We are fortunate to have an wonderfully talented group of regular muscians.
Dick Goodwin – trumpet. Dick taught at the University of Texas for nine years prior to coming to The University of South Carolina in 1973. His compositions in virtually every idiom from jingle to opera, jazz band to orchestra, have been performed across the US and abroad. Dr. Goodwin is also active as a performer (fifteen foreign and numerous domestic tours with his Quintet), arranger, and recording studio producer with numerous albums, jingles, industrial shows and film sores to his credit. Dr. Goodwin is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at USC and is the 2001 recipient of the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award, the highest honor given by the state of South Carolina to an individual artist.
Doug Graham – clarinet. Doug hails from West Point, Mississippi, received two music degrees from The University of Texas, and taught in Texas and Louisiana before joining the University of South Carolina School of Music Faculty in 1975. Doug is a much sought after concert artist, jazz performer, studio musician and clinician and served for many years as principal clarinetist and regular soloist with the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra. He may be Carolina’s most valuable player.
Jim Hall – drums. Jim has taught percussion at The University of South Carolina for many years and has an incredibly wide range of performance and recording credits. He has been with the Ray Price Road show, the famous North Texas One O’clock Lab Band, the Dick Goodwin Quintet, the Palmetto Pans Steel Drum Band, the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber and Opera orchestras, and with such artists/acts as Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Marian McPartland, Barbara Eden, Billy Eckstine, Jimmy Dean, Anita Bryant and Rich Little. Perhaps he just can’t say no.
Bruce Clark – trombone. Bruce was born in Georgia, but grew up in Cheraw, SC. He studied music at the Universities of Tennessee and South Carolina, earning degrees in Commercial Music and Music Education. Bruce is active as a performer, arranger, conductor and clinician. He has performed with the SC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Columbia Lyric Opera, and the Augusta Opera and has played with dozens of top performers including Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Marian McPartland, Dizzy Gillespie, and Harry Connick, Jr. Bruce currently plays lead trombone with the Dick Goodwin Big Band.
Aletha Jacobs – keyboard and vocals. Aletha received a music degree in Jazz Studies at The University of South Carolina. She teaches piano at Columbia College with an emphasis on Jazz and Improv and also teaches Jazz Ensemble and Applied Jazz. Aletha has played professionally with bands and orchestras and has toured the Mediterranean and Central America, playing for the military troops. She has performed with John Pizzarelli, the Shirelles, the Drifters, and Freddy Cole among others. Aletha is the newest member of the Carolina Jazz Society’s band and, in addition to her keyboard talents, she delights CJS audiences with her vocals.
Dustin Retzlaff – bass. Dustin is a talented bass player and is involved with many types of music. Originally from Minnesota, he attended the University of Minnesota, Morris and in 2005, relocated to Columbia, SC to teach and perform music. He graduated with a Master of Music degree from the University of South Carolina in 2009, and is a doctoral candidate in jazz studies at the University of Northern Colorado.