Photos
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Upcoming Appearances
None Posted
Past Appearances
- Wednesday, May 02, 2012
- 5:00PM - Wine Tasting Party
- Portland, OR
= Booked through GigMasters
- Location:
- Eugene, Oregon
- Travel Radius:
- Will travel up to 500 miles from Eugene.
- Pay Range:
-
$150-$1000 per event
- Member Since:
- 2011
- Primary Category:
- Jazz Band
- Additional Categories:
- 40s Band, Americana Band, Ballroom Dance Music Band, Broadway Band, Cabaret Band, Cover Band, Dance Band, Latin Band, Smooth Jazz Band, Swing Band, Variety Band, Wedding Band
- Influences:
- Ellington, Gershwin, Rodgers, Arlen, Monk, Davis, Sinatra, Jobim, Glass, Beatles, Armstrong, Copeland
Group Members
- Allan Stuart - Piano, Keyboards, Vocals
- Connor Hopkins - Drums and Percussion
- Terry Takahashi - Acoustic and E Bass
- Marieke Schuurs - Vocals
- Tony Johnson - Saxes
Description
ElegantM is a vintage style jazz ensemble with a fresh millennial twist. Featuring a line up of original jazz songs that have an effervescent sound, engaging to both music lovers and dancers. Vocalist and lyricist Marieke Schuurs combines with pianist Allan Stuart and Sax/Flutist Tony Johnson to create flowing combinations of melody and harmony. Bassist Terry Tokohoshi uses both upright and electric to lay the right groove. Percussionist Connor Hopkins lays the foundation for all with an array of hand drums and the traditional trap set.
In addition to their growing repertoire of tracks ElegantM covers a wide variety of standard and progressive jazz, funk, R&B, and latin with pop and a little country thrown in. Allan sings with Marieke to offer variety and harmony, and the sax leads weave throughout. Tony plays Tenor, Alto, and Soprano Saxes and Flute to give even more sonic variety and add emotional color.
The band is very experienced in virtually all types of event and venue from corporate affairs to night clubs. For weddings and other programmed events, Within the group are solo piano and classical voice, and flute for ceremonies and presentations. Refer to our websites for further bios on Allan, Marieke, Connor, and the Ash Trio.
Embedded within ElegantM are smaller combos under the name the Ash Trio (or duo, quartet, etc.). It can be bass piano and drums, piano and vocalist, piano and sax, or whatever combination suits your fancy. All will play with virtuosity, professionalism, and joi de vivre to bring the excitement of live original music to your affair. Playing live original tunes for a live audience is the best!
Allan has spent over 25 years as a pianist and entertainer in Colorado, Oregon, the Caribbean and Europe. He has shared stages with John Denver, Tom Petty, Ray Charles, Judy Collins, The New York Philharmonic and troops from The New York Metropolitan Opera. Now living in Eugene, Allan works as a composer for the TV and film industry when not playing piano around town.
By day a research scientist in biological acoustics, Terry steps out to study the acoustics of bass with the Trio. Playing many styles including jazz, funk, and Latin music with a variety of ensembles, he has performed throughout the west coast for the last 15 years. Terry brings his experience to the Trio's sound, playing with unusual sensitivity and awareness - and with a whole lot of fun.
Not only master of rhythm, Connor is an engineer of it as well. When not playing and teaching, he runs a drum design and construction company that is at the cutting edge of hand drum development. As an educator, he teaches privately and travels across country to run clinics and seminars. With his experience playing both standard drums kits and hand percussion, Connor has a flexibility that is rare. For more than decade he has played with a variety of working groups in Oregon and North Dakota.
Vocalist Marieke Schuurs, Allan's partner in the ElegantM songwriting duo, brings the finest vocal jazz to the group. Popular in Oregon, Markieke's virtuosity adds excitement and color, emotion and meaning to a wide range of the best classic and original songs. Marieke, an accomplished teacher, runs the Cantare Voice Studio, sharing her expertise with many leading and aspiring singers in Oregon and beyond.
Saxophonist Tony Johnson interprets the soulful repertoire with the best. Tenor, Alto, Soprano, and Flute, are all featured, giving the music soaring leads, depth and texture. Extremely well educated in jazz lore, Tony draws on a rich life of performance and study to render his memorable performances.
- With Guitarist Mike Radliff on hand, the band becomes a big ensemble, capable of rocking out a bit, or smoothing dance beat. Both players bring outstanding chops and musicianship.
The Ash Trio is a utility band that plays dances, dinners, receptions, festivals, and stages, always with the repertoire that fits, a volume that's right, virtuosic excitement, and a love of music and fun that connects with all music lovers.
Song List
Available For:
Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Clubs, Cocktail Parties, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Halloween Parties, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Reunions, School Assemblies, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.
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