Elwood AND The Blues Masters

Bryan Wood plays sax and is the musical director and arranger for Elwood and The Blues Masters. He has been a professional musician for over 30 years. After studying at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music, he started playing professionally both locally and abroad. Bryan spent 25 years playing sax for Garry Mac’s Atlantic Express and the Hal Wakes Band. He also has performed with a variety of musicians and successful groups both in and outside the Kansas City area - including Platinum Express, The Lost Wax Band, Tyson Leslie’s Purple Jam, the Jordan Kahn Band, and Groove Knight.  Apart from playing regularly with the Blues Masters, Bryan continues to work with various bands in the area.

Fred Zimmerman, a/k/a Freddie Z, is the masterful Trombonist for Elwood and The Blues Masters. He has a BS, MM from Crane School of Music, Potsdam, NY. He has played all over the midwest and was a long standing member of the former Atlantic Express featuring Hal Wakes. 

He is a retired music teacher, originally from Utica, NY, where he performed in a variety of local bands, orchestras, brass quintets and even a circus band (ask him about the monkeys)! He served 5 years in the Army bands stationed at Ansbach, Germany (ask him about the beer tents) and Fort Monroe, Va (Crabcakes). He currently also plays trombone locally for Jordan Kahn Music Company, and bass trombone for KC Rock Orchestra and Moonlight Orchestra. Recent performances include Flashback and the Moon City Big Band with guest artist John Fedchock. 

Interesting fact, he's bipetual; he has a dog and 2 cats. 

Byron Jones plays trumpet for Elwood and The Blues Masters. He has been a staple in the Kansas City music scene since 1978, when he moved here after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in music. 

Byron is a master of jazz, swing,  blues, and salsa music. Byron has played for many notable Kansas City bands, including Atlantic Express, The Johnson County KS Jazz  Band, The Joe Walker Dance Band, The New Vintage Big Band, and currently Annalee and the Lucky So and So's and Son Venezuela (inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in 2024). 

Interesting fact about Byron, he can fix darn near anything. 

Cole Gurley plays Bari Sax for the band. Cole is originally from Springfield, MO, and has played in variety of other musical groups. Most notably, Cole performs and composes for the renowned MGDs in the Kansas City metro area. Cole delivers powerful lines and solos for Elwood and The Blues Masters, providing the unique and essential element to the legendary R&B and Soul songs in the Blues Brothers repertoire. 

Denny Marx, from Gladstone, MO, is a long time member of the KC music scene. Denny's drumming contribution has always been enhanced by his lead and background singing. Vocal harmony has always been an important element in every band he has been involved in. 

Denny's early career included house band status at One Block West, with his long-running band HARBOUR, which he formed with his brother, Jerry Marx. Their CD "Harbour Lifetime" was released in 1998 and received local radio play. 

Denny is also the drummer and lead singer of THE TRUETONES, a Beatle-Beach Boys-60s band, often performing Pets Sounds and Sgt. Peppers live in their entirety. 

Denny lives and breathes music. He once crashed a Hollywood party and danced with Whitney Houston. Another interesting fact, Denny is an expert on the Kennedy assassination. But don't get him started.

Scott Christensen, the 12 Bar Bandit, plays lead guitar for Elwood and The Blues Masters. Scott is an itinerant guitarist, occasional multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist who has played many styles with a variety of great bands from power pop to Americana, top-hit covers to blues, Beatle/Beach Boy album performances, to soul and R&B. 

He is a former member of Honey Wagon, and currently a member of The TrueTones, a Beatles British Invasion Band, as well as E&TBM. 

Interesting fact, Scott is a self-taught musician and hails from a family of musicians dating back to 19th century Denmark. 

His nickname, Jukebox, aptly describes his extensive knowledge of a wide range of musical genres.  Scott is immensely enjoying performing with the fabulously skilled players in Elwood and The Blues Masters. This is a rare picture of him actually wearing all black.  

Pat Pearce is the piano and organ player for Elwood and The Blues Masters. Pat has played for numerous successful bands throughout the midwest, including the KC Aces, a regular at The Levee in Westport,  and his bands have toured the US playing large concert halls, festivals and venues throughout the country. His former Regaee band even received a Grammy. His virtuosity on the keys is legendary and his voice a dead-ringer for Ray Charles. 

Cliff was born with a bass guitar in his hands. In fact, Cliff slapped the bass before the doctor could slap him. He is a native of Lexington, MO, and has played in a number of great bands, including The Shadows, Rollin' Jones, KC Brass & Electric, The Bucket Band, and Platinum Express.  

Cliff formed the very first Beatles Tribute band in Missouri, Rubber Soul, in 1974. He has performed and toured with Niki Sullivan of the original  Crickets, Buddy Holly's band. He was also previously the musical director for KY102's Elvis Parade, and personally competed in numerous WHB battles of the bands! 

He is passionate about 60s R&B and Soul music and devoted to accurate recreation and performance of The Blues Brothers repertoire. And for the ladies, his favorite color is blue.