OUR MUSICIANS
The Basic Quartet
(Our Regulars)
Piano, Clarinet, Drums, Bass
Herb Greenlee - Piano
Bill Rowe - Drums
(Leader)
Bill
realized a life long dream at the age of 50, when he started playing drums under
the tutelage of several active drummers in the area. After a fire burned down
the local nightly jazz hangout (the Bratwursthaus in Arlington), some of the
musicians met weekly at Bill's house to get their licks in. This was the
beginning of the Not-So-Modern Jazz Quartet. (See the Band History) The band
played many gigs in the early years, but in 1985 it started playing regularly at
Jacques Cafe in Arlington, and they were there for eleven years until it closed. Bill
styles himself in the quiet, steady drumming of Zutty Singleton and Dave Tough.
Mike Ritter - Bass, Clarinet, Cornet, Soprano Sax
Mike Ritter played clarinet
and cornet in
high school and in the army, taking second place to Count Basie's drummer in the All-Army entertainment contest.
In the seventies he started playing bass and continued again in the eighties,
touring nationally and internationally with the pop-folk Hard Travelers. Today he plays
bass or whatever is needed, but has rekindled his love
for Chicago style cornet and clarinet, with an occasional blast of Bechet flavored soprano saxophone.
began performing professionally at age 14. Originally trained
by J. Paul Freeman of the US Army Band, he studied music at Syracuse
University (Drum Major of the SU Marching Band), American University and took
private lessons with Oscar Zimmerman at the Eastman School of Music. Ernie
recorded on Decca/Coral Records with "The Empty Set" and has performed with
Jack Jones, Peter Duchin and Country Music Stars "Alabama". A native of
Arlington, VA, Ernie appears with many local groups in the
Washington/Baltimore area.Mort Langstaff - Piano
Mort has been a well known solo piano player as well as a member of many different bands since the early fifties when he was with the Air Force Band. He plays with us when Herb cannot come down from Pennsylvania, and is a regular at our Westlawn Inn gig.
The Plus: Our Associates
At any given time our associate musicians become our regulars. They are all accomplished musicians in their own right and play with us to extend the size of the band or substitute.
Jimmy Hamilton - Baritone Sax, Clarinet
Jimmy
plays in the style of his mentor, Peewee Russell. AS the fourth musician, he
uses his baritone sax to provide the bass line. He has been playing on the jazz
scene for nearly 50 years. He is a regular at St. Elmo’s, and always ready to
play another gig.
Chip Kelly - Rhythm Guitar, Banjo
A
talented guitarist and banjo player who
Joe Shepherd - Trumpet, Flugel Horn
Joe
plays in the style of Bobby Hackett and has been on the jazz scene for decades.
He is a former leader of the Who’s Who Jazz Band. Joe is also an accomplished
arranger. Many of the numbers we play are based on Joe’s arrangements.
Joe is a regular at St.Elmo's.
Dick Parks - Trombone, Cornet
Dick
has been playing a variety of instruments for many years. He fills in on both
instruments when needed, particularly when we are playing Dixieland. He is
a regular at St. Elmo's
Mason (Country) Thomas
- Bass and Tenor Saxophones, Clarinet,
Country
is the consummate musician's musician. He has played many of the big bands,
including five years in Las Vegas. His bass saxophone playing provides the
quartet with both an underlying support bass line and some of the most beautiful
solo work ever heard on this unusual instrument.
Doug Powell - Trombone
Doug
actively plays the jazz scene, and plays with us when he is not playing
elsewhere. His sweet trombone rounds the group off when he is playing.
Gary Carper - Tuba
Gary
is a recent addition to our
group of musicians. He a
well trained musician, having majored in music in college and has played with
many groups over the years. He subs when Mike Ritter is not available
Our Very Able Substitutes
Play with us when our regular members can't.
Gil Brown - Drums
Steve Watson - Drums
**********
Jam Session
Every
Thursday
7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
St. Elmo's
Coffee Pub
2300 Mt. Vernon Ave. Alexandria, Virginia
We are presently in our our 13th year at St. Elmo's
703-739-9268
Our CD is available - goto CDs