GUESS WHO I SAW TODAY (1981) Remastered

Trombonist Douglas L, Sertl first record recorded in Rensselaer, NY

Born in Schenectady on April 23rd, 1961, Doug Sertl was handed his first trombone at age 10, as the story goes, “that’s what we’re short of in the band”. By the time he was in high school he was taking private lessons and in his senior year he was performing with local freelance gigs in theatrical pit orchestras. Performing with top name entertainers at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center he grew in demand. Mentored by Tom Brown, Doug graduated from Burnt Hills - Ballston Lake, NY in 1979 meanwhile continuing his private lessons with Don Paulson. Working with producer Gene Weed on a number of live recordings at "The 'Shelf" in Albany, NY, both produced his first demo tapes with Nick Brignola and the Menagerie Jazz sound in 1977 through 1980 began to form.

Doug attended the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, New York from 1979 to 1980, when he got a call to go on the road with Paul Anka. For the next few years he traveled and toured with various Pop and jazz singers and then returned to New York’s Hudson Valley.

His first album as a leader, Doug Sertl & The Jazz Menagerie, was released in 1981 and received a 4.5 star review in Downbeat magazine. This began a 20-year association with late legendary baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola with whom Doug would record a half dozen albums.

Throughout the 80s and 90s Doug continued to build a reputation as one of the best jazz, freelance and studio trombonists releasing big band and small group albums, and performing at jazz festivals, colleges and with his quartet and quintet. He’s recorded and/or performed with artists including Mel Torme, Gerry Mulligan, Phil Watrous, Urbie Green, Tony Bennett, Paul Anka, Andy Williams, Sammy Davis, Jr, Mark Murphy, Kenny Barron, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, Slide Hampton, Nick Brignola, and Carl Fontana.

Doug resides in Glenford, NY and continues his freelance recording and guest artist appearances. New albums are being released and in production. He is the Artistic Director of The Bop Island Big Band, made up of 16 of today’s leading studio and jazz musicians.

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