ABOUT THE BAND

Click on pictures for performers' bios.

Andy Barnett

Pianist and founder of the group, Rev. Andrew K. Barnett serves as Associate for Music and Worship at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. If you are looking for an example of someone who is able to combine his broad interests of music, ministry, the outdoors, and friends and family into one coherent life, Andy is your guy. However, you should note that he has little interest in sleeping. (B.M. and B.A. Oberlin, M.Div and M.A. Yale)

William Z. Cleary

Alto saxophonist William Z. Cleary is a music educator at Southern Connecticut State University and ACES Education Center for the Arts and is Music Director of St. Paul and St. James’ Episcopal Church in New Haven, CT. In addition to being a brilliant musician, composer, and teacher, Will is also a guacamole connoisseur. Most importantly, his middle initial, “Z,” stands for nothing. It is just “Z.” This is true. (B.M. Oberlin, M.M. Eastman)

Charlie Dye

Drummer Charlie Dye is a freelance performer and music educator throughout New England, based out of his studio in Granby, CT. Charlie has a unique gift for being able to match the style and sound of any ensemble he encounters, raising the caliber of every performance, despite his ridiculous comments under his breath most of the time. The rest of the band knows that touring with Theodicy is really just a cover for his tiny comedy tour, for which we are the only audience. We should probably mic him instead of Ann. (B.M. Eastman)

Daniel Loomis

Bassist Dan Loomis is a freelance performer and composer based out of Brooklyn, NY, working primarily with his collaborative groups The Wee Trio and SPOKE. However, our favorite ensemble he plays with is a quartet geared for kids called “The Dad Beats,” described as a “power quartet wrapped in a playdate with a hootenanny garnish! Made up of four real live Brooklyn dads.” He is so Brooklyn. (B.M. Southern Illinois, M.M. Eastman)

Jonathan Parker

Tenor Saxophonist Jonathan Parker works as a freelance performer and music educator in New York, NY. Better known to the band as “JP,” he has taken his talents all over the globe, as a former resident of cities from Washington D.C. to Shanghai. However, we’re all pretty sure that he is most at home when he is alone in a practice room with Will Cleary where they can live out their destiny as musical soul mates. It's a thing. (B.M. Oberlin, M.M. Eastman)

Ann Phelps

Vocalist Ann Phelps works as a community activist and artist with faith-based non-profits, and as a freelance liturgist, musician, and theological educator in Jackson, MS. When she’s at home with her two small children and husband, she tries to convince them that she is the real Maria von Trapp: a bit of a religious free-thinker with a love for the mountains and making music in community—and she’ll sing anything on solfege! (B.A. Hastings, M.A. Yale)

Sarah Politz

Trombonist Sarah Politz teaches at the University of Pittsburgh, PA, where her research focuses on popular music in Africa and the diaspora, including jazz. Her writing and ideas are as brilliant as her horn playing, which basically means she would intimidate the rest of the group too much to play together if she weren’t so darn likable. We’re perhaps most intimidated by her impeccable ability to replicate the dance moves of any of the Peanuts characters during rehearsal. (B.M. Oberin, B.A. Oberlin, M.A. Wesleyan, Ph.D. Harvard)

Mike Wade

Trumpet Michael Wade is a performer, composer, producer and music educator based out of Cincinnati, OH. You can hear his D.C. roots in his playing and his compositions, and the list of venues and performers with whom Mike has worked is impressive to say the least. However, the band is most impressed at his ability to nap (and nap hard) in the middle of any rehearsal venue, even as others play around him. He makes up for the sleep that Andy is not getting. (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music)

“The Canterbury Jazz Mass was an absolute triumph!”

—Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral

THEODICY'S RECENT ENGAGEMENTS

Saturday Eucharist and Sunday Eucharist Christ Church Cathedral Cincinnati, OH

Saturday concert and Sunday Eucharist Normandale Lutheran Church Edina, MN ()

Yuletide Jazz Mass St. Luke's Episcopal Church Worcester, MA,

Residency at St. Paul’s School Concord, NH

Medgar Evans Commemoration St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral and Millsaps College Jackson, MS

Christ Church Cathedral Indianapolis, IN

Grace and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Memphis, TN

"Canterbury Jazz Mass" at All Saints Episcopal Church Beverly Hills, CA

Convention Eucharist for the Diocese of California. Grace Episcopal Cathedral San Francisco, CA