BIG SWING TRIO

About Big Swing Trio

In order for three friends to play together for more than 28 years, there has to be something magical about their musical union. Such is the case with Big Swing Trio. Mark Diamond, Paul Romaine, and Andy Weyl consistently inspire audiences of all kinds with their spirited arrangements of swing, latin, hard-bop, blues, and standard repertoire. Whether they are backing a headliner such as James Moody, captivating listeners at festivals, concerts, or clubs, or creating the perfect party atmosphere at a wedding reception, holiday party, or corporate event, Big Swing Trio knows how to please a crowd. Their high level of talent, professionalism, and enthusiasm combine to make them one of the most sought after trios in the Rocky Mountain region. Because they have been an integral part of the local jazz community for so long, they are also able to augment their group with the area's best instrumentalists and vocalists in order to create the perfect band for any occasion. They have also been the backing group on many other people's recordings. Call now and find out how you can book this top-quality group for your event!

Members

Mark Diamond - Bass

Mark has played music his whole life, knowing from an early age that is what he wanted to do. Starting with the piano at age six, Mark then learned to play the clarinet, the drums, and even the bagpipes throughout his middle and high school years. At age 20 he discovered the acoustic bass and quickly knew this was his musical voice. "For me, the bass has elements of the chords on a piano, the melody of the clarinet, and the percussiveness of the drums, everything I had played before". Now more than 30 years later, he is one of the busiest musicians in Colorado, and works with the area's and the world's finest players.

Andy Weyl - Piano
This pianist's truly unique style developed overseas, as he was born in Denmark, and spent his youth traveling across Europe. He moved to Boulder, Colorado where he received a degree in piano performance from the University of Colorado in 1978. Demand for his talent was immediate, and he soon toured the far east with the vocal group Rare Silk. Over the years, he has played and recorded with the region's best jazz musicians, and performs at clubs and festivals across the nation and Europe, frequently backing up visiting artists of note, such as James Moody, Tom Harrell, Benny Golson, Spike Robinson, Eddie Harris, Al Grey, and Bruce Foreman.

Paul Romaine - Drums
Throughout his childhood, Paul felt magnetized to music from the depth of his being. He began playing drums professionally at age 14 and in 1976 performed with an all-star high school big band at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. Paul has led, recorded, or performed with countless combinations of the Denver area's best players and with internationally acclaimed artists such as Eddie Harris, Benny Golson, James Moody, Larry Coryell, Gunther Schuller, Charlie Rouse, Eddie Gomez, Jack McDuff, Marlena Shaw, Rufus Reid, Clark Terry, Dave Grusin, and Robin Eubanks. During his association with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Paul toured North America performing concerts and clinics. In between gigs, he studied jazz composition at the Lamont School of Music and, in 1991 received a degree in recording engineering from the University of Colorado. He has served as a mentor musician/clinician in several Denver area school districts. While there, he saw the need for a jazz education program for students who are serious about the music, and he founded the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts which offers a program for middle school and high school students from all over the city to play together and study with professional musicians on a weekly basis.

Recordings

Exciting News!!! Big Swing Trio's CD "TRAVELS"
is available. You can get one from us at any gig, buy it here on my website, or call me (Mark) at 303-443-2922 to order one any time you like.

We're very proud and excited about this release and can't wait to share
the music with you. Listen to a few snippets below. Then make sure to add it to your collection. Thanks, and hope to see you all out there sometime soon. PEACE

Soundbites

Please contact Mark Diamond for booking and other information.

Critical Acclaim

"Big Swing Trio is refreshingly original in its straight-ahead/classic approach. Each song in this collection entertains. A first class act, these musicians have it together. Big Swing Trio's TRAVELS is a memorable journey for the jazz listening audience." Lee Prosser, JazzReview.com

"This is a trio that deals in purism. Their use of their combined instrumental intonation is like a voice with a bursting vigor, dominating and transcending the CD project itself. There is a nice rendering of musical 'conversation' within the trio, ala some of the earlier renderings by the Evans aggregations. This is refined jazz for discriminate listeners." George W. Carroll - The Musicians' Ombudsman, ejazznews.com

"One shouldn't be misled by the word "swing" in the Big Swing Trio's name, as it alludes not to the music of the Swing Era, but rather to the way in which the threesome interprets a series of thorughly contemporary Jazz compositions that includes four engaging essays by pianist Andy Weyl. The program is on the whole melodically pleasing, while the rhythmic variety and intensity are such that one's attention seldom wanes. A well-crafted session by a capble trio of swingers."

Jack Bowers - Cadence Magazine