Born in Rochester, New York, trumpeter Richie Vitale played
with Miles
Davis’ drummer, Philly Joe Jones at the early age of sixteen.
Richie has performed with such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Tony
Bennett, Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis,
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, James Taylor, and Sting. More currently he was
the
jazz trumpet in the Broadway show “Come Fly Away” featuring a 19-piece
big band playing the music of Sinatra to the dancing of the Twyla Tharp
Dance Troup.
He has led his jazz quintet on tours of Europe, Japan, Korea, the
Middle East, San Francisco, and LA, and frequently appears in clubs
throughout the New York Metropolitan area.
Pianist Keith Saunders spent his formative years in
Los Angeles where he studied with Charlie Shoemake and Horace Silver.
Keith worked extensively in L.A. with such well known artists as Eddie
Harris, Roy McCurdy, Bill Holman, and
Bill Watrous, as well as recording with Dick
Berk's Jazz Adoption Agency.
After moving to New York City in 1984, Keith worked and/or recorded
with Richie Cole, Richie Vitale, Hank Crawford, Mickey Roker, Ralph
LaLama, Frank Wess, and Valery Ponamarev. In 1991, Keith
became the leader of The NY HardBop
Quintet, a cooperative unit featuring Joe Magnarelli and Jerry Weldon,
which released four recordings for the TCB Montreux Jazz label.
Relocated to the Bay Area, Keith appears with Calvin Keys,
Noel Jewkes,
Jim Grantham, Chris Amberger, Patrick Wolff, Erik Jekabson, Smith
Dobson, Peppe Merolla, and Dave Rocha.
Keith appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Robb Fisher-Keith
Saunders Trio, Frank Tusa, Peck Allmond, Michael Zilber, Dave Rocha,
Erik Jekabson, Noel Jewkes, George
Cotsirilos, and the Keith Saunders Trio.
During the last 32 years, bassist Michael Zisman has performed
with jazz stars such as Harold Mabern, Eric Alexander, Dena DeRose,
Joseph Farnsworth, Peter Zak, David Hazeltine and many more.
As well as leading music clinics and classes in schools across the US,
Michael previously served as the Artistic and Education Director of the
Stanford Jazz Workshop and Festival, and is the creator of “The Real
Easy Book” as well as co-author of “Walking Bassics”, all published by
Sher Music. Michael has been an adjunct faculty member teaching Jazz
courses at SFSU since 2007.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Peter Zak Trio, and the Adam Shulman Sextet.
Drummer Ron Marabuto
grew up in the East Bay, playing with and greatly influenced by his
father, John Marabuto, a pianist and arranger busy and respected in the
Bay Area.
After graduating from UC Berkeley in 1974 Ron relocated to NYC 1977-87,
where he played with the likes of Pepper Adams, Roland Hanna, Tommy
Flanagan, Duke Jordan, Jerry Dodgion, Frank Wess, Steve Grossman, and
Sal Nistico.
Back in SF since 1987, he has been active with Bruce Forman, Smith
Dobson, Buddy Montgomery, Rob Schneiderman, Al Plank, Hal Stein, Calvin
Keys, Warren Gale, Noel Jewkes, Bob Kenmotsu, Gini Wilson, and Walter
Savage, among others.
Ron appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Chuck Metcalf, the Chuck
Metcalf Tribute, Mark Levine, Will Matthews, Chuck Manning, George
Cotsirilos, and the
Robb Fisher-Keith Saunders Trio.