Jeff Beavan - Bass
Bassist Jeff Beavan of Grand Rapids, grew up in West Michigan where he first took up guitar. Then, the opportunity arose for him to try bass: "Somebody offered me a gig and I just fell in love with it. I've been playing bass ever since." Another first-call performer, Jeff has worked steadily with the late pianist Eddie Russ, Jr., and vocalist Patti Richards. He's an alumnus of a highly regarded West Michigan group-- "Rags", and is also a veteran of the show circuit. He's backed such notables as George Burns, Bob Hope, and The 5th Dimension. He's shared his skills as a bass teacher and has recorded commercially. His goal, he says, is "to make good music with good people."
Dave Ksychi - Drums & Percussion
Percussionist Dave Ksycki, born and raised in Chicago, started beating on things seriously at age five or six. He was an autodidact--a self taught musician--until he was invited (on a full music scholarship) to study in the Chicago State University Jazz Program with jazz greats Hal Russell and Bunky Green. Dave graduated in 1976 and moved into teaching and performing full time in Evergreen Park, Illinois.
He held down the percussion chair in a five-night-a-week gig at the Matterhorn Supper Club in suburban Chicago. In addition, he worked as an affiliate with Moody Broadcasting for 13 years, as the house drummer there for the live radio concert series The Friday Night Sing. Along the way he played for numerous well-known gospel artists. In 1995 he moved to West Michigan to work as Technical Specialist and Customer Service Representative for Yamaha, the musical instrument manufacturer. He now performs regularly with the River City Big Band, The River Rogues Vintage Jazz Band and is a "first call" drummer on the west side of the state. He continues to make his family and Gospel music a priority.
Steve Little - Guitar
Guitarist Steve Little grew up in the Chicagoland area where he started playing when he was 13. After high school, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied jazz. He says that though he started in folk and blues he drifted his way into jazz and he's been in the trenches for the last 30 years, performing in nightclubs, bars and lounges. He often works as half of a duo because of the control and the intimacy the form affords. In 1985, Steve moved to Charlevoix where he now lives. He has a CD out: Jazzin' It Up.
David Schock - Trumpet & Fluglehorn
Trumpeter David Schock is a frequent performer on the west side of Michigan, where he now lives. Schock grew up in Midland and, from high school, moved into playing professionally with small groups. He has co-led a Dixie group--The Usual Suspects--for more than ten years and has performed with East Lansing pianist Fred Mitchell in a duo for several years. In the less extemporaneous field, he has performed with the Saginaw Symphony, the Midland Symphony, and has taught at the Conservatory of Lebanon.
Schock holds a bachelor's degree in Religion from Albion College, a master's in Journalism from Central Michigan University, and a doctorate in Creative Writing and Literary Criticism from International College where he studied under the late Dr. Russell Kirk. He is a writer and video producer and teaches in the Communication Department at Hope College as a visiting professor.
Steve Stargardt - Piano
Pianist Steve Stargardt has been working with northern Michigan's finest artists for more than a quarter century. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Steve was a member of a musical family: both his father and uncle were professionals. Steve started studying piano seriously in the fifth grade and carried on classical music studies all the way through his graduation from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati (dual majors in education and piano performance.) Along the way he picked up his jazz chops, most especially from listening to Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. Following graduation, he taught for a year, and then went on the road for a year...then back to teach for five years...and then off on the road again.
His next move brought him to Michigan: first to teach at Bellaire and then--for the next 24 years--to teach at Charlevoix. Throughout his teaching career, he's been playing, playing and playing...shows, concerts and club work. His career in education and administration is still a big part of Steve's life, but he manages to find time to broaden his love of music with composing, arranging and orchestrating. And, of course he still plays...boy, does he play!
I've been singing jazz for many years. Standards such as "You Must Believe in Spring" and "Skylark", have found their way into my acoustic music performances and on my folk albums from the very beginning. So it was no surprise when I finally found myself surrounded by a group of intrepid musicians playing jazz. These fine people came to me from around the state of Michigan via several connections. Some of them I knew already, the others seemed to just find me.
