Thugtet leader Rick Davies is a composer/trombonist who works primarily in the fields of Latin jazz, salsa, and Afro-Caribbean music. Davies received a Ph.D. from New York University in 1999 (his dissertation was on Cuban brass performance). He is a professor of music and formerly chaired the music department at SUNY Plattsburgh. In 2009, Rick Davies received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity.
Wayne Davison received his Bachelor of Music in Education in 1990 from the State University College at Fredonia, and a Masters of Science in Remedial Reading from SUNY Cortland in 1995. While at Fredonia Wayne was the director of the all student run Fredonia Jazz Ensemble, and led the band to an Outstanding Big Band Award at the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, and a Gold Award at the Canadian National Music Festival the following year.
Michael Lewandowski received a Writing degree and Music Minor at SUNY Plattsburgh in 2001. While at the school, he performed with the SUNY Plattsburgh Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Band. Michael completed a Music Education Degree in 2006 at Ohio University. Currently he works at the Alburgh Community Education Center in Alburgh, VT and performs with the Thugtet, Adirondack Jazz Orchestra, and the Adirondack Wind Ensemble.
Bass player Robert Garrow performs with a number of groups in the Plattsburgh area. In addition to the Thugtet, Bob plays bass with the Adirondack Jazz Orchestra, Oh, Betty!, Bruce Patenaude, and many others. He is also a fine bass trombonist and has performed in this capacity with many groups including the Adirondack Wind Ensemble and the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Big Band. Bob is also a respected music educator and teaches instrumental music at the Northern Adirondack Middle/High School.
Guitarist Corey Marsico is a recent graduate of the music program at SUNY Plattsburgh. He is an excellent jazz musician and has a number of videos on Youtube. He has performed with various groups including the Shawn Parrotte Quintet, the SUNY Plattsburgh Mambo Combo, Jazz Ensemble, and Guitar Ensemble. As a bassist he performed with Ellen Powell’s Bass Ensemble. Corey has also played with the Thugtet as a bassist.
Percussionist Bill Bougill has been a longtime presence on the Plattsburgh music scene. Bill graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh, where among other things he played with the jazz ensemble. He is also a fine drummer and has played with a number of local groups and theatre groups including Shameless Strangers and the Essex Theatre Company at the Strand Theatre.
Herm Matlock is one of the finest trumpet players in the North Country and is equally adept at performing classical, jazz, and popular music. He has had a decades long career as a trumpet player and is a consummate professional. He is the regular trumpet soloist for the Adirondack Jazz Ensemble and performs as principal for the Adirondack Wind Ensemble and various other North Country groups. He performs often in Vermont for groups like Grupo Sabor, the Funk Collection, and with the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Big Band. Professor Matlock has been a music teacher for most of his career and has a long history as a faculty member at SUNY Plattsburgh and is currently the director of the Jazz Ensemble.
The Thugtet
The Thugtet is an exciting and high-energy band specializing in Latin and Funk music. The group consists of veteran players and young lions from the North Country and has been together for the past two years. Leader Rick Davies has composed and arranged most of the music they perform. They play various selections from Davies’ three Internationally-known CD recordings as well as a variety of cover songs.