An active saxophonist and composer/arranger primarily in the Tampa Bay area, Rich has performed all over the United States as well as in Europe where he performed at the Vienne, Montreux, and North Sea Jazz Festivals. He has accompanied and recorded with such artists as Richard Davis, Jack Wilkins, Steve Davis, Jim McNeely, “Blue” Lou Marini, Chris Vidala, Larue Nickelson, Michael Ross, Tom Carabasi, O Som Do Jazz, The Dan McMillian Jazz Orchestra, and The Don Juceum Orchestra. Rich also directs and performs regularly with his own groups, The Mars Trio, Van Voorst Jazz Quartet, and The Forefront.

As a composer, Rich studied under world renowned jazz composer, Chuck Owen, at the University of South Florida and has experience writing for big bands, various jazz combos, orchestras, choirs, worship music, as well as other chamber groups. From 2004-2008, Rich was a teaching assistant, instructor, and adjunct professor at USF while completing a Masters of Music in Jazz Composition and Jazz Performance. He received his B.M. from Hope College in Holland Michigan where he was awarded the Distinguished Artist Scholarship. In 2006, he was selected by the Center for Jazz Composition at the University of South Florida to arrange a piece for Karrin Allison for the Jazz Masterworks Series.

Rich is currently currently teaches at Trinity College of Florida as an adjunct professor of worship studies and saxophone performance. In his spare time, Rich enjoys gourmet cooking, good conversation over a fresh cup of coffee and spending time with his wife Bonnie.

He currently works as a freelance musician in the Tampa Bay area performing with different artists including Kym Purling, Joanna Rose, Jack Wilkins, Steve Davis, Michael Royal, Hot Sun Quartet, Buster Cooper, The Mars Trio, The Freetime Trio, Denise Moore and Then Some, The Don Juceam Orchestra, Stan Hunter, Tahuantinsuyo, Modern Guitar Quintet, O Som Do Jazz, and many more. He has successfully made Tampa Bay his home with the help of his amazing wife Lindsay, a wall-eating schnoodle named Stella, his extremely supportive family and in-laws and a Green Card that he probably got by accident. When not playing music, he spends his days having paranoid thoughts of deportation that he manages to quiet down by listening to Hector Lavoe, Miles Davis and Slayer… simultaneously.

At the age of 22, he moved to Miami, Florida to study music. A year and a half later, he moved to Tampa, Florida, reuniting with his hometown friend and musical mentor, Rodrigo Denis. Together, they enrolled in the Music Program at Hillsborough Community College, where José took two years of Classical Percussion and Jazz Drum Set with Kurt Grissom and performed with the Percussion Ensemble, the Jazz Band, the musical “Godspell,” as well as various other chamber groups. With his friend Rodrigo, he co-founded a jazz quartet that performed jazz standards as well as original compositions throughout the Tampa Bay Area.

In 2005, José enrolled at the University of South Florida School of Music. There, he had the privilege of studying drum set with jazz master Steve Davis for three years. José also enrolled in the composition program, winning the Award of Merit for Composition in his first year. He has been studying with renowned composers Paul Reller and Michael Timpson ever since.

At USF, he continued to move into other areas of music by enrolling in the Electronic Music Program at USF (SYCOM). He has composed many electronic pieces, including a piece for drum set, electric violin and tape that took him to a performance at the FEAST FEST, an electronic music festival launched by Florida International University in Miami. He also performed for the USF production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Mr. Cochez also loves teaching music. He specializes in drum set and teaches people of all ages. He has taught music in Panama (as a volunteer) on many occasions, and has also taught composition and electronic music (as a volunteer, to guests and at beginning classes) at USF. He has been teaching drum set at Private Music Schools in Tampa and as a Private Instructor for almost 5 years. He is currently collaborating on a drum set book with Dave Hamar, a friend and fellow drum instructor.

Jose continues to perform around West Florida, mainly as a jazz drummer. He has played with various jazz musicians, including Michael Royal, Richard Drexler, Jeremy Powell, Larue Nickelson, Tom Kersey, Ryan Pate, Michael Ross, Jake Pinto, Terri Plumeri, Mark Neuenschwander, Rodrigo Denis, Aaron Collins, Jim Burge, Robert Winslow. His associations with bands include The Mars Trio, Kelp, The Michael Royal Trio, Chrisitie Lenée and the Funkgrass Groove, and The Climax of Truth.

Here are a few examples of our sound. We hope you enjoy.

“My Romance”

Rich Van Voorst (s.), Alejandro Arenas (b.), Mark Feinman (d.)

“Alone Together”

Rich Van Voorst (s.), Alejandro Arenas (b.), Mark Feinman (d.)

“Impressions”

Rich Van Voorst (s.), Alejandro Arenas (b.), Mark Feinman (d.)

“Stella”

Rich Van Voorst (s.), Alejandro Arenas (b.), Steve Davis (d.), John Oleary (p.)

“No Greater Love”

Rich Van Voorst (s.), Alejandro Arenas (b.), Steve Davis (d.), John Oleary (p.)

“Body & Soul”

Rich Van Voorst (s.), Alejandro Arenas (b.), Steve Davis (d.), John Oleary (p.)