The Northwest's premier big band is co-conducted by drummer Clarence Acox (Garfield High School Jazz program director) and University of Washington faculty saxophonist Michael Brockman. The orchestra showcases many of the region's best-loved jazz soloists, including trumpeters Jay Thomas and Thomas Marriott, pianist Randy Halberstadt, bassist Phil Sparks, trombonist Dan Marcus, and saxophonists Bill Ramsay, Travis Ranney, and Mark Taylor.