MARK MARMON (Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals)
As recorded by the Seven Stranded Angels of Purgatory Point, Texas:
Born of well nurturing but musically inept parents of Texas; Mark cut his teeth as “roadie-dead rhythm-band expeditor “ with George Chambers and the Country Gentlemen in San Antonio, Texas. Mark’s first record was recorded at Zazz Studios in S.A (where Doug Sahm, La Mafia, and Flaco Jimenez record) with national success. Since playing every beer joint/folk club/defunct disco parlor from Brownsville to Lubbock; Beaumont to New York; he has settled into the Houston area with “like minded not minded like” musicians who share the same eclectic special passion for stream of consciousness songwriting. Look forward to his songs being covered by other nationally recognized artists and a new album “Lovers and Other Strangers” soon. Mark can usually be found somewhere between Bellaire and New Braunfels in transit.
GEOFF GIACCO (Guitar, Vocals)
Some people have said that Geoff is the David St. Hubbins of Cowjazz, but We don't know whether or not to believe them. We do know that Geoff comes by his musicality honestly, having borrowed liberally from his father, a noted east coast jazz musician. Jocko brings Van Morrison, Steve Earle, Tom Petty and and host of other material into the song list and as of late has been pelting us with Counting Crows, Fountains of Wayne, Green Day and Lucinda Williams tunes. Like Mark, Geoff contributes original material including the tune "I Could Use A Vacation" - featured on this here site in video form.
HERMAN KLUGE (Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals)
February 9, 1963 - The Beatles made their US television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show and Herman got his first guitar - a Stella acoustic from Monkey Wards. After making his performance debut with The Pre-Fabricated Banana (hey, folks, it was psychedelic era), Herman went on to add electric guitar noise to the likes of One Nation Underground, The Poor Follicles, Fast Aubrey, The Self-Righteous Brothers, Triphonics, The TV Dinners, We're Ricky Nelson, Sturm, Drang und Willie, as well as work with the Midnight Flyer, Kokomo, Tupelo and several area blues revues. More recently, he has been seen pushing notes for The Moondance Band and sitting in with the Rich Latimer Band. And just to prove that he was, like, "sensitive" and deep, Herman played with the acoustic bands The Leftovers, We May Look Like You, The Rhythm Methodists, Wafer Thin Mints, and most recently Traveler. And being the music slut that he is, Herman has been caught jamming his way around town when not plucking the strings for Cowjazz. In his off time, he counsels chicks and bunnies who have passed their prime as Easter pets.
ROBERT KNETSCH (Bass Guitar & Learned Commentary)
What can we say about Doctor Robert except that the proper pronunciation of his last name is "ka-netch" and not "knish". (JFK may very well have been a jelly donut, but we're pretty certain that Robert isn't a fried potato cake.) Robert has graced many bands in Houston and beyond including (but not limited to) The Banded Geckos, The Bobby Markoff Trio, and The Moondance Band. In the last few years, Robert has taken a personal interest in the symphony and spends more time chasing kids off his lawn.
MICHAEL CRAWFORD (Chapman Stick, Vocals, Zen Presence)
Mister Michael started out young as a child in Richardson, Texas but fortunately for us escaped his north Dallas upbringing and came down south here where the weird turn pro. A thespian futurist holographer (say that three times fast) Mike infuses the Cowjazz sound with a mix of Myxolydian and some Phrygian he keeps in his frig and claims to have found the mysterious "13th note" stolen from the 12 note scale lo these many years ago. Never one to be pent up pentatonically, (although he was in a pentatonic relationship once) Michael micro-tones his way into our hearts and mind with his special brand of pscyho-acoustics played on the somewhat uncommon and always conversation starting Chapman Stick. Mr. C spends his days passing his music gene to son Graeme and keeping up with all this modern computer jazz.
STEVE CANDELARI (Drums and Girl Magnet)
Every girl's crazy about a sharp dressed man--which is certainly a great reason to have Steve Candelari playing drums. That and he has access to some truly fine pizza. And he beats those skins like Gene Krupa all hopped up on Crazy Stuff. When he's not doing drum chores with Cowjazz, he's been seen around playing in just about every band in town including the lately lamented Dreambreakers.
CHRIS BROWN (Drums and Clever Asides)
Chris brings an uncharacteristic calm to the practice of drumming--so much so that we wonder if he's really a cellist masquerading as a drummer. Little to worry, because he lays down a solid groove and never lays down on the job. One of the hardest working musicians in town, Chris can be seen popping rhythms for a host of Houston bands including Moondance and The Bobby Markoff Trio.
OUR HONORED GUESTS AND PAST PLAYERS
Gary (De Master Gary) Strong - Drums
Pat Sullivan - bass
Tim Griffith - bass