John Klopotowski began playing the
guitar at eleven. He graduated from William Paterson College
in New Jersey in 1978, where he studied with Thad Jones, and privately
with guitar teacher Bob DeVos. He earned a Master of Arts in
composition at State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1983, and
then entered the Ph. D. program.
He began studying improvisation with Warne Marsh in New York in 1982,
continued studying with him until 1984, and also performed with him
sporadically in 1983. Their friendship and association lasted until his
death in 1987.
He relocated to San Francisco in 1988, where he continue to practice,
teach
privately, and perform. He wrote a book "A Jazz Life" which combines a
memoir of Warne Marsh with a description of Warne's teaching techniques
and methods.
He also released two CDs, "Project 59" and "Dedicated", featuring
Rave Tesar, and a third CD, “The John Klopotowski Quartet – Live in San
Francisco,” recorded at Jazz Chez Hanny.
He appeared here previously with the John Klopotowski Quartet.
Jacob Zimmerman was born and raised in Seattle, Washington.
He was a member of the award-winning Garfield High School Jazz Band studying under Clarence Acox.
He moved first to Boston to study jazz saxophone at The New England Conservatory, and then the Bay Area to study composition at Mills College.
After moving back to Seattle in 2012, he began to establish himself as an in-demand freelance saxophonist and clarinetist.
He developed a reputation for specializing in earlier jazz from the “78-rpm era” (1920s-50s). Jacob has performed for many swing dance and traditional jazz events both nationally and internationally.
In 2019 he joined up with Rachael & Vilray whose first two albums (“Rachael & Vilray” and “I Love A Love Song!”) prominently feature Jacob’s playing and arranging.
As a bandleader Jacob plays concerts and holds down several weekly gigs in Seattle. His most recent recordings captured the sound of his regular working band.
Known for a deep knowledge of the American Songbook and jazz repertoire, Jacob is a valued member of local bands led by Ray Skjelbred, Jonathan Doyle and many others.
He appeared here previously with John Klopotowski.
Ollie Dudek is a San Francisco native who was first introduced to music through studying piano at San Francisco's Richmond Community Music Center,
and later began playing the guitar and bass. He was introduced to Jazz by his father Matthew Dudek who worked professionally
as a carpenter and also a jazz bassist in the San Francisco jazz scene.
Ollie spent much of his time studying music at San Francisco State University with
John Calloway, Dee Spencer, and the late great Andrew Speight, and also at the CJC studying bass with Jeff Denson and Saul Sierra,
composition with Michael Zilber, bebop language with Dan Zinn, and arranging with Erik Jekabson.
In addition to several recordings with flautist Gerald Becket, Ollie can also be heard on his own albums entitled
"Flight of Life: Scenic Route Trio" featuring Javier Santiago (piano) and Genus Wesley (drums), and "The Changing Scene" by the Bay Tones Trio with pianist Grant Levin and drummer Omar Aran.
Ollie performs with musicians including
Matt Clark, Bryan Bowman, Bob Kenmotsu,
Ben Stolorow, Ron Marabuto, Joe Cohen, Kai Lyons, Jordan Samuels, and Vince Lateano.
Ollie has Performed at such venues as Yoshi's, the Red Poppy, Black Cat, Club Deluxe, Bird and Beckett,
Monterey Jazz festival, The Fillmore Jazz Festival, Mr. Tipples, Devil's Acre, Comstock,
Local Edition, Jupiter, the Dream Force convention, and the Edwardian Ball.
Drummer Akira Tana has worked with Sonny Rollins,
Sonny Stitt, Zoot Sims, Hubert
Laws, Milt Jackson, Jim Hall, Art Farmer, Tete Montoliu, Paul Winter,
Paquito D'Rivera, James Moody, J.J. Johnson, Lena Horne, the Heath
Brothers, and Manhattan Transfer. He has appeared on over 200
recordings.
Tana co-led a quintet with bassist Rufus Reid, called TanaReid, which
released five CDs. A further five CDs followed with his own bands,
Otonowa, and The Secret Agent Men Band.
Akira appeared here previously with Larry Vuckovich, Jerome Sabbagh,
Jon Mayer, Knucklebean, Rob Schneiderman, Tim Armacost/David
Berkman, John Klopotowski, Mark Lewis, Peter Barshay Trio, Karen &
Norbert Stachel & LehCats, Akira Tana
and Friends from
Osaka, and Akira Tana Organ Trio.