Meet the Musicians

Ron Bland has been a professional musician for over thirty-five years, playing virtually all styles of music in every setting from concert hall to theatre to the recording studio. At home on both the electric and double basses, he has performed with jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Eddie Daniels, Billy Taylor and Doc Severinson. Ron has appeared with the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestras as well as in performance with Earth Wind and Fire, Andrea Bocelli, Pavarotti, Marvin Hamlisch, Linda Ronstadt, Rosemary Clooney, Billy Crystal and many others.

He is often in the pit for touring Broadway shows, including “Legally Blonde”, “A Chorus Line” and “The Color Purple.” In 2003, with the Denver Jazz Quartet, Ron performed as a featured headliner at the Queenstown International Jazz Festival in New Zealand. As part of the Rocky Mountain Trio & Quartet, Ron performs at the Jazz in the Vercors Festival in Villard de Lans, France every August. He is also a clinician for the workshop associated with the festival. Ron has performed extensively throughout the United States, including the 2001 Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C. Internationally, he has performed in Canada, Mexico and Europe. Ron is on the music faculty at Metropolitan State College of Denver, University of Colorado at Denver and Colorado School of Mines. He teaches private applied lessons on acoustic and electric bass, ensembles (combos and big band) and a sightreading and improvisation class.

Todd Reid is a renowned, eminent drummer. In demand today as a clinician and performer in the U.S. and Europe, Todd has worked with top jazz artist including Jon Hendricks, Mose Allison, Freddie Cole, Bob Dorough, Roberta Gambarini, Eddie Daniels, David “Fathead” Newman, Richie Cole, Lew Tabackin, Red Holloway, Bobby Shew, Carl Saunders, Javon Jackson, and a host of others. 

He is also the Percussion Area Coordinator at the University of Colorado Denver and a “Vic Firth” and Aquarian Artist/Educator.

Jan Cleveland is an actor, singer and musician who has performed in films, regional theatres and nightclubs from New York to Denver, and capped four successful years on the New York stage with the lead role in the hit musical “I Still Believe in Love”.

Her first CD with GAMEJazz Love You Madly (classic Jazz standards), received international notice and took the entire group to Queenstown, New Zealand to headline New Zealand’s 25th annual Jazz Festival.  She and the group have followed with two additional CDs all of which have received glowing reviews:  Nights on Broadway (jazz versions of famous Broadway tunes); and So Nice (definitive Latin Jazz).  She performs regularly a Dazzle in Denver, and on theatre stages throughout the metro area.

Doug Roche started his career by touring internationally as the pianist with “The Lettermen” for four years.  He has performed with a cavalcade of jazz icons, including Buddy De Franco, Joe Farrell, Nick Brignola, Teddy Edwards, Terry Gibbs, Red Holloway, Eddie Harris, Richie Cole, Lew Tabakin, Roseanna Vitro, Giacamo Gates and Bobby Shew to name just a few.

In 1996, Doug served as pianist and assistant musical director for “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues” at the Cleveland Playhouse in conjunction with the opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  With Denver now his home, Doug teaches jazz theory and jazz performance techniques, and is a sought-after arranger and jazz piano virtuoso.