About the Musicians –
SHERMAN KAHN (clarinet), Considered one of the finest reed players in the country, Sherman received a B.M. from the Yale School of Music and an M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College. He then toured the United States with some of the most famous bands of the time, including Sammy Kaye and Tommy Dorsey. Sherman also played many shows at the Bushnell, Oakdale and Shubert Theatres, he is a retired music teacher from the Wallingford, North Haven and Hamden Public School systems.
SAL RANNIELLO (drums), Received a B.M. from the Hartt School, and has toured Europe with the musical Evita, and the United Kingdom with the Hot Cat Jazz Band. Sal is a member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the Goodspeed Opera House, The New England Percussion Ensemble and the Riverboat Ramblers.
JIM FRYER
(trombone), Began playing trombone professionally at the age of 16 in the Boston area. Since that time, Jim has toured extensively throughout the United States and United Kingdom with many bands including the Hot Cat Jazz Band and most recently, The Titan Hot Seven. He has performed with such luminaries as Dave Brubeck, Milt Jackson and countless others. Jim is also a dedicated educator who has performed thousands of educational programs throughout New England, and holds faculty positions at Wesleyan University and the Neighborhood Music School. Jim currently resides in Rye, New York with his wife and two daughters.
NICHOLAS DIFABBIO (banjo and guitar), Has been playing guitar in the Connecticut/New York club and theater scene for over 35 years also starting at 16 yrs old. He lived in New York City from 1980 to 1992 where he performed, wrote and recorded extensivly. In 1992 he joined the national touring company of the Broadway musical Les Miserable for four years. In 1996 he, his wife and three children settled in Guilford CT where he has performed at The Goodspeed Opera House, The Long Wharf Theater, and many other venues. He is currently designated alternate on guitar, banjo, ukelele, and mandolin at Mary Poppins and Scottsboro Boys on Broadway. He released an album of original Christmas songs in '07 titled 'Christmas Time In Our Little Town'. Christmas Time In Our Little Town Other Broadway credits include Spamalot, Ave Q, Curtains, Drowsy Chaperone, The Three Penny Opera, Les Miserables, Oklahoma, 42nd Street, Fiddler On The Roof, Big River. Nick is a 1976 graduate of the University of Bridgeport with an BS in music education. He still resides in Guilford CT. nicholasdifabbio.com
DONN DOUCETTE (bass), Has performed regularly for the Ice Capades, Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, and The Bushnell Theatre, and has backed great performers such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Sergio Franchi, and Mac Davis along with jazz artists Dave McKenna and Gray Sargent. He has performed with several symphony orchestras and at hundreds of concerts and jazz fests region-wide as well as abroad. Donn’s bass work has frequently been heard on the ESPN Sports Network.
For More Information About The Cool Cat Jazz Band, Please Contact:
SAL RANNIELLO
38 Clearfield Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109
(860) 721-8538