Bio's

Mark Noethen on piano and vocals

Originally from Scottsdale, he first studied jazz piano with the great Bob Ravenscroft, and then in Tucson performed with the University of Arizona Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Jeff Haskell from 1976 to 1980. While a graduate student at the University of Rochester he also performed with the Eastman School of Music Jazz Lab Band before returning to Tucson in 1995. He also performs in the North Texas hotbed of jazz with the Texas Instruments Big Band directed by Kris Berg performing with such guest artists as John Pizzarelli,  Eric Marienthal, Delfeayo Marsalis, Tom "Bones" Malone, Chris Vadala, Veronica Swift, Sean Jones, James Morrison, and Alexis Cole, and in venues such as Dallas' Meyerson Symphony Center,  The Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts, and McKinney Performing Arts Center.  He leads his own groups in various local venues and has annual Fat Tuesday NOLA and Holiday Music concerts.

Jay Gewertz on drums

A Dallas native, Jay has studied with jazz greats Tommy Gwin, Ed Soph, Gregg Bissonette, and Colin Bailey.  A graduate of the University of North Texas, Jay currently teaches elementary music and drama in various campuses in both the Richardson and Dallas independent school districts.  He can be heard playing in various bands throughout the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  He's also a songwriter and is currently recording a collection of original children's music.

Among the many Dallas artists that it is our privilege to perform with:

Evan Tom, bass

Chris White, on bass

Alan Green, drums

Bob Pike on drums 

Bob grew up in Denver,Colo. and left at age 18 with the Buddy Morrow band.  He played with several big bands before settling in New York where he studied with Sonny Igoe, Charlie Persip and Jim Chapin.  He played with Kai Winding, Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, Phil Woods and Gene Quill, Marion McPartland, Urbie Green and several other jazz groups.  He was on staff at NBC and did the Bell Telephone hour for two years and subbed on the Tonight show regularly.  He recorded a lot of commercial "jingles" and was a frequent sub on the Merv Griffin show.  He also played at the Radio City Music Hall from time to time.

Gustavo Finessi, bass Gustavo was born in the state of Sao Paulo,  Brazil, and has traveled throughout the Americas with groundbreaking ensembles Bassinova Quartet and Orquestra de Contrabaixos Tropical. A Master of classical music, he is in pursuit of a second degree in jazz studies at the University of North Texas.

Lori Yeary vocalist

Lori Yeary has been entertaining DFW audiences for over 20 years. Lori connects with audiences in a way that draws them in and keeps them listening whether she’s singing Jazz, Country or Musical Theater.  Her style and tone hearken back to the great female singers of the 1940s and ‘50s, while her stage presence and energy breathe new life into the classics. Lori has performed at most of Dallas’ top clubs including The Kitchen Café, Table 13, Balcony Club, Stoney’s Wine Bar, and Soho Food and Jazz. She has headlined with top local artists including William Foley,  Rosana Eckert, Tony Hakim, Mark Noethen, and John Adams to name a few.

Shelly Torres-West vocalist

Shelly began singing jazz and pop at an early age. She studied voice at The University of Arkansas. Her journey took her to Chicago where she became a regular at well know clubs like the Back Room, Redford’s, and The Earl of Old Town among others. Shelly recorded her first album, “Take One,” live at the Back Room in Chicago with her band Wave. Shelly is a regular soloist at Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Dallas. Shelly also sang with Resounding Harmony, a mixed chorus in Dallas and also performed with them at Carnegie Hall and at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Her available jazz CD’s include “Next Step” recorded live in Dallas, Texas in 2001 and a digital remix of her 1970’s album “Take One”. Her first Christian CD “My Heart To Yours” is also available now along with a single digital download of “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” featuring Buddy Shanahan on piano.

Gerhard Kraus Guitar

Gerhard is a recent Dallas arrival , originally from Munich, and has quickly become a highly sought after musician. His awsome facility on guitar with lightning speed......is remeniscent of the great Joe Pass with whom he studied with in New York.

Steve Miller, on bass A west Texas native and lifelong musician, he has played with Razz, Tom Foolery, Heavenly Blue and the Hamblen Bro’s. Gospel Band. His musical influences include Jaco Pastoius, John McLaughlin and Pat Metheny.

Tom Hardison on bass

Tom Studied the trombone as a Music Education major at the North Texas University School of Music.  At the age of 19, Tom left the North Texas area to play bass guitar full time on the road with “Al Pierson’s Big Band USA,” based out of Chicago.  He's been playing full time since then with many Dallas area bands. He has also had recent stints with some jazz big bands including the Pecos River Brass, and the world renown Les Elgart Orchestra.

Jiah Kyun violin

Korean violinist Jiah Kyun was born in Canberra, Australia in 1987. Her early musical studies took place in Central Music School under Moscow P.I.Tchaikovsky State Conservatory before moving to Seoul Music High school and later carried out her undergraduate studies at the Moscow P.I.Tchaikovsky State Conservatory. After graduating from Moscow State Conservatory she moved to Dallas, Texas to pursue a postgraduate Performer's Diploma at Southern Methodist University in the class of Emanuel Borok. She is currently carrying out her Masters of Music in Violin Performance at SMU.