In the Pocket Jazz Quartet

Jack Coleman-keys, Gary Johnson-drums, Jim Porcella vocals/percussion, and Donn Legge-guitar have come together to form this brand new exciting jazz quartet!  In the POCKET performs a diverse repertoire ranging from original compositions, down home blues, straight ahead jazz, funk, New Orleans, standards, and Brazilian jazz.

GARY JOHNSON

DRUMS

has been keeping time for 37 years with, among others Scott Hamilton, Dave McKenna, Ken Peplowski, Keely Smith and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

For four years, he traveled extensively with the Artie Shaw Orchestra under the direction of Dick Johnson. While touring, he accompanied artists such as Buddy DeFranco, Dizzy Gillespie, Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Laine. Helen Forest, Connie Haines and Ruby Braff.


 

JIM PORCELLA

VOCALS & PERCUSSION

Jim grew up in Medford MA, and started playing drums at the age of fourteen. While attending The Berklee School of Music in Boston he began performing around the New England area. Jim began a jazz vocal career and has recorded seven critically acclaimed CDs, performed in jazz and cabaret settings in the Northeast, London, San Francisco, The Virgin Islands, and Vancouver. Jim has recorded with Bob Cranshaw,Alan Dawson, Mike Renzi, Richie Cole, Harry Allen among others.

DONN LEGGE

GUITAR

Donn can be seen playing with Blues Train, South Coast Jazz Orchestra, Patrice Tiedmann’s Seaglass Theater, Dori Rubbicco, NB Rude Boys, and Kareem Sanjaghi on Cape Cod. While living in Miami Florida for a number of years Donn played with the “Miami Heat Band” in the late ‘80’s and also with Gogi Grant, Rich Little and Trini Lopez.Donn received his bachelor’s degree in music from Westfield State University ‘82 and a Masters in Jazz studies ‘85 from the University of Miami Fl. Donn accepted his first teaching job in Miami in ‘85 and taught full time music in public high schools until ‘00 when he and his family returned to Massachusetts. Donn continued teaching music in the public schools until his retirement last year.


 

JACK COLEMAN

KEYBOARDS & VOCALS

has been entertaining audiences in New England for over 40 years as a solo performer, playing and singing from Maine to New York. Jazz organ and piano are his first loves. Jack has also performed in Las Vegas.Los AngelesHe has also toured the country as a member of one of New England’s show bands,”the Continentals”As a composer Jack has written many original jazz compositions several are performed by “In the Pocket.”Jack also performs with Jim Porcella, a popular new England jazz singer, as well as performing at many Boston venues: Harvard Club of Boston, the Hotel Lenox and the Boston Harbor Hotel, as a solo pianist and also performed for many years with jazz singer Rebecca Parris, He performs at many town concerts, including Newton, Gloucester, and Hampton 


 

For more info contact Jim Porcella 617-233-4751 jimporcella@gmail.com