Bedford Big Band

The Band : Rhythm Section

Left to right: Rob Barkan, Jo-Ann Gerde, Rick Busenbark, Bernie Campbell

Jo-Ann Gerde - Drums

A native of Gardner, MA now living in Jaffrey, NH, Jo-Ann began playing drums while in elementary school and hasn’t been able to stop. She plays in a variety of venues, including pit orchestra work in musicals and cabarets; several community bands including regular gigs with the Chelmsford, Narragansett, and Montague bands as well as the Ashby Band, and the Fitchburg Military Band. Jo-Ann also has played with Thayer Symphony Orchestra, the Marlborough Symphony and the Fitchburg State College concert and jazz bands. She played drums with the 17-piece Stardusters Orchestra for over 20 years, and although her love is big band, an as yet unfulfilled dream is to play in a Polka Band. Jo-Ann is a photographer, specializing in senior portraits, sports action, and pet portraits.

Bernie Campbell – Upright and Electric Bass

A resident of Manchester, Bernie began his musical career during his high school years in 1952. His career began as an acoustic bass (bass/violin) musician and took private lessons in classical music. He and other students formed a four/five piece band that played together until his entrance into the seminary in 1960. In 1972, Bernie returned to playing the bass and from 1973-1979 Bernie took weekly private lessons on the acoustic guitar. During the 1990's, Bernie resumed lessons on jazz bass and played with several different groups. In 2001, Bernie auditioned for the bass chair in the Bedford Big Band and was chosen for the position. During the same time, was playing in numerous bands and small groups. For the past two years Bernie has taken bi-weekly lessons in the bass/guitar and has attended several week-long jazz workshops in Vermont and New Hampshire. Currently Bernie is a retired Priest and full time musician.

Rick Busenbark - Guitar

Rick, from Peterborough, NH started his career as a trumpet player up to till his senior year in high school with concert bands, and then switched to guitar in the jazz band. In his early college years he was a music major and played in the college jazz band and rock bands as a guitarist in the midwest. He transferred to the Berklee College of Music where he graduated with a BA in Music Composition. Upon graduation he pursued a private teaching career, music retail and electronics repair and has a broad range of musical expertise from playing guitar and bass backing up vocalists in small jazz combos, rock, blues,country, and general business bands to big bands in the Monadnock area. Rick is a Senior Reliability/Quality Engineer in the Boston Area.

Rob Barkan – Keyboards, Publicity Manager and Webmaster

Rob, from Bedford, MA, started his musical career while in high school, performing as a church organist and also a trombone player in a Salvation Army kettle band. He has played and recorded in many jazz, rock and classical groups, including the Chelmsford Community Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band, Herb's Herd, Stardusters Orchestra, Comeback Kids, and Westway. He has degrees in Sound Recording and Music from Fredonia College, and a Masters degree in Computer Science. Mr. Barkan works as a software architect in the Boston area.