Everette Benton – Drums
Everette has been involved in JSL’s education programs for two years, beginning in the JazzU program before being accepted to the JSL All-Stars for the 2011-12 season. A senior at East St. Louis Senior High, he is involved in many activities, including concert band, marching band, jazz band, the jazz combo program, and the Beta Club.
Among his musical accomplishments is his selection as the drummer for the 2011 IMEA District VI Honors Jazz Band and his performance during the 2011 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festival and Competition on stage at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
His musical influences include Obed Calvaire, Sean Jones, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, and Dana Hall. After completing high school, Benton plans to attend college and major in music.
Carlos Brown, Jr. – Alto Sax
Carlos Brown, Jr. was a three-year member of the JazzU program before being accepted into the JSL All-Stars during his fourth year. A senior at East St. Louis Senior High, he was selected to fill the lead alto chair in the 2011 District VI Honors Jazz Band and in the spring of 2011, received an outstanding soloist award at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festival and Competition.
An active musician, Carlos participates in his school’s marching band, concert band, jazz band, and the jazz combo program, as well as his church band—the Jazz Edge Big Band. He lists his musical influences as Sean Jones, Ronald Carter, and Wynton Marsalis and plans to attend Northern Illinois University to major in jazz studies.
Marvin Cooper – Bass
Marvin has been involved in JSL’s education programs for two years, beginning with JazzU. A senior at East St. Louis Senior High, he is involved in many activities, including concert and marching bands (tuba), jazz band, the jazz combo program, Scholar Bowl, and Beta Club.
In 2011, Marvin was selected to fill the bass chair in the IMEA District VI Honors Jazz Band, and in previous years he has been selected for the St. Clair County Honor Band and the Bi-State band festival. In the spring of 2011, he traveled to New York to perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center participate Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festival and Competition.
Cooper lists his musical heroes as Sean Jones, Rodney Whitaker, Christian McBride, and Ray Brown. After high school, he plans on attending Michigan State University to major in computer engineering.
Eliot Courtois – Piano
Eliot is currently a senior at Lindbergh High School where he plays piano in the jazz ensemble, clarinet in the concert band and orchestra, and saxophone in the marching band. Eliot began playing piano when he was six years old, studying at the Webster University Community Music School. He currently studies both jazz and classical piano with Carolbeth True. He has given numerous recitals and attended music camps at Webster University Community Music School, and this past summer, attended the pre-college music program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. This year, for the third straight year, he was appointed as both the pianist in the Missouri All-State Jazz Band, and as a clarinetist in the All-State Concert Band. Currently, Eliot plans to pursue a double major in college: music and mathematics.
Michael Ferrante – Tenor Saxophone
Clayton Floyd – Guitar
A senior at Belleville East High School, Clayton is a second year member of the Jazz St. Louis All-Stars. At school, he plays guitar in the Concert Jazz Orchestra and the Lancers Marching Band Front Ensemble as well as percussion in the Wind Ensemble. Clayton plans to attend college and major in Jazz Performance. He has participated in SIUE Jazz Camps for the past 5 years, UMSL Jazz Camps for the past 3 years and has attended the NIU Jazz Camp. In 2011, Clayton was selected as guitarist for the IMEA District VI Honors Jazz Band. Clayton’s interests outside of music include writing, drawing, as well as collecting and repairing guitars. Some of his musical influences include Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, George Benson, Pat Martino and Jimi Hendrix.
Brady Lewis – Trumpet
A senior at East St. Louis Senior High in East St. Louis, IL, Brady Lewis was a two-year JazzU member before being accepted to the JSL All-Stars for the 2011-12 season. While in school, Brady keeps a busy schedule with his involvement in jazz band, the jazz combo program, marching band and concert band, as well as non-musical activities such as Speech Club, Beta Club, and Scholar Bowl.
Among his musical accomplishments, Lewis has participated in Bi-State Band, Illinois All-State Honor Band, St. Clair County Honor Band (5 years) and the IMEA District VI Honors Jazz Band for the past three years. In 2011, he received an outstanding soloist award during Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festival and Competition.
After high school, Brady plans on double majoring in business administration and music performance with the hopes of opening multiple jazz clubs throughout the country.
Lewis lists his major musical influences as Sean Jones, Russell Gunn, and Chris Botti, but cites his mother as the main reason he plays trumpet.