Band Bios

Allan Meyerson has been playing and teaching saxophone, flute and clarinet for 45 years.  He is an accomplished classical as well as jazz and blues musician.  His first professional jobs in the late 60’s were playing in the show bands at the many hotels in New York with as many as 5 different acts a night. Sight reading and being able to switch styles were a must and taught him valuable lessons in musicianship.  

Growing up in NYC gave him an opportunity to study with the best musicians in the world.  Allan started in his high school band and soon realized the instruction there was adequate but not enough to satisfy him.  He was lucky enough to find a local music teacher, Nat Shapiro, who was a studio musician for the NBC Radio Orchestra in the 40’s and 50’s and a student of Ernest F. Wagner.  Nat encouraged Allan to study clarinet and later, flute.  

In 1969 Allan attended Queens College CUNY as music major while playing professionally.  While in college he travelled to Manhattan weekly to study with the jazz great Lee Konitz (Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Kenton, Lennie Tristano) who taught him a practical approach to improvising which he now passes on to his advanced students.  

After college Allan continued his jazz oriented education by studying with another living legion of jazz, David Liebman (Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, Chick Corea) for over 2 years on a one to one basis.  

In 1985 he moved to NJ, where he was close enough to NY and Philadelphia to raise his family and still keep up with his musical ambitions.  In those years he played with local jazz and blues groups as well as big bands and symphonies.

Allan now resides in The  Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania and is active with the local jazz and blues scene there.  He was nominated for "Best Wind Instrument" in 2006, 2007, 2009 at The LHV Music Awards and the winner in 2008.  

Over the past 45 or so years Meyerson has played or recorded with some of the best musicians in the world including: Pepper Adams, John Faddis, "Marky" Markowitz, Charles Fambrough, Jim Fielder, Marvin Stamm, Bobby Radcliff, Garry Rissmiller, Craig Kastelnick, and has recently opened for Pat Martino.

While I was there, I studied with Ed Flanagan, who has done many Broadway shows and has toured with Al Martino. I also was instructed at University of the Arts by Robert Di Nardo, who was a staff guitarist for The Mike Douglas Show. I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music in 1990. Some of the establishments I have performed at include The Supper Club, Hotel Pennsylvania, and the USS Intrepid, all in New York City.

I have played at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and Montclair Country Club in West Orange, New Jersey. I have also performed at Huntington Townhouse on Long Island. I have played at Birchwood Country Club in Whippany, New Jersey with Donald Trump in the audience.

I have been performing with The Rob Stoneback Orchestra, a Bethlehem based 19 piece big band since January 1990. I also perform with the Asbury Jazz Quintet, a Christian based ensemble utilizing classical, jazz, and rock influences. This group is based at Asbury Methodist Church in Allentown. Some of the entertainers I have performed with include: Regis Philbin, Al Martino , Julius La Rosa, Bob Newhart, Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Perry Como, Emily Remler, John Blake, Jimmy Bruno, Larry McKenna, Marilyn Horne, Barbara Cook, John Swana, and Stanley Turrentine. I am a member of AFM Local #45. I have been teaching privately since 1984. I have been playing in pit orchestras since 1983. I perform on guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, and banjo. I perform mostly in the Lehigh Valley area with several groups including Muhlenberg college, Cedar Crest College theatre departments and Municipal Opera Company (MunopCo) in Allentown.

Bernard England was born and raised in the Jazz Capital of the World, New York City.  He now makes his residence in The Lehigh Valley, PA.  Bernard  studied music at Queens College, NYC and while living in NYC he studied with some of the greats of jazz .  He also participated in The Jazzmobile School of Jazz Studies in Harlem, NYC.

England honed his skills with his five year stint as a member of the famous Harlem Renaissance Orchestra.

Bernard has over 30 years of playing experience as a free lance musician on stand-up acoustic and electric bass.  With his vast experience and firm roots in Gospel Music, R&B and Jazz he adds a solid foundation to the band.

Vernon Mobley is a drummer at heart who has been playing for nearly 3 decades. During that time he has worked tirelessly to craft an unmistakable drumming style and talents unrivaled in the Lehigh Valley. Often playing multiple rhythmic patterns while playing additional percussion instruments, Vern's sound often gives the illusion of multiple drummers/percussionists playing the drum kit simultaneously.

His roots are of Gospel and his skills carefully cultivated while playing in church with his father (organist) and his brother (bassist & guitarist). Both his understanding of music at a young age and demonstrated virtuosity made him a requested musician of local Philadelphia and tri-state area churches, as well as Gospel singing groups and choirs. His elevated skill level won him an invitation to play alongside other talented musicians at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia at the age of 11.

Though Vern's primary focus is Fusion, he still finds time to play with many local artists and musicians such as Barry Sames, Will Brock (Gerald Veasley), Mike Krisukas (Zen for Primates), Ian Holmes(American Idol), Jonny Charles & the Straight 8 Blues Kings, Eric Miller (Eric Miller All -Star Band) and a host of others.

Phil Woods, Stanley Turrentine, Randy Brecker, Charles Fambrough and David Liebman evoke respect and awe for their mastery of the jazz idiom. Rissmiller has accompanied each of them in concert halls and on festival stages. Furthermore, he has been the opening act for popular jazz greats Lionel Hampton, Cab Callaway, Joe Henderson and Spyro Gyra.

A native to Pennsylvania as well, Rissmiller is a resident performer at the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts (COTA) and Bethlehem's Musikfest. He has also been featured at the Central Pennsylvania Mellon Jazz Festival, The Scranton Jazz Festival and the Wichita Jazz Festival, among many others.

Call 732-598-7824

or Email Allan at pasax@ptd.net