The Faze Band

Meet The Band

Professional, polished, and entertaining, The Faze Band brings together seasoned performers with years of live experience in weddings, corporate events, private parties, and stage productions.

About Us

Experienced performers for weddings, events and unforgettable nights

The Faze Band is built around talented musicians and vocalists who know how to read a room, support the flow of an event, and keep guests engaged from the first song to the last dance. With backgrounds spanning live performance, touring, production, arranging, studio work, and entertainment coordination, this group brings both talent and professionalism to the stage.

Song List FAQ Listen to the Band Contact & Booking

Mark Dennison - owner, band leader, vocalist and guitarist

With many years of experience in the weddings and events business, Mark has been performing, emceeing and coordinating wedding receptions, corporate events and private parties throughout the southeast. He is also an accomplished guitarist-vocalist. Before forming The Faze Band in 1994, he toured the U.S., Canada and Japan with Rapture and Club Visage and also served as the musical director for the River City Opry. The owner of Upstairs Recording Studio and producer / engineer at Dootle Records, Mark brings character to the stage with his sense of humor and personality for performances that are fun and entertaining.

[email protected]

Karen Jackson - lead vocalist and percussion

Female vocalist for The Faze Band, this beautiful singer got her start in modeling, and her good looks, personality and stage presence are assets that complement this incredibly versatile singer. Karen’s voice has been featured nationally on “The Guiding Light” soap opera and she has performed with the Alhambra Theater. She effortlessly covers many different singing styles and, together with her impressive stage and studio experience, she makes for one sensational performer.

An established player, Eric studied jazz and classical piano at J.U. and attended Michigan State University. He is also adept in entertainment advertising, booking and marketing. His clients include Peter Bogdanovich, U.S. Senator Bob Graham, Disney and The Jacksonville Jazz Festival. After spending 10 years in New York City, where he taught piano and performed at many elite venues, he returned home to Florida to perform and write music for films and television.

He has played with many well-known artists and bands including Wynonna Judd, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Don Potter, the Chuck Mangione Band, Billy Powell and Leon Wilkerson of Lynyrd Skynyrd, just to name a few. Mike is a skilled technician well-known for his dynamic arrangements and powerful rhythmic grooves. He is recognized in many circles as “The Minister Of Funk,” and his drumming is a strong foundation of The Faze Band. With a warm sense of humor and a love for music, he stands apart from other drummers.

Nathan Smalls - alto saxophone and vocals

Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, he started his musical career at an early age. He studied at Leonard’s School of Music alongside such notables as Blue Note Records president and Grammy Award-winning writer, arranger and musician Bob Belden, and Nashville session and touring musician Danny O’Lannerghty. Nate is known for his smooth tone and melodic improvisation. He also knows his way around a sound mixer and has engineering skills.

Carla Holbrook - lead vocalist and guitar

Carla has toured the U.S. performing at various clubs and aboard The Grand Princess cruise ship. She signed on as lead vocalist for the Salvador Santana Band and later joined Carlos Santana as a female guest vocalist, also touring with The Los Lonely Boys, Ozomatli, and Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Carla recorded with Salvador Santana and Carlos Santana in the Bay Area as a session vocalist. Since returning to Florida, Carla has been performing in venues across South Florida and in several professional theater productions at Starstruck Performing Arts Center, making her return debut to the stage as Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors and as Doralee in 9 to 5 The Musical.

He joined the United States Navy as a musician and trumpeter in June 1984. His duty assignments include the SIXTH Fleet Band in Naples, Italy, Navy Band San Diego, Navy Band New Orleans, SEVENTH Fleet Band in Yokosuka, Japan, ATLANTIC Fleet Band in Norfolk, Virginia, Navy Band Southeast in Jacksonville, Florida, instructor at the Navy School of Music in Little Creek, Virginia, and Senior Enlisted Leader at the United States Naval Academy Band in Annapolis, Maryland. During his 30 years of service with the U.S. Navy, Jim studied trumpet with jazz legends Bobby Shew, Wayne Bergeron, Charley Davis, Gary Pack and Eric Miyashiro. He has had the great fortune to perform with artists such as Jon Faddis, Jeff Tyzik, Eric Miyashiro’s EM Big Band, Tom Pierson Big Band, Les DeMerle Big Band, Ben Vereen, The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, New York Voices, Manhattan Transfer, Barry Manilow, The O’Jays, Terell Stafford, Sadao Watanabe, Gordon Goodwin, Ellis Hall, Haute Chile Band, Dave Brubeck, Darlene Love and The Harry James Orchestra.