Robert Karow
Vibraphone

Robert Karow began studying drums in the 3rd grade. By the 7th grade, he was playing trap drums (drum set) with the high school swing band. At 15 he was performing with his high school band director's small orchestra touring Southeastern Minnesota for college and high school dances, and at supper clubs and VFW halls.

While attending junior college, he played with the swing band and orchestra and performed with the pit orchestras for "Damn Yankees" and the community theater production of "Annie Get Your Gun".

After graduating from junior college, he moved to Denver CO and began making a living, other than in music. Musical instruments played for the next 35 years were the radio and the stereo.

During the 60's, Robert became fascinated with the vibraphone having heard the instrument being played in the George Shearing Quintet and The Modern Jazz Quartet.

Upon retirement in 1997, he started taking basic music instruction with Rick Weingarten, (professional vibraphonist).  He is currently taking instruction from Mark Foster (professional multi-percussionist, teacher and performer).

Robert has performed with the Windjammers big band, the Skylarks Combo and Blanco Caliente, as well as "Just Friends". He performed solo vibraphone at the inaugural meeting of "AWOL" (Academy Women On The Loose), a Denver affiliate of the Ladies' Red Hat Society and performed on vibraphone and bass marimba in a recital with classical pianist Lucy Garrett and the principal flutist with the Littleton Symphony, Rosanne Sterne, performing Cole Porter Tunes and Claude Bolling's "Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio".

In January 2004, Robert formed The Polite Jazz Quartet and produced and performs with the Quartet on the CD's "Satin Sounds" (2004) and "Nostalgia" (2008).

Page Taylor
Music/Piano

Page Taylor is a Colorado native (named after Page Cavenaugh) with professional performing musicians as parents. Page started studying at age four with teachers from the Lamont School of Music of Denver and later with the Kolacny educational big jazz band during his early years.

During high school, Page played with several bands and the Vern Byers Big Band.

He attended college in Greeley and was graduated with a performance degree in piano. Page has performed around Colorado with various jazz groups and led the Page Taylor Trio. He performed on television with the trio on the AT&T Stars of Tomorrow Contest.

After college, Page performed with several army bands, primarily the 101^st Army Band of the Colorado National Guard.

During the 1970s he performed and led groups around the Denver area; the reformed Page Taylor Trio and a jazz\light rock\pop band called the Positive Direction. He also taught piano and guitar locally.

Page left music entirely in 1980 to pursue other interests. He started playing again in 2000 with the Colorado Jazz Workshop bands.

Page has played with the group "Just Friends", and currently directs, arranges and performs music with The Polite Jazz Quartet.

Dennis Ecton
Bass Viol

Dennis Ecton was born in Fort Morgan, Colorado. He was raised in Englewood, Colorado and began music with guitar lessons (Melody Music Store) in 3rd grade. At this time he began performing in Englewood's Mayflower, First Baptist and First Christian Churches.

Dennis began playing the tuba in 7th grade and was moved to advanced band his first year. At this time he performed in the Junior Police Band, the Englewood Parks Band and the first school jazz band. Dennis was asked to double on a bass viol for the jazz band and he performed in the school orchestra, jazz combos, and at jam sessions in front of Kolancy Music Store. He also performed with the Community Arts Symphony.

All of his music life has included performances, teaching and conducting concert and marching bands, symphony orchestras, chamber and pit orchestras, school and church choirs, public school and private teaching (MA, Music), and with almost every style and size of combos, dance bands and stage bands in and out of Denver.  Dennis has also performed with Myron Florin and The Queen City Jazz Band.

His hope is to never stop playing his Bass (it is the same bass he started with at Flood Jr. High). But, maybe a "Slow-Down" is in order, for he now stays in shape with 18 bands to "Slap That Bass In Rhythm, Slap that Bass In Time, Slap That Bass Just any Place, But Play That Bottom Line."

Jack McCutchan
Drummer

Jack began taking piano lessons in the 4th grade, in Indianapolis.  He never played in the high school bands.  However, in the 9th grade he and a group of friends decided to form a band.  As it turned out, there were two pianists in the group.  They needed a drummer and decided to flip a coin to see which pianist would play the drums.  As it turned out, Jack says he "lost" the coin toss and hence, started his career as a drummer.

Jack has performed with Bob James, Shirley Scott, and Donald Byrd and for three weeks with Gene Harris.  Jack was a pilot in United States Marine Corps and while stationed in North Carolina, he played R&B and performed with Jr. Walker and James Brown. 

Upon returning to Indianapolis, Jack played with his own jazz group for 10 years.  This was followed by a 20-year period where he did no drumming.  He later eased himself back into the performance world by filling in for other players.

Jack moved to Denver and since has been busy performing locally.  He also studies part time with Paul Romaine.