The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp
Representing The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp has been active for almost two decades, performing traditional jazz and folk music of Louisiana in support of recruiting and community outreach initiatives throughout our nation.
Roster
MSG Regan Brough
bass
bass
MSG Regan Brough
Orem, UT
Group: The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp
Joined the Band: 2006
Alum: Brigham Young University / George Mason University
MSG Regan Brough began playing electric bass at age eleven for his family steel band, Pan Jam. The son of a university percussion professor, Brough was exposed to many genres of world music and ethnic music in his early years. As a teenager, Brough received several outstanding soloist awards culminating at the 2005 International Society of Bassists Convention where he was awarded second place in the Jazz Solo Division. Soon thereafter he graduated from Brigham Young University magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in bass performance. In 2006 he became the bassist for the premiere jazz ensemble of the US Army, The U.S. Army Blues. Regan has performed with artists such as Tim Hagans, Terell Stafford, Tim Warfield, John Clayton, Bill Watrous, Dick Nash, Buddy Baker, and Conrad Herwig, among others. Brough continues to perform actively in the Washington, D.C., area and can often be heard with the Alan Baylock Big Band, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, and the Capitol Bones.
SFC Michael Kramer
guitar
guitar
SFC Michael Kramer
Germantown, MD
Group: The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp
Joined the Band: 2014
Alum: University of Maryland
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in nearby Germantown, MD, guitarist, SFC Michael Kramer, can truly be called a “local boy.” At age sixteen, he landed his first steady ‘gig’ playing guitar at Café Mileto, a neighborhood restaurant where he had previously bussed tables. For two years, he played solo guitar there every Friday and Saturday night, honing his skills for his music future. Following high school, Kramer headed off to the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, where he earned a bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in Jazz Studies in 2011. While there, he studied under guitarist, Gerry Kunkel. Throughout college and following graduation, Kramer was an active freelance musician in the Washington, D.C., jazz scene playing in venues such as An Die Musik in Baltimore and DC’s Atlas Theater. As a sideman, he had the good fortune of performing with jazz greats such as Ted Brown, Lee Konitz, and Joe Chambers. In 2012, Kramer enlisted as a musician in the United States Navy and was assigned to the Navy’s musical organization of the Pacific Northwest, Navy Band Northwest at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, in Silverdale, WA. During his fourteen months with that unit, he was a regularly featured soloist and upon his departure was recognized as the band's Staff Arranger. While there, Kramer auditioned for The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” He feels fortunate to have won the position and transfer services to the seat he currently holds today in The U.S Army Blues. With "The Blues" he has performed with jazz greats such as trombonist Wycliff Gordon. When not performing with "The Blues," Kramer remains an active musician on the D.C. jazz scene and is an educator at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA, where he holds a position on the adjunct Applied Music faculty in jazz guitar.
SFC Luke Brimhall
trombone
trombone
SFC Luke Brimhall
Valrico, FL
Group: The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp
Joined the Band: 2017
Alum: University of North Florida / University of North Texas
SFC Luke Brimhall first joined the United States Army in 2012 serving as trombonist with the Jazz Ambassadors of The U.S. Army Field Band. After spending 5 years with the Field Band, Brimhall joined The U.S. Army Blues in 2017. Aside from serving in the U.S. Army, Brimhall is also a freelance musician in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. areas.
Throughout his career, he has enjoyed the privilege of sharing the stage with a number of prominent jazz musicians as well as sharing his talents and instruction with aspiring musicians. Brimhall holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas.
SFC Dustin Mollick
saxophone
saxophone
SFC Dustin Mollick
Cape St Claire, MD
Group: The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp
Joined the Band: 2018
Alum: George Mason University / University of North Texas
SFC Dustin Mollick is a professional saxophonist, composer, and educator as well as a graphic designer and illustrator. Mollick earned a bachelor's degree in jazz performance from George Mason University where he studied with Jim Carroll and Rick Parrell - both former members of "Pershing's Own." He went on to pursue a masters in jazz performance from the University of North Texas where he served as a Teaching Fellow and studied with Bradford Leali. As a member of the One O'Clock Lab Band he performed internationally and collaborated with Tim Ries, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ravi Coltrane, Terrell Stafford, and Darcy James Argue. While at UNT, Mollick won Downbeat Student Music Awards for “Best Small Jazz Group" as a member of “The Unstablemates,” and “Best College Jazz Ensemble” under the direction of Jay Saunders as a member of the Two O'Clock Lab Band.
As a published visual artist, Mollick has been commissioned to create everything from album artwork and pet portraits to comic books and animation cartoons.
He first joined the Army in 2012 as baritone saxophonist for the Jazz Ambassadors before joining the U.S. Army Blues in 2018.
SFC Christopher Burbank
trumpet
trumpet
SFC Christopher Burbank
Bedford, NH
Group: The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp
Joined the Band: 2020
Alum: University of New Hampshire / The Juilliard School / Frost School of Music at the University of Miami
SSG Christopher Burbank, a native of Bedford, NH, earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of New Hampshire, a Masters of Music degree in Jazz Studies at the Juilliard School, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Burbank has had the privilege of studying with Brian Lynch, Eddie Henderson, Terence Blanchard, and Clark Terry.
While pursuing his master’s degree at the Juilliard School, Burbank was active on the New York City jazz scene, performing as both a sideman and a leader at such venues as Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club and Smalls Jazz Club. He represented the Frost School of Music at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival. In 2014, he was selected as a semifinalist for the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition in Los Angeles, CA.
Burbank was a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Band from 2015 to 2021. In January of 2020, he was selected for assignment to the U.S. Army Blues. Burbank has been a member of the U.S. Army Blues and The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” since August of 2021.
SSG Eric Pers
drum set
drum set
SSG Eric Pers
Longmeadow,, MA
Group: The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp
Joined the Band: 2017
Alum: University of North Texas
Eric Tapper Pers has been playing drums since age 13. Pers attended the University of North Texas’s prestigious Jazz Studies program where he studied under the tutelage of master educator Ed Soph. At the University of North Texas, Pers was a member of the multi-Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band and received the award for Outstanding Undergraduate in Percussion. Upon graduation, Pers moved to Anaheim, California, where he was a member of the 2017 All-American College Band at Disneyland. He performed for over one million people over the course of the summer and has attended masterclasses led by some of the most in-demand and successful musicians in the country. Immediately after his work at Disneyland ended, he won the audition for the position of drummer for The U.S. Army’s premier jazz ensemble, The U.S. Army Blues. Upon arriving at Ft. Myer, he was the youngest member in The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” He has been living in the Washington, D.C., area since2018.
SSG James Collins
piano
piano
SSG James Collins
Philadelphia, PA
Group: The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp
Joined the Band: 2017
Alum: Temple University
SSG Collins is a Philly-Bred, Washington D.C. based pianist and organist. Collins received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Temple University, where he had the privilege of studying with masters such as Terell Stafford, Bruce Barth, Dick Oatts, Elio Villafranca and many more. Collins regularly performs between his hometown of Philadelphia and Washington D.C. In his travels, Collins has played with the likes of Steve Wilson, Victor Lewis, Rodney Green, Eddie Daniels, Ben Allison, David Wong, and Scott Tixier. Collins takes joy in performing a versatile array of jazz styles, from 1940s swing to the modern jazz of today.
SSG Daniel Dickinson
saxophone
saxophone
SSG Daniel Dickinson
Jacksonville, FL
Group: The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp
Joined the Band: 2022
Alum: University of North Florida / Manhattan School of Music
Having been raised in a family of musicians, SSG Dickinson's choice to enter a musical field required no second thought. From the age of ten, Dickinson has devoted himself to the craft of performing as a multi-reed instrumentalist. He has performed with GRAMMY-award-winning artists and household names in jazz such as Ulysses Owens, Jr., Kurt Elling, Reuben Rogers, Christian Sands, Michael Dease and many others. In 2014, he recorded his jazz debut album, produced by Ulysses Owens, Jr., featuring his own compositions and arrangements of standard jazz repertoire, enjoying international publication and the #2 spot on CMJ, and placement on the ballots for the GRAMMY awards. A year later, Dickinson was featured on Carter Calvert's album entitled "It's a Man's World" as both arranger and saxophonist for the Broadway star's second highly acclaimed jazz release. Other artists featured include Laurence Hobgood, Marco Panascia and Joel Frahm. In 2018, Dickinson was selected to participate in the Metropole Orchestra’s arranging workshop, where he had the pleasure of writing for the esteemed Holland-based ensemble under the guidance of Vince Mendoza.
Dickinson is now a frequent contributor to the music scene in the D.C. area, and a proud member of The Army Blues.
Learn More
Representing The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” The U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp has been active for almost two decades, performing traditional jazz and folk music of Louisiana in support of recruiting and community outreach initiatives throughout our nation. Past performances include national broadcasts on ESPN, Emeril Live, and WWOZ’s renowned New Orleans Music Show. In addition, the Swamp Romp has supported vital volunteer efforts, including America’s Gulf Coast rebuilding operations implemented after Hurricane Katrina’s devastating impact.
As with each group within The U.S. Army Band, the Soldiers of Swamp Romp are deeply committed to education as part of their mission. The Swamp Romp regularly presents concerts and clinics in public schools and at major universities, promoting the proven cross benefits between childhood music participation and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Through the years, there has only been one constant: no two Swamp Romp performances have EVER been the same. Improvisation, audience interaction, humor, joy, and audacity all combine to create a musical gumbo unique to each occasion. In performances, all musicians, even those without jazz experience, are enthusiastically encouraged to collaborate with these Soldiers through impromptu jam sessions, looking away from the printed page whenever possible. Magic happens when friends join together for bold, unplanned musical journeys. This live recording captures the spontaneity, camaraderie, and jubilance of this unique ensemble’s onstage performances.
