September 16

Stone Gossard
Photo credit: Anna Knowlden

Stone Gossard
Stone Gossard lives in Seattle where he works and remains active in various philanthropic and artistic endeavors. A founding member of the internationally acclaimed band Pearl Jam, Stone Gossard has been creating and performing music for well over 25 years. Highlights of Gossard's music career include Green River (1984−1987), Mother Love Bone (1987−1990), Pearl Jam (1991−current), Brad (1992−current) as well as various solo projects including his solo album, Bayleaf, released in 2001. A committed environmentalist, Gossard has quietly worked to use his influence to effect change locally and internationally through direct involvement in many environmental and socially conscious issues. A brief snapshot of Stone Gossard's philanthropy and activism includes Wild Salmon Center, Conservation International, Carbon Portfolio Strategy (part of Pearl Jam's ongoing efforts to advance clean renewable energy and carbon mitigation, Cascade Land Conservancy, New Apollo Energy Project, Honor the Earth, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Vote or Change Tour Alternative Energy Projects, Arts Corps, Doctors without Borders, Northwest School, Green Empowerment, Seattle Alliance for Education, Youthcare, Punkvoter, Choice USA, Future of Music Coalition, CARE, Red Feather Development Group, Partners in Health, People for Puget Sound and Northwest Harvest.

Vince Mira

Vince Mira
Country/Americana artist Vince Mira's rise to fame has captivated America. Born in Los Angeles, California and raised in San Antonio, Texas the young singer/songwriter Vince Mira, was discovered by entertainment producer Chris Snell (creator of famous Seattle night club, Can Can) while playing for tips in Seattle's Pike Place Market. He is now a household name. His first album was produced by John Carter Cash (Johnny Cash and June Carter's only son) and recorded at the Cash Cabin (built by Johnny Cash) in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to the completion of recording "Cash Cabin Sessions" the Vince Mira buzz began to spread followed by a media frenzy. First featured on KOMO News in Seattle, Washington, KOMO's affiliate, Good Morning America, picked up the story immediately... 2 weeks later Vince captured the nation with a breathtaking live performance in front of over 5 million viewers. Subsequently, the Ellen DeGeneres Show aired his Good Morning America clip where Ellen personally invited Vince to the Ellen Show during their national broadcast the same day... two weeks later Vince received a standing ovation on the show while performing in front of millions of viewers during yet another outstanding live performance. Mr. Mira's other television appearances include BBC, Inside Edition, Northwest Afternoon and Univision (KOMO's Spanish affiliate); as well as features/cover stories in print media outlets such as Seattle Sound Magazine, Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, and many others. He recently recorded with Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam for Stone's upcoming "Hank Williams Tribute" CD. Recent and upcoming shows include shows with artists such as Wanda Jackson and Stone Gossard and venues/festivals such as Sasquatch Music Festival Mainstage, Bumbershoot, Seattle's Seafair, Folsom Prison, Showbox (WA), Avalon (LA), Wilbur (Boston), Grand Ballroom (SF), Warsaw (NYC).

Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith is a Seattle−based songwriter, vocalist and musician in several bands (Brad, Satchel, Pigeonhed) and also as a solo artist. In 2005, Smith unveiled a musical project called The Diamond Hand involving many musicians. He also has worked with Thaddeus Turner (formerly of Maktub and many other projects including Brad) under the name Forever Breakers. Shawn's newest band is now called All Hail the Crown, formerly called From the North which he formed with core members of Malfunkshun (Regan Hagar, Kevin Wood, Cory Kane) and the lyrics left by the late Andrew Wood.

The Droge & Summers Blend

The Droge & Summers Blend
Pete Droge and Elaine Summers were married by Judge Judith Hightower at the Municipal Court of Seattle in 2008. Being the musical couple they are, it was only natural that they write a song about it. The resulting light hearted "Tie The Knot" is the closing track on their new EP, THE DROGE & SUMMERS BLEND- Volume One.

Though this is the first record they have made where both of their names appear on the front cover, the couple are long-time collaborators. The bride has lent backing vocals, guitars and percussion to all of Pete's albums and tours since his 1994 debut, Necktie Second. The groom has served as producer on two of Elaine's albums and the two have collaborated on film scores, music for advertising, and producing other artists at their home studio, located on an island near Seattle.

Friends know that "Pete and Elaine" are not three words, they blend into one: petenelaine. That is the essence of this project. The operative word is "blend," the sort that you can only achieve after having lived and worked together so closely for so many years. This is music born of a deep bond: It's what holds it together. It's there in the spaces between the words, and in the places where one voice blurs with the other to become something new. Visit www.puzzletreemusic.com/store to listen.

Barbara Ireland

Barbara Ireland
Seattle's Barbara Ireland began her musical career at age 16 performing in Gordon Raphael's early brain−child, Mental Mannequin. Shortly after, Barbara joined the seminal glam−punk band, The Fags, as bassist and vocalist. Over the years she has continued to develop her talents by composing soundtracks, singing and performing jazz standards, as well as playing classical harp. Over the past two years, Barbara has had the immense joy of singing with Stone Gossard in The Hank Khoir. She also performs with the newly−revised glitter−rock version of The Fags, now called Darling Darlings. Most recently, Barbara's love of old−school soul, early 1960s girl groups, and slinky jazz tunes fueled her desire to create her newest combo, Sonic Section.

Dejha Colantuono

Dejha Colantuono
Dejha Colantuono is a singer, songwriter, performer, arranger, and icon in her own right. Born in New York City to accomplished jazz musicians, Dejha got her start very young, absorbing the influences around her. These influences would lay the foundation for her innate ear for writing and playing music. Dejha was self-taught in most respects, wearing many musical hats, playing drums, bass, keyboards and guitar, in addition to developing her signature soulful yet undeniably rock-and-roll vocal style.

She cut her teeth in the early Seattle music scene. Her powerhouse vocals and emotionally wrought lyricism quickly earned her a reputation as one of the city’s up-and-coming musical talents. She formed and fronted some of Seattle's more noteworthy bands including 3-D S&M, the Pin-Ups, Rotten Apples, and Ragazza. All of these bands included a rotating cast of Seattle all-stars (members of the Briefs, PUSA, and Blind Melon to name a few), but the defining anchor in all of them was Dejha's unmistakable voice and songwriting talent. Her signature vocals and hooks manage to be simultaneously raw, with visceral intensity and yet infused with undeniable sing-a-long pop appeal. Dejha's many projects have allowed her to work with such production/engineering luminaries as Adam Kasper (Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Rolling Stones), Martin Feveyear (Briefs, PUSA, Mark Lanegan, Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age), Matt Bayles (Minus The Bear, Isis, Mastodon), and Jamie Siegel (Taking Back Sunday, Mary J. Blige, Spacehog, Lauren Hill).

She has toured the West Coast and Europe extensively, played SXSW, and recorded and co-produced an impressive collection of full-length albums. Some of her recent projects include a songwriting/recording collaboration with Joey Veneziani in the electronic band Ragazza, as well as singing and performing in Stone Gossard's Hank Williams Choir. Dejha is now working diligently on her solo career. She recently recorded and co-produced her debut solo album Tea & Vodka with Matt Bayles at Red Room Studios in Seattle. Tea & Vodka boasts an eclectic mix of different styles and influences. The material is David Bowie, Sade, Prince, Chrissie Hynde, Bjork and Deborah Harry pondering melodies in a smoke filled, dimly lit opium den. It’s an integral, provocative view into the heart of a multifaceted artist, delivered with pathos and unabashed, passionate honesty. Dejha is currently based in Brooklyn, New York where she is preparing for her summer tour in support of Tea & Vodka (out July 28th 2009 on Mad Meow Music)

Lonnie Marshall

Lonnie Marshall
Lonnie Marshall has recorded and played with Joe Strummer(the Clash), George Clinton(P−Funk), Stone Gossard(Pearl Jam), Flea and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, Macy Gray, Les Claypool, Perry Farrell(Janes Addiction), Lebo M.(Lion King), Bette Midler and many more. Lonnie Marshall's band WEAPON of CHOICE has played shows with RHCP, Pearl Jam, George Clinton, Ice Cube, RunDMC, ZIGGY MARLEY, INCUBUS, PRIMUS, NO DOUBT, 311, Sublime and more. Lonnie also put band together for Snoop Dogg Jay Leno Tonight Show appearance.

Hans Teuber

Hans Teuber
The son of two professional musicians, Hans Teuber came to Seattle in 1988 and has established himself as one of the Northwest's top−call musicians. He has been a mainstay on the Northwest jazz scene for more than ten years working with Jeff Johnson, Clay Giberson, and other others who lean toward progressive and contemporary jazz. Over the years he has performed with many of the greats, from Dizzie Gillespie to Ani DiFranco. A member of the Orchestra de Ville, Teatro ZinZanni's house band, Hans also teaches at Cornish College of the Arts.

Scribes

Scribes
Scribes is a 21 year old local hip hop artist who has performed at venues and events all over Seattle. He has been writing and recording music since he was 16. He has a multi dimensional sound that is a cross between lyrical, smooth flowing hip hop and melodic R&B/Soul. He's organized and promoted a number of his own shows and opened for ascts such as Zion i, RZA, Andre Nikatina, and The Wu−Tang Clan. Scribes released his first album "Sleepwalk" in 2007 and released his most recent EP "Summertime Sampler 2009" in May of 2009. He is planning on releasing a full length album, largely produced by local producer Bean One, sometime in 2010.

Skerik
Skerik (born Eric Walton) is a saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, Skerik is a pioneer in a playing style that has been dubbed saxophonics. He is a founding member of Critters Buggin, Crack Sabbath, and Garage a Trois (including Stanton Moore, Charlie Hunter and Mike Dillon, recently featuring Marco Benevento). Skerik has been a member of, performed frequently, or toured with the following: Les Claypool's Fancy Band and Frog Brigade, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Dumpstaphunk, Johnny Vidacovich, Fred Wesley, Mike Clark, The Headhunters, Bobby Previte, Ponga, Joe Doria, Sadhappy, Tuatara (with Peter Buck), Mad Season, Roger Waters and many others.

Skerik leads Seattle−based "punk−jazz" ensemble Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet. He also co−leads New Orleans−based Maelstrom Trio (including long−time duomates keyboardist Brian Coogan and drummer Simon Lott). The Maelstrom Trio combines disparate elements such as free jazz, funk, metal and textural music.

Skerik and percussionist Mike Dillon often perform as a trio with alternate third members. National tours have included keyboardist Brian Haas and bassists James Singleton and Brad Houser.

Keith Lowe

Keith Lowe
In over thirty years of playing I have yet to meet a musical style that I didn't like. I've played and recorded in many different genres, including orchestral, pop, rock, electronic, folk, bluegrass, jazz, roots, blues, and country. I like to think this has resulted in a wide ranging, comprehensive, and eclectic style. I've recorded and/or toured with such people as Bill Frisell, David Sylvian, Russell Mills, Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, Steve Dawson, Stone Gossard, Mount Analog, Danny Barnes, Orville Johnson, Fiona Apple, Dave Mathews, Jim Byrnes, Crack Sabbath, Duffy Bishop, and many others.

D'Vonne Lewis

D'Vonne Lewis
D'Vonne Lewis is a self−taught drummer with a background in gospel, funk, and rhythm and blues. Lewis graduated from Seattles Roosevelt High School where he has received numerous high school jazz band awards, including outstanding soloist at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival for the years of 2000, 2001, and 2002. In early 2007, he was awarded the Seattle Jazz, Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Award for Emerging Artist of 2006. Lewis has performed with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Marian McPartland, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, vocalist Dee Daniels, jazz clarinetist Eddie Daniels, Larry Fuller, and out−sax titan Charles Gayle. Lewis plays in several bands around the puget sound exploring a broad range of music styles including jazz, funk, African, Brazilian, hip−hop, and r&b. In the fall of 2004, the D'Vonne Lewis Quintet was featured at the Earshot Jazz Festival. He now leads his own quartet, Industrial Revelation; and his own trio Triplication. D'Vonne is a regular member of Marc Seales' Quintet; Skerik/Doria "McTuff"Quartet;(a tribute band to Jack McDuff) Seattle's soul queen Choklate; Seattle's Blue Scholars; and last but not least, the Hadley Caliman Quartet. www.dvonnelewis.com

Regan Hagar
Regan Hagar was the drummer in Malfunkshun from 1980 to 1988, featuring Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone on vocals and Kevin Wood on guitar. Hagar has also performed in Satchel with Shawn Smith and Brad with Shawn Smith and Stone Gossard. In 2006 Regan Hagar recorded an album as From The North with Shawn Smith, Kevin Wood and Cory Kane. This was a music project that used new music alongside lyrics left by the late Andrew Wood.

Peter Pitofsky

Peter Pitofsky
Uncanny timing, a malleable face and a willingness to do anything for a laugh have all earned American clown Peter Pitofsky the title of "Human Cartoon." His years of street theater on the infamous Venice Beach walk, along with go-for-broke stand-up sets at L.A.'s Comedy Store, earned him opening slots with some of comedy's heavyweights, including Mel Brooks, Jay Leno, Penn & Teller and more. Peter has performed at Teatro ZinZanni since 2002.

Vertical Tango

Vertical Tango
Sam Payne (U.S.) and Sandra Feusi (Switzerland) have received the highest possible acclaim for their astonishing, sensual "Vertical Tango." They received a gold medal at the 2005 Festival Mondial de Cirque du Demain in Paris, a silver clown at the 2008 Festival International du Cirque de Monte Carlo, and the Bay Area's Isadora Duncan "Best Choreography" Award in 2005/06. The couple trained at the San Francisco Circus Center, and began performing with San Francisco's Pickle Family Circus in the mid nineties. They toured worldwide for five years with Cirque du Soleil's production Saltimbanco, spent a season with Switzerland's national circus: Circus Knie, and have performed for television and live events in Europe, the US and Japan. They are the exceptionally proud parents of a new baby girl, Luca Selina, and are currently appearing in Bottega ZinZanni at Teatro ZinZanni.