Anthony Stanco Ensemble

The Anthony Stanco Ensemble (Lansing/Detroit, Mich.) is a jazz quintet comprised of some of the most promising young talents in jazz today. All five members are graduates of the Jazz Studies program at Michigan State University. The ensemble is influenced by the history of jazz and draws from this to create their unique sound. Anthony Stanco Ensemble has performed at festivals, music clubs, and has conducted workshops and master classes.

The ensemble is an American Music Abroad alumni band, and spent the fall of 2013 on tour, visiting South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. The group was extremely well- received and received positive feedback from embassies and audiences alike.

Members

ANTHONY STANCO (Trumpet) is a rising talent in today’s music scene.  When Anthony was in high school, he established himself as a professional musician in the Detroit area. He performed as a leader at the 2006 Birmingham Jazz Festival with his quintet, as well as the 2007 Detroit Jazz Festival. In 2008 Anthony recorded a live album with Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Bobby Sanabria called Kenya Revisited LIVE! and it was nominated for a Latin Grammy. Anthony has performed with world class musicians such as Winard Harper, Michael Feinstein, James Fortune, and Aretha Franklin to name a few.  In March 2010, Anthony took third place in the National Trumpet Competition and in May 2012 he placed second in the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Improvisation Competition. Anthony Stanco is a very talented musician and we look forward to seeing what he will accomplish next.

MARCUS ELLIOT (Saxophone) is a saxophonist/composer/educator of the metro-Detroit area. As an educator, Marcus has the privilege of directing Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Ensemble. As a performer, Marcus is a sideman in the Kris Johnson Group, Thaddeus Dixon Quartet and the Old Soul Quintet. He is also a sideman in the Justin Dillard Organ Trio based out of Chicago. Marcus Also leads his own group, The Marcus Elliot Quartet, which consists of Marcus Elliot; Saxophone/EWI, Glenn Tucker; Piano/Keyboard, Ben Rolston; Bass and Julian Allen; Drums. Marcus has also been fortunate enough to play with jazz greats such as Marcus Belgrave, Robert Hurst, Karriem Riggins, Jimmy Cobb, Rodney Whitaker, Bennie Maupin and many others. As a composer, Marcus recorded his first CD “Looking Forward” at the age of 20, which consisted of all of his original compositions. Marcus is a recipient of the Ruth Priscilla Simms Hamilton Endowed Scholarship in Jazz, and the Lou A. and Roy J. Simon Endowed College of Music.

PAUL BRATCHER (Piano), a native of Harrisburg Pennsylvania, began playing piano at age 11.  Paul began his study of jazz at Bishop McDevitt High School where he played in the Jazz Band under the direction of David Knott. After high school Paul continued his education at Messiah College where he pursued a Bachelors of Science in Music Education.  While attending Messiah he has had the pleasure of playing with and learning from such jazz masters as, Tim Warfield, Kirk Reese, Cyrus Chestnut and Dr. Bill Stowman.  Paul has just completed his masters in jazz studies from Michigan State University where he has had the opportunity to play and learn along side masters like Etienne Charles, Diego Rivera, Michael Dease, Randy Gelispie, Reggie Thomas and Rodney Whitaker.

SAM COPPERMAN (Acoustic Bass) was born in Santa Cruz, California. He began playing electric bass at age eight and switched to upright at age fourteen. He began his career at age fifteen playing for local musicals. In 2008 he moved to East Lansing, Michigan to study with the renowned bassist Rodney Whitaker at Michigan State University earning a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies in 2012.

JORDAN OTTO (Drums) was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI. He began playing percussion at the age of 11 and got his first drum set soon after that. Since then he has studied many different styles including jazz, rock, funk, Latin, and various Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian styles. Jordan has been performing in many groups in all of these styles since he began playing drums. He recently received a degree in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University and continues to perform regularly.