Miguel works with a diversified array of groups and genres, ranging from a fluid blend of jazz, Latin, rock, as well as neo-soul, pop, and indie. His distinct tone draws from influences like John Scofield, Gilad Hekselman, and Wes Montgomery. The definition of a musician who is not limited by genre, Miguel values classic tones and challenges the norm, both in terms of his creative visions and in his teaching and learning styles.
Miguel works with a diversified array of groups and genres, ranging from a fluid blend of jazz, Latin, rock, as well as neo-soul, pop, and indie. His distinct tone draws from influences like John Scofield, Gilad Hekselman, and Wes Montgomery. The definition of a musician who is not limited by genre, Miguel values classic tones and challenges the norm, both in terms of his creative visions and in his teaching and learning styles.
Eric Gruber is a highly sought-after bassist in multiple genres and has toured the US, Europe, and also Western Africa as a US Jazz Ambassador under the direction of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has been privileged to share the stage with such greats as Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Phil Woods, Paquito D’Rivera, Danilo Perez, Wynton Marsalis, and Terell Stafford and can regularly be seen playing with local luminaries including Darrell Grant, George Colligan, and Dmitri Matheny. He is frequently recognized for his harmonically innovative solos, driving rhythms, and superb sense of time
To look at her, you wouldn’t think this singer/songwriter was much of a vocal powerhouse. Small, redhead, freckles and an infectious smile, Holly doesn’t look like the person that holds that voice. In fact, if you close your eyes and listen, the picture in your head would most definitely not be this little white girl from Oregon. Her soulful sound is a surprise that leaves you breathless and wanting more. Born and raised in the Portland (OR) area, Holly grew up a "red-headed step child". Music was her refuge. Whenever times were bad, sad or confusing, she could always find sanctuary in a song. Her mother remembers watching her toddler dance around in a white underslip, singing her heart out into a microphone made up of a straw with a ball of tinfoil on the end. From time to time she would over hear Holly practicing her Grammy acceptance speech and thanking all those who had believed in her. At the very least, even then, this girl believed in herself.
He has appeared with such luminaries as Jose Feliciano, Jesse Colin Young, David Foster, Marc Cohn, Kenny G, Alex De Grassi, Montreaux and many others. John Nilsen is a pianist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and one of the Pacific Northwest’s most successful performance and recording artists. Nilsen's label, Magic Wing, has a catalog of twenty titles, all distributed internationally. John Nilsen’s record sales far exceed a million copies, a rare accomplishment in the music industry. 240 of his compositions and arrangements receive performance and mechanical royalties.
Always on the move as one of Portland’s most trusted guitarists, Chance Hayden performs extensively throughout the pacific northwest and beyond as both a bandleader and sideman to diverse acclaimed artists such as Jarrod Lawson, Farnell Newton, Darrell Grant, Devin Phillips, Shelly Rudolph, Mel Brown and many more. Hayden's latest release, Shag Bag, includes legendary keyboardist Ronnie Foster and has garnered international acclaim as a classic groove piece sounding like an early to mid 70s CTI or Blue Note recording. As a graduate of the PSU Jazz Studies program, Hayden's guitar stylings are deeply informed through the jazz tradition while equally steeped with blues, funk and soul: the authentic mixture is a result of a lifetime's listening, learning, teaching, practicing and performing.
Clay has released six recordings on the premier jazz label Origin Records, the latest being "Pastures" featuring saxophonist Donny McCaslin, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Matt Wilson. An innovative voice in the contemporary jazz scene of the Pacific Northwest, pianist and composer Clay Giberson is part of a new generation that is redefining jazz. Emotionally compelling, the music grooves as much as it dazzles with harmony, lyricism and rhythmic intricacy.
