Saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, multi-instrumentalist Noel
Jewkes
is one of the godfathers of Bay Area jazz, universally respected for
his musicality, integrity and versatility. Noel began playing
professionally at age 12 with his family's swing band in his home state
of Utah, and has been active in the Bay Area for more than 35 years.
He has recorded with Jon Hendricks, Wesla Whitfield, Mary Stallings,
Paula West, Mike Greensill, Lavay Smith, Bill Bell, Mimi Fox, Graham
Bruce, Bobbe Norris, Larry Dunlap, Larry Vuckovich, Pat Yankee, and
Jerry Hahn, as well as his own ensembles.
"I don't know of a better contemporary modern saxman
anywhere." --Phil
Elwood
"Noel Jewkes is a genuine find – a fluent Youngian on tenor and
clarinet whose solos are long, sure, twisted phrases with surprising
turns and knowing resolutions." --Gary Giddins
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with his own quartets and Septet,
Noel
Jewkes/Steve Heckman, and Larry Vuckovich.
Bay Area first call pianist Grant Levin has
performed with Terence
Blanchard, Bob Berg, Richard Stoltzman, Madeline Eastman,
Bobby Shew, Ingrid Jensen, Ravi Coltrane, Robin Eubanks, Pete Yellin,
Jerry Dodgion, Dayna Stephens, Noel Jewkes, John Santos, Howard Wiley,
Ray Obiedo, Dean Reilly, Melecio Magdaluyo, Marcus Shelby, and Little
Anthony and the Imperials.
Venues include SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco Conservatory of Music,
Yoshi’s Oakland, The Legion of Honor Museum, Fillmore Street Jazz
Festival, Cafe Stritch, and Mildred Owen Concert Hall in Pacifica.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Chris Amberger, Homespun
Trio, Noel Jewkes/Steve Heckman, Peter Barshay, and the Grant Levin
Quartet.
Bassist Chris Amberger is a Berklee School
of Music graduate.
He has toured and recorded with many of the greats in jazz
including
Tommy Dorsey, George Shearing, Rosemary Clooney, Red Garland, and Art
Blakey.
He has backed top vocalists such as Ernestine Anderson, Lorez
Alexandria, Ernie Andrews, Sammy Davis Jr, Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy,
Anita O'Day, Marlena Shaw, Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Eddie
Jefferson, Jimmy Witherspoon, and T.Bone Walker.
His instrumental cohorts have included Stan Kenton, Jaki
Byard, George Cables, Dorothy Donnegan, Philly Joe Jones,
Frank Butler, Charlie Persip, Donald Bailey, Akira Tana, Herb Ellis,
Gabor Szabo, Barney Kessel, John Scofield, Art Pepper,
Joe Henderson, Sam Rivers, Dexter Gordon, Charles Lloyd, Sonny
Stitt, Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Dorham, Doc
Cheatham, Woody Shaw, and Bobby Hutcherson.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Charlie McCarthy,
Dave Rocha, Grant Levin, Noel Jewkes, and Chris Amberger & His Hot
Dogs.
Drummer Mark Lee has a wealth of experience
performing on the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. He has backed
vocalists Ernestine Anderson, Freda Payne, Charles Brown, Mary Lou
Henner, Stephanie Powers, The Pointer Sisters, and many more. He is
also
very active on the instrumental music and musical theater scenes.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Noel Jewkes.