About the Band
John Kozan — vocals, trombone
Tatum Greenblatt — trumpet
Kyle Schweizer — saxophone
Braden Palmer — guitar
Ben Campbell — bass
Jay Lepley — drums
From the classic lounge stylings of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, to fun twists on popular modern hits, Double Down plays the songs you know and love. The band's original style fuses together their fresh, bold talents with a tribute to the songs of yesteryear.
Double Down gives the Rat Pack a swinging update for the new millennium. Their electrifying performance, tight sound and musical expertise allow them to move from hot jump-swing numbers to poignant ballads without missing a beat.
In addition to the old standards, Double Down dives into the songbook of today, bringing a unique twist to contemporary classics. From Billy Joel to Motorhead, from Nirvana to Usher, Double Down brings a classy lounge attitude to anything they get their hands on. Never content to rest on their laurels, Double Down is constantly adding new songs to their repertoire so every show stays fresh and their audience is always entertained.
How'd they meet?
With the energy, style and charisma of Las Vegas in the 1960s calling to him, John decided to create a modern version of Vegas's glory days. He asked Braden and Kyle, who were playing with him in a swing band, if they were interested in starting their own group. Drew then joined them on bass as part of their new five-piece band, while the drummers rotated with every gig. They brought in Tatum, with whom they'd all studied jazz performance at New York's New School University to play trumpet and round out the band as they established their lounge vibe. Jay joined the group as their permanent drummer, and "Double Down" was born.
Bios
John Kozan has been featured as a singer on HBO’s The Sopranos. His vocal style is influenced by all the greats, from Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, to Bobby Darin and Louis Prima – yet it remains uniquely his own. As a trombonist, he has studied with such greats as Slide Hampton, Art Baron, and Conrad Herwig.
Tatum Greenblatt is hailed by Wynton Marsalis as one of his favorite young trumpet players. He has appeared with Mr. Marsalis, Joe Lovano, The Jazz @ Lincoln Center Orchestra, Christian McBride, and Alicia Keys. He's currently working on his Master's Degree at The Juilliard School and in his down time he's a total Food Network junkie.
Kyle Schweizer was born and raised in the Bronx and attended Laguardia High School of the Performing Arts before enrolling in The New School's Jazz and Contemporary Music Program. During his diverse professional career, Kyle has performed with such jazz greats as saxophonist Sonny Fortune, trumpeters Claudio Roditi and Jon Faddis, and drummer Bobby Sanabria. What a lot of people don't know about Kyle is that under that head of hair... he's actually bald.
Braden Palmer moved to New York in 2001 to persue his Bachelor's degree at The New School's Jazz and Contemporary music program. While at the New School, Braden studied with such guitar luminaries as Jack Wilkins, Vic Jurisis, and Jonathan Kreisberg. When he's not playing guitar, Braden enjoys perfecting the "Bloodhound Brewery", his own micro-brew.
Ben Campbell is the newest addition to Double Down, replacing bassist Drew Edwards in August 2006. Benjamin received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California in May, 2003. Other educational opportunities have included full scholarship attendance at The Henry Mancini Institute in 2000 and Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead in 2004. In the fall of 2004 Benjamin moved to New York City to be immersed in the city's rich musical environment.
Jay Lepley spent his formative years playing in jazz combos and big bands. After traveling the world as part of a jazz band, Jay graduated from New York's New School University's Jazz Contemporary Music Program. He now is a freelance drummer residing in NYC.
Alumni
Drew Edwards plays with a passion unlike most young bassists today. He has performed at Birdland, Downtown Atlantic, Cafe Figaro and many other hot clubs in New York.
The Double Down Martini
Swing 46, New York's premier jazz and supper club, has officially named a drink special after this hot young band. Stop by anytime to order the Double Down Martini, and enjoy the drink that's as bold as the band itself.
