Co-op Bop Band Members

Members

The band works together day and night preparing for performances in order to make sure their recordings and live performances are in full harmony. Check out the faces that make up Co-op Bop below.

Tyler Dempsy

Tyler Dempsey, our new drummer, has taken over in place of our dearly departed and much loved Gary Rissmiller who played with Co-op from the very first early days. Needless to say Tyler brings a younger sensitive rendering to our book of arrangements and compositions. We are delighted to have him.

Tyler is a professional drummer & educator from Clarks Summit, PA.

He has performed, toured, and/or recorded with many of the region’s finest musicians including NEA Jazz Masters Dave Liebman and Bob Dorough, Grammy award-winning pianist Kevin Hays, Ben Street, Hal Galper, Gene Perla, Don Braden, Chase Baird, Joe Magnarelli, Joe Locke, Billy Test, Behn Gillece, Josh Lawrence, Matt Vashlishan, Jon Ballantyne, Adam Niewood, Tony Marino, Jim Ridl, Phillip Kuehn, Bill Washer, and Ron Oswanski.

As an educator, he holds the position of “Director of Percussion“ at East Stroudsburg University and “Director of Percussion Instruction” at Keystone College. Tyler also works with students across the country through online workshops and lessons. He’s a Vic Firth, Zildjian, and Prologix Percussion artist.

Instruments

Drums

Alan Gaumer

Alan began playing the trumpet in 1958. He was a member of Kal’s Kid’s appearing on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour and numerous other television shows. Participating in band, orchestra, and stage bands through elementary, junior and high school he graduated from Freedom High School in 1969. He studied with John Nero and Willard Schissler and performed with the Allentown Band under the direction of Albertis L. Meyers. Alan then attended the U.S. Navy School of Music.

Upon graduation he spent the next three years living in Gaeta, Italy touring Europe, Africa and Asia with the Sixth Fleet Navy Band. Prior to his discharge in 1973 he auditioned and was offered the trumpet position in the Jazz-rock ensemble at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. From 1973-75 he toured first as trumpeter and later as drummer with the well known group KATO.

Settling back in the Lehigh Valley, Alan was an integral part of the popular group P.F. & the Flyers and his own A.G.Q. After attending Rutgers University, Alan spent two years touring South America, the Caribbean and West Africa with the U.S. Navy Show Band.

After discharge in 1982, he worked for the next several years at well known hotels and resorts in eastern Pennsylvania. Alan was the jazz trumpet Artist/Lecturer at Moravian College and director of the Jazz Fusion Ensemble from 1994 until his retirement in 2018.

He has performed with a long list of well known jazz personalities including: Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, Al Cohn, George Young, Bob Dorough, Tom Harrell, Bill Watrous, Urbie Green, Kim Parker, Vic Jurris, Charles Fambrough, Bill Washer, John Swanna, David Leonhardt, Steve Gilmore, Bill Goodwin, Bobby Routch, Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyra and others. In performance he and his wife (ROBIN BRYAN) form the duo Body & Soul.

He has been the recipient of several grants. He lists several recording credits. The most recent include a collaboration with the Moravian Jazz Faculty and a collection of original compositions by the Sextet CO-OP BOP.

Alan Founded and was Executive Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Jazz Collective from 2010 - 2018

A Lehigh Valley based non-profit org., He produced 7 annual Fall jazz series at Moravian College. Guest artists included: Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, Bob Dorough, Robin Eubanks, Maria Schneider, Vic Juris, Mike Tomaro, David Springfield and Andrew Neu. Numerous other productions included festivals and Youth education events.

Instruments

Selmer Radial Trumpet Circa 1971
Percussion

Nelson Hill

Nelson Hill is a saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist from Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania. He has studied privately with Phil Woods, Hal Galper, Eddie Daniels and James Caruso. Nelson graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1981 with a B.M. in Saxophone Performance. At Eastman, Nelson studied with Ramon Ricker, Bill Dobbins, Rayburn Wright, William Osseck and Mardelle Marcellis. He performed with the National Jazz Ensemble. Upon graduation, he toured for three years with Maynard Ferguson, playing lead alto saxophone. During his stay, he recorded on the albums Storm and Hollywood.

After he left Ferguson in 1984, Nelson worked at Tamiment Resort, Harrah's Marina and Mount Airy Lodge where he performed with Tony Bennett, The Spinners, The Temptations, Wayne Newton, Jay Black, Frankie Valli and many others.

In 2002, Nelson released his first solo CD titled Lethal. He works with his quartet and with pianist Eric Mintel. Nelson released his second solo CD in the fall of 2004. Nelson has also taught saxophone and jazz improvisation at Lafayette College Blair Academy, and privately. His students have enrolled in schools such as Eastman, Berklee, Ithica, NYU and Manhattan School of Music.

In 2002, Nelson became a Performing Artist and Clinician for the Yamaha Corporation of America. Nelson was the first Pennsylvania Jazz Collective Artist of the year in 2012. When not on the road with the EMQ, or performing with Co-op Bop, he is father to 4 daughters and one son.

Instruments

Alto Sax
Piccolo
Flute
Soprano sax

Tom Kozic

Tom has been playing the guitar since age 7. Having been schooled privately by such greats as Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Howard Roberts, Harry Leahey, Jack Wilkins and Tal Farlow, Tom had the opportunity of being assistant clinician to Howard Roberts seminars in the 70’s. In 1978, in fact, Tom won 1st Place in the Kenny Burrell National Jazz Guitar Competition at the young age of 19.

In addition to being a great performer, Tom has 25 years teaching experience, both privately and at the College and University level including 5 years at Lehigh University, 7 years at Moravian College (Behthlehem, PA) and 9 years at Muhlenburg College (Allentown, PA).

Tom was named the Pennsylvania Jazz Collective Artist of the year in 2013. In addition to his stellar jazz renderings Tom has also been very active in the country music scene.

A short list of jazz personalities that he has performed and/or recorded with include Brian Lynch, Tim Hagens, Steve Gilmore, Pjil Woods, Bill Goodwin, Bill Watrous, and Don Patterson.

Tom also is a major contributor to the repertoire of CO-OP BOP.

Instruments

Guitar

Craig Kastelnik

Craig performs a wide variety of musical styles. Although Craig lives and performs regularly in the Lehigh Valley (Northeastern Pennsylvania), he has played clubs and concerts throughout the U.S. as well as cruise ships.

Craig’s wide ranging musical experience included performing and touring with singer Eddie Rabbitt for three years as a musical director, where he accompanied Anne Murray, Gladys Knight, The Pointer Sisters, Bob Hope and many others. On organ (with bass pedals), he has played with many well known jazz artists such as Phil Woods and Randy Brecker, including with drummer Bill Goodwin and saxophonist Nelson Hill and jazz legend Bob Dorough.

Craig was featured at the Jazz Masters Series at East Stroudsburg University, 2001. Craig was the Pennsylvania Jazz Collective Artist of the year for 2014. As a composer for television and film, Craig has scored for A&E’s award winning BIOGRAPHY series, THE HISTORY CHANNEL, PBS and others. Some of the other jazz artists Craig has performed with include: Larry Coryell, Vic Juris, Bill Dobbins, Tim Hagans, Brian Lynch, Keith Copland, Bill Watrous, George Young, Gerry and Adam Neiwood, Kim Parker, Bobby Routch, Howared Alden, John Swana, Bob Grauso Big Band, Bill Washer, Howard Roberts, Jeff Hamilton and many others.

Instruments

Hammond B3 organ
Synthesizer
Vocals

Tom Hamilton

Tom was born in Jersey City, N.J. in 1953. He grew up in the town of Carteret, N.J.where he began his studies on the clarinet at a free summer music clinic at age 11. Although he enjoyed playing the clarinet, he always had a fascination with the saxophone and was given a really old funky alto sax to play by his teacher (pictured on the back of his CD, playing it in 1966 at his first gig). Despite the awful condition of the sax Tom loved it and could not put it down.

Tom continued playing throughout High School performing in the Jazz, Concert and Marching Bands. He started playing professionally at the age of 12 in 1966 and has never stopped.

Tom started college as a music major in 1971 at Glassboro State College (Now Rowan University) Three years later he left school to work with Shorty Hill, a touring swing band out of Boston. In 1977 Tom decided to continue his studies at William Paterson University with Thad Jones. He graduated with a degree in Jazz Studies and Performance in 1978.

From there he continued his professional career as a saxophone player, co-leader and composer for the Jazz/Funk band “Splat” which made a lot of noise around New York and New Jersey in the late seventies to early eighties. Tom got his first overseas touring experience when he landed a gig with “Machito” in 1983. During this three month tour of Europe he developed a great love for salsa music. This influence can easily be heard on tracks 2 and 7 on the CD “A Work in Progress”. Tom continued to play in New York and tour with Machito until his death in 1986. While in Machito’s band Tom got to perform with many jazz greats including DizzyGillespie through Salsa Meets Jazz at the Village Gate in New York’s Greenwich Village. Tom also performed, recorded and wrote for the 10 piece New York-New Jersey based band “The Dalton Gang”.

Tom decided to move his family out of the city to Delaware Water Gap, Pa in 1987. While there, he met many great musicians such as Phil Woods, Dave Liebman, Bob Dorough, Bill Goodwin, Nelson Hill and George Young. His association with these musicians is evidenced by his discography.

In 1991 Tom was discovered by the great Blues guitarist from Scranton Pa.- Clarence Spady. Their steady Wednesday night gig at “Blues Street” was a huge success. The band recorded the classic album “Nature of the Beast” in 1996. This was followed by extensive touring throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.

Through the years Tom has performed with many big name acts that call him when they come to town. This includes Natalie Cole, The Temptations, Four Tops, Louis Bellson, Clark Terry and many more.

In 2014 Tom decided to record his own album of original compositions. This CD has gotten tremendous response by many. It is currently being played on over 100 Smooth Jazz radio stations throughout the US and Canada. His “Work In Progress Band” will be featured at the Scranton Jazz Festival and the COTA Jazz Festival in Delaware Water Gap. Tom has been performing with CO-OP BOP intermitantly for the past 30 years. Upon recording their most recent release "Unlimited", he is now a full time member. The book of music has been slowly edited from 2 to 3 horns with new material being added.

Instruments

Saxaphone

Guest Vocalists

We have two incredible guest vocalists, Robin and Pat, who have worked with Co-op Bop in various projects for years. Either of these wonderful women could be joining us for our shows to provide additional vocal presence. Join us at our next gig to find out who it is!

Vocal & Percussion Pat grew up in the Niagara Falls -Buffalo area of New York. She and her sisters performed A Cappella as the Flaherty Sisters from a very young age. While attending Buffalo State Pat began singing in local clubs as a lead vocalist. Later she worked

with "SNOW ANGEL" a vocal jazz group that toured throughout the US. Eventually she found her way to Allentown and became Craig's partner in KATO.

Pam (Flaherty) Kastelnik

Robin Bryan has been a professional vocalist for over 40 years. She graduated from Penn State U. where her career started in coffehouses. She continued to perform with many bands. As a guest jazz artist she has performed at festivals, concert halls and resorts. Her bluesy renderings add yet another dimension to Co-op's already diverse offerings.

Members

Tyler Dempsy

Instruments

Links

Alan Gaumer

Instruments

Links

Nelson Hill

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Tom Kozic

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Craig Kastelnik

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Tom Hamilton

Instruments

Links

Guest Vocalists

Pam (Flaherty) Kastelnik

Robin Bryan