Songs for the Master

Trombonist Mark Witt studied at the University of North Texas then joined the Army in 1980. He was a soloist with the 76th Army Band until 1984, then secured a position as the second trombone player for the Stockton Symphony in 1985. After moving to Chicago in 1987, Mark played with many notable latin and jazz musicians, then on cruise ships for several years until he moved to the Phoenix area in the early ‘90s. He was a founding member of the Swingtips, a local group that recorded and toured extensively. He graduated from ASU in 1998 with a degree in music education. He currently works days as the band director for Granada East School in West Phoenix. Besides teaching, he keeps a busy schedule as musician playing a wide variety of music with many different bands and artists from stage to church and theater work. He has played with Ray Charles, Shirly Jones, Sherry Lewis, Mary Jones, Dick Clark, Jay Leno, Wayne Newton, Bill Watrous, Monte Procopio, CC Ryder Express, Power Drive, City Lights, and many others and currently with Carmela Ramirez y Más and the Superstition Jazz Orchestra. He also writes and arranges, some of which can be heard on Ghost Note Recording and Fervor Records.

Rob Wren started his music career growing up in So Cal, majoring in Trombone Performance at Cal State University Northridge, where he played lead and jazz trombone in the nationally acclaimed Jazz “A” band. After leaving CSUN, Rob embarked on a professional career that allowed him to share the stage and studio with many notable musicians, from legends such as Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, and Buddy Greco, to jazz greats Pete Christlieb, Wayne Bergeron, and Bill Cunliffe. 

In the 1990’s, Rob became Director of Multimedia Development for the leading music education publisher Alfred Music, for whom he developed a myriad of critically-acclaimed, best-selling CD-ROMs, DVDs, and other computer-based products.

Leaving Alfred in 2012, Rob shifted his focus back to performing and can be heard playing electric bass with numerous groups throughout Arizona. He is also currently Director of Music and Arts at Cross of Christ Church in Anthem, AZ.