Three retired cops sat around a campfire with several dear friends in Priest Lake, Idaho one evening in 2022. Each of these three had a guitar, and a few songs to share with their friends that evening. At the sound of their music, others in the campground meandered by and stopped to enjoy the music for a little while before continuing down the beautifully wooded lakeshore path. It was one of those special evenings, tailor made to generate lifelong memories; seasoned with the ingredients of the great outdoors, good friends, laughter, a campfire  and music. This is when a spark of creativity was generated among these three musician buddies. It is really where The A Train first played together, before they were a band unto themselves.

Glenn Nagel is a retired California Highway Patrol Officer who started playing trumpet in grade school. He has played in Jazz ensembles from full size big bands to small Jazz combos. He has performed internationally at Euro Disney, The Montreux and North Sea Jazz festivals. He plays rhythm guitar for the A Train. Our bass player, Stan Rogers, is a retired Sheriff's Deputy from Shasta County California. He is a multi-instrumentalist who has created music in a variety of genres.  You may find Stan playing piano at home, a guitar or bass at a jam session, or a mandolin in a Bluegrass circle.  Brian Williams retired from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department in California. He has played guitar since his childhood, and considers a Fender Telecaster as humanity's most perfect musical creation. Old country twang was his first musical love, but this has expanded to acoustic music from Bluegrass to Spanish guitar. Jazz is a more recent and exciting musical venture for Brian. All three of the guys add their vocals to The A Train.

The band name "The A Train" came about from a desire to identify with the railroad legacy of the majestic north Idaho panhandle, where each of the band members now reside. As the band was learning to play Duke Ellington's 1941 hit "Take the A Train", we felt that "The A Train" name would reflect both the railroad and jazz elements of the band's identity. The A Train was founded primarily on Swing jazz tunes of the first half of the 20th century; songs driven by horns that make people smile, tap their feet and feel a groove. Of course, their repertoire grew to include ballads, some Spanish style and even classical tunes on occasion.  The A Train is a trumpet-forward ensemble, celebrating the music of former, but still appreciated, musical generations.

The A Train plays a wide variety of venues, from neighborhood BBQ's, coffee cafe's, and even formal black-tie public charity events. Bringing a repertoire of jazz standards played by their trumpet, bass and guitar trio, they are well suited to providing background music to enhance your business or event, or to perform more focused entertainment in a concert setting. In either case, The A Train is sure to add to the enjoyment and fond memories of your event or gathering