Marieke Schuurs grew up with vocal jazz and musical theater as the music in her family's household.  A  University-trained classical singer, her voice has been described as powerfully emotional, smoky and sexy.  She started performing jazz in 2003, with local artists Paul Biondi, Gus Russell, Steve Larson and other Eugene-based jazz players.  She has performed at LaVelle's Wine Bar, Oregon Wine Warehouse Jo Federico's Restaurant, and the Oak St. Speakeasy in Eugene, as well as at Travelor's Cove Restaurant in Florence.  Marieke's style combines the lyricism of 30's and 40's jazz with a contemporary touch.  Each performance is a musical dance with the other players and with her audience.  www.mariekeschuurs.com

 

Gus Russell has been teaching and performing every musical style imaginable; jazz, latin, classical, blues, rock, country, gospel, and showtunes. He is currently on staff at Lane Community College, teaching jazz and piano.  As a soloist, he plays regularly at LaVelles Wine Bar, playing classic jazz, standards and New Orleans piano. He has performed at the Bumbershoot, the Crystal Ball Room, Portland Art Museum, Portland Blues Festival, and the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. He has been a featured artist at the Hinman Winery Jazz Festival, Art in the Vineyard, Chateau Loraine, and others throughout the Northwest.   www.gusrussell.com

 

Steve Larson regularly wows listeners with his creative improvisations and popular music meanderings. He can buckle down to Bach, or launch into the Beatles with equal grace and aplomb. Steve Larsonis the Robert M. Trotter Professor of Music at the University of Oregon. His recordings include a Nebula compact disc with flutist Cynthia Folio entitled Portfolio, to which he contributed compositions, arrangements, and improvisations. As a jazz pianist, Larson has also performed with Cynthia Beal, Harrell Bosarge, Don Latarski, Richard Smith, Ed Wise, and Carl Woideck.

www.uoregon.edu/~steve

 

Paul J Biondi first picked up a saxophone at age eight. Paul performed in jazz bands throughout his high school years and studied at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.  He toured for several years with Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin and Ike and Tina Turner.  He has backed up such artists as Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles.  He played and wrote music as a studio musician in Los Angeles.  Paul currently lives and teaches in Eugene, Oregon.  He is the founder of MEMA, the Musician's Emergency Medical Association.

www.memafund.org          www.pauljbiondi.com

 

Demo Samples:

Song Title	Windows Media Player	MP3
Peel Me A Grape	N/A	Listen
They Can't Take That Away	Listen	N/A
Don't Mean A Thing	Listen	N/A
Music Of The Night	Listen	N/A

Upcoming engagements for 2008:

Bel Ami Lounge, Eugene

Wednesday, April 30, 9 - 11:30 pm.

Saturday, May 24, 9:30 - midnight

Wednesday, June 11, 8:30 - 11:30 pm.

LaVelle's Bistro, 5th St. Market, Eugene

Saturdays, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. as announced

Jo Federico's Restaurant, 5th St. Eugene

Sunday, May 11, 7:30 - 9:30 pm.

Performance Booking: 541-915-7653
Email list for performances: marieke@cantarevoicestudio.com