Making Music With Matt Finders and Friends
Matt Finders & friends
Karen Marguth
vocals: Since relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, Karen has begun singing regularly with Matt Finders & Friends, a collection of busy professional musicians who are also music educators in the East Bay. The group performs and records a range of styles, from straight-ahead jazz, to blues, funk, Motown and soul. Depending upon the gig, they can morph from a tight, mellow trio to a little big-band, with horn section and all.
Recent gigs have included The Sound Room in Oakland, Mr. Tipples in San Francisco, and various wineries including Rock Wall in Alameda and Retzlaff in Livermore.
Currently, they are working on a batch of original tunes, and plan to record them soon.
Meet the Band:
Matt Finders
bass: A former member of The Tonight Show Band, Matt has played with various big bands and in major musical productions on Broadway. He has recorded with the big bands of Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bob Mintzer and Bill Warfield among others, and has also played with Natalie Cole, Harry Connick Jr., Sting, Benny Goodman’s Orchestra, Branford Marsalis, the Woody Herman Big Band and others.
John Whitney
guitar: An educator and singer-songwriter, has combined the worlds of music and public education in a career that has included performing with Etta James, Tower of Power, Marty Balin, and Eddie Money, as well as working as a highly respected school administrator and mentor in Pleasanton Unified School District, at all grade levels from elementary through high school.
John R. Burr
piano: John R. Burr is that rare pianist who combines jazz technique with a genuine love for folk music. His musical diversity has enabled him to tour and record with a variety of artists, including Maria Muldaur, the Alison Brown Quartet, Paul McCandless, Kenny Rankin, Robben Ford, and Michael Manring. Known for both jazz technique and melodic expression, John’s recorded work, which embraces diverse musical genres, has received critical acclaim and inspired audiences.
Kelly Fasman
drums: Professional drummer, drum teacher, and clinician of diverse range, Kelly performs regionally and internationally in big bands, jazz orchestras and combos, musical theater, and rock groups, in addition to studio recording work. She has performed with Kenny Loggins, Peter Cetera, Joan Rivers, The Moody Blues, The Jimmy Dorsey Band, Disney’s High School Musical 2008 Tour, Teatro Zinzanni, starring Joan Baez, and performed at Grammy Awards with Vickie Randle. Kelly has toured and recorded with the Moscow Circus in Musical Circus Fantasia Japan, The Diamonds Korean Tour and the West Coast tour of Dreamgirls. She was the house drummer for The American Musical Theatre of San Jose for 17 years.
Noel Catura
sax: Award winning saxophonist and Selmer Paris endorsing artist, Noel Catura has been performing professionally and teaching in the Bay Area for over 30 years. He has performed with renowned artists such as Mary Wells, John Lee Hooker, Bobby Womack, Charles Brown, Ike Turner, Robben Ford, Ernie Watts, Russell Ferrante, Joey DeFrancesco, and a host of others.