The Groove Merchants Horns

The Groove Merchants Horns are as famous for their fun-loving stage antics as they are for their incredibly tight playing. They are featured National Anthem performers for the Phoenix Suns, The Phoenix Coyotes and the Phoenix Mercury. The boys worked with Emilio Castillo (vocalist and saxophonist for Tower of Power) when recording tracks for the Robert Martinez CD, "RPM." In addition to Groove Merchants CDs, the Groove Merchants Horns can be found on two CDs with local Phoenix legend Big Nick and the Gila Monsters, and on The Pistoleros second CD "Pistoleros". When time permits, the Horns are frequent live musical guests of M.T.V. recording artist Chuck E. Baby. If you look closely, you can even see them in the movie "The Last Mafia Marriage." Check out the Groove Merchants Horns playing the U.S. National Anthem: "Star Spangled Banner (MP3-148K)"

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Dean Randall (Baritone Sax, Tenor Sax)

The newest member of the Groove Merchants Horns joined the section in 1996. Dean is the "Man with the Big Horn." Born in Downer's Grove, Illinois (the land of big-horned men) Dean went on to graduate from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with a degree in Jazz Performance. After college, Dean was recruited by the Southern Illinois/Indiana locally famous band “Madway Café”. After the band broke up, Dean moved to the Phoenix area to play with several groups while trying to infiltrate The Groove Merchants. Dean still holds a grudge for being rejected by the band in 1993, mainly because all of his practicing, begging, pleading, and attempted bribery took away from his time on the golf course. Dean is still settling some of those payoffs by letting the other GM Horn players beat him in fantasy football every year. Dean plays Yamaha and Selmer saxophones and SR Technologies mouthpieces. He is past treasurer of the non-profit organization Jazz in Arizona, a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 586, and a long-standing member of the International Association of Jazz Educators. On gigs, the groove is in good hands with Dean - during the day, you can be in good hands with the Dean Randall All-State Insurance Agency. Aside from carrying “The Big Horn," Dean is currently the principal arranger for the Groove Merchants Horns and the lead “sound guy” when the band uses their Bose Personalized Amplification Sound System.

Brett Haglin (Lead Tenor, Alto Sax)

Brett holds music degrees from Arizona State University and Northwestern University where he studied with nationally renowned concert saxophonists Joseph Wytko and Frederick L. Hemke. Brett became the Groove Merchants' baritone sax player in 1989 (Tracy Mortimer era) but switched to tenor sax in 1993 following the departure of the beloved Dave Schmidt. Brett plays a Selmer Series II tenor saxophone and a Yamaha soprano sax, with Otto Link mouthpieces and blows on Hemke reeds exclusively. Overall, Brett does pretty well for a kid from Boulder, Colorado. When performing with the Groove Merchants, we refer to Brett as "DBC" (for obvious reasons), but when teaching Stock Market, Econ. and Government at Mesquite High School in Gilbert, they just call him Mr. Haglin. On the weekends Brett acts as Commissioner of the Groove Merchants Fantasy Football League (GMFFL).

Rich Cross (Lead Trumpet, Vocals)

Rich Cross hails from the great state of Chicago. A near graduate of Arizona State University, Rich now holds a Doctorate of Jive. While never actually earning a degree, he has occasionally been seen holding some sort of official looking piece of paper. Despite rumors to the contrary, Rich is not a natural bald. His hairless dome is the result of a band experiment gone horribly wrong during a Groove Merchant gig in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Rich's fame as a high note specialist is recognized the world over, leading to some interesting side jobs. For instance, the inaudibly high tone produced by the world's most popular dog whistle is a reproduction of Rich's last note as performed by the Groove Merchants on the James Brown tune "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag."

Jack Bannon (Trumpet, Stunts)

After a rigorous audition process (or just the fact that he knew somebody who knew somebody who made a mistake), Jack joined the Groove Merchants in September of 1993. Studying classical trumpet with some of the best teachers in the world has not hindered his playing with the Groove Merchants. Only years of performing with the same group of dedicated musicians can account for the tightness of the section. Though he makes them look effortless, Jack warns that the odd movements he does on stage should not be attempted by others. Jack is very active in the Arizona Music Education scene including teaching elementary school band and serving as a board member and webmaster for the Arizona Association of Jazz Educators.

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	Dean Randall (Baritone Sax, Tenor Sax) The newest member of the Groove Merchants Horns joined the section in 1996. Dean is the "Man with the Big Horn." Born in Downer's Grove, Illinois (the land of big-horned men) Dean went on to graduate from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with a degree in Jazz Performance. After college, Dean was recruited by the Southern Illinois/Indiana locally famous band “Madway Café”. After the band broke up, Dean moved to the Phoenix area to play with several groups while trying to infiltrate The Groove Merchants. Dean still holds a grudge for being rejected by the band in 1993, mainly because all of his practicing, begging, pleading, and attempted bribery took away from his time on the golf course. Dean is still settling some of those payoffs by letting the other GM Horn players beat him in fantasy football every year. Dean plays Yamaha and Selmer saxophones and SR Technologies mouthpieces. He is past treasurer of the non-profit organization Jazz in Arizona, a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 586, and a long-standing member of the International Association of Jazz Educators. On gigs, the groove is in good hands with Dean - during the day, you can be in good hands with the Dean Randall All-State Insurance Agency. Aside from carrying “The Big Horn," Dean is currently the principal arranger for the Groove Merchants Horns and the lead “sound guy” when the band uses their Bose Personalized Amplification Sound System.

	Brett Haglin (Lead Tenor, Alto Sax) Brett holds music degrees from Arizona State University and Northwestern University where he studied with nationally renowned concert saxophonists Joseph Wytko and Frederick L. Hemke. Brett became the Groove Merchants' baritone sax player in 1989 (Tracy Mortimer era) but switched to tenor sax in 1993 following the departure of the beloved Dave Schmidt. Brett plays a Selmer Series II tenor saxophone and a Yamaha soprano sax, with Otto Link mouthpieces and blows on Hemke reeds exclusively. Overall, Brett does pretty well for a kid from Boulder, Colorado. When performing with the Groove Merchants, we refer to Brett as "DBC" (for obvious reasons), but when teaching Stock Market, Econ. and Government at Mesquite High School in Gilbert, they just call him Mr. Haglin. On the weekends Brett acts as Commissioner of the Groove Merchants Fantasy Football League (GMFFL).

	Rich Cross (Lead Trumpet, Vocals) Rich Cross hails from the great state of Chicago. A near graduate of Arizona State University, Rich now holds a Doctorate of Jive. While never actually earning a degree, he has occasionally been seen holding some sort of official looking piece of paper. Despite rumors to the contrary, Rich is not a natural bald. His hairless dome is the result of a band experiment gone horribly wrong during a Groove Merchant gig in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Rich's fame as a high note specialist is recognized the world over, leading to some interesting side jobs. For instance, the inaudibly high tone produced by the world's most popular dog whistle is a reproduction of Rich's last note as performed by the Groove Merchants on the James Brown tune "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag."

	Jack Bannon (Trumpet, Stunts) After a rigorous audition process (or just the fact that he knew somebody who knew somebody who made a mistake), Jack joined the Groove Merchants in September of 1993. Studying classical trumpet with some of the best teachers in the world has not hindered his playing with the Groove Merchants. Only years of performing with the same group of dedicated musicians can account for the tightness of the section. Though he makes them look effortless, Jack warns that the odd movements he does on stage should not be attempted by others. Jack is very active in the Arizona Music Education scene including teaching elementary school band and serving as a board member and webmaster for the Arizona Association of Jazz Educators.