Musicians
Darrell Parsons
// Vocals
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Darrell Parsons, singer of standards, show tunes, jazz and popular music, has been active in the Washington DC music scene since 1980 when he moved here from Vienna, Austria. He has established himself as an expressive interpreter of song literature with a superb sense of phrasing and the ability to bring songs to life through singing the meaning of the words. He has appeared on stages across the United States, Europe and Asia, for audiences in intimate and large venues, including clubs in DC and LA, as well as Opera Houses and Concert Halls in Vienna, Milan, Paris and Seoul.
Darrell has worked with many DC jazz favorites including Jon Jenson, Bruce Swain, Vince McCool, Chuck Redd, Dan Hovey, Jim McFalls, John Leonard, Nick Ruggieri, Tom Ruggieri, Pete Chauvette, Nate Levy, and Tommy Cecil. He studied with renowned voice teacher Todd Duncan, as well as DC jazz legend, Ronnie Wells. He currently sings regularly in the metropolitan area with local jazz group Cheek To Cheek, as well as with the Julie Parsons Project on the Eastern Shore.
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Mark Gadson
// drums
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Mark received his Bachelor of Music degree in percussion performance from DePauw University’s school of music and then went on to become a percussionist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra while doing post-graduate studies at the University of Tennessee.
Mark has recorded, performed and toured with an array of respected musicians and performers, including Benny Goodman, Bob Hope, Lynn Anderson, Sarah McLachlan, Andrea Corr and Loreena McKennitt. Mark's rich and experienced background in percussion and songwriting provides a solid energy and heartbeat for any music project he is involved in. His compositions and arrangements are visionary and distinctive.
Mark’s SoundScape recording studio in Saint Michaels, MD is dedicated to working with musicians in the Eastern Shore area in order to get their music in front of people. “It has always been my belief that the artistic process starts with an inspiration, be it a thought in your mind, something you personally experience or something that is discovered while practicing your art. In music, it then transcends to notes on a page or sounds imagined in your mind. From there, it is brought to life through the sounds of instruments and voices in live performances or recordings. And, then and only then, it becomes music when experienced by others.”
Mark’s debut EP album, So What!, featured five original songs and was released digitally in June, 2020. He released 2 singles, Elewana, in April, 2022 and Forever in October, 2022, with a second EP album Morning Brew, released in December, 2022. His latest album, Happy Holidays and All That Jazz was released in December, 2023. He regularly performs with the Julie Parsons Project Jazz Trio. and Steve Lowe and The Lowe Downs. You can learn more about Mark and his music at www.markgadsonmusic.com.
Chris Levey
// bass
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Chris Levey comes from a strong jazz musical lineage. He made a career as a bassist in Los Angeles during most of the 70's and 80's playing live, and recording primarily for movies and commercial jingles. As a supporting musician he was privileged to work with many notable artists while playing many different styles of music This list includes Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, and, with members of the Doors - The Butts Band. He then moved to Philadelphia and continued there for several years. Levey continues to appear throughout the mid-Atlantic region with artists of the rock, blues, small and large jazz band genres. By day he is a physician.
Paul Tolzman
// guitar
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Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar and Electric Bass
Paul is an attorney, licensed master mariner, and a man of many and varied interests including traveling, gardening, water sports ( think fishing!!!) and, of course, music. Paul began playing guitar in his early teens. He was “ strumming with the rest” until he heard the music of guitar great, Chet Atkins. It was love at first listen. When he couldn’t find an Atkins instructor, Paul set out to teach himself how to play Chet’s unique version of finger style guitar. Today Paul is regarded as an accomplished finger style guitar player. He regularly works with groups on stage, records and even performs solo guitar. He and Julie combine their talents in a duo dedicated to contemporary easy listening.