Jules Rowell Quintet


Trombonist and bandleader Jules Rowell is a genuine scholar of contemporary jazz composing and arranging. He has an MA in music from San Francisco State where he specialized in the music of Duke Ellington.

His playing experience includes the legendary Woody Herman big band, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, and trumpet great Tom Harrell, as well as many fine Latin/jazz ensembles including Eddie Palmieri, and Pete Escovedo.

He has written music for Teo Macero, Mark Little, Mike Vax, Pete Escovedo, Francisco Aguabella and the Kronos String Quartet.

His dedication and highly respected position in the Bay Area jazz community has kept this ensemble going for more than ten years against all economic odds. This is their second performance at Chez Hanny.


Bassist Mario Suraci's professional career extends across a wide spectrum of jazz and American popular music. Throughout his career he has played behind, toured and recorded with many renowned performers including Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Joe Pass, James Moody, Louis Bellson, Mel Torme, Hampton Hawes, Barry Harris, all the way through to Bernadette Peters and Elvis Presley.

If all that isn't enough he has also toured around Europe as a professional race car driver!


Saxophonist Ian Willson studied with jazz legend Joe Henderson and has played in various bands since 1975, including the Ed Kelly Big Band, Frank Martin, Bobby Freeman, Brenda Vaughn, Napata Mero, Gwen Majors, Stephanie Teel, the Toasters, Prime Time, Counterpoint, Midnight Taxi, Shake, Little Sister, and the Hollywood Swingers.

Ian has produced and composed soundtracks to over 50 travel videos. Ian's compositions were featured in a Century Stereo commercial, a Papillion Helicopter video and he was the featured soloist in the weekly soundtrack to a Chicago PBS cooking show. He has recorded for many TV jingles and produced his own record "Straight From the Heart".

Ian played on David Landon's blues album and Michael Peloquin's "House of Cards".

Ian taught at CAL Berkeley in the Young Musicians Program and continues to teach privately.


Drummer Rob Gibson is a Bay Area native with a wide range of experience from jazz groups to Top-40 club bands to musical theater. He has even toured with a circus. He has appeared at the Monterey, Reno, San Jose and Fillmore St. jazz festivals and has performed with Bud Shank, Pete Christlieb, Carl Saunders, Rich Little and the Coasters. His recordings include "Live at Jazzschool" with the Eric Muhler trio as well as Claudio Madeiros' "Esperanca" which features Pete Escovedo. He also is on the soon to be released album by French singer Laurent Fourgo.


Pianist David Udolf has toured nationally with the New Pickle Circus for six years, and has worked locally and across the west coast accompanying many singers including Mary Stallings, Sherri Roberts, Opie Bellas, Denise Perrier, Vicki Burns, Jennifer Lee, Cathi Walkup and Terry Bryant. He has played alongside many fine musicians including Jules Broussard, Warren Gale, Herb Geller, Pete Yellin, Hal Stein, Chris Amberger, Bo Diddley, Carl Saunders, Harvie S and Joe LaBarbera. He is involved in an ongoing composing project called Frog with drummer Wally Schnalle and keyboardist Lee Bloom.

Mr. Udolf teaches piano and Alexander Technique privately and has received an MSc from University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

He has appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Chuck Metcalf Quartet.


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