Bud E. Luv
In 1958, I just finished my third appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, and done a stint with Frank Sinatra in Vegas, a time which was most prolific for me. And a boon for Frank's career. During that time, I penned for Frank one of his biggest hits. Mind you, I'm only six years old at the time. I then traveled by boat to England to play a Royal Command performance for the Queen. She loved the show so much, she invited The Budster to perform at a high tea for her, Winston Churchill, and Charles DeGaulle.
A tradition at the Oak City Bar and Grill is the College of San Mateo Big Band -- an 18-piece group of top-notch musicians playing standards and jazz.
The Trio features Denny Berthiame on piano, Curt Moore on drums and Chuck Bennett on bass. In 2004, three San Francisco Bay Area musicians decided to create a rhythm section devoted to their own compositions and individualized arrangements of standards.
Born in Fresno, California, Freddy studied classical guitar at San Francisco State University with Rani Cochran and privately with Narcisso Yepes,Rey De La Torre and Leo Brower. He studied composition with Gus Gustavson,Roger Nixon and Peter Sacco with an emphasis on form and technique. Igor Stravinski and John Cage are two influences who have helped shape his vision. Stravinski for his creative approach to unusual instrumental combinations and sonorities and John Cage for his fascination with random events superseding preconceived notions allowing freedom of expression through improvisation. No composition is ever "finished".
"Connection is what it's all about," says Jennifer. "Connection with my band and connection with the listener. That's what creates the magic. The deeper the connection, the more magical the experience for everyone involved." And connect she does, with sincerity and a perpetual sense of wonder.
Since moving to the bay area in 1984, Larry Chinn has had the good fortune to have extended tenures working with Margie Baker, Jules Broussard, Al Molina & Frank Passantino. He has shared the stage with Frank Wess, John Handy, Pharoah Saunders, Mark Murphy, Harvie S, Richie Cole, Hal Stein, Nate Pruitt, Sylvia Cuenca & Vince Lateano. He's also appeared at so the bay area's premier jazz venues like Yoshi's, Pearl's, Stanford Jazz Workshop and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Larry studied briefly at the Berklee College of Music, with Bobby Bradford at Pomona College, and with Mark Levine as well as taking extensive lessons with Don Haas, Dick Hindman, Peter Horvath and Charlie Shoemake.
Marc Koltun's love affair with music spans 56 years. Starting at the age of four his heart was captivated and nurtured by the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Robert Goulet, Matt Monro, Joe Williams, Johnny Hartman, Barbra Streisand and countless others whose legendary voices and singing styles left an indelible imprint on his soul. His passion for the timeless love songs from “The Great American Songbook” has never left him.
Mark Richard, on piano or guitar, has been a local mainstay in the bay area for 35 years. Supported by the excellent musicianship of Paul Collins (Bass) and Alex Muchnik (Drums), Mark’s unique vocal interpretations of Jazz Standards, R&B, or the occasional Oldie but Goodie, are delivered with an intense love for the lyric and an air of playfulness. Alex and Paul bring their own creativity to the mix and the result is great music!
Bay area bassist Joey Fabian (Bartron Tyler Group, Alana Davis) has assembled a stellar cast of musicians to tackle a diverse set of music. Starting with the powerful vocals of Menlo Idol Rachel Lililan, add versatile Pianist/Organist Van Kouzoujian (The Hummerz, The Truth). Santa Cruz guitar whiz Ron Work (Wasabi) brings heaps of taste and tone to the party. And driving the band all the way home is the amazing drumming of "Bad" Ronny Crawford (Lisa Loeb, Anna Nallick). The M.A.D.O. will flow from instrumentals by The Meters, Wayne Shorter and Ernest Ranglin, Soul and R&B by Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers and Stevie Wonder, and Rock from The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix to Sara Barielles.
Bay Area jazz pianist and vocalist, Marty Williams, was called "The Catalyst" by San Francisco Chronicle critic Phil Elwood. Anna DeLeon of Anna's Jazz Island recently had this to say about Marty. "Marty Williams is one of the Bay Area's hidden treasures. His piano playing and singing are passionate, humorous, and unique. Think Oscar Brown Jr. plus Mose Allison plus Monk with just a dash of Redd Foxx! Yes, unique!"
Paula grew up in Clemson South Carolina in a very musical home. Her father, an avid music fan, worked as a “roadie” for several well known bands when Paula was a baby. In fact her first “appearance” on stage was when she toddled out onto the stage during one of the shows dancing. Her Dad may have been embarrassed- but the band and the crowd loved it! So did Paula.
My journey in music began in New York where I was born. I attended Manhattan School of Music. I left New York and moved to Southern California at first where I was performing Top 40, R&B and some jazz. I fell in love with Jazz at an early age and knew that was my destiny and desire in my music endeavors. When I came to the Bay Area in 1980, clubs such as Rolands, Pearls, Pasands, Capurros, Pier 47, Bajones, Caspian, Regina’s, Rasella’s and Seven Hills were all home to me. Jazz Vocals were then welcomed in all Jazz clubs. It was a tremendous time with incredible musicians to accompany me. Throughout I have done private parties and events for all occasions.
Vocalist Sandra Aran is no stranger to music and the stage. She made her musical debut at age 5 in her native Mexico City. Since then, she has made music and performing her life. Studying the art of jazz and scat singing by transcribing the music of Al Jarreau, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Bobby McFerrin, Ms. Aran kept an active performance schedule as an adolescent. In her teens, she formed her first band while studying classical piano and composition at the National University of Mexico. In 1995, she founded her first working jazz quartet "Art Deco", with whom she performed extensively in Mexico.
Whether you're cooking in the kitchen or on the bandstand, soul sauce is that spicy addition that makes your efforts "come alive." Soul Sauce draws on the rich body of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian-influenced jazz, as well as incorporating original works and unique arrangements of contemporary, standard, and obscure jazz tunes.
Bay area bassist Joey Fabian is best known for his association with instrumental band The Bartron Tyler Group, but this Atlanta, GA native has lended his skills to a diverse collection of musical situations. His study of the bass with Kai Eckhardt introduced him to Indian rhythms and subdivisions while later study with Dean Peer focused on advanced use of harmonics. He has performed and/or recorded with Hellecasters guitarist Will Ray, pop singer/songwriter Alana Davis and blues artist James Armstrong, Mumblefinger, Michael Zanabili, Hot Trivet, HUGE., Bridgette DeMeyer and Taylor P. Collins.
Terry Disley is an internationally acclaimed pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, 2 time Grammy Award nominee and winner of Londons' best young jazz musicians award. He has been featured on hundreds of recordings with innumerable artists including Paul McCartney, Bryan Ferry, Van Morrison, Sir Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, George Harrison, Billy Bragg, Terry Hall, Madness, Acoustic Alchemy, and the movie soundtracks Beautiful Girls, Showgirls, Crime Time, The Ref and Monument Avenue. He also opened shows for pianists McCoy Tyner, Monty Alexander and Cedar Walton, John McLaughlin, the Yellowjackets, Grover Washington, and Bob Dylan, and has been featured in newspapers, magazines, radio interviews and television shows around the world.
