Homegrown bass player – Spencer Hoveskeland, known locally as the bottom half of the Bottom Line Duo, returns to his hometown to present an afternoon (and evening) of swing style music featuring over a dozen new pieces composed specifically for this event as well as famous jazz, swing, and gypsy standards.

 

Internationally renowned swing violin master Paul Anastasio joins the trio. With Paul comes not only jazz violin history (here’s Paul with Violin legend Joe Venuti and Johnny Gimble) but also one of the greatest western and swing fiddlers ever. Paul’s escapades include tours and recordings with Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Alseep at the Wheel, the Gatlin Brothers, and the Grand Ol’ Opry. Paul is regularly published in Fiddler Magazine, teaches privately and around the nation, and is a respected musicologist for fiddle with an exceptional interest in Mexican fiddle music.

 

Ray Wood -  Pictured here leading the Rhythm Rockets – the NW’s first rock and roll band in 1954. Ray plays all genres of music from rock and roll to gypsy jazz with Hot Club Sandwich and classic jazz standards with Jazz in Blume.  Ray calls Port Orchard home and we couldn’t be happier that he’ll travel to the North Olympic Peninsula to play for and with us! Ray Wood has played the guitar professionally for over half a century and has performed around the world.  As one of the most revered guitarists in the Northwest, Ray is a regular instructor at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop and the Wintergrass Academy.

 

Great combo –

Spencer has recorded and worked with Paul Anastasio for over a decade. They recorded an album (Swinging in Seattle) in 1998 at Bumbershoot. They initially met when Spencer was principal bass of the Whatcom Symphony in Bellingham and Paul came to perform the rare Joe Venuti violin work called Venutia. Since then they have worked together and even toured in Mexico. It was Paul who introduced Spencer to Ray.

            Spencer met Ray in the late 90’s and featured him on the Bottom Line Duo’s Spirit of Christmas CD. National Public Radio picked up a few tunes from that album and you can hear it broadcast each year. Ray is a northwest icon and musically has roots deeper in the northwest scene than any musician could dream to have. Ray not only is a master musician, but a master of all style. His love for music is broadcast through every note and he exudes joy with every phrase. Have you heard Ray before? It is very likely as he has played in every kind of ensemble in every venue and every event ever… everywhere. Spencer was amazed to find that the drummer at his wedding in 1990 played with Ray in the 70’s and his videographer had guitar lessons from him then too!

 

These concerts will be recorded with the end result being the launch of a ‘Live at Harbinger Winery’ series.