Musicians & Friends
The Potomac Jazz Project is comprised of seasoned professional musicians who love to have fun while playing jazz, while bringing courtesy and professionalism to each appearance. The personnel may vary slightly from gig to gig, but you will almost certainly see 3 or more of us below at any given event!!
Stan Hamrick – Springfield, VA – Bass, Founder, ManagerStan has been studying and playing music since his high school days in the 1970’s. He played in The University of Virginia Jazz Ensemble, The University of Virginia Symphony Orchestra and numerous jazz groups in the Charlottesville and Washington DC areas. He has studied with DC area bassists and educators Tom Baldwin and Victor Dvoskin. He is currently enrolled in the Jazz Studies Program at The University of Maryland studying performance, theory and improvisation and playing with the UMd Jazz Lab Band.
Steve Wolfe – Manassas, VA – Saxophone
Steve started playing sax in elementary school. By high school, he was a Virginia State Jazz Soloist. He has played with the Tom Cunningham Orchestra, and the rock band, Ransom. He has studied privately with saxophonists Jeff Antoniuk, Ron Diehl, Jim Hayward, and Tedd Baker (Airmen of Note). He has appeared as guest performer with two US Navy Bands, the Commodores and the Annapolis Naval Acadamy Band. In addition to the Potomac Jazz Project, Steve performs with the jazz quartet, Sonorous, and a fusion band, The Keith Wesby Group.
Will Greenwade – Washington, DC – Drums
A graduate of the Naval School of Music, Will Greenwade was influenced to play the drums at an early age by his mother, who was a pianist. A first cousin to renowned jazz drummers, Brady Jr. & Brian Blade, music is in his blood. Will has shared the stage with such artists as Spyro Gyra, the late Stanley Turrentine, Najee, Pieces of a Dream and Ramsey Lewis, just to name a few. In the mid 90’s, Will formed the group Kom’en In’trist and produced a freshman CD project which was well received with over three thousand copies sold in the Southeastern United States. With another project in the works, Will continues to strive for excellence while he pursues his life long passion of music production and performance.
Gene D'Andrea - Piano
Gene D’Andrea, jazz pianist and composer, holds a B.A. from the University of Connecticut and a M.M. in Jazz Performance from the University of Maryland. He has performed with David “Fathead” Newman, Jon Metzger, the Washington Symphonic Brass and M-Theory and has performed at places like Blues Alley, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cave 54 in Heidelberg, Germany.
Tam Sullivan - Piano - Tam has played on the Washington D.C. scene since the late 70's playing everything from Rhythm and Blues to Jazz. Working with trios to big bands in variety of settings from clubs and halls to cruise ships and Disneyland. Entirely self taught and always striving to grow musically.
Danny Villanueva - drums - Danny Villanueva is a freelance drummer/percussionist who performs and teaches in the Washington DC area. He has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, and the Florida West Coast Symphony. Local theatres include productions at Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Roundhouse Theatre, and Ford's Theatre. Performance highlights include venues such as Blues Alley and Carnegie Hall. Internationally, Danny has performed in Italy, Korea, Spain, and Russia. Currently he is the percussion instructor at Hardy Middle School in Washington, DC.
Other Friends and Musicians with whom we occasionally have the great pleasure of playing!!
Brad Linde - Brad Linde is a saxophonist/pianist/educator living in the Washington D.C. metro area. Brad leads his own groups throughout Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina and has shared the stage with jazz greats including Barry Harris, John Riley, Marcus Roberts, Conrad Herwig, Ray Vega, Jason Marsalis and Slide Hampton. He has toured Germany, Austria, Spain and Portugal, and performed at the East Coast Jazz Festival. His ensembles can be heard regularly at D.C. jazz clubs Columbia Station, Utopia, Twins Jazz and Twins Lounge. He received his M.M. in Saxophone Performance (Jazz) at the University of Maryland, College Park and holds a B.A. in Music from Elon University, where he studied extensively with vibraphonist Jon Metzger. Linde maintains an active role in education, teaching privately and giving saxophone and jazz improv clinics at high schools and middle schools. He has taught applied lessons, jazz improvisation, jazz combo, and big band at the University of Maryland and is the founder and director of the UM Jazz Repertory Ensemble. He teaches woodwind/piano instructor at the Del Ray School of Music in Alexandria, Virginia and at Music and Arts in Rockville, Maryland.
