These are the featured bands as of January 30, 2009. More will be added as arrangements are finalized.

BED
www.bedjazz.com
BED is the humorous acronym formed by the names Becky, Eddie, and Dan, three close friends who formed a new jazz group with an appealingly-classic-jazz sound. Vocalist Rebecca ("Becky") Kilgore, guitarist/banjoist/vocalist Eddie Erickson, trombonist Dan Barrett, and bassist Joel Forbes have worked in many different groups over the years, both on stage and in recording studios. All four are well known to international jazz audiences through their jazz party and festival appearances, and many recordings.

Audiences quickly fall in love with this group, not only for their musical talent, but also for their ability to connect with an audience through their personal warmth, sharp wit and delightful sense of humor. Treat yourself to nothing but good vibes coming from these sets!

Gonzalo Bergara Quartet
The all-acoustic Gonzalo Bergara Quartet plays a modern variant of 1930s Django Reinhadrt–inspired Gypsy jazz. Argentinian-born Gonzalo spent several years living and playing music in France and touring the world extensively with the John Jorgenson quintet before settling in Southern California. He has created a unique playing style; bringing intense emotion to his music with cascading arpeggios, insightful pacing and variety. His new CD Porteña Soledad has received glowing reviews from around the world. According to Guitar Player Magazine, “Gonzalo Bergara has lavished such care on every phrase, built each arrangement with such lapidary precision and pared away anything extraneous, the music becomes sculpture. It has weight, density, gravity.” Supported by an ace clarinetist and a honed rhythm section, the Gonzalo Bergara quartet is fiery, focused and deeply moving.

Blue Street Jazz Band
www.bluestreetjazzband.com
The Blue Street Jazz Band has been one of the most innovative groups in classic jazz, performing classic jazz, blues, gospel and swing for over 18 years. Original songs and creatively conceived arrangements have been their hallmark, along with the musical expertise displayed by each individual member. Founded by Forrest Helmick and led by Dave Ruffner, former Dixieland Monterey Musician of the Year, Blue Street is unique in that they have three music educators in their line-up. Teaching youth clinics and performing educational shows is a large part of their mission.

The band showcases the singing of the "Siren of the San Joaquin," Ms. Sherri Colby, and although classic jazz is the cornerstone on which the band was built, they have earned the reputation as "The Bad Boys of Dixieland" for their eclectic tastes. They are known for their fast-paced, energetic, fun-filled performances that leave audiences dancing in the aisles.

Carl Sonny Leyland Trio
Carl Sonny Leyland has the boogie in his bones! Leyland grew up in Southampton, England, where the rhythm and sounds of boogie woogie piano captured his imagination. In 1988, Leyland immigrated to America and settled in New Orleans before moving to Southern California. The trio’s rollicking music carries the influences of New Orleans traditional jazz, ragtime, swing and blues.

Cow Bop
With their smokin’ hot vocals, swingin’ grooves and thrilling riffs, Cow Bop delivers the best in Cowboy Jazz. Formed in 2003 by internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso, Bruce Forman, this western bebop band has toured extensively throughout the country, exciting audiences with their unique brand of American music.

In 2004, Cow Bop won the Route 66 Challenge, traveling the length of the storied road having departed with a mere $100 and no scheduled gigs. Their CD, Swingin’ Out West, released in 2004, charted on Americana, Jazz, College and Adult Contemporary radio stations. After their third trek on the famous route Cow Bop followed up with Route 66 in 2008.

Be prepared for horse hairs to fly! (off Phil Salazar’s fiddle bow that is). You won’t be able to resist this local band’s down-home charm.

High Sierra Jazz Band
www.highsierrajazzband.com
Lead by Pieter Meijers and his clarinet, this long-time band with its new sound is a hot West Coast style jazz group, and is still going strong after being a huge hit here in Monterey for the past four years. The band celebrated 27 years together in October and still features the original rhythm section of Bruce, Stan, Earl and Charlie. The band's sustained success is a combination of experience, a book full of fine tunes, and Pieter Meijer's dedicated leadership. Their hard-driving West Coast sound, bolstered by the clean alpine air in Three Rivers, California, always fills the room. Our advice is to get there early!

Howard Alden Trio
www.howardalden.com
Probably the premier jazz guitarist in the world, Howard can be heard on the soundtrack to Woody Allen’s movie “Sweet and Low” starring Sean Penn. He coached Mr. Penn on playing the guitar for his role in the film. Based on his association with seven-string guitar master George Van Eps, he has been playing the seven string guitar exclusively since 1992. His appearance at this year’s festival is especially meaningful to him because as a teenager he played with Eddie Erickson and Gary Ryan at the Warehouse on Cannery Row. Jake Hanna on the drums and Dave Stone on bass round out the trio.

Igor's Jazz Cowboys
www.igorsjazzcowboys.com
Igor entertains with the jazz he played with Benny Goodman, the vocals he sang world-wide with New Christy Minstrels and on national PBS television. His sense of humor has made him a 3-time winner of the Chuck Barris NBC “Gong Show”. He was the 2002 International Yodeling Champion for the Western Music Association and was introduced into the Western Swing Hall of Fame in 2004.

The Jazz Cowboys perform acoustic Western Swing and Dixieland music with guitar, fiddle, horns, percussion and string bass. Just imagine Roy Rogers singing with Louis Armstrong’s band! They recently recorded their 12th album “Best of Show”, a reprise of Jazz Cowboy performances of the past 25 years. The Jazz Cowboys have carried their unique blend of Western Swing to festivals in Holland, Germany, Israel, as well as the US and Canda.

Ivory and Gold
Originally designed as a duo comprised of flautist Anne Barnhart and pianist/vocalist Jeff Barnhart, Ivory and Gold expands to a trio whenever possible to include Grammy-award winning Nashville jazz percussionist Danny Coots. As either a duo or trio, Ivory and Gold promises a unique and diverse musical experience drawing from 350 years of music.
As a duo, Anne and Jeff Barnhart bring much variety to their performances, due in large part to their rapport and their diverse backgrounds. Each holds a master’s in music, but Jeff has concentrated on the American forms of music such as ragtime, jazz and Tin Pan Alley, while Anne’s expertise lies in classical flute literature. They will be concentrating on ragtime, jazz and Broadway this time around. Audiences experience a sonic treat as flute and piano weave seamlessly through the ages, trading melodic and accompaniment ideas in a unique combination.
Ivory and Gold is currently enjoying a busy performing schedule in concert halls and festivals, ceremonies and private engagements. Most recently, they have played to standing ovations in such diverse places as Sun Valley, Idaho, Evergreen and Denver, CO, Sedalia, MO, Medford and Seaside, OR, Clearwater, FL, Victoria, BC and numerous California events including festivals and parties in Mammoth Lakes, Orange County, Monterey, Pismo Beach, Three Rivers and Eureka. Ivory and Gold also performs each year at the prestigious Keswick and Bude Jazz Weeks in England.
For more information about Ivory and Gold’s appearances or recordings, please visit www.jeffbarnhart.com.

The Midiri Brothers Sextet
www.midiribros.com
The Midiri Brothers are leaders of various small group jazz ensembles and also lead a 16-piece big band orchestra, featuring authentic yet creative performances of the music of Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw, Red Norvo, amongst many others, as well as the Midiri Brothers’ own special arrangements in the tradition of the Swing and Dixie eras - all under the direction of clarinetist Mr. Joe Midiri. In 2002, the Midiri Brothers Sextet made their West Coast debut at the Costa Mesa Classic Jazz Festival in California and were the official hit of the festival, so much so that L.A. Jazz magazine stated “the Midiri Brothers . . . rank near the top of swing players who are active today” and “Catch them whenever you can!” as well as “their sextet is one of the most exciting small group swing units around today The Midiri Brothers spirited, jazzy performances are certain to bring back memories for those who remember the heyday of swing, while sure to please and intrigue those new to this exciting style.

Their Sextet’s talented band members are Dan Tobias on Trumpet, Pat Mercuri on Guitar, Jim Lawlor on Drums, and Gary Cattley on Bass.

Mixed Metafour
One of the most successful and well-known of all mixed barbershop quartets, Mixed Metafour has been performing around the world since their formation on New Year’s Day, 1984. Mixed Metafour sings many styles of music, all in unaccompanied 4-part harmony. Whether singing a modern pop tune, a barbershop ballad, a jazz number, a Christmas carol, or the latest from a Broadway show, they harmonize with twinkles in their eyes and sparkles in their voices.

Royal Society Jazz Band
www.rsjo.com
Don Neely and the ten piece Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, from San Francisco, are renowned for authentically capturing the exciting sound of Big Band Swing, Hot Syncopated Jazz, Blues, and music of the Cotton Club. Innovators such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Paul Whiteman, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Bix Biederbecke, and Louis Armstrong are among the RSJO's inspirations. Yet, you will discover immediately upon seeing them live or listening to their recordings, that the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra has an intriguing personality and style of its own.
Dancers are electrified by the sound of the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra. Songs in their repertoire include those written by George Gershwin, Fats Waller, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter, Walter Donaldson, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer and many others from Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, Vaudeville, and the Silver Screen. They are proud to announce the arrival of their new CD, Déjà vu?

Ryan’s Raiders
A few years ago Gary Ryan was asked by the Mammoth Lakes Jazz Festival to put together a group of roving ambassadors for their upcoming festival. He did, and the group is still going. The Raiders, on banjo, reeds and bass, are renowned for exhibiting great musical ability one minute and telling jokes the next. The group makes every effort to include the audience in their performance — you will definitely get your money’s worth. Gary has a long time affiliation with the Monterey Peninsula. From 1964 to 1975 he played his banjo at the Warehouse on Cannery Row. He was Dixieland Monterey’s Honored Musician in 2006.

Sweet Thursday Jazz Band
The Sweet Thursday Jazz Band takes its name from Steinbeck’s Cannery Row sequel and captures the flavor of early jazz days on the "Row." Some of the musicians have been performing in various Cannery Row haunts like Dick O’Kane’s Warehouse, Kalisa’s Café and Doc Rickett's Lab over the past 25 years. The band was formed in 2002 expressly to perform at various functions celebrating Steinbeck’s birth centennial, and has continued on reconfiguring itself (chameleon-like, says Bob) depending on the occasion and the musicians’ schedules.

Leader Bob Phillips, Dixieland Monterey’s Honored Musician-of-the-Year in 2002, is a pianist of great talent, and comfortable playing almost any style of music. He can trace his musical history on the Central Coast to the 1970s when he played with Jake Stock’s Abalone Stompers around Monterey and Big Sur.

Sister Swing
Hello Sister! Sister Swing featuring Leigh Hannah, Valerie Marston and Paula Chafey-Merrill is a fresh, exciting trio of singers backed by a solid 6-piece jazz band playing piano, drums, bass, trombone, trumpet and reeds.

Capturing the Big Band Swing era with influences like the Andrews Sisters, the Boswell Sisters and Manhattan Transfer, Sister Swing joyfully brings their own sweet style to the delight of audiences across the country.

Forming around 1996, Sister Swing brings back the much-loved 3-part harmonies of the 1930’s and 40’s. These nifty gals have played with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, opened for the Glenn Miller Orchestra and received the Best of Sacramento award for Best Swing Band of 2005.

Titan Hot Seven
The Titan Hot Seven remains one of the hottest jazz bands on land and sea! A most versatile ensemble, this band of merry men features traditional jazz, swing, ballads, ragtime, novelty tunes and spontaneous, outrageous humor in every one of their sets. Rather than relying on set arrangements, the Titans tailor their music and mirth to each audience, guaranteeing that every show is full of surprises for everyone, including the performers!
Hailed by fan, musician and critic alike, the Titan Hot Seven possesses a powerhouse ensemble capable of going from a whisper to a roar in the space of one tune. The musicians’ rapport with their audience and each other combines with their hot, hot playing and between tune shenanigans, flooding the band with requests to return to virtually every festival and club they have played. They continue to be featured artists with Jazzdagen tours, bringing their musical mayhem to all corners of the globe!
The band currently has 5 CDs that have garnered A+ ratings from AMERICAN RAG columnist Cam Miller. Don Jones, publisher and editor of THE AMERICAN RAG, calls them “the hands-down best Tent-Packers,” so get there early if you want a seat!!

Tom Rigney and Flambeau
www.rigomania.com
Tom Rigney, the fiery, electrifying violinist/composer, has joined forces with some of the finest musicians on the San Francisco roots music scene to form a band that generates enough heat and energy to ignite a dance floor or lift an audience to its feet. Rigney, after fifteen years at the helm of The Sundogs (and, before that, with Queen Ida's Bon Temp Zydeco Band), has stepped into the spotlight with a vengeance. Flambeau showcases his passionate, virtuoso fiddling, his commanding, charismatic stage presence and his originality as a composer, and, of course, those notorious red boots!

Warren Vaché
With a style that has been described as lyrical, daring, warm and exciting; Warrren Vaché is a supremely accomplished , versatile and rare performer. Astounding audiences worldwide for decades with his superb cornet, trumpet and flugelhorn stylings, Warren utilizes the complete range of the jazz vocabulary.

Having studied with “Pee Wee” Erwin for many years, Vaché developed his own unique style, recording over 35 albums under his own name, including the award winning “2gether” with Bill Charlap.

A charter member of the Juilliard Program for Jazz Studies, Mr. Vaché has performed at many notable venues, including the Blue Note, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Vienna Oper and the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Yve Evans & Co.
www.yveevans.com
Whether performing jazz, blues, or gospel, Yve Evans’ music reaches out and touches the souls of the people that hear it. As a singer and pianist, Yve has performed all around the world and played with some of the greats in jazz. She’s recorded five CDs, all done live and in only one take the way jazz was meant to be.

Yve’s band (she calls it her Company) is comprised of some of the industry's most accomplished musicians. Performances of Yve Evans & Co. show a dedication to the tradition and understanding of jazz and its timeless repertoire. The goal is sharing the sheer joy and freedom that music brings, or at the very least taking the audience on a musical roller coaster ride with Yve at the helm.