Brass Transit Authority

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Peter - Denny - John - Scott - Dennis - Greg - Chris - Matt - Rob


Greetings from one of the most exciting bands on the scene in Eastern Iowa!
B.T.A. consists of nine of the area's finest musicians, bringing you the music of CHICAGO, BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS, STEVIE WONDER and many others. Please feel free to browse our website. Thanks for visiting!

CLICK HERE to view our complete performance schedule. Updated on 7-22-23

CLICK HERE to view the March 2015 issue of the LCBS newsletter, which includes a review of BTA's show at the CR Library.



Meet the Band
Rob Wallace (Vocals, Percussion) - Rob Wallace has extensive experience as a lead vocalist on the eastern Iowa music scene for over 20 years, and has fronted several popular eastern Iowa bands including Stranded in Iowa, Jampact, The Toys and Strange Exchange. Rob lived in Los Angeles in the mid 80's, fronting vocals for an aspiring L.A. rock band to a record contract. In the early 90's Rob made his way to Nashville, recording background vocals for several studios and recording his original songs with several Nashville up and coming artists including back up band members for veterans Susie Bogus and Wynonna Judd. Rob will bring his distinctive vocal talents to sing the rock, country and R&B songs people want to hear and dance to in eastern Iowa.
Peter Hart (Saxophones, Flute) - Peter Hart holds a Bachelor's degree in Saxophone Performance from The University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Master's degree in Saxophone Performance from the Eastman School of Music. He also holds a degree in band instrument repair from Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical in Red Wing, Minnesota. For three years, Peter had the opportunity to play for many touring shows while working as a musician on the S.S. Norway cruise ship. While on land he has worked with many eminent artists as well, backing up the likes of Ray Charles, Louie Bellson, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Fifth Dimension, Diahann Carroll, Vic Damone, Clark Terry and many others. He has also worked in the pit orchestras of many touring broadway shows such as Grease, A Chorus Line, Chicago, Grand Hotel and more. He currently repairs band instruments for West Music in Marion and loves to perform any chance he gets.
Scott Vogelgesang (Trumpet, Flugelhorn) - A native of Minnesota, Scott moved to Iowa City in 1995 from Washington D.C. after a stint in the United States Army. He studied trumpet and played in the jazz band, concert band, subbed in the orchestra, a jazz quintet and played polka gigs on the weekends at the University of Minnesota in Duluth. Scott works at the University of Iowa and performs with several ensembles in eastern Iowa including: Motherlode, The Iowa Vanguard Jazz Collective, Sunday Evening Brass Quintet, the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra, New Venue Big Band and Brass Transit Authority.
Greg Young (Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Trombone, Vocals) - Greg Young has been playing brass instruments for over 40 years. Starting on the trombone in 5th grade like everyone else (right?), he picked up the other horns along the way, adding trumpet, valve trombone, baritone, euphonium and french horn in high school, and tuba in college as a member of the Hawkeye Marching Band sousaphone section. Over the years, he has had the good fortune to back some prominent musicians and bands, including Clark Terry, Steve Turre, The Buckinghams and Sonny Geraci, and has played with local bands The Fez, The Salsa Band, Salsa Vibe, Jif and the Choosy Mothers, The Iowa Vanguard Jazz Collective, The New Venue Big Band and The Cedar Rapids Municipal Band.
Deron Jimmerson (Trombone) - Deron Jimmerson has been a high school and middle school band director in Iowa and Minnesota for over 25 years, spending the majority of his career as director of bands at Waseca (MN) High School and Cedar Rapids Prairie (IA) High School. Currently, he teaches 7th Grade Band and 7-8 lessons at Prairie Point Middle School. He grew up in Manson, IA (with his father as his high school band director), and received his undergraduate degree from Simpson College. Deron previously was lead trombone with the Southern MN Real Big Band, performs as a regular sub with the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band and CR Jazz Big Band, and is active as an accompanist in the area.
Denny Redmond (Keyboards) - Denny received his Bachelor's degree in Music Composition and Theory from Coe College in 1976 and his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting from Coe in 1988. His musical career started in high school with a band called Change of Pace in 1968 and spent a good portion of his formative years playing at a bar called Polly's Penthouse. He played with Gage Memorial, a nine-piece brass band, from 1972 to 1974 and with Websterjon from 1974-1976. Then, on a full time basis, he played with Source until late 1978. He is currently a partner/principal in the CPA firm Latta, Harris, Hanon & Penningroth, LLP, and plays on a regular basis with The C.R. Jazz Big Band, Soul Scarifice and B.T.A. - Brass Transit Authority, a Chicago/Blood Sweat & Tears tribute band.
John Reasoner (Guitar) - Growing up in Washington D.C., John started playing trumpet, keyboard and guitar in bands at the age of 12. At 16, he moved to Iowa and later attended the University of Iowa where he studied music and art. During this time, he ran the recording studios for the music department and performed with the University of Iowa jazz bands. From there, John hit the road for the next seven years, touring the country with various groups (Cabala, MeanStreet and the Hell Horns, Gambler, Express and many others). In 1985, John established School House Studios, where he began producing music scores and multimedia content. In 1994 he joined CMF&Z Ad Agency where he continued producing music and multimedia content.
Christopher Bird (Bass, Vocals) - Christopher Bird teaches band at Harding Middle School, and tuba and euphonium at Coe College in Cedar Rapids. He plays in several ensembles around eastern Iowa including: Brass Transit Authority, Motherlode, Electric Mule, Holiday Road, The Eastern Iowa Brass Band, The Iowa Vanguard Jazz Collective and The Cedar Rapids Municipal Band. A native of western Pennsylvania, he received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and his Master's Degree in Tuba Performance from Penn State University. Chris has performed in numerous and varied rock and jazz projects over the past 30 years. He has backed up many prominent artists including The Fifth Dimension, Eartha Kitt, Bob Mintzer, Marvin Stamm, Steve Houghton and Gary Burton. Truly dedicated to the concept of "In the pocket groove", Bird delivers a bottom that can still be felt well after the gig is over. After all, isn't that what it's all about anyway?
Dennis McPartland (Drums, Vocals) - Dennis is a percussion specialist in drum set performance and jazz history, and has been involved in music since 1967 when he played his first professional job. He made an appearance at the 1977 Notre Dame Jazz Festival and then headed to Los Angeles, where he lived and performed until 1980. His performance credits include Steve Allen, Richie Cole, Duffy Jackson, Warren Hill, Mike Metheny, Bobby Watson, Louie Bellson, and Joe Lovano. Since returning to Iowa in 1980, he has been performing with The Daugherty-McPartland Group, Craig Erickson and his own groups. He toured Mexico in 1988 and was chosen as a cultural ambassador for the state of Iowa to Russia in 1991. He performed at the I.A.J.E. jazz conference in New Orleans in 2000. Dennis released his own solo project, "Off the Beaten Path", in Spring 2000. In addition to performing, Dennis provides in-depth drum set study and jazz history instruction for both students and band directors. He is also the director of a music program for the Iowa Arts Council entitled "Schoolhouse Jazz". Dennis is the percussion instructor at Kirkwood Community College and Indian Hills College. He has also taught at the University of Iowa and Cornell College. Dennis has a BA in Sociology, with a Minor in Music, and an MA in Music from the University of Iowa.

Performance Schedule

AUGUST
Wednesday9thMusic on Main in Solon, IA--------------7:00 to 8:30


Song List
Saturday in the ParkChicago
Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?Chicago
Feelin' Stronger Every DayChicago
BeginningsChicago
Make Me Smile/ Now More than EverChicago
Call On MeChicago
Colour My WorldChicago
Old DaysChicago
FreeChicago
If You Leave Me NowChicago
I'm A ManChicago
Dialogue (Parts One and Two)Chicago
IntroductionChicago
Just You 'N' MeChicago
Baby What a Big SurpriseChicago
ListenChicago
Questions 67 and 68Chicago
25 or 6 to 4Chicago
Spinning WheelBlood, Sweat & Tears
You've Made Me So Very HappyBlood, Sweat & Tears
Lucretia Mac EvilBlood, Sweat & Tears
God Bless the ChildBlood, Sweat & Tears
And When I DieBlood, Sweat & Tears
Sometimes in WinterBlood, Sweat & Tears
DominoVan Morrison
Wild NightVan Morrison
MoondanceVan Morrison
VehicleThe Ides of March
I Want A New DrugHuey Lewis and the News
The Power of LoveHuey Lewis and the News
Take Me to the RiverThe Memphis Horns
I Missed AgainPhil Collins
Tenth Avenue Freeze-OutBruce Springsteen
One Fine MorningLighthouse
You Are the Best ThingRay LaMontagne
Sir DukeStevie Wonder
SuperstitionStevie Wonder
Signed, Sealed, DeliveredStevie Wonder
I Got You (I Feel Good)James Brown
Soul ManThe Blues Brothers
Sweet Home ChicagoThe Blues Brothers
My Old SchoolSteely Dan
Dirty WorkSteely Dan
Holding Back the YearsSimply Red
Feelin' AlrightTraffic/ Joe Cocker



Links to area venues with live music:
Checkers Tavern Cocktails & Company Parlor City The Sanctuary
The Mill Iowa City Yacht Club Gabe's Oasis The Union Bar
Englert Theatre White Star Alehouse Bricks The Famous Mockingbird
Paramount Theatre U.S. Cellular Center Fireside Winery Bushwood Sports Bar & Grill
Chrome Horse Tailgator's Cedar River Landing Bobbers
Aces & Eights Saloon Java Creek Cafe Home Run Sports Bar Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar
Gilligan's Rumors Scooters Tornados
DanceMor Ballroom J.M. O'Malley's Sag Wagon Sammy's Lounge
Wild Hogs Saloon Trumpet Blossom Cafe Opus Concert Cafe Jersey's Pub & Grub
CSPS Odie's Bar & Grill Beaver Creek Saloon Blue Moose Tap House
Shuey's Hawk Lounge Fieldhouse South West Silver Star Saloon
Lion Bridge Brewery Cooters Gus' J & A Tap
Throttle Down Millstream Brewing Cedar Ridge Winery First Avenue Club
Big Grove Brewery Longbranch Hotel Shakespeare's Share Wine Lounge
Wildwood Saloon Q Dogs BBQ Sutliff Cider Village Meat Market & Cafe
Ramsey's Metro Market 3 Finger Saloon Motley Cow Mulligan's
McGrath Amphitheatre Rubies NewBo City Market GBPAC


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This site was last updated on July 22, 2023.