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Damian Erskine is not your ordinary bass player. While not touring, Damian hones his chops with some of the best jazz and latin musicians the West coast has to offer. Damian is known for his ability to fit into any musical situation and his extraordinary reading and improvising skills. Damian has played in the studio or on the stage with the likes of • Peter Erskine • Teri-Lynn Carrington • Gino Vannelli • John Ellis • Shawn Pelton • Sveti w/ Marko Djordjevic • Luis Conte • Brandon Ross • Les McCann • Jeff Lorber • Vardan Ovsepian • Charmaine Neville • Jessy J • Luis Perdomo • Tony Furtado • Kate Schutt • Bobby Torres • Alan Jones • Patrick Lamb • Dan Balmer • Klezmocracy and many others as well as being featured on the GospelChops.com "Shed Sessionz Vol. 1" DVD. Whether playing as a sideman or with his own group, he is known for his rock solid bass work, virtuosic solos and thoughtful chordal abilities.
In 2003, he won the Jazz Society of Oregon Young Musician scholarship. He was the winner of the 2008 Downbeat Award for Outstanding Big Band Performance. His second Trio album, “Ode To Consumerism”, was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2010 Portland Music Awards, the only jazz album in it's category. In late 2009, the Ben Darwish Group was invited to audition at Jazz At Lincoln Center for the Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad program. Although they weren’t chosen as finalists, Darwish used this experience to develop an educational presentation on the history of Jazz that he will be presenting in several schools in the Portland area. Most recently, he was the winner of the 2010 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award for his composition “Under The Bright Red Sky”.
With a career spanning over twenty years, pianist Brian Ward has used his chordally rich and rhythmic style to augment a diverse collection of artists and groups including: Eddie Martinez, Curtis Salgado, Bobby Torres, Shirley Nanette, the Portland Jazz Orchestra, the Oregon Symphony, Donny Osborne, Obo Addy, Thara Memory, Patrick Lamb and Devin Phillips. A composer and arranger as well, he produced his debut recording, Wonderbread, in 2006.
John Nastos was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. There, he studied with local jazz luminaries like Warren Rand, Renato Caranto, and Thara Memory. Before he was out of high school, John was enrolled at Portland State University, studying under Darrell Grant, Alan Jones, Charles Gray, and Rob Scheps.After Portland State, John went on to get his Bachelor’s degree in jazz at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he finished the four-year undergraduate degree in just three years. While there, he had the opportunity to study composition and saxophone with Bob Mintzer, Dick Oatts, Steve Wilson, and Michael Abene.
John has performed around the Northwest and in New York City with groups and artists such as the Mel Brown Septet and B3 Quartet, Gordon Lee’s Big Band, Bobby Torres, Art Abrams Swing Machine, Ben Darwish, and Portland Center Stage. He has played at many major festivals, including the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, Portland Jazz Festival, and Ellensburg Jazz Festival. He currently maintains a busy performing and teaching schedule in the Portland area.
Guitarist Justin Morell has seven CD releases as a leader, including his much acclaimed the music of Steely Dan. Collectively, his CDs feature Russell Ferrante, Peter Erskine, John Daversa, Todd Sickafoose, John Guerin, Alan Ferber, Mark Ferber, and others. He has also recorded or performed as a side man with Todd Sickafoose, Noe Venable, the Alan Ferber Nonet, the John Daversa Big Band, Renee Olsted, Monica Mancini, Kim Richmond, Bob Florence, and many others. He can be heard on television and films, including John William’s score for Catch Me If You Can. In addition to performing as a guitarist, Justin is a composer of jazz and concert music. His Jazz Ensemble was a third-place winner at the international Danish Radio Thad Jones Big Band Composition Competition, and his concert works have been performed by the Fireworks Ensemble, SO Percussion, the Eugene Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and several other groups across the country.
Drummer Reinhardt Melz is by far the busiest drummer in the Portland area. While working nearly every night as most people's "first call" drummer, Reinhardt also keeps a busy touring schedule with pop icon Gino Vannelli. Hailed as one of those rare guys that can play any style with authority, Reinhardt really shines in every setting. Having gigged since before he could drive, Reinhardt has worked with Gino Vannelli, Curtis Salgado, Charmaine Neville, Buddy Guy, Lloyd Jones, Bobby Torres, Victor Little, Reggie Houston, Allen Hinds, Patrick Lamb, Earnestine Anderson, Randy Porter, Tony Furtado and many, many more.
