JoAnn moved to the Twin Cities in 1989 after a tour as a staff musician on the SS Norway. Arriving in Minneapolis armed with a classical piano performance degree, determination and a ever deepening love of jazz, this elegant, charismatic and sophisticated singer pianist has performed ever since. She has been welcomed to long term gigs at the Orion Room, the Radisson Hotels, Dakota Jazz Club, Zander Cafe, Wayzata Country Club and is currently performing regularly at Jazz in The Lobby Bar in The Saint Paul Hotel, with her longtime bassist Jeff Brueske. She has developed a dedicated fan base of people who love her song choices, voice, out of the ordinary arrangements, piano skills and all around musicality. She is also a performer for corporate and private events, concerts and festivals.
As a singer, JoAnn's distinctively intimate and unique voice is often compared to Norah Jones, Diana Krall or Blossom Dearie, yet her warm vocal style is all her own. With a knack [...]
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Jeff Brueske is truly a multi-talented musician. After completing a masters in guitar performance and pedagogy, he was inspired to take up the double bass by listening to jazz greats such as Charles Mingus and Charlie Haden. He studied jazz bass with Anthony Cox and classical bass with Robert Anderson of the Minnesota Orchestra. Jeff is the co-leader of Sidewalk Cafe, a highly acclaimed bass, guitar and violin trio playing original and gypsy swing jazz. At ease playing any style of music, from classical to all styles of jazz and bluegrass, he is an in demand performer for many groups, shows, concerts and sessions in the Twin Cities. He is also an excellent vocalist, choir director and is a well respected teacher of bass and guitar, both at the college level and through private instruction.
www.jeffbrueske.com
Nathan is a native of Washington, DC. He earned a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music and studied with the Percussion Group Cincinnati at the University of Cincinnati before returning to Washington to teach at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Nathan has performed in a variety of musical settings including performances with the Louisville Symphony, Mannheim Steamroller, the Percussion Group Cincinnati, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Illusion Theater in Minneapolis. Nathan has been performing and recording as a freelance musician in the Minneapolis area since 1988.
Greg joined us and made magic on our recording of Leonard Cohen's Dance Me To The End of Love.
Greg's favorite thing is 1) small group jazz and 2) anything that involves playing the trumpet. He has been playing professionally since the age of 14 and has performed for over 30 years at The Childrens Theater, Chanhassen Dinner Theater, and for a multitude of studio recording projects from jingles to CD projects. Greg also teaches privately and does adjunct instruction in schools and clinics. Greg is well known for his unique and many sized trumpet and plunger collection. He has assured us that the plungers are never used for anything other than music.