Dan Zemelman Jazz Trio with Deborah Winters and Rose Hoiland

"While Zemelman possesses a lovely touch and fertile harmonic imagination, what stands out most on the album One Way Or Another is the depth of lyricism that undergirds his group concept....The resulting music is playful, tender, celebratory and consistently engaging, a rare project that compels a second, third and fourth spin."  Andy Gilbert, SF/bay area jazz critic

Composed of three of San Francisco's premier jazz performers, The Dan Zemelman trio is a force to be reckoned with.  Each member of this trio has earned his own right to sit in the spotlight at the beautiful Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley on October 18. 

Dan Zemelman, pianist and leader of the group, has toured the world as a Jazz Ambassador, recorded with blues legend John Lee Hooker, and headlined Yoshi's Oakland three times as well as major jazz festivals in the bay area.  Drummer Greg Wyser-Pratte earned a BM from Northwestern University, has toured Europe with various groups, paid his dues in Chicago with guys like Von Freeman and Bobby Broom, and has appeared on over 20 full-length albums.  Bassist Mike Bordelon has shared the stage with Arturo Sandoval, performed at Carnegie Hall with the Rodolfo Zuniga group and happens to be the most in-demand bassist in the bay area after moving from Florida only a year ago.

At the Throckmorton the trio will be performing exciting new music and interpreting standards in unique ways, harkening to other great jazz trios such as Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau and Bill Evans.  Joining the event is treasured veteran vocalist of Marin Deborah Winters as well as young up-and-coming vocalist Rose Armin-Hoiland, who is part of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.  Wintershas previously sold out the Throckmorton Theater.  She captivates her audiences with emotionally riveting performances, and continues to evolve as a highly talented singer and songwriter.

As if that weren't enough, the electrifying San Francisco based saxophonist Joe Cohen is sitting in for the night.  Cohen has shared the stage with luminaries such as Bobby McFerrin, Arturo Sandoval and Dr. Lonnie Smith and is one of the finest jazz artists in the area.

Deborah Winters

On her soon-to-be released CD, Lovers After All, for the Jazzed Media label, Deborah joined forces with trumpeter/arranger/producer Peter Welker and a stellar cast of Jazz luminaries from San Francisco, New York, Boston and LA. This lofty big-band excursion traverses the vast expanse of jazz history – from the 40s to the present – from some of the best-loved standards to rarely heard gems. In choosing the songs in this recording, Deborah and Peter sought out jazz composers whose pieces provided the ideal platform to showcase her extraordinary versatility and her trademark feeling of intimacy. 

A Bay Area native, Deborah began to perform in San Francisco nearly 2 decades ago with her guitar and original songs.  As she expanded to include Jazz and other contemporaries she met the highly acclaimed pianist/arranger Frank Martin, with whom she collaborated and recorded her first release “live in session.” She released her second original CD, “Inspired.” with award winning  producer/arranger Gary Malkin. Over the years, other collaborations with notable Bay Area greats have included legendary drummer Tony Williams, singer Bobby McFerrin and Brazilian guitarist Jose Neto. 

Variety and versatility characterize Deborah’s ongoing performance schedule as she continues to dazzle and uplift her audiences at Bay Area music festivals, concert halls, churches and house concerts. Her jam-packed teaching schedule attests to the profound impact she has on developing up-and-coming vocalists in a broad array of musical styles.  

Rose Armin-Hoiland

Rose Armin-Hoiland was born and raised in a small coastal town in the redwoods, called Arcata, California. In and around Arcata, she performed regularly with various musicians at bars, clubs, restaurants, weddings, festivals, and other local events. Having moved recently to Oakland, California, she joined the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, fulfilling a dream she has had since the age of six. Rose met Dan at Jazz Camp West, and besides being an enthusiastic fan of his ever since, has had the honor of singing with him on several occasions in the Bay Area. This appearance is no exception to that honor. 

Greg Wyser-Pratte - drums

Drummer Greg Wyser-Pratte played both piano and trumpet before realizing his true passion for the drums at age 18. Following a BM degree from Northwestern University, Greg honed his skills in Chicago where he performed with the area’s top artists, including Von Freeman, Ron Perrillo, Dan Trudell, Bobby Broom, and Ira Sullivan, to name a few.  In addition to his freelance work, Greg is a longstanding member of the Dan Cray Trio and toured regularly with Dave Specter’s blues projects.  Highlights from Greg’s associations include major festivals in both the United States - the Chicago, the Idlewild, and the San Jose Jazz Festivals - and Europe - the Lucerne Blues Festival and the Netherlands Crossing Border Festival.

Greg recently relocated to San Francisco, where he quickly joined celebrated pianist Dan Zemelman’s Quintet, and exceptional vibraphonist Christian Tamburr’s Quartet.  Greg also works with some of the Bay Area’s top jazz and blues musicians including Dayna Stephens, Wil Blades, Mike Olmos, and Steve Freund at regional festivals and clubs such as the legendary Yoshi’s.  In addition to his live performances, Greg is in high demand in the studio, and has received critical acclaim for his appearances on over 20 full-length albums.  Recent releases include Places by Christian Tamburr featuring pianist Eric Reed.  Finally, Greg is an avid educator who enjoys passing his knowledge from these great experiences on to others throughclinics and private instruction.

Mike Bordelon - bass 

Mike Bordelon graduated from Florida International University under a full scholarship and has shared the stage with many notable jazz musicians including Arturo Sandoval, Duffy Jackson, and Wayne Bergeron to name a few. He's performed Carnegie Hall with the Rodolfo Zuniga group and various international festivals with the grammy nominated Negroni's trio. Now living in San Francisco, Mike can frequently be heard playing with the enormously  talented musicians of the Bay Area.

Joe Cohen - sax

Since his arrival in San Francisco in 1999, fresh from the University of Miami, Joe Cohen has been recognized as one of the most electrifying jazz musicians in the Bay area.  A fellow musician once described his saxophone playing as a "fireworks display of musicality and technical accuracy".  He has mastered the delicate balance of passionate energy and practiced percision. 

Joe first picked up his father's old Mark VI alto saxophone at the age of 12, and it wasn't long before he was deeply immersed in the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and many others.  He is ever-learning, ever-evolving, and always in search of new sounds.  "You can't play jazz if you don't know jazz, inside and out, " he is quick to point out.  

Joe is proud to have shared the stage with such great jazz musicians as Bobby McFerrin, Arturo Sandoval, and Dr Lonnie Smith.  He has played locally and abroad, and continues to wow audiences, both near and far.