FORTUNE SMILES Jazz Quintet Members
Ted Nirgiotis (guitar, bandleader) has played both classical and rock guitar, as well as a variety of world music styles before concentrating on his true love, jazz. He studied jazz guitar with Mimi Fox and Danny Caron, and jazz theory and performance with Rory Snyder and Mary Fettig. Recent credits include the Brazilian jazz quartet Pangaea with bassist David Jeffrey, the Interplay sextet and Jazz Triad with guitarist Dennis Fortin.
Leonard Sklar (sax) studied with Eddie Daniels, John Lewis, Lee Konitz and Jimmy Giuffre. While on the NYC jazz scene he performed regularly with the fusion group Montage and was featured on film scores. Since relocating to the Bay Area he has performed with the UC Berkeley big band and with Toshi Shibano and Cycles.
Gary Monheit (piano) has studied with Hal Galper and Joanne Brackeen, and has performed with Stanley Jordan and the Nate Birkey Quintet. Gary taught Jazz Piano and Jazz Ensemble at the Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore. He was a dance accompanist for Elliot Feld, Alvin Ailey, Barnard College, and Princeton University. His compositions for dance and theatre have been performed in the U.S. and Europe.
Dan Krimm (bass) has recorded two well-received albums of his own compositions. He received an NEA jazz fellowship to produce the first, Sentience, which featured Vic Juris on guitar and Marty Fogel on sax. His second album Subtle Truth featured Rolf Sturm on guitar. He played with Stanley Jordan and was active on the NYC scene, recording with vocalist Arlette Beauchamps and singer/songwriter Margo Hennebach. In LA he performed regularly with post-bop guitarist Kim Reith and performed and recorded with avant-garde drummer Rich West.
Matt Willis (drums) performs throughout the Bay Area with top musicians including world-renowned steel drum artist Jeff Narell, guitarist Ray Obeido, guitar/vocal duo The Rowan Brothers, and jazz composer/ bassist Kurt Ribak among many others. Past credits include Hawaiian artists such as Henry Kaleialoha Allen, Loyal Garner and Melveen Leed, and American oldies acts such as the Shirelles, Drifters and Coasters.
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