AL CHEZ and THE BROTHERS OF FUNK BIG BAND

Alan Chez joined the CBS Orchestra on Feb. 3, 1997, after years of sitting in on trumpet and flugelhorn, with Paul Shaffer on "Late Night with David Letterman" and the LATE SHOW. Chez started his extensive music career at the age of 9 when he joined his father's local drum corps, the Saints. He went on to join the Garfield Cadets and, in 1979, joined forces with Jon Bon Jovi to create the band the Atlantic City Expressway, which played New Jersey shore clubs for five years. Chez still donates his time to drum-corps activity and also conducts brass music clinics throughout the country. He first met Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra's Will Lee at a club in New York in 1986 and was asked to tour with Shaffer's band. As the World's Most Dangerous Band, they performed at such venues as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and Summerfest in Wisconsin. Chez has also played with such artists as Tower of Power, Robert Cray Band, Spyro Gyra and Bon Jovi. He has performed at such events as the Presidential Inauguration, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, John Lennon's 50th birthday celebration, the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games Closing Ceremonies, the Concert of the Century, the Concert for New York and the Very Special Christmas Concert. Alan's newly formed band, "Al Chez & The Brothers of Funk Big Band," a big band with big horn sound consisting of over 15 players, recently played the Syracuse Jazz Festival in 2009. They return by popular demand in 2011.

Chez was born in Jersey City, N.J., on July 7. He and his wife, Cat, six kids, four dogs and two cats, continue to live in the great state of New Jersey