GET TO KNOW THE BAND
MICHAEL ROCHA
Founder & Trombone
Michael grew up in New Bedford, MA and started his musical journey through the music program at New Bedford Public School learning to play trombone. He studied trombone with Jack Martin and Kenny Wenzel. His first musical gigs were in his teens with the Portuguese American Band led by the late Ed Rodrigues, the Tri-County Symphonic Band, and his own Fanfare Brass. He also started performing during high school with the Meadowlarks Big Band and John Salerno Big Band throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
When applying for medical school, he was told that he wouldn’t have time to play trombone. That wasn’t an option and while in Worcester, he performed regularly with the Worcester Jazz Orchestra. Since moving back to New Bedford in 2008 to practice cardiology, he has been active with the Southcoast Jazz Orchestra(SJO), the regions’ own 17 piece big band led by Bob Williamson. The SJO brought jazz back to the iconic Gilda’s Stone Rooster in 2011. His love of New Orleans jazz, funk, and soul music inspired the 7 piece Southcoast Brass Band(SCBB) in 2017 that has also been in residency at Gilda’s. Since that time, the SCBB has played all over the region for private events, club dates, and has been featured at the New Bedford Jazzfest and the Narrows Center for the Arts.
SHAWN BAPTISTA
Trumpet
Shawn grew up in Dartmouth, MA and was a member of the Dartmouth public schools music program. He began playing trumpet at the age of 7 in the Portuguese community band, Our Lady of Angels of New Bedford, MA, which he was a member of for 20 years. After high school, Shawn studied trumpet at Rhode Island College with Joseph Foley.
While at Dartmouth High, Shawn began playing in pit orchestras for musicals, which he still continues to do so today for local community and collegiate theater programs. During his time at RIC, he performed with the concert jazz band, which featured some notable soloists such as Doc Severinsen, Wycliffe Gordon, Bobby Shew, Jimmy Greene, Byron Stripling, Sean Jones and Jeff Coffin. He has also performed with the Southcoast Jazz Orchestra and the John Allmark Jazz Orchestra. Since 2010, Shawn has been a member of The Kickin Brass Band from Providence, RI. He has been an active commercial freelancer in MA and RI since 2009 performing for weddings, commencements, traditional big bands and musical theater. Since the start of the Southcoast Brass Band in 2017, Shawn has enjoyed being an active member of the group, along with bringing the traditional and funky sounds of New Orleans to the local south coast scene.
PAUL CHADBOURNE
Sousaphone
Paul has been with the South Coast Brass Band since it’s inception in 2017. As a native of South Grafton, MA, Paul proudly calls the South Coast area his second home. As an avid freelance musician, he has performed with many different groups in various genres. Some groups include the Italian American Band of Lawrence, The Hot Tamale Brass band, Matthew Hartnett and the Gumbo All-Stars and the Reading Symphony Orchestra. Paul has a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance degree from Rhode Island College. While there he studied with Thomas Gregory, Michael Milnarik, Tony Clements, Greg Fritze and Alan Baer. Paul is an Endorsing Artist for Brand Mouthpieces of Switzerland.
When not performing with South Coast, Paul manages the assembly and final assembly departments for S. E. Shires Co. manufacturing world class instruments for musicians throughout the world. Paul has also helped develop new lines of instruments for S. E. Shires and helps work with artists to make sure they are finding their dream instrument. Some of Paul’s work can actually be seen being played by musicians throughout the world including Michael Rocha in the South Coast Brass Band.
RYDER COREY
Saxophone
Ryder Corey is a woodwind instrumentalist and educator in the Worcester area. He currently teaches band and piano classes at the South High Community School in Worcester, Massachusetts and can be seen performing with Funktapuss, the Cape Cod Symphony, Southcoast Brass Band and the Sultans of Swing. When Ryder is not involved with musical mishap, he can be found lifting weights or petting stray cats.
CHARLES Z. KALAJIAN
Percussion
Percussionist, educator, and entrepreneur Charles Z. Kalajian B.M., & M.M., University of Rhode Island, uses his wide-ranging talents to adapt comfortably to a variety of environments. As an instructor and performing artist, he performs and teaches master classes and clinics throughout Southern New England. Charles has had the opportunity to study and perform at some of the most reputable venues across the northeast, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, Seiji Ozawa Tanglewood in Lenox, MA, Koussevitzky Music Shed in Lenox, MA, Lupos Heart Break Hotel in Providence, RI, Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs MA, and The George Kent Performance Hall in Westerly, RI.
Charles has studied under some of the most influential minds in music education such as Prof. David Martins, Boston University, Prof. H. Robert Reynolds, University of Michigan, Tim Gennis, Principal Timpanist, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Mr. Sam Solomon, percussion instructor, Boston University. Prof. Ann Danis, University of Rhode Island, Dr. Gene Pollart, University of Rhode Island, Mr. Ron Stabile, University of Rhode Island, Craig McNut, Principal Timpanist, Rhode Philharmonic Orchestra, Rob McEwan, Principal Percussionist, Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.
MARCUS MONTEIRO
Saxophone
Praised as being a “force to be reckoned with” by Shaqueille O’Neal, saxophonist Marcus Monteiro continues to impress his audience with intensity, interpretation, and consummate improvisational skills. In recent years, Marcus has shared the stage with The O’Jays, The Rebirth Brass Band, George Clinton, Tavares, and Cirque du Soleil among many others. Marcus has also traveled throughout the world performing in jazz festivals in Cape Verde, Panama, Canada, and countless others throughout the United States.
In addition to his performing career, Marcus has released three recordings as a leader and his expertise is displayed on over two dozen projects as a sideman. Marcus’ music has been featured on many radio stations with the release of his 2017 album “Another Part of Me” which charted in the Billboard top 50 jazz albums for numerous weeks.
Monteiro received his degree in music (B.M.) from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth where he studied with Santi Debriano, Rick Britto, and Royal Hartigan. After graduating, his fascination with jazz and improvisation continued, leading him to develop original music materials for ear training, improvisation, and eventually, publish a book about sight reading. Marcus now lives in the small oceanside town of Marion, Massachusetts with his family teaching privately to a wide range of students and skill levels. He is still traveling and performing with many groups across a diverse spectrum of musical genres. One thing is for certain, he always leaves his audiences wanting “one more song!”
DAN SCHWARTZ, "DR. D."
Percussion
Dan started playing trumpet in junior high school and later studied piano and solfeggio with Jose Da Costa. In his mid-twenties he switched to conga drums, studying African drumming with Babatunde Olatunji. He then studies Latin and Afro-Cuban music with Ritchie ‘Pablo’ Landrum at the Berklee School of Music, Abdoul Doumbia, and later, privately, with master congueiro Giovanni Hidalgo.
He has played with many musical talents including Bobby Greene and Coleus, Stan Strickland, Tanya Hart, Tavares, Eddie ‘Stack’ Ames, the Walker Band, Space Clinic, Tavares, Joel Hiller, McCarthy Richards and Legge, Dori Rubbicco, Southcoast Jazz Orchestra, The Neal McCarthy Problem, and Duke and the Drivers.