The Sizzlin’ Jazz Apples Personnel

MARTI LUNN LANTZ [ Lead Vocals ]

Marti Lunn Lantz is a vocalist and pianist from the Poconos, PA, having sung for many years in the various resorts as well as playing piano for celebrity shows and now performs as a jazz vocalist at the DeerHead Inn ( the oldest continuously running jazz club in the country) along with her husband, David. She is a songwriter/composer and composed the movie score and played a small part in the movie The Instructor. Having written as well as recorded jingles and children’s songs, Marti has many published pieces for school chorus and is now co-owner of Lantz Choral Publications. Having sung many recording sessions for Alfred Music Company, she now records with her husband for their own publishing company.

DAVID LANTZ III [ Bass / Vocals ]

Dave Lantz III, bassist and vocalist for The Sizzlin’ Jazz Apples, is a professional bassist, pianist, and vocalist, with a vast amount of playing experience in the pop, rock, and jazz idioms. Prior to many years of freelancing as a musician, he led his own house band in the Pocono Mountains, where he played for many name entertainers, backing Joan Rivers, Soupy Sales, Henny Youngman, Eddie Fisher, Jack Carter, Bobby Rydell and many others. His band also provided a variety of listening and dance music for thousands of patrons at clubs, as well as guests at parties and weddings. More recently, he has been a freelance musician, playing piano, upright bass, electric bass and singing with a great many different and talented musicians. He has played mainly in the tri-state area, and these days plays mostly in Scranton/Wilke-Barre, Bethlehem/Allentown, and Pocono Mountains areas, with occasional appearances in New York. He and his wife play appear regularly at the Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA. The Deer Head Inn is the oldest continually running jazz club in the United States. 

In addition to playing professionally, Dave has had a successful full-time teaching career in public school music for 31+ years, and currently co-owns and operates his own publishing company, Lantz Choral Publications, a small and active publisher of choral and instrumental music. As an arranger and composer, he is published with many other well-known music publishers as well. 

His formal education included a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Susquehanna University and a Master of Music degree in Composition from West Chester University. 

DANIEL GONZALEZ [ drums / percussion ]

Daniel Gonzalez started performing on the local scene in Honolulu, Hawaii, during the early 90s while stationed with the 25th ID Army band. He moved on to study at UNLV, then Mercy University, while performing and teaching in NYC until he was deployed to Iraq in 2004. Upon his return, Daniel moved to the Poconos and holds a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance. Endorsed with Bucks County Drums and Red Cymbals of Australia, Daniel enjoys a rich performance schedule. Daniel recorded with Mark Murphy, Tom Harrel, John Benitez, Norbert Stachel, Lonnie Plaxico, Edsel Gomez, and other greats. Currently, he performs with LehCats (NYC), Labex Funk Project (Philly), and Joe Orrach (SF Bay Area). Daniel performs at regional Jazz Festivals yearly and enjoys performing/recording with noted artists locally and abroad. While not gigging, he teaches private lessons at Community Music School in Allenton. Daniel is a committee member for Lehigh Valley’s Ice House Jazz initiative that curates jazz and improvisation. Still, Daniel performs weekly at Resurrected Life Church in Allentown. Staying busy, Daniel believes that “when you feel good, you sound good.”
www.drumiel.com

JESSE GREEN [ piano / keyboards ]

Jesse Green (born in 1971) is an American professional jazz pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and teacher. He is the son of ex-big band singer Kathy Preston and acclaimed Jazz trombonist Urbie Green.

At the early age of 17, Jesse won the National Downbeat Student Award for “best extended composition and arrangement” with his original “Half & Half”. In 1992, Jesse recorded his debut CD “LIFT OFF” for Chiaroscuro Records with Paul Rostock on bass, Bobby Durham on drums, and featured guest Joe Cohn on guitar. In June 1995, Jesse’s second CD “SEA JOURNEY” was released, also by Chiaroscuro Records. This was a live recording on the S.S. Norway and included Jackie Williams on drums, Michael Moore on bass, and distinguished guest Gary Burton on vibes. May 1995, Jesse appeared with the Urbie Green Quintet on the Royal Caribbean “Majesty of the Seas”. This was a special honor for Jesse in that the jazz cruise was dedicated to his idol, Oscar Peterson, who performed with his trio as well. On this cruise, Chiaroscuro did a live recording of the Urbie Green Quintet, and the CD “SEA JAM BLUES” was released in 1997. With his own trio, he has appeared at the famous DeerHead Inn in (Delaware Water Gap, PA), Smalls Jazz Club (NYC), Mezzrow Jazz Club (NYC), Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis, IN) and many others world-wide.

In 1998 Jesse took 1st place at the American Pianist Association’s Fourth Biennial Jazz Piano Competition in Indianapolis, IN. As a result, he was named the first Jazz Fellow of the American Pianist Association. In July 2000, Jesse was asked by Hillary Clinton to perform at the United States Day in the United Kingdom’s Millennium Dome as a member of a U.S. delegation presented by the White House Millennium Council.

In May 2001, Jesse was contracted to record his third CD for Chiaroscuro Records (the distinguished jazz record label who originally signed him in 1992). The new CD “SYLVAN TREASURE” features six of Jesse’s compositions, four of which were written and performed by three of the finest jazz saxophonists around today, Phil Woods, Dave Liebman and Chris Potter.

In 2002, Jesse was honored with being selected 4th in the entire world in the largest jazz piano competition – the Martial Solal Jazz Piano Competition held in Paris, France. And in 2007, Jesse won 1st place in The Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida.

In 2010, Jesse was added to the ranks of some of the highest esteemed jazz pianists when he was asked to appear as a guest on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” series on NPR. The entire show can be heard here < NPR Piano Jazz Jesse Green >

In addition to being a proud member of the Sizzlin’ Jazz Apples, Jesse has performed and/or recorded with David Liebman, Bobby Durham, Bobby Caldwell, Danny Walsh, Kim Parker, Phil Woods, Freddie Hubbard, Viktorija Gecyte, Chris Potter, Gary Burton, David “Fathead” Newman, Bruce Cox, Joe Locke, Bill Watrous, Gene Bertoncini, Clark Terry, Urbie Green, Joe Cohn, Al Cohn, Frank Hauch, Dave Tofani, Gene Perla, Rudy Royston, Evan Gregor, Jerad Lippi, Steve LaSpina, Paul Rostock, Lou Marini, Lew Tabackin, Al Grey, Benny Carter, Jimmy Heath and many others.

Currently, Jesse Green remains one of the most sought-after jazz pianists and vocal accompanists in the NY, NJ, PA Tri-State area. He holds a monthly residency at Mezzrow Jazz Club in New York City where he can be seen with his trio. When not performing or recording, he enjoys his two beautiful daughters as they continue to blossom with promising talents as he remains extremely involved as a recording engineer, producer, teacher (advanced jazz theory, harmony and ear training), vocal accompanist, composer and arranger.

Partial Discography (as leader):
Lift Off (Chiaroscuro Records) 1992
Sea Journey (Chiaroscuro Records) 1993
Sylvan Treasure (Chiaroscuro Records) 2002
Both Sides Now (Green Beat Records) 2022