HomeSlice Is:

Jon Benson – Trumpet/Backup Vocals

Jon has played trumpet for 14 years. During high school, Jon received numerous awards and participated in the Colorado All-State band both his junior and senior years. Upon graduation, he relocated to Concord, California and performed with the prestigious Blue Devils drum corps. Jon performed on trumpet for the 2001-2002 seasons, and became drum major for the 2003 DCI World Championship season. Shortly afterwards, he participated in the Okayama Music Festival in Okayama, Japan. Since relocating back in Colorado, Jon has joined HomeSlice, and spends his summers working at Legacy High School, where he is commissioned for brass instruction and marching technique. Jon continues his education at the University of Colorado, where he is studying mechanical engineering.

Peter Benson – Bass/Backup Vocals

Peter Benson is HomeSlice’s bass player extraordinaire. Playing the Denver music scene for almost 10 years, Peter is often well-recognized and praised as one of the best bassists around. Often complimented on the large size of his instrument (upright bass) and his huge talent, Peter enjoys the opportunity to show off that beautiful bass on some of the swing and blues tunes. His journey as a bassist began in jazz groups and his quick talent for the complicated basslines quickly moved him on to play with the nationally acclaimed UCD Claimjumpers while also playing through the years with local swing/blues bands Three Shades of Blue, The Sidewinders, Swing West and Harmonica Loowinski. Peter, along with two other band members, became one of the “founding fathers” of HomeSlice, wanting to combine his jazz/blues experience with a “funked up” sound. His slappin’, body shakin’ bass licks keep you on your feet the whole night through.

John Evans – Saxophone/Guitar/Backup Vocals

John started playing saxophone when he was only ten years old. Now at age 28, John is a high school physics teacher by day, but admits that saxophone is his connection to sanity. He attributes his love of music to his father, also a musician and teacher. There are many musical influences in John’s life including Eric Clapton and Lenny Picket. He is extremely proud to play in and have helped form the band HomeSlice, yet has fond memories of the road leading to this point. In recent years, John has played with many Denver local groups including The Groove Hawgs, The Erica Brown Band, Joanna Connors Band, Funk-in-A, Sol-Fed-Joe, and many others. John is an experienced saxophonist that is simply exciting to watch. He may also be the only saxophonist in Colorado to have landed a double front flip on a snowboard.

Steve Franklin – Guitar/Vocals/Trumpet

Steve Franklin plays guitar and sings, (bustin’ a few notes on the tuba) and sits in with the fellow horn dawgs occasionally playing the cornet which completes the horn section.

Fred Garlington – Lead Trumpet/Backup Vocals

Fred’s career in music began at the ripe old age of 4 when he first learned the tune “Cruella DeVille” by ear on a plastic trumpet his parents had given him. He started taking piano lessons at 6, picked up his first real trumpet at the age of 8, and began studying jazz at 11. Fred’s love affair with high notes began when he first heard a recording of Jon Faddis at the age of 15. Fred was selected as a member of both the inaugural Colorado All-Star Band in 1997 and the Colorado All-State Jazz Band in 1998. Fred graduated from the University of Colorado in 2002 where he studied jazz and lead trumpet under Dr. John Davis in Jazz Ensemble I and recorded several tracks, including the definitive recordings of several Glenn Miller originals discovered in CU’s music vaults. He has played with the likes of Dave Grusin, Arturo Sandoval, The Air Force Falconaires, Byron Stripling, Nelson Rangell and many others.

Kenny Saccomanto – Keyboards

Pianists are intellectuals and know-it-alls. They studied theory, harmony and composition in college. Most are riddled with self-doubt. They are usually bald. They should have big hands, but often don’t. They were social rejects as adolescents. They go home after the gig and play with toy soldiers. Pianists have a special love-hate relationship with singers. If you talk to the piano player during a break, he will condescend, as long as you pay them.

Trygve Schneider – Drums

Trygve is a Denver native and grew up listening to such drumming legends as Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, Keith Moon, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, and Dennis Chambers. He draws influences from each, incorporating them into his rockin’ high energy funk, and jazzy style of playing. As early as age 8, Trygve had an interest in playing drums and began jamming out on a junior drum kit he got for Christmas one year. He was so excited to learn how to play, he spent day and night listening to records, watching music videos, and copying what the drummers were doing. By Age 13 he had earned enough working odd jobs to buy his first pro kit, a Ludwig 4 piece, from a local drum store in Denver. He started jamming out with some friends shortly there after in High School, and the rest is history. While attending the University of Colorado, He studied under world renowned percussionist William Hill of the Colorado Symphony, and earned a B.S. degree in Music in 2001. He earned several Scholarship awards from the Denver Jazz Society, and has played in various Jazz ensembles and groups throughout Colorado since 1998. He has performed in the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee 3 years in a row, one of the country’s largest Jazz festivals. In 2002, he was awarded a fellowship grant to travel to the Moscow Conservatory of Music and perform in front of a sold out crowd. Soon after, he was to perform in various jazz clubs around Moscow, playing American jazz music to a more than enthusiastic crowd. Trygve is also one of the “founding fathers” of HomeSlice.

Brent Smith – Trombone/Backup Vocals

With the most frequent flyer miles in the band, Brent’s current batting average is .301 (right handed) .186 (left handed) and co-leads the team for the single season record for the most appearances in the league. Recently when asked during a local radio interview about the worst advice given to him, his reply was “I don’t know about bad advice, but I’ve been given bad directions….. no seriously, one time a friend of mine said, ‘it’s okay to only eat the green ones’.” Brent plays trombone and sings, also attended the University of Colorado, ironically with Steve Franklin. Majored in Heavy Metal (as a tuba player) and music – Brent is the designated “on call” bullpen tuba player in case of injury to Steve, our starting pitcher.

Diana Wood – Vocals

As lead vocalist for Homeslice, this versatile and talented performer brings a wealth of energy and enthusiasm to the stage. Since the beginning of her musical journey in the early 80’s, she has performed with many well-known locally based groups such as The Diana Wood Band, DKO, Hot Lunch and Charm School Dropouts; and has worked for national acts such as Earth, Wind and Fire, The Everly Brothers, Taylor Dayne and Exposé. A seasoned veteran to large audiences, she has performed for the Colorado Rockies, the Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos and the Air Force Academy. Her unwavering passion for music and singing is evident in the excitement and energy of her live performances. A reformed Navy brat and pseudo-native of Colorado, she currently resides in Highlands Ranch, with her husband and son.