brian went to Europe with Art Neville (of the Meters and Neville Brothers) to perform at a major blues festival in Utrecht, Holland (Blues Estafette). The British music publication known as Now Dig This counted Brian's solos among the festival highlights. Brian also was with George Porter Jr. (also of the Meters) as his saxophonist for six years touring the United States and abroad. Brian recorded four CDs with George and contributed by writing original compositions and arrangements for the group. Brian also backed Dr. John (Big Easy Awards), Jean Knight, The Temptations, the Four Tops, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Coasters, the Platters, and has backed comedians Dennis Miller, Milton Berle, Sinbad, Don Rickles and John Goodman.

Presently Brian enjoys making great music with The Boogie Men. In addition, Brian can be heard each Tuesday night at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro as a featured trumpet soloist with the John Mahoney Big Band. He is also working on his own Latin/Funk Jazz CD and can occasionally be heard with his own group in local jazz spots.

Brian is a music educator and works with "Talented and Gifted" students in Jefferson Parish School system. He is working on his Doctorate of Musical Arts at L.S.U.

Sean Kenny

Bari, Alto, & Soprano Saxes, Flute

A versatile and dynamic sax man, Sean rounds out The Boogie Men's horn quartet. He received degrees in music performance and music education from Southeastern Louisiana University. When not performing, Sean teaches and directs music at a junior high school.

Billy Nesbitt

Keyboard

Billy has been a multi-keyboardist for 27 years. He studied piano with Ellis Marsalias, James Drew and under John Mahoney in the Loyola Jazz studies program He was a member of \"Touch\" and \"The Bobby Ohler band\" in the \'80\'s. He played with \"Benny Grunch and The Bunch\" throughout most of the \'90\'s and with \"Vieux Carre\" until 2001. After a 6 year leave, Billy has returned to the band scene in 2007 to be with \"The Boogie Men.\"

Richard Bird

Sound Technician

As the sound technician with The Boogie Men since the formation of the group in 1995, Richard has been a major contributor to the band\'s success. Richard has over 25 years experience as a sound technician and recording engineer. He has mixed sound for such big names as Lee Greenwood, Alan Holdsworth, Adam Ant & Power Station, to name only a few. Richard\'s years of experience behind the mixing console are demonstrated not only by his technical mastery, but his impeccable musical sense. He works days at the Audiophile recording studio in the French Quarter, engineering and producing traditional jazz recordings.

Involved with live music since he was 8 years old, Richard discovered his talent for mixing sound while playing with one of his early groups as a teenager. He says \"I was the only person in the band who knew how to hook up the P.A. system, so I became the sound man too.\"

Richard\'s knack for trouble-shooting and repairing all things electrical and mechanical has been another asset to the band. He not only helps to keep the instruments and PA equipment in repair, but services the band\'s vehicles as well!

Richard is also an accomplished musician. When not working with The Boogie Men, he plays guitar with his own band called Hobson\'s Choice, an all original progressive rock quartet. The group has released two CDs and performs locally periodically. Richard sometimes opens the show for The Boogie Men; performing solo on his acoustic guitar, his repertoire includes classic tunes from the 1970s \"prog rock\" genre.

Richard\'s spare time is spent listening to Frank Zappa and other music from the 1970\'s (pre 1974, to be exact), watching old reruns of Star Trek, and working as an auto mechanic. He is still hoping to build an 11 second straight-line race dragster. At the end of most gigs, Richard adds, \"let me go ... got to get home to catch \'Crank & Chrome\' on TV ... f---kin\' great.\"