Paul Viani, SaxophonePaul Viani, Saxophone
Paul can attribute mainly being turned on to jazz for life, by having the opportunity to meet the late Dizzy Gillespie, the main sponsor of the Blues Alley Supper Club youth ensemble in Washington, D.C. During high school, he played for 3 years in the youth ensemble, which provided live entertainment at places such as the Wolftrap Farm Park and the Blues Alley Supper Club. After graduating in 1990, he attended Virginia Tech for 5 years, whose jazz program was under the direction of the famous jazz violinist, Joseph Kennedy, Jr. Aside from his own jazz project, the Tangled Trio, Paul was contacted through the music department as a local tenor saxophonist for various touring groups, such as the Shirells, in this college town of Blacksburg, VA. Since relocating to San Diego in 1995, Paul has been a local tenor ‘sub-man’ for other rock / reggae / funk projects such as RA Brotherhood, Deville, Phazz, Pucho and his Latin Soul Brothers, Pink Froyd tribute, Creed (Reggae), and many others here in San Diego. Venues as a sideman have included the 4th and B, the Belly-Up Tavern, Brick by Brick, Winston’s (OB), Blind Melons, Moondoggies, the Onyx Room, Dizzy’s, Juke Joint, and many other San Diego clubs and restaurants. With so many other players styles and ideas to constantly follow, he has continued studying with other saxophone artists, such as Mr. Steve Feierabend and original bop cat, Mr. Charles McPherson.
Joey Carano began his career as a guitarist for various traditional jazz groups on the festival circuit. Between 1989 and 1997, Joey was a regular performer at the Sacramento Jubilee, The Shasta Jazz Festival, the San Juan Island Jazz Festival, and the San Diego Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival. He was a featured player for the DragaVax Connection, Garden Avenue Seven, South Market Street, and Jan Sutherland & Prime Time.
From 1992 to 1994, Joey was also a member of The Bobby Gordon Quintet which developed a popular following at Milligan¹s Bar & Grill in La Jolla. After that, Joey was the musical director and featured performer for two years at Robusto¹s in La Jolla. In 1998, Joey joined the funk fusion ensemble of Karl Denson¹s Tiny Universe. Joey toured the U.S. with Tiny Universe in 1998 and 1999 and plays on the CD, "kdtu". Since then, Joey has played with the Cult of Soul and is featured on the CD "Walking My Planet".
Joey has played with such great musicians as vibraphonist Dave Pike, pianist Mike Wofford, and saxophonist Tony Ortega. Recently, Joey was featured inArt Johnson¹s highly successful "History of Jazz Guitar" series. Guitar guru and good friend, Joe Diorio calls Joey "one of the most interesting guitarists today." Born in Tucson, Joey now lives in San Diego with his wife Stephanie, a social worker.
check out the link to http://www.accretions.com/artists/joscha.asp
Matt Sagen is a classically-trained pianist who first began lessons at the age of four. Having grown up being constantly exposed to jazz, he stopped classical lessons at 12 so that he could pursue a greater understanding of it. He has played with Dizzy Gillespie and John Faddis at the Monterey Jazz Festival, and more recently with Inside Straight (his current project), The Wise Monkey Orchestra, Iota, The Bridge, and others. He can be heard on The WMO recordings of "Blues for Jordy" and the new self-titled CD from Inside Straight. Matt also sings and doubles on the guitar and the melodion. Matt no longer lives in the San Diego area, however, is forever enshrined on this web page...