SnazSnaz is a collection of souls that share a common interest in live musical

performance. The band has been playing jazz standards and originals throughout the metro Atlanta area since 2005. Snaz plays a wide variety of jazz in styles including straight ahead swing, rock fusion, bossa nova, clypso and funk. They have played venues such as The Five Spot, The Red Light Cafe, Garrisons Broiler and Tap, Diesel Pizza Pub, The Wing Ranch, Jittery Joe’s, and The Red Shoe. In addition to playing music in venues and restaurants, they have played a wide variety private parties including, wedding receptions, anniversaries, and corporate events, as well as benefit concerts.

Snaz was founded by guitarist Jim Sadler, bassist Dave Back, and percussionist Chad Gilbert after they met in the Georgia Perimeter College Jazz Lab Band. They realized that they all had a drive to become more experienced with jazz, so they started to play outside of school, and as a result Snaz was born. The saxophonist Brandon Bell was recently added after Jim met him in the Kennesaw State University Jazz Ensemble. Vocalist Laura Shirley sang with the Perimeter College Jazz Lab Band, and is an honorary member regularly invited to sing with their quartet whenever a singer is necessary.

For Bookingwww.SnazJazz.com

770-712-9328 www.myspace.com/snazjazz

Jim Sadler

Jim Sadler is an Atlanta native and gained a love for music early in life by touring with The Atlanta Boy Choir in Europe and Alaska in 1987 and 1988. After a few years of playing drums and teaching himself guitar, Jim started his academic studies in guitar performance at Atlanta Institute of Music, where he studied with notable guitarists Steve Cunningham and Nite Driscoll. Jim has also studied with Dan Baraszu, the on staff guitarist of Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox Theatre, and was a participant of the master classes of Corey Christiansen and Jimmy Herring of Widespread Panic. Jim graduated from A.I.M. in 1999. He then moved to Athens, GA to increase his musical experience by playing in various local bands and performing in virtually every venue that Athens had to offer, including the Georgia Theatre. Jim has played with many rock bands including Three Too Many, Teeter Driskle, Red House, Bella CoOla, The Seeds of Harmony All-Star Band, Gooey, The Ferguson Outfit, Bellian Marshall and The Audio Bandits, Second Glance, and the Kennesaw Rain Project.

Upon moving back to Atlanta, Jim accepted a teaching position at St. Martin’s Episcopal School where he teaches guitar lessons in the after-school program. He also has many private students, and currently teaches at Key Music Center, where he is the director and arranger of the Guitar Ensemble. In 2003, after apprenticing with Ken Bennett of Warrior Guitars and Number 9 Guitars, Jim became a guitar repair technician. He then continued his academic studies at Georgia Perimeter College where he studied classical guitar performance. It was during his time at G.P.C. that he met Dave Back and Chad Gilbert in the Jazz Lab Band. Jim Sadler is currently working on his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Guitar Performance at Kennesaw State University, where he studies guitar with Trey Wright and plays in several ensembles including Kennesaw State Jazz Ensemble directed by Sam Skelton and Wes Funderburk, and the Kennesaw State Jazz Guitar Ensemble, directed by Trey Wright.

Dave Back

Dave Back was born in Teaneck, New Jersey and raised in Palm Bay, Florida. In 1996 he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he began playing bass in the band Lovelady. Then in 2001 he cofounded the variety band Part-Time Weekends with vocalist/guitarist Sky Jensen, this band continues playing venues and restaurants throughout metro Atlanta such as Smiths Old Bar and Sweetwater Live. Dave started his formal studies in music in 2003 at Georgia Perimeter College where he studied classical bass with Michael Kurth and Emery Clements, and composition with Jim Stallings.

The bassist is currently a freelance bassist and is working on his bachelor degree in jazz studies at Georgia State University, where he studies with Robert Dickson and plays in many ensembles including the G.S.U. Jazz Band II and the G.S.U. Symphony Orchestra. He is influenced by a wide range of styles from rock and roll, country blues, funk, classical and jazz. He has an ever growing palette of musical experiences to draw from and will show any crowd a good time.

Brandon Bell

Originally from Moultrie, GA, Brandon Bell began playing the saxophone at the age of 11. Upon graduating high school in 2006, Bell decided to pursue saxophone studies at Kennesaw State University under the tutelage of Sam Skelton. Since moving to Kennesaw, Brandon has played in many ensembles including the K.S.U. Jazz Ensemble where he met Jim Sadler and began playing in Snaz. Bell has also had the privilege of performing with Michael Bolton, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and the Cobb Symphony Orchestra. Bell has also studied flute with Jeanne Carere and clarinet with Dr. Kenneth Long. Brandon Bell can also be heard regularly performing with Impact Church’s praise team.

Chad Gilbert

Chad was born and raised in Marion, Virginia and has played drums in a variety of rock bands such as N2O, Vis Vires, and has toured the eastern United States. In 2004, he moved to Atlanta to attend the Atlanta Institute of Music where he graduated in 2005. Chad then continued his academic studies in music at Georgia Perimeter where he studied with Michael Cebulski. In his time at G.P.C. he played in many ensembles including the Dekalb Symphony Orchestra. He transferred to Georgia State University in 2008 where he studied percussion with Dr. Stuart Gerber, and played percussion in the G.S.U. Symphonic Wind Orchestra. Chad currently teaches private drums lessons and plays with the Steven Lee Variety Band.

“ Snaz waz a-jammin' at WR!I enjoyed it.See y'all again soon!”Bryan PowellRough Draft

“The growth is palpable! Keep it up! You will be discovered someday!

J-Dubya

“Thanks for coming out to Durty Kelly’s Monday night! You were fantastic!”Paul Douglas