Johannes Mager…tenor trombone 

Born in the Netherlands, and a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of  Music, Johannes has had an eclectic musical and theatrical career. From specializing in avante-garde music and theater, to teaching aspiring clowns how be musically funny, to touring the world with the renown comedy brass group The Brass Band, to performing for 11 years as the Court Jester in the world famous Bracebridge Dinner Christmas Show in Yosemite National Park. Not to mention (but he will), the years of  being an orchestral trombonist and freelancing musician. Along with that, he spent 7 years as the musical director and composer for Make*A*  Circus, a touring San Francisco circus. He has also written many scores and songs for theater and circus productions around the Bay Area, and has written quite a few original songs and arrangements for Brass Ackwards.                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Michael Basta…tenor trombone

Joined Brass Ackwards in 2017. A native of Oakland, he grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from Cal State University, Hayward, with a BA in music. Mike has played with numerous groups in the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Symphony and the Ice Follies. He also performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, accompanying such notable musicians as John Faddis, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, and the Modern Jazz Quartet. He has also played regularly as principal trombonist for the Fremont Symphony, Cambrian Symphony, South Bay Symphony, Saratoga Symphony, Holy Names College Orchestra, the San Ramon Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Chabot College Orchestra, and the municipal bands of Hayward, Fremont, and lastly, San Leandro, for which he was also Assistant Director.

Tim carless…bass trombone

Tim Carless began playing trombone at age 11, focusing on the bass trombone while in college. A former member of the ‘Freeway Philharmonic’ playing with orchestras all over the Bay Area, Tim performs with the East Bay Brass Band, Dr. Abacus, and The Phillip der Stein Sextet, among others.

Mack Horton…trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn

Mack Horton began playing trumpet before he knew better, and has been dealing with the ramifications for the last half century.  After serving as principal trumpet in the Berkshire Symphony under the baton of Julius Hegyi, he branched into jazz and now plays lead in big bands and also enjoys combos, society, and trad outings.  Particularly memorable moments include leading on for the Supremes while in high school in Wisconsin, writing a short jazz version of Tchaikovsky’s "Piano Concerto No. 1" for an event to welcome Van Cliburn, and playing “Spanish Eyes” with Henry Kissinger, who was on maracas.  

Daniel Radhakrishna…trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn

Despite being forcibly exposed to a lethal dose of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass at an early age, Daniel Radhakrishna chose to play the trumpet at the age of nine. He took to it with alacrity, soon finding his voice on the instrument, and quickly falling in love with jazz. Early influences ranged from Al Hirt to Clifford Brown, although he dabbled in classical music briefly, including the local Youth Symphony, competitive band competitions, and even the State Orchestra. After a whirlwind European tour with the Pennsylvania Ambassadors of Music, he chose to go to The University of Miami, where he graduated with a BM in Studio Music and Jazz.

Daniel moved to the Bay Area in 1985, where he has free-lanced ever since. He is a member of the Harold Jones Bossmen, The Kelly Park Big Band, The Rory Snyder Night Jazz Band, and Brass Ackwards, and has performed with an eclectic array of bands in the bay area, ranging from Afro-Beat to Funk to Top Forty and Latin, as well as various and sundry Broadway shows. Daniel lives with his wife and son in Richmond, California.

James Thorne…drums

Jim has been a professional drummer in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades. He has played thousands of gigs and is fluent in many genres. He has played and/or recorded with:  The Temptations, Pete Escovido, Tom Fogerty, The Tommy Dorsey Ghost Band, John Handy and many more.