Fusion Jazz Trio

Providing you with the very best in music

The Musicians of FJT

What makes a band great...the musicians.  Fusion Jazz Trio has managed to bring together some of the most talented musicians in the tri-state area.  They each have their own unique style and that makes any Fusion night a great night!  These are some of the musicians that play with Fusion on a regular basis and their profiles.

Vern Mobley - Owner/Business Director/Drummer




Vern is a drummer at heart who has been playing for nearly 3 decades. During that time he has worked tirelessly to craft an unmistakable drumming style and talents unrivaled in the Lehigh Valley.  Often playing multiple rhythmic patterns while playing additional percussion instruments, Vern's sound often gives the illusion of multiple drummers/percussionists playing the drum kit simultaneously.

 

His roots are of Gospel and his skills carefully cultivated while playing in church with his father (organist) and his brother (bassist & guitarist).  Both his understanding of music at a young age and demonstrated virtuosity made him a requested musician of local Philadelphia and tri-state area churches, as well as Gospel singing groups and choirs.  His elevated skill level won him an invitation to play alongside other talented musicians at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia at the age of 11.

 

Longing for the opportunity to further use some of his talents and share his extensive musical knowledge with jazz aficionados, Vern organized Fusion Jazz Trio.  Since 2002 his labor of joy has been to make Fusion a recognizable name throughout the Lehigh Valley.  Though Vern's primary focus is Fusion, he still finds time to play with many local artists and musicians such as Barry Sames, Will Brock (Gerald Veasley), Mike Krisukas (Zen for Primates), Ian Holmes(American Idol), Jonny Charles & the Straight 8 Blues Kings, Eric Miller (Eric Miller All -Star Band) and a host of others.

 

Brian Bortz - Bassist


Brian has been playing bass and guitar professionally for over 30 years.  His professional credits include: orchestra bassist for George Burns, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Regis Philbin, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Dennis Miller, the Broadway touring cast of Grease, and a host of others.   He toured the US, Canada and Caribbean in the early 1980's, honing his skills as a versatile and energetic player.  Brian has played most musical styles, from Rock to Reggae, Funk to Fusion, Country to Classical, Broadway, Jazz, Latin and a few other ethnic styles thrown in (including Polkas!).  He has numerous recording credits and currently can be heard around the Lehigh Valley playing in Fusion Jazz Trio, and also all around the Delaware Valley in the 11-piece dance band, James Gerard Orchestra.

 

Brian counts as the greatest privilege among all these to be a worship leader for the past 8 years at New Covenant Christian Community Church in Bethlehem.  Brian has worked with Ian Homes and the Holmes Family, The Praise Project, and other worship settings around the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County.   He has also been an instructor/clinician at the national worship conference of the United Methodist Church's Aldersgate Renewal Center in Nashville, TN.

 

David Kinkaid - Pianist

 

David, a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, has performed in and around the Greater Philadelphia, Reading and Harrisburg areas for more than 2 decades.  His quiet demeanor is quite the contrast to his bold, inventive expression when he plays.  Dave’s vast vocabulary of musical styles allows him to intertwine familiar melodies within any song.  He has toured from Las Vegas to Key West to California, as well as around the Northeast.

 

Musician Friends of FJT

 

Bob Edmond - Bassist

Bob is an accomplished musician who has spent many years playing, designing and physically making basses and other stringed instruments.  The ultimate perfectionist, he has carefully cultivated his craft to ensure that every cut (of wood or of riff) is done with precise accuracy.  Check out some of the sound clips of Bob and be sure not to miss him with FJT during Musikfet.

 

 

 

 

Ha-san Smith - Singer

Ha-san Smith is a native of Newark, NJ.  His musical foundation is of singer and song writer but his overall talent encompasses playwrite and comedian as well.  Internationally his musical audiences have stretched from Italy to Germany and Belgium.  In the US, his talents have allowed him to write, arrange and sing with and for artists of many major record labels including MCA Records and Bad Boy Records.  Though the lists of artists are many Ha-san is most proud of his work with the legendary George Benson.  Be sure to catch Ha-san as he joins FJT at Hotel Bethleh during Musikfest.

 

 

 

Neil Wetzel - Saxophone

Neil Wetzel is the saxophone instructor at Moravian College (Bethlehem, PA). His other duties include teaching jazz courses, directing the College’s big band and overseeing the jazz combo program. In addition, he is director of instrumental music at Moravian Academy, a private college preparatory school in Bethlehem.

He received a Bachelors of Music in Jazz, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he studied saxophone with Marshall Taylor. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Teacher’s College, Columbia University in Manhattan.

As founder and music director of Moravian College’s summer music camp, July Jazz Getaway, Mr. Wetzel has worked and played with many jazz greats including Clark Terry, Ellis Marsalis, Al Grey, Terrel Stafford, Jimmy Heath, Milt Grayson, Stanley Turrentine, and Bobby Watson. He is also director of Archbishop Ryan’s (Philadelphia, PA) summer jazz camp. He was the featured soloist with West Chester University Big Band at the 1999 West Chester High School Jazz Festival, and as judge, clinician and featured soloist at the Daniel Boone H.S. Sound Spectacular Jazz Band Festival 2000.

As a performer, he has backed many of the great performers in show business including: Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Bernadette Peters, Tommy Tune, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, the Temptations and the Four Tops. He has also played in all of the major theaters in Philadelphia, playing in the pit orchestras for shows such as Evita, Chicago, Cats, Titanic, Chorus Line, Crazy for You, Grand Hotel and many others.