A Taste of Jazz - Biographies and Photos

Harry - Guitar Nick - Bass Mike - Drums Kris - Keyboard Tom - Saxophone Bob - Trumpet

Bob Olson - Saxophone / Flute / EWI

Saxophonist Bob Olson was born in San Diego and presently lives in Redwood City. In high school he started his lifetime adventure into playing jazz. He plays in a variety of small groups and big bands in the Bay Area at jazz festivals, night clubs and various other venues. He also plays wind synthesizer and flute.

Robert Griffith started music with Trumpet at age 8, and by age 16 played Saxophone and Trumpet in Rock and Roll bands in Silicon Valley. Bob continued his music until age 22 when he "hung up the horns" to raise a family as an Electronic Engineer. Bob picked up the horns again about 8 years ago and has been playing and studying Jazz composition ever since.

Harry Muttart started his musical journey on alto saxophone at age 12 and discovered guitar a few years later. His early guitar influences included Jimmy Raney, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Byrd, and Howard Roberts. The saxophone players who shaped his musical sensibilities included:

He has played in rock, dance, and big bands and is currently playing contemporary worship music and with “A Taste of Jazz”. He has studied guitar with Rick Vandivier, Andre Bush, Mimi Fox, Tuck Andress, Ricardo Peixoto, and Danny Caron.

George fell in love with bass, guitar and piano in LA as folk music was giving way to acid rock. His rock/folk foundation expanded to include combo and big band jazz when he moved to the Bay Area to attend Santa Clara University. While he spent 27 years working at Intel, George always played music and explored new genres, such as musical theater and jazz fusion.

George is a regular attendee at Living Jazz's famous summer retreat in La Honda. George currently plays with rock cover bands Chubby's All Stars and The Misguided Saints as well as Synergy Jazz and NTJazz combos. George performs with the Top Shelf Big Band and the Serenaders 10-piece band and is on call with many local groups. George has done extensive studio work, both in LA and in the Bay Area, and has his own studio at his home in the hills above Santa Cruz. During the day George studies coastal mountain forestry and likes to swim, hike and ski. He can be reached at georgealfs@gmail.com

BA Music, Humboldt Status University, 1975. I've played small group jazz since the late '60s and with guitarist Harry Muttart since the late '70s.

I'm amazed at the piano playing of Art Tatum, Herby Hancock, Chick Corea, and McCoy Tyner.

I am a past classical brass player in ensembles and orchestras and was the conductor of the
Gabrieli Brass Ensemble for five years in the '90s

I have been playing drums since 4th grade, covering a range of styles including jazz, pop, rock, musical theater, and even a little punk rock. My playing is heavily influenced by my two main teachers Gary Chester ('Brown Eyed Girl' by Van Morrison - Gary is the drummer, along with 100's of other hits) and Bay Area first-call drummer Jason Lewis. Other favorite drummers include Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Carter Beauford and Manu Katche. Over the years I have had the great pleasure of playing with some amazing professional musicians including Burr Johnson and Brian Ho, and I have performed at the San Jose Jazz Festival several times with The Poblano Project.