Neil Andersson, guitar
Neil Andersson was born in Tacoma, WA and graduated from Wilson High School in1963. He received his Master of Fine Arts in painting and drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a BFA in painting from the University of Washington, and a BA in Art from the University of Puget Sound.
Neil started playing guitar in high school and in 1964 joined the famous Northwest rock group the Wailers. As a guitarist, he has done session work and played in many groups - recording for United Artists, Janus Records, Etiquette Records, and Modern Hot Records. He is a member of the Northwest Music Hall of Fame. In 1993 he began a collaboration with Dudley Hill that led to the formation of the jazz group Pearl Django; Pearl Django subsequently recorded 10 CDs and maintains its own record label, Modern Hot Records. Neil also released a solo disc, C’est si bon, as well as two collaborations with fellow guitarist Peter Pendras: Malibu Manouche and As the Crow Flies. In 2010 Neil retired from Pearl Django to focus on art and other musical endeavors.
Paralleling his career in music is his work as a visual artist. He primarily paints landscapes in oils, both in the studio and plein air; his paintings have been featured in exhibitions in the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, Indiana, and Illinois. Neil is represented by Jeffrey Moose Gallery in Seattle, and American Art Company in Tacoma. His artwork can be seen on his web site www.neilandersson.com.
In addition to his activities in music and art, he has taught art at Chief Leschi School, the University of Puget Sound, Pierce College, Tacoma Community College, and Highline Community College. He has served on the Tacoma Arts Commission and worked for MetroParks Tacoma in summer arts programs. In 2008 Neil was featured in KIRO TV’s In Color.
Neil started playing guitar in high school and in 1964 joined the famous Northwest rock group the Wailers. As a guitarist, he has done session work and played in many groups - recording for United Artists, Janus Records, Etiquette Records, and Modern Hot Records. He is a member of the Northwest Music Hall of Fame. In 1993 he began a collaboration with Dudley Hill that led to the formation of the jazz group Pearl Django; Pearl Django subsequently recorded 10 CDs and maintains its own record label, Modern Hot Records. Neil also released a solo disc, C’est si bon, as well as two collaborations with fellow guitarist Peter Pendras: Malibu Manouche and As the Crow Flies. In 2010 Neil retired from Pearl Django to focus on art and other musical endeavors.
Paralleling his career in music is his work as a visual artist. He primarily paints landscapes in oils, both in the studio and plein air; his paintings have been featured in exhibitions in the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, Indiana, and Illinois. Neil is represented by Jeffrey Moose Gallery in Seattle, and American Art Company in Tacoma. His artwork can be seen on his web site www.neilandersson.com.
In addition to his activities in music and art, he has taught art at Chief Leschi School, the University of Puget Sound, Pierce College, Tacoma Community College, and Highline Community College. He has served on the Tacoma Arts Commission and worked for MetroParks Tacoma in summer arts programs. In 2008 Neil was featured in KIRO TV’s In Color.
Ron Peters, guitar
Ron Peters is, according to Just Jazz Guitar magazine, a great jazz guitarist who has the ability to play sensitive and melodic solos, and is wonderful at developing a high level of intimacy and creativity in his playing, with unrestrained imagination. He has worked with the world-renowned Manhattan Transfer, Chevy Chase, Debby Boone, The Don Ellis Orchestra, as well as the internationally acclaimed local gypsy jazz group Pearl Django, just to name a few.
Fellow guitarist Bill Coon, of Vancouver BC, with whom he teamed up to create the award-winning (top ten NW jazz) album No Boundaries has this to say: "Ron Peters is a guitarist with a beautifully warm sound who understands the value of melody.... Ron plays swinging and engaging solos, is a superb accompanist and has a great feel no matter what style of music he plays."
An alumnus of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ron has studied with such greats as Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, Mick Goodrick and Ted Greene. He has numerous album credits to his name and has also been featured on many radio and TV commercials.
Fellow guitarist Bill Coon, of Vancouver BC, with whom he teamed up to create the award-winning (top ten NW jazz) album No Boundaries has this to say: "Ron Peters is a guitarist with a beautifully warm sound who understands the value of melody.... Ron plays swinging and engaging solos, is a superb accompanist and has a great feel no matter what style of music he plays."
An alumnus of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ron has studied with such greats as Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, Mick Goodrick and Ted Greene. He has numerous album credits to his name and has also been featured on many radio and TV commercials.
James Garlick, violin
Violinist James Garlick was born in Port Angeles, Washington and began studying violin at age five. Since graduating from the Oberlin Conservatory, he has been in increasing in demand as a soloist, chamber musician and concertmaster. James is Concertmaster of the Cascade Symphony, and frequently performs in the same capacity with the Northwest Sinfonietta chamber orchestra. He is also a member of the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, has performed with the Seattle Symphony, and is an artist with the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation, whose aim is to support emerging talent.
James recently made his Carnegie Hall Concerto Debut performing the Saint-Saens Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso to a packed house in the Issac Stern auditorium. 2009/2010 season highlights include concerti of Mendelssohn, Piazzolla, and Vivaldi with the Northwest Sinfonietta, Seattle Baroque Orchestra and the Octava Chamber Orchestra, as well as multiple recital appearances. James is winner of the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle Solo Competition, and was a semifinalist in the Stradivarius International Violin Competition where he was one of fifteen competitors from around the world.
A 2006 graduate of the Oberlin College and Conservatory, James earned a double degree in both violin performance and neuroscience. He was frequently concertmaster of the Oberlin Orchestras and award winning Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, and has worked closely with conductors such as Robert Spano at Carnegie Hall and Sir Simon Rattle. James studied with Gregory Fulkerson at Oberlin, and was a full scholarship student of Paul Kantor at the Aspen Music Festival..In his free time, he enjoys long distance running, hiking, skiing and sailing.
James recently made his Carnegie Hall Concerto Debut performing the Saint-Saens Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso to a packed house in the Issac Stern auditorium. 2009/2010 season highlights include concerti of Mendelssohn, Piazzolla, and Vivaldi with the Northwest Sinfonietta, Seattle Baroque Orchestra and the Octava Chamber Orchestra, as well as multiple recital appearances. James is winner of the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle Solo Competition, and was a semifinalist in the Stradivarius International Violin Competition where he was one of fifteen competitors from around the world.
A 2006 graduate of the Oberlin College and Conservatory, James earned a double degree in both violin performance and neuroscience. He was frequently concertmaster of the Oberlin Orchestras and award winning Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, and has worked closely with conductors such as Robert Spano at Carnegie Hall and Sir Simon Rattle. James studied with Gregory Fulkerson at Oberlin, and was a full scholarship student of Paul Kantor at the Aspen Music Festival..In his free time, he enjoys long distance running, hiking, skiing and sailing.
