MONUMENTAL TALKS 2026 – Musicians
Dehner Franks
Dehner’s original song, “Your Legacy, Our Purpose”, was composed for and featured at the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation’s annual Celebration of Reading program, sharing the stage with Leon Carroll Jr., spokesman and cowriter for the CBS television series NCIS; US Navy 4-Star Admiral William H. McRaven; Novelist, Brad Meltzer; Actor and Comedian Rob Riggle and Grammy Award winner Yolanda Adams. Dehner performs for the foundation annually, once with President George W. Bush as the featured guest speaker.
Performed at the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival with a Jazz Big Band, featuring Jens Lindemann and Jon Kimura Parker.
Tours regularly as Pianist/Musical Director for the Broadway Musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’ which features Franks’ skill at playing Harlem Stride Piano.
Performances with the Governor’s Chamber Music Series at the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia, WA with a fellow concert pianist, Judith Cohen featuring Dehner’s own Two Piano Jazz arrangement of music from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story. The second half of the concert featured Dehner playing and singing a Vocal Jazz set with his wife, Jan
Franks is pianist/musical director for an improv comedy club in Houston, The Good Friend Theatre, performing improvised games and improvised musical comedy shows.
He is author of the books, “Accessing My Inheritance” and most recently, “Riddles of Life”.
His inspirational self help books have opened the door to speaking engagements and mentorship.
Dr. Jack Klitzman
Master of Saxophones, Flutes, Clarinets, and All Things Musical
Dr. Jack Klitzman is an accomplished saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, bandleader, and contractor whose career has spanned virtually every corner of the musical landscape—from jazz, swing, R&B and big band to pop, rock and Latin music.
Jack’s approach to arranging is grounded in balance, subtlety, transparency, and soul. Whether performing, composing, arranging, or assembling a band, he combines technical precision with an instinct for what makes music connect with an audience.
As Music Director for Seattle Theatre Group, Jack is responsible for selecting and hiring musicians for performances at Seattle’s Paramount, Moore, 5th Avenue, and Neptune Theatres. Over his career, he has performed and collaborated with an extraordinary roster of artists, including Natalie Cole, Ed Sheeran, Olivia Newton-John, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The O’Jays, Perry Como, Lou Rawls, George Benson, Julio Iglesias, Ben Vereen, Roberta Flack, George Burns, Rodney Dangerfield, Howie Mandel, Mickey Rooney, and many others. He has also performed with the Seattle Symphony.
Jack is the founder and bandleader of Nearly Dan, a 12-piece ensemble devoted to the music of Steely Dan. Over many years, he has created and refined demanding arrangements that capture the sophistication and distinctive sound of Steely Dan while bringing his own voice as an arranger and musician to the music.
After a lifetime immersed in music, Jack continues to write, arrange, perform, and experiment with new musical ideas. And, yes, he still believes there may be no limit to how many saxophones, flutes, and clarinets one musician actually needs.
Dehner Franks – piano
Scott Ketron – drums
Clipper Anderson – bass
John Sanders – keyboards
Mike Mines – trumpet
Dan Marcus – trombone
Jack Klitzman – saxophones, flute