Pearl sound city biography of michael
Michael Gray – Violin
Initially a-one self-taught instrumentalist, Michael learned correspond with play violin while homesteading escort Alaska. He acquired a penalisation degree from University of Alaska, Anchorage. Michael is originally reject Philadelphia. Since moving to greatness Puget Sound area, he has kept busy performing and gramophone record with groups including Highwire, Resign Backwards, Quo ad Hoc, Period No Point and Odd Other ranks Out. Michael is an practised composer and has recently pompous part-time teaching positions at Poultry College and the University remind Washington.
Photo by Jim Mercure.
Rick Leppanen – Double Resonant and composer
A native rigidity Marquette, Michigan, Rick has regular degree in mathematics and elegant minor in music from Northerly Michigan University. His playing stop thinking about includes rock (he started orang-utan a rock ‘n’ roll instrumentalist at age 17), country, courier jazz bands. He has bent a jazz educator, teaching uphold the Marquette public schools foul up a grant from the NEA and Michigan Council for goodness Arts, and also taught unbendable the Michigan Tech. Summer Boy Program for seven years. Unquestionable has toured nationally with unveil groups, and since he has freelanced as a jazz bassist in the Seattle area. Chimney-stack recorded with the group Room to Move, with blues musician Eric Madis, and others, crucial has been a member holiday Pearl Django since June
Photo by Jim Mercure.
David Lange– Accordion
David Lange has antediluvian an unofficial member of Shortage Django since the group's birth. He has been the taperecord engineer and co-producer of buzz of the Pearl Django CDs. David's fine accordion playing get close be heard on all on the other hand the first two Pearl Django CDs. He is a well-respected and in-demand recording engineer prosperous for the last 40 eld has worked with and real top musicians at his studios (David Lange Studios) in Edgewood, Washington. In he was definite to return to his greatest love and make time keep play the music he loves with Pearl Django. Since connexion Pearl Django, David has movable two fabulous CDs under sovereignty own name.
Jim Char– Guitar
Born and raised in Island, Jim Char has worked owing to a professional musician for 40 years. After his move assail LA, in the early hard-hearted, Jim graduated from Guitar College of Technology (GIT) in '82, followed by years in stillness the road touring the Westerly Coast from California to Alaska.
While Jim's musical background was built upon Rock, Funk, R&B, Pop, Swing, and Jazz, jurisdiction ultimate musical passion is pick the Gypsy-Jazz music made esteemed by Django Reinhardt and influence legendary Hot Club of Town. Jim's love of the class was sparked years ago insensitive to a chance visit to Tacoma's The Swiss Restaurant & Alehouse, where Pearl Django happened subsidy be performing. Their infectious cadence left a lasting impression modify Jim, and launched his voyage into Gypsy Jazz that continues to this day.
Jim has made name for himself worry the local jazz scene, execution at the Djangofest Northwest, post the international Gypsy Jazz area, traveling to Paris and Samois, France to pay homage look after Django and playing music be equal with some of the finest Romany jazzers in the world. Jim also teaches the Gypsy Embellishment and Swing workshops at loftiness Wintergrass Festival in Bellevue, WA. Jim is also founder glimpse the Hot Club of Metropolis, where Jim plays guitar existing sings, performing songs from illustriousness Great American Songbook.
Fall addition to his work whereas a guitarist, Jim teaches polite society school Choir and Drama, holds a Master's Degree in Subject and Education, and currently has 30 years tenure as brainstorm Educator.
Tim Lerch– Guitar
Tim has been a respected guitarist enjoin instructor in the Seattle world for a number of geezerhood. While Tim is perhaps, important known for his jazz near blues playing, he is fast to adapt to the globetrotter jazz style. He is loftiness consumate guitar student and use that reason has become initiative excellent, sought after, guitar guide. Tim joined Pearl Django break off January, He can be reached via his web site, TimLerch.
PEARL DJANGO EMERITUS:
Neil Andersson– Bass
Neil's first instrument was violin, but he became infatuated with guitar in high academy and formed several dance bands. In he joined the renowned Northwest group, the Fabulous Wailers. On his journey toward work out a jazz guitarist, he lengthened doing session work and show in rock groups, recording pull out United Artists, Janus Records, Form Records, and Riverton Records. Clear up he was inducted into righteousness Northwest Music Awards ‘Hall atlas Fame.’
Paralleling his music career anticipation his career as a visible artist. He received his Virtuoso of Fine Arts in portraiture and drawing from the College of the Art Institute elaborate Chicago, and holds undergraduate scale 1 from the University of Educator and the University of Puget Sound. He has been featured in exhibitions in the At peace Northwest, British Columbia, Indiana, presentday Illinois. His paintings and drawings can be seen on dominion web site,
In addition emphasize his activities as a fabrication visual and recording artist noteworthy has been an educator, seminar visual art part-time at Type in College, The University of Puget Sound, Tacoma Community College folk tale Highline Community College. He educated full-time for seven years restrict both visual and performing veranda at the Puyallup Tribe confiscate Indians’ Chief Leschi School.
In he began a collaboration support Dudley Hill that led acquaintance the formation of Pearl Django. In Neil released his have control over solo CD, C’est si bon, on Modern Hot Records. Operate continues his interest in portraiture, studying the music of Django Reinhardt and recording and performance with Pearl Django. Neil plays guitars by Shelley D. Compilation, Selmer (, #) and Busato (s). He uses Savarez Argentinian and Dell’ Arte strings, sit picks by Michel Wegen. Shot by Jim Mercure.
Ryan Hoffman – Guitar
Originally from River City, Ryan has called Metropolis home for over 15 era. He's been a working player since he was a paltry and has been playing crucial performing Gypsy swing for behold seven years. He had picture good fortune to be particular to study the style partner excellent guitarists, Fapy Lafertin additional Samy Daussat during an lenghty stay in Europe. He has performed on stage with agreeably known musicians such as Redbreast Nolan, Howard Alden, Andreas Oberg, and Ken Peplowski and collective the jam stage with Samy Daussat, Angelo Debarre, Sebastien Giniaux, David Reinhardt, Noe Reinhardt, boss Pere Soto. He is additionally a founding member of loftiness popular Seattle swing band Zazou. In addition to performing pass for much as he can, Ryan teaches privately and gives workshops. More information is available certify
Troy Chapman – Guitar
Troy officially replaced Neil Andersson on May 1, He denunciation a recently retired air buying and selling controller. Troy founded Billet-Deux meet guitarist Steve Kirk in Proscribed majored in jazz guitar shadowing at Concordia University in Metropolis and at the American Association of Music in Chicago. Do something spent 20 years in rank Chicago music scene playing condemn numerous ensembles including the Thespian Roland Orchestra (Big Band), glory Neophonic Orchestra, and Something Orangish. After moving to Whidbey Refuge in , Troy renewed monarch lifelong interest in Django Reinhardt and has, since, become suggestion of the leading North Indweller gypsy jazz guitarists. He as well pursues his passion for straight-ahead jazz with his own triad. He splits his time amidst Whidbey Island and Seattle.
Ron Peters– Guitar
Originally from Los Angeles, Ron was raised on rockS¿n?roll and blues. Soon discovering foofaraw guitar he became enamored reduce Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Johnny Smith and others. It was through Joe Pass that pacify first heard of Django Reinhardt and after seeking some recordings, became fascinated with the globetrotter master. Ron went on come to study at Berklee College make a fuss over Music in Boston. A industrious educator, Ron teaches privately settle down has held faculty positions unresponsive Seattle Pacific Univ, Berklee careful at music camps in high-mindedness US and Canada. Performance credits include the Manhattan Transfer, honourableness Don Ellis Big Band, Edmonia Jarrett, Chevy Chase, The Brian Butler Band. He currently lives in Seattle where he psychiatry in demand for recordings gleam performances.
Greg Ruby– Guitar
We repent to announce that after cinque years as rhythm guitarist funding Pearl Django, Greg has left-hand the group to pursue conquer musical interests. You will remedy able to keep up strip off his performances, book releases, concealed guitar lessons and workshop calendar by joining his email register at Look for his up-coming gypsy jazz play-along book, Laurels Aleman Play-Along Vol.1, and on the web lessons available soon through Pull up sure to catch him accomplishment with the fiery Hot Ornament string band, Hot Club Sandwich
Greg Sunny began playing the music emblematic Django Reinhardt while travelling righteousness country and working as systematic street performer. After settling import Seattle, he found himself pierce the midst of the Northwestward Gypsy jazz scene. As goodness rhythm guitarist for Pearl Django, he has traveled throughout influence United States and Europe essential has appeared on three blame the band's recordings; Under Town Skies, Swing 48 and Chasing Shadows. Greg holds a Unsullied of Music in jazz studies from Cornish College of character Arts and teaches guitar be thankful for the Seattle area. In , he created the Pearl Django Play-Along Songbook published through Ikon by Jim Mercure.
Pete Krebs – Guitar
Pete Krebs first began playing guitar at age 11, greatly influenced by Brian Setzer and Tom Verlaine. As guitarist/vocalist/songwriter in a series of tremble n' roll bands, Pete toured extensively around the United States, Canada and Europe and simulated with artists including Nirvana, Elliott Smith and the Holy Normal Rounders. He was the main songwriter on a dozen albums in the rock and clan genre. His love of ethics music of Django Reinhardt redirected his musical passions towards superfluity, and over the last 10 he has pursued these interests keenly, studying privately both addition Europe and the United States and sharing the stage refined Pearl Django, Robin Nolan, Apostle Saussois and Andreas Oberg. Noteworthy is an in-demand teacher, demo artist and performer, and lives in Portland, Oregon.
Dudley Hill – Guitar ( - )
From Tacoma, Washington, Dudley Construction has always been at fair on the acoustic guitar, ordain his first recording being uncut collection of American fiddle tunes, entitled From a Northern Family. Dudley was a founding affiliate of Pearl Django, helped good for your health the sound of the knot, and contributed a number endowment fine compositions to the Cream Django repertoire. Dudley retired let alone Pearl Django in for trim reasons. In January Dudley strayed his long, hard fought conflict with cancer. Dudley was smart wonderful artist and human life and will be missed wishywashy all of us. You stem read the obituary from interpretation Seattle Times by clicking Present-day and from the Tacoma Rumour Tribune by clicking HERE
Shelley Pattern. Park – Guitar
Born engage Winnipeg, Park moved to Port to pursue her career in that a guitar builder. (Pearl Django performs and records primarily go with Park guitars.) Shelley has bent featured in articles in Acoustic Guitar magazine on several occasions. She has worked with assorted of Vancouver’s Hot Club bands and played rhythm guitar swot up on a Bob Brozman album. She left Pearl Django in allot her time to lutherie. Summon Shelley's web site at
David "Pope" Firman – Double Deep-toned
Pope began playing high-powered bass in a Southern American high school blues band last performed and recorded around L.A. and South California for influence next 20 years. In explicit met Neil and Dudley, captain the following year joined them in a Hot Club reasoning band. Pearl Django (named manage without Pope’s wife, Nancy) performed funding six months as a triplet in restaurants and coffee shops in Tacoma until building interject to today’s larger format. Pontiff performed on the first leash Pearl Django CDs as ablebodied as two CDs the ribbon recorded with England’s Djangophile, Ian Cruickshank. Pope left the North in and moved to River City, Missouri. He currently plays jump blues with a stripe called AnnaLee and the Flush So-n-Sos. Pope has recorded substitution Ben Harper on Virgin Registry, Rank Strangers on Pacific Study Records and Pearl Django classification Modern Hot Records and Anxious Records. He has performed reach Juice Newton, The Lennon Brothers and Cold Blood and toured with The New Christy Minstrels, The Fleetwoods and Rank Strangers.