Modesto Briseno Septet
The Modesto Briseno Septet is a versatile group, available for parties, weddings, corporate events, concerts, festivals, etc. We offer a client a wide variety of music. Anything from soft background jazz to dance music. Choices can range from R&B, to latin jazz music, to swing music. The band is made up of seasoned pro's with years of experience. I enjoy discussing and coming forward with selections that a client may request. In addition to an amazing four horn front line, and a stellar rhythm section of the bay areas best, the band features sax man and vocalist, Danny Hull. With this combination. we offer a Sinatra review as well as blues and pop tunes. Female vocalist are available at request. With this unique combination, the band offers up a sound that can be as large and full as a big band or as cool and sensitive as a small combo. The band presents itself in a professional and punctual manner. It is very clear to band members that any and all issues that may present themselves are brought to my attention and dealt with from there. We offer a full sound system and stage lighting when needed. Looking forward to workng with you, Modesto Briseno.
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Modesto Briseno
Modesto is a 3rd generation musician whose father played with Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, Harry James, Red Norvo and others. Modesto has performed with Tom Harrell and has been a member of the Ray Charles orchestra, the Chris Cain band, the Smith Dobson Quintet plus the Full Faith and Credit big band.
Moe recently did an extensive tour of the United Kingdom and he has done extensive touring throughout Europe and Asia. Moe has performed in the famed Lional Hampton room at the hotel Meridian Paris and he has played in numerous Jazz Festivals throughout the world including those in Nice, Toulon, Crest and St. Gervais in Europe, plus US Jazz & Blues festivals in Monterey, San Francisco, San Jose, Washington DC, Little Rock and Memphis. Locally Moe has played at Yoshi's, the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Jazz at Pearls and the Garden City.
Moe has had an extensive recording career with such artists as Chris Cain, the San Jose Boptet, Nitecry, Mark Whitney, Vince Gomez and Vocal Flight. In addition to playing with the GROOVE Doctors, Moe can also be heard with his own Jazz quartet, The Modesto Briseno Quartet. Moe has served as jazz educator with the Stanford Jazz program and the San Jose Jazz Camp.
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Jason Lewis
Drummer MB Septet Jason Lewis graduated from the classical percussion program at San Jose State University, under the direction of Tony Cirone of the San Francisco Symphony, with a B.A. in music. Mr.Lewis has taught privately in the bay area, coached at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, and has performed clinics at schools throughout the San Jose area.
He has played with a variety of talented musicians including; John Stowell, Gary Burton, Gil Goldstein, James Moody, Mark Murphy, Bob Sheppard, Steve Rodby, Paul McCandles, Norma Winstone, Larry Coryell, Darol Anger, Regina Carter, Johnny Frigo, James Carter, John Handy, Anton Schwartz , Mark Levine, Peter Apfelbaum, Paul Nagel, and Kurt Elling. Mr.Lewis has also performed with the San Jose Symphony and the San Jose Civic Light Opera.
Besides performing throughout the San Francisco Bay Area with many groups, often with bassist John Shifflett , Mr. Lewis has toured and recorded with Boz Scaggs, Michael Brook, Djivan Gasparyan, Ann Dyer and Taylor Eigsti. He can be heard on numerous recordings as well as TV (Spark on PBS), Video Game (Godfather 2) and Movie Soundtracks (Affliction, Albino Alligator, Ratatouille-”Our Friend the Rat”).
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John Shifflett
- Bass for MB Septet. John Shifflett almost received an M.A. in music from the University of Iowa, where he also taught Jazz Studies and directed big bands. He is currently an instructor at San Jose State University, teaching bass and small ensembles. He has done countless studio sessions ranging from radio and TV jingles to jazz and country and pop recordings.
His show business experience includes tours with Frankie Avalon and the Ringling-Barnum & Bailey circus, several seasons with the San Jose Civic Light Opera, and many engagements with stars such as Dinah Shore, Mel Torme, Jerry Lewis, Dionne Warwick, the Smothers Brothers, etc. His primary focus, however, has always been jazz. He has performed with the likes of Dave Liebman, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Red Holloway, Ernie Watts, John Zorn, Kim Richmond, Madeleine Peyroux, Kurt Elling, Norma Winstone, Tom Harrell, Bobby Hutcherson, John Stowell, Harold Land, Kendra Shank, and others.
In the Bay Area he can be heard with Boz Scaggs (and CD), Eric Crystal, the Mike Zilber/Steve Smith quartet (and CD), the Scott Amendola Band (and CD), the Taylor Eigsti Trio (and CD's), the Paul Nagel Trio (and CD), the Dave MacNab Trio, Ann Dyer & No Good Time Fairies (and CD's), the Will Bernard Quartet (and CD), Anton Schwartz (and CD's), Ray Brown's Great Big Band, Ben Goldberg, Tim Volpicella (and CD), and many others.
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Dave Gregoric
Trombone for the MB Septet. Dave Gregoric has recorded with Pete Escovedo, Andy Narrel, Buddy, Montgomery, Cab Calloway, Della Reese, Smith Dobson, Ray Brown, Dave Eshelman, Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra and has performed with The Temptations, Dave Pell, Med Flory, Big Lou and the Polka Princess, Jimmy Heath, Confunktion, Bobby Watson, Cyndi Lauper, Gerri Allen, Sheila E., Guy Lomardo, Modesto Briseno, Michael W. Smith, Louis Bellson, Steve Turre, Twyla Paris, Frankie Valle, The Drifters, Sapo, Disneyland, Great America, Vic Demone, Jamie Davis, Jamie Davis, Ron Konali, Martha and the Vandelas, Dick Bright’s SRO, Little Anthony, Princess-Royal Norwegian-Western cruise lines, Circus Vargas, and the Bentley Brothers Circus. Dave has taught all levels of music at Valley Christian Schools for 14 years.
His groups have received Command Performances at the Reno, Monterey Next Generation, Folsom, San Jose,and Campana Jazz Festivals. The Valley Christian Jazz Ensemble will perform at the 2009 Monterey Jazz Festival. Mr. Gregoric studied at Cal State Long Beach, the L.A. jazz workshop and graduated from William Jessup University with a B.S in Theology with a minor in Jazz Performance.
He has also taught at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Monterey Jazz Festival Summer Camp, Jazz Camp West, Graded Jazz festival (Brazil), Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop, Donner Mine Jazz camp, Osaka Jazz festival (Japan), San Jose Jazz Society and adjudicated at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival, CMEA (Central Coast and Bay section) Jazz Festivals, Folsom Jazz Festival, ACSI Music Festival, Cuesta College Jazz Festival, Cal State Hayward Jazz Festival and is a member of MENC, CMEA and past member of IAJE. Dave Gregoric work (408) 513-2468
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Paul Tarantino
Bio for Paul Tarantino - Saxaphone player for the MB Septet Here's a condensed bio. (I just wrote it). Saxophonist for MB septet, Paul Tarantino studied music at the University of Miami in the early 80's. He is currently a professional musician and plays with several of the top jazz groups in the Monterey Bay area. He has played with Louie Bellson, Bob Hope, Joe Williams, The Temptations, Bill Watrous, Russell Ferrante, The Smothers Brothers, Marvin Stamm, Pete Christlieb, Jeff Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, Makoto Ozone, Michael Bolton, and Cyprian Consiglio. His recordings include cds from bay area groups such as Wally's Swing World, Along Came Betty, Jazz Birds, Mark Russo, and Johnny Fabulous. He has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival with Andy Weis, Along Came Betty and The Monterey Bay Jazz Orchestra.
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