The John Daversa Progressive Big Band is one of the leading forces of big band music in Los Angeles today. Composed of L.A.’s finest musicians, the band explores new musical territory through Daversa’s catchy, genre-fusing original charts.

     This ensemble plays the last Sunday of every month at The Baked Potato in Studio City, CA @ 9:30PM

     Last year, the band released its first studio album Junk Wagon (released 7/20/11 on BFM Jazz) to critical acclaim.

     The John Daversa Small Group features...

EVI/Trumpet: John Daversa

Tenor Saxophonist: Robby Marshall

Keyboardists: Brandon Coleman & Tommy King

Guitarist: Zane Carney

Bassist: Jerry Watts

Drummer: Gene Coye

     You can hear this group perform the second Monday of every month at Seven Grand in Downtown Los Angeles, CA @ 10PM.

     In addition, this group is responsible for the latest release from Daversa: Artful Joy (released 9/25/12 on BFM Jazz). Special guests Bob Mintzer and Gretchen Parlato appear on two tracks of Artful Joy.

“Daversa gets sounds to come out of his little red trumpet like you never heard. The band itself ditto, as if Duke Ellington and Béla Bartók had come down from on high and written some brilliant 21st century music for a big band of Berklee post-graduate superstars.”

-Tony Gieske, Los Angeles Times

“John Daversa is one of those rare musicians who is an incredible soloist and an accomplished orchestrator, a composer with an identifiable voice, and an articulate artist who does things in a focused way, always with a clear vision of the hows and whys.”

-Bob Mintzer, Saxophonist, Composer, Educator

“Junk Wagon is not some composition of yesteryear on steroids but it is the future of big band jazz and it is now.”

-Esther Callens, The Birmingham Times

“…it must be said that Daversa simply brims with ideas that take us down new big band boulevards.”

-George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon

“…Daversa revealed a knack for writing music that--despite its complexity--never sacrificed its capacity to communicate.”

-Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times

“There is always an element of fun and wonder when listening to John.  His approach to the trumpet is truly original.  John's very own brand of phrasing, liberal stretching of time and meter when soloing, and interpretations of melodies are really, really special.”

-Jeff Babko, Keyboardist

"John Daversa is a continually flowing fountain of inspiration and musical amazement."

-Joey Sellers, Trombonist, Composer, Educator