The Otone Brass band is an eight piece group comprised of both seasoned pros and new talent, held together by the heavy bass of the marching sousaphone. The horn section is comprised of bari and tenor saxophone, two trumpets and trombone. The percussion section is a tight snare and bass-drum duo.

This group has been together for many years, and one key ingredient to their success is not just amazing talent, but some pretty awesome people too.

Dan Sjogren ›› Bari sax
Tony Zator ›› Trumpet
Matt White ›› Tenor sax
Jon Braddy ›› Trombone
Kevin Dykstra ›› Snare drum
Adam Randall ›› Bass drum
Steve Glen ›› Sousaphone
Erik Ferguson ›› Trumpet

Dan Sjogren, founder of the band is back! This time on bari sax, Dan is honored to play with the band again, and always impressed with the skills and talents of the crew!

Tony Zator comes to the Otones from Chicago where he studied trumpet and cut his chops. He plays around Denver with a very fresh group of his own, and brings a lively and inventive improv style to the band.

Matt White (tenor sax, rich and creamy sauce) has been playing saxophone for around fifteen years and has been with the O-Tone Brass Band for more than four years. He earned his degree from the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music in Jazz Studies. A Washington D.C. native, Matt moved to Denver in '97 for school and has been here since. He has played with local bands Irie Still, the Backstreet Band, the Funky Babylonians, Filthy Children, the Mood Express, the Denver Municipal Band, and the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra. He currently plays in a number of ensembles in addition to the O-Tones including Buckner Funk 'n Jazz, Fina Dupa, Kizumba, the Colorado Community Church Worship Band, Sifa! Sifa!, and the Peneplain Jazz Project. In his short career he has been privileged to play with such notable musicians as Maria Schneider, Mark Whitfield, and Jerry Bergonzi. His greatest influences on saxophone are Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Kenny Garret, Maceo Parker, and Skerik and believes that funk has, over the years, developed a positive and almost respectable connotation.

Jon Braddy (trombone, girlies) joined up with the O-Tones in the spring of 2003. Currently Jon plays in a variety of bands around Denver including the Sammy Mayfield Blues Revue, River, and Filthy Children. He also keeps busy by teaching in the Douglas County school district and privately as well. He is a man of few words, but he speaks volumes through his trombone.

Kevin Dykstra (snare drum) is one of the more recent additions to the O-Tone Brass Band. Beginning his musical wanderings in the schools systems of Rapid City, SD, Kevin quickly decided to let music become his primary passion. After high school, where he experienced a variety of ensemble experiences and achievements, he decided to attend the University of Wyoming as a Drum Performance major. While there he played in every ensemble available to him and continued to do so until moving to Denver three years later to focus strictly on performing. Since then he has met and played with a plethora of local talent. In addition to holding down a rock-solid beat with the O-Tones, Kevin also plays set with the local original funk band Filthy Children. Despite his stature, Kevin hauls around the most gear, now isn't that ironic?

Adam Randall a drummer and percussionist originally from Rochester, MN, has been writing, performing, and recording in rock, fusion, and original styles for 15 years. He has a degree in Physics from Saint Mary's University in Winona, MN, thus awarding him the title of 'the Professor' from his band mates (editor's note: which is only a truth in the sense that it was made up in a half-hearted attempt to add interest to his bio). In addition to playing some thumpin-bass drum for the Otones, he also plays set in the Denver-based band Wadi Rum. Adam is currently a private drum set instructor at Colorado Drum Institute, writes music in his spare time.

Steven Glenn a Colorado native, is the man behind the sousaphone in the Otone Brass Band. Though originally a trombone player, Steven quickly fell in love with playing the tuba when his seventh grade band director told him his mouth was better designed for the instrument. Steven went on throughout high school playing his tuba wherever he could and as often as he could, from Pep Band to solos and duets at Symphonic Band concerts. After High School he made the decision to get serious about his tuba playing, and applied to (and was accepted at) the University of Denver?s Lamont School of Music. With Kathy Brantigan as his guide, Steven was able to develop the beginnings of his sound on his instrument. Still a student at Lamont, Steven has continued his desire to involve himself in numerous musical settings, including the Wind and Chamber Ensembles, Jazz Combos, and the occasional outside gig. Steven also plays with the Back Porch Jazz Band, a local Dixieland band that performs private and community parties. Steven's influences include Charles Achenbach (from the Canadian Brass) and recent discovery Oystein Baadsvik.

Erik Ferguson (trumpet, corn dog enthusiast) Representing the left coast, Erik comes to us from Oregon and brings with him a strong affinity for Beavers and Ducks. Adding to the list of University of Denver, Lamont School of Music grads, Erik earned his degree in trumpet performance and then followed a gig to Las Vegas. After a year in that scene, Erik took to a life at sea playing his horn for a cruise line. Another year passed and Erik realized he was better off on land. He went back to school for a master’s degree in classical composition from the University of Oregon. Erik has been a member of the O-Tone Brass Band since Fall of 2006 and has also played with such artists as Bobby Shew, Conrad Herwig, Maria Schneider, The James Brown Band, and The Platters. His compositions have been featured at the Oregon Bach Festival, The Music Today Festival, The Umpqua Symphony Association Concert Series, and the Oregon Jazz Festival.