Ben Thomas - bandoneon and vibraphone Ben has his Doctorate of Musical Arts in percussion from the University of Washington in addition to degrees from Swarthmore College and the University of Michigan. As a long term dancer of salsa and tango, he has a desire to create music that engages both dancers and listeners. Though his primary instrument is the vibraphone, Ben has become infatuated with the bandoneon. In 2007, he went to the Academia Nacional del Tango in Buenos Aires and studied with several tango greats, including the master bandoneonist, Osvaldo Montes.
Ben has written for jazz, classical, Latin-jazz, modern dance and theater and has four CDs of original compositions available on the Origin Record label. He performs throughout the country and teaches music theory and history at Highline Community College.
Eric Rynes - violin Eric is a favorite of musicians and audiences alike, and has been hailed by critics as "intrepid," "riveting," and "formidable and foxy." He has performed as a soloist in Barcelona, Belfast, Berlin, Chicago, Havana, Rotterdam, San Diego, and many other places; he is also in high demand as a chamber musician. Eric has performed major symphonic works regularly since age 12, often as concertmaster; he has performed under the batons of Barenboim, Boulez, Comissiona, Slatkin, and many others. He received his M.M. in violin performance from the University of Washington, and degrees in physics from the University of Chicago and University of Illinois. Non-classical artists he has performed with include Natalie Cole, Rod Stewart, Sufjan Stevens, and Alice in Chains.
Alex Chadsey - piano
Alex Chadsey started piano lessons at age 7 and continued formal music training through college, receiving a B.F.A. in Jazz Studies with High Honors from the University of Michigan in 2003. While pursuing his degree at UM, he studied with Ellen Rowe, Louis Nagel, Ed Sarath, Donald Walden, and Steve Rush and participated in masterclasses with Hank Jones, Renee Rosnes and Mulgrew Miller. In 2005 Alex relocated to Seattle and soon began working with many of the Pacific Northwest’s finest latin and jazz artists. Highlights included his role as
Musical Director for Joe Santiago and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra in 2007 and 2008. Alex has been featured twice at Meany Hall as part of the University of Washington Visiting Artists in Ethnomusicology Concert Series, in 2007 with Joe Santiago and in 2010 with Laura
Rebolloso. In 2008 Alex traveled to Havana, Cuba for a masterclass with Chucho Valdes. 2010 saw Alex performing, recording, and arranging music for Laura Rebolloso and the East L.A.-based chicano rock group, Quetzal. In September 2010 Alex recorded with Quetzal for their new album, to be released in 2011 on Smithsonian Folkways Records. A new album featuring Alex’s original compositions was released early in 2011 on Origin Records (Q.E.D. Yet What Is Any Ocean, Origin 82583). Most recently, Alex was awarded a 2011 City Artist Grant from the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs to support collaborative work between artists from Seattle, Los Angeles and Veracruz, Mexico.
Jeff Norwood - bass Jeff has been playing the bass since he was twelve years old. Raised on a musical diet of gospel, funk and punk rock, he has since made a career for himself as a flexible freelance bassist in almost every style imaginable. He has performed across the US and abroad, including performances at the Monterey, Earshot, North Sea and Montreux Jazz Festivals. Jeff has studied with Ray Brown and Buell Neidlinger and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in String Performance from the University of Washington.
Ben has his Doctorate of Musical Arts in percussion from the University of Washington in addition to degrees from Swarthmore College and the University of Michigan. As a long term dancer of salsa and tango, he has a desire to create music that engages both dancers and listeners. Though his primary instrument is the vibraphone, Ben has become infatuated with the bandoneon. In 2007, he went to the Academia Nacional del Tango in Buenos Aires and studied with several tango greats, including the master bandoneonist, Osvaldo Montes.
Eric is a favorite of musicians and audiences alike, and has been hailed by critics as "intrepid," "riveting," and "formidable and foxy." He has performed as a soloist in Barcelona, Belfast, Berlin, Chicago, Havana, Rotterdam, San Diego, and many other places; he is also in high demand as a chamber musician. Eric has performed major symphonic works regularly since age 12, often as concertmaster; he has performed under the batons of Barenboim, Boulez, Comissiona, Slatkin, and many others. He received his M.M. in violin performance from the University of Washington, and degrees in physics from the University of Chicago and University of Illinois. Non-classical artists he has performed with include Natalie Cole, Rod Stewart, Sufjan Stevens, and Alice in Chains.
Jeff has been playing the bass since he was twelve years old. Raised on a musical diet of gospel, funk and punk rock, he has since made a career for himself as a flexible freelance bassist in almost every style imaginable. He has performed across the US and abroad, including performances at the Monterey, Earshot, North Sea and Montreux Jazz Festivals. Jeff has studied with Ray Brown and Buell Neidlinger and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in String Performance from the University of Washington.