Rich Lesnik Quartet

Alto saxophone player Rich Lesnik has been active on the SF Bay Area jazz scene since moving here in 1986. Early influences included Sam "the man" Taylor, Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, Paul Desmond and Art Pepper.

Growing up in Southern California, in the '60s Rich moved East for college, politics and music. He eventually found his way into New York's premier Brazilian jazz ensemble, Thiago de Mello and Amazon, where he had the opportunity to play with Claudio Roditi, Marcos Silva, Mike Formanek, DuDuca Fonseca, Harvey Weinapel, Dick Oatts, Paquito d'Rivera, Nilsson Matta, Valtinho, Dom Salvador, and Dom um Ramao.

Since moving to the Bay Area, Rich has played with the Bill Bell Septet, played lead alto in several Bay Area big bands, co-led the Gene Gilbeaux Swing Orchestra (with Marty Wehner), worked with numerous local musical-theatre groups (TheatreWorks, Broadway by the Bay), and, from time to time, in the ever dwindling local jazz clubs. He also appears periodically with his wife, singer Jenny Ferris.
Piano: Paul Mindrup

He hasn't quit his day job, but jazz piano is Paul Mindrup's primary avocation. He has pursued it (in roundabout fashion) since his childhood in Dallas, by way of Palo Alto, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Los Angeles, and, for the last 10 years, San Francisco. Along the way he's studied with Alfred Mouledous, Herb Mickman, and Mark Levine.  He appears on saxophonist Michael Gold's album "Personal Standards" performs regularly at local jazz venues such as Cafe Bastille and the Crossroads Cafe.


Bass: Scott Chapek

Scott Chapek is a San Francisco bassist and composer who has performed with many jazz, latin, rock, and popular ensembles. He comes from a family that includes accomplished musicians on both sides. "Raised on the blues" in Chicago,Scott is also classically trained on the string bass. He has performed with many noted bay area musicians such as: Mary Stallings, Mad & Eddie Duran, Warren Gale, Kim Nalley, Denise Perrier, Hal Stein, Vince Wallace, and Paula West. Some of Scott's other interests are in the visual arts: illustration, painting, sculpture. He loves to "be out in nature", and is an avid birder.
Drums: Tom Hassett

Tom Hassett has been an active member of the Bay Area jazz community, though unrecognized by some and repudiated by a few, for over twenty years. Study with master drummer Jerry Granelli in the '70s left him largely unfit for most commercial work, and so he remains today. In recent years he worked with the Susan Chen Trio at Harris' restaurant from 1988 - 2000, and appears on their cd "Harris Nights".

Since 1994 he has played locally, toured and recorded with Phillip Greenlief and Dan Seamans as The Lost Trio.

See http://www.evandermusic.com for the recordings.

He and Scott and Paul have been playing as a unit for three years, first as a rhythm section with saxophonist Michael Gold and since last fall as an independent trio.

Tom was heard most recently at Chez Hanny with pianist Laura Klein and bassist Carol DeArment in March 2002, and he has also preformed with another artist from Frank's concert series, singer Jenny Ferris. Tom and Rich's musical association goes back 10 years or so, and in 2000 they completed a cross-country bicycle trip together.

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