About Top Brassss

Top Brassss is an all-star band comprised of former members from your favorite horn bands, including Chicago, Tower of Power, Blood Sweat and Tears and more.

Steve is one of only three trumpet players to tour as a member of the legendary horn band Chicago. He still fills in when they need him, most recently in March of 2015. In 2006, Steve joined Blood, Sweat and Tears and became Musical Director from 2008 – 2014. Other touring highlights include: Don Henley, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, 2014 Grammy winner Nile Rodgers and Chic, The Funk Brothers(featuring Steve Winwood and Billy Preston), and Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave). Steve’s recording credits include: Amy Grant (Double Platinum), Darryl Hall (Platinum), Jeff Lorber (2 Grammy nominated CDs with fellow Top Brassss horn section members), Luther Vandross, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, the Rolling Stones, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones among others. Live TV and performance highlights include: Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Shakira, Jennifer Nettles, Robert Plant, Kid Rock, Stevie Nicks, Chaka Kahn, Nancy Sinatra, Stanley Clark and the Montreux Jazz festival tribute to Ahmet Ertegun and Atlantic records as a member of the George Duke All Stars. Steve is a member of AES and voting member of NARAS. When not touring, Steve produces and records at Jankland Recording.

Jens Wendelboe (Trombone)

Jens is an internationally recognized award-winning composer, orchestrator, conductor and trombonist of jazz and symphonic music alike. Jens had the honor to be Music Director and conductor for Donna Summer for over 22 years. He joined the legendary group Blood, Sweat and Tears in 2006 and was a featured member for 8 years. Jens lived in Europe for most of his life and held such prestigious positions as Conductor and arranger of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. He has released eleven CDs with his own bands as well as numerous theater and television productions. Jens established The Big Crazy Energy New York Band as well as The Crazy Energy Orchestra, which has played for commercial television and industrial productions worldwide for the past two decades, including both a private concert for the King of Morocco at his Palace New Year’s eve 2002 and his wedding later that same year. His Big Crazy Energy Band has been featured at the Molde International Jazz festival as well as other famous jazz venues. Mr. Wendelboe has performed, conducted, arranged and/or recorded live and on television with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Al Jarreau, Jeff Lorber, David Foster, Jimmy Webb, Roger Nichols, Frankie Valli, Johnny Mathis, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Bette Midler, Bill Watrous, Phil Woods, and more.

Tom Timko (Saxophone)

Saxophonist/Composer Tom Timko has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music business. He toured as sax player with legendary horn band Tower of Power in the 90’s. Tom toured with Blood Sweat and Tears since the 80’s and was Musical Director when he re-joined from 2005 – 2008. Tom was a member of Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine from 1995 – 2008. His live performances include: Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, John Mayer, Toto, Bob James, Shakira, David Sanborn, Michael McDonald, Stevie Wonder, The Jaco Pastorius Big Band, Don Henley, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Aaron Neville, David Foster, The Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Caldwell, Frankie Valli, Donna Summer. Tom’s saxophone can also be heard on the soundtrack to the recent film “American Gangster” starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crow and on Jeff Lorbers’ Grammy- Nominated album “He Had A Hat”. Check out Tom’s Debut CD: “Tom Timko and the Horndogs”.

Teddy Mulet (Lead Trumpet)

Teddy Mulet is that rare breed of musician that can play just about any instrument you put in front of him including strings, horns, keyboards, drums, etc. Teddy is the trumpet and trombone player and arranger on all the Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine hits of the 80’s and 90’s. He was a recent member of Blood, Sweat and Tears for 9 years on Trumpet, and also played with the band in the 80’s on Trombone. Other touring experience includes Justin Timberlake, Paul Anka, Iris Chacón, Barry Manilow, Gino Vanelli, Celia Cruz, and Donna Summer. Mr. Mulet has also appeared on numerous albums by artists including Jon Secada, Shakira, Ricky Martin, Julio Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias, Jimmy Buffett, Jennifer Lopez and Celia Cruz.

Thomas Connor (Lead Singer)

Thomas Connor has been one of the lead singers with the legendary horn band Blood, Sweat and Tears since 2006. His career as a singer-songwriter started in San Diego CA in the 70’s with early bands like Cloudy, Foolish Pleasure, and The Rock. Thomas released a debut album in 2002 called “Teach Peace”, and in 2012 he released a new CD called “The Process”. Over the years Thomas has shared the stage with the likes of Richard Marx, Steppenwolf, Spencer Davis, The Guess Who, The Outfield, John Cafferty, Nitro, Lion, Don Mclean, Steely Dan, and John Scofield, to name a few. When not with Top Brassss, Thomas can be seen fronting Viva Santana, a Santana tribute band he formed that has toured the USA for the last 22 years.

Carlos Murguia (Keyboards/Vocals)

Born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico, Carlos Murguia grew up around music since day one as the son of musician parents. He is an accomplished singer and songwriter, as well as a famed keyboardist and producer. Carlos’ recent live performances include stints with West Coast horn band Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Ellis Hall of Tower of Power, Bobby Kimball of Toto, The Killers, Rickie Lee Jones, Shakira and JLo. He has worked with famed producers David Foster, Humberto Gatica, Walter Afanasieff, Ariff Mardin, Diane Warren, Patrick Leonard to name a few. Studio highlights include Billy Preston, Santana, Lady Gaga, Lifehouse, Manhattan Transfer, Luis Miguel, Enrique Iglesias, Placido Domingo and many more. Vocal credits include TV and movie soundtracks on the Flintstones Movie, The Emperors New Groove, Happy Feet, The Simpsons, Prison Break and George Lopez. When not touring Carlos is playing, producing, and singing for different artists and commercials in the LA studio scene.

Arnie Vilches (Guitar/Vocals)

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Arnie first picked up the guitar at age 4. He became proficient on Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals, Congas,Timbales, and just about any string instrument he could get his hands on. In 1988, Arnie began touring and recording with Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad. SInce then Arnie has shared the stage with Rock & Roll greats such as Cheap Trick, Blue Oyster Cult, Robin Trower, Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Dennis De Young of STYX, REO Speedwagon, Eddie Money, Pat Travers and Bachman Turner Overdrive to name just a few. He has also performed with numerous Christian artists including Phil Keaggy, Jeremy Camp,The News Boys, Carmen, and Two or More. Arnie has been touring with Bobby Kimball the Original Lead Singer of TOTO for the past two years. Arnie is also the Musical Director at NBCC in Corona, and when not touring, runs a School of Music that he owns in Corona, CA.

Marc Ribler (Bass/Guitar/Vocals)

Marc is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, bassist and producer. He has written and produced over 40 songs for major label recording artist’s throughout the world. His songs have charted in Billboard Magazine and The American Top 40 Casey Kasem Countdown and has also charted with Top 10 hits in Canada and overseas. Marc is the host and one of the featured artists in the weekly series “Marc Ribler and Friends Singer Songwriter/Classic Rock Tribute Night at McLoone’s Supper Club In Asbury Park NJ Every Tuesday Night at 8:30pm. Featuring an amazing house band comprised of NY and NJ’s finest musicians that regularly perform with Bruce Springsteen, Bonjovi, Billy Joel, Lenny Kravitz, The Blues Brothers, Tower of Power, Gregg Allman and many more. Marc has also written, sang and produced several National TV and Radio Ads. In particular a highly controversial and groundbreaking Ad for Trojan Condoms addressing HIV and STD awareness entitled “1 out of 4? The song chosen was the title track from Marc’s sophomore CD This Life. Marc has also has produced ads for major brands such as Activia Yogurt (now in it’s 7th year running), Office Depot, Green Mountain Coffee, V8 and Bell South.

Lee Finkelstein (Drums)

In a career spanning over twenty five years, Lee Finkelstein has built up a reputation as one of the funkiest and most versatile drummers in New York City. Lee currently tours the world with The Original Blues Brothers Band. Other tours have been with artists as diverse as Tower of Power, Ben E. King, Donna Summer, and Bill Cosby. Lee also “drives the bus” for New York’s own horn band Funk Filharmonik. While Lee was the studio drummer for The Cosby Show(80’s) he recorded with and backed up Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson, Grover Washington Jr, Eric Gale, The Oregon Symphony Orchestra & Randy Brecker. Lee has also performed, recorded, and/or toured with the following artists: Isaac Hayes, Eddie Floyd, Bette Midler, Blood Sweat & Tears, Russ Freeman, Julio Iglesias, Southside Johhny and the Asbury Jukes, Johnny Winter, Steve Cropper, Lou Marini, Will Lee, Paul Shafer, John Tropea, Leon Pendarvis, Alan Rubin, Saturday Night Live, Dave Valentine, Cornelius Bumpus, Anthony Jackson, Mary Wilson, Hudson River Rats.