Festival Band Bios

2012 Festival Band Bios | 2
Grand Dominion Jazz Band | www.gdjb.com
The Grand Dominion Jazz Band has been together since 1982.  They have had a long time to "get it right."  And - do they get it right.  This is one of the finest New Orleans style bands in the country - with a British flavor.  They feature a driving and up-best style and offer impeccable ensemble work.

Uptown Lowdown | www.uptownlowdownjazz.com
Uptown Lowdown plays a modified version of San Francisco traditional style which eventually became known as "Seattle Style."  With the driving cornet of leader Bert Barr, the two-reed work of John Goodrich and Paul Woltz, and the drummerless three-person rhythm section comprised of Rose Marie Barr on piano, Art Horgen on tuba and Al LaTourette on banjo, one will hear a sound only identifiable as belonging to Uptown Lowdown.

Uptown Lowdown seems to acquire nicknames - "Seattle Style, " Uptown Rundown," "Drummerless in Seattle," and most recently "The Seattle | Frisco Connection."  Whatever - the music speaks for itself.

High Sierra Jazz Band | www.highsierrajazzband.com
The High Sierra Jazz band is a hard-driving, energetic band playing west coast style music ala Turk Murphy and Lu Watters.  The band was formed in 1976, and still has four of the original members, Charlie Castro on drums, Bruce Huddleston on piano, Stan Huddleston banjo and guitar and Earl McKee tuba and vocals.  Previous personnel have been replaced by Pieter Meijers leader and reeds, Howard Miyata on trombone, and subbing this festival is Dan Comins on the cornet.  Their home base is Three Rivers, California.  The band has a repertoire of several tunes and easily performs at a three day festival without a repeat.  Bring your dancing shoes and listen to some toe-tapping music.

Charlie  Castro – Drums, Bruce Huddleston -  Piano, Stan Huddleston – Banjo, Earl McKee – Tuba/Vocals Pieter Meijers – Leaders/Reeds, Bryon Shaw – Trumpet, Howard Miyata – Trombone/Vocals.

The St. Louis Rivermen | www.stlrivermen.com
Combining some of the top trad musicians in the United States, the St. Louis Rivermen performs jazz in the purest sense.  Relying on extraordinary musical instincts, the Rivermen play everything from ballads to blues to barnburners.  World renowned Sousaphonist David “Red” Lehr’s team to virtuosos include Noel Kalestsky on reeds, Bobby Grimm on banjo, Jim Maihack on Trombone, Ray Templin on piano, Don Schroeder on drums and Steve Lilley on cornet.  Playing tunes from the sensitive to the sensational, this band wows the crowds.  Their motto could be “Nobody comes to a concert to watch the musicians rest”