Originally from Ithaca, New York Park Evans grew up studying with classical guitarist Karl Wolff and British fingerstyle guitar master Martin Simpson. He moved to Minnesota to further his study of classical guitar and composition at Saint Olaf College. Upon discovering the rich music scene in the twin cities and studying with local jazz guitarists Dean Magraw and Kevin Daley he became a permanent resident. Evans performs in multiple groups including genre-bending jazz quartet Enormous, world music ensemble New Primitives, and indie rockers Corey Palmer and Love Trade. He has worked extensively with jazz vocalists Sophia Shorai, and Katie Gearty as well as collaborating with cellists Michelle Kinney, and Jacquelline Ultan. He has played with drummer Elliot Humberto Kavee (Vijay Iyer), John Scofield, and Anthony Cox. His work as a studio musician can be heard on numerous recordings including jazz, rock, alt-country, and folk albums. Visit Park: www.parkevans.net
Graydon Peterson completed his bachelor's degree in music composition at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he studied classical bass with James Clute, a former bassist with the Minnesota Orchestra. While Graydon was a member of the Down Beat award-winning UWEC Jazz Ensemble I, he performed with such guest jazz artists as Lewis Nash, Ingrid Jensen, Jason Marsalis, and Chris Botti. Now a resident of Minneapolis, Graydon is one of the area's top-call bassists, performing nightly with a variety of vocalists and small ensembles including Debbie Duncan, Arne Fogel, Firebell, Snowblind and his own Graydon Peterson Quartet. A consummate accompanist, writer and arranger, he has become one of the backbones of the jazz scene in the twin cities. Visit Graydon: www.graydonpetersonquartet.com
Jay Epstein has an extensive jazz career as a performing, recording, and touring artist. After college, he studied polyrhythmic concepts in Manhattan with Barry Altschul, the drummer in Chick Corea's Circle. He has lived in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, and played in house bands for 5 years on several cruise ship lines. He's been on 8 European tours with pianists Bill Carrothers & Giacomo Aula. Some of the notable artists he has performed with include Barney Kessel, Roseanna Vitro, Manfredo Fest, Sheila Jordan, Terry Gibbs, JoAnne Brackeen, Ernie Watts, Wayne Johnson, Karrin Allyson, Kenny Werner, Howard Levy, Toots Thielemans, Lynne Arriale, Richie Cole, Avashai Cohen, Eric Alexander, and Sarah Vaughan. His CDs, 'Long Ago' & 'Easy Company', featuring bassist Anthony Cox and pianist Bill Carrothers, have garnered luminous reviews in the international press. Current bands include Red Planet, Tall Tales, Framework, Firebell. Visit Jay: www.jayepstein.weebly.com
Graydon Peterson completed his bachelor's degree in music composition at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he studied classical bass with James Clute, a former bassist with the Minnesota Orchestra. While Graydon was a member of the Down Beat award-winning UWEC Jazz Ensemble I, he performed with such guest jazz artists as Lewis Nash, Ingrid Jensen, Jason Marsalis, and Chris Botti. Now a resident of Minneapolis, Graydon is one of the area's top-call bassists, performing nightly with a variety of vocalists and small ensembles including Debbie Duncan, Arne Fogel, Firebell, Snowblind and his own Graydon Peterson Quartet. A consummate accompanist, writer and arranger, he has become one of the backbones of the jazz scene in the twin cities. Visit Graydon: www.graydonpetersonquartet.com
Jay Epstein has an extensive jazz career as a performing, recording, and touring artist. After college, he studied polyrhythmic concepts in Manhattan with Barry Altschul, the drummer in Chick Corea's Circle. He has lived in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, and played in house bands for 5 years on several cruise ship lines. He's been on 8 European tours with pianists Bill Carrothers & Giacomo Aula. Some of the notable artists he has performed with include Barney Kessel, Roseanna Vitro, Manfredo Fest, Sheila Jordan, Terry Gibbs, JoAnne Brackeen, Ernie Watts, Wayne Johnson, Karrin Allyson, Kenny Werner, Howard Levy, Toots Thielemans, Lynne Arriale, Richie Cole, Avashai Cohen, Eric Alexander, and Sarah Vaughan. His CDs, 'Long Ago' & 'Easy Company', featuring bassist Anthony Cox and pianist Bill Carrothers, have garnered luminous reviews in the international press. Current bands include Red Planet, Tall Tales, Framework, Firebell. Visit Jay: www.jayepstein.weebly.com
