Ron Karr is the director and arranger for the music of Simply Jazz. Whether he is playing the melody or supporting a soloist, backing a singer or playing in unison with Spike, his piano chops are tasteful, elegant and harmonius. When he is not sounding the Steinway at the Grill or the Yamaha at Chantilly, he can be found amassing master’s points at local bridge tournaments, attending Jazz Camp West, reading widely, and editing his own tracts on a variety of topics from consciousness to philosophy. He has made a living playing blackjack, winning at Jeopardy and as a programmer and technical writer.
Spike Connor plays basses of all sorts. He manages the band, a natural offshoot from his 22 years as a K-8 principal. He maintains a wide network of Bay Area musicians and performs and records in multiple musical genres. Previous lives include motorcycle hippie, speech therapist, buck private and California Distinguished School award winner. He also operates Bret Harte Recording Studios.
Bobby Rawlings is a past master of the saxophone, having studied at Berklee College of music and performed in Vegas show bands and at numerous gigs all over the Bay Area. His jazz chops are positively smokin’ AND he will fearlessly get in touch with his inner Bob on ballads and bossa novas. His excellent technique and knowledge of musical theory support his career as an instructor of clarinet and saxophone.
Mike Keating has been playing Jazz in various venues in the Bay Area for nearly 30 years, including Garden City in San Jose and Borell’s in San Mateo. For years he was a mainstay at St. Michael’s Alley in Palo Alto, as part of the Phil Aranda Quintet and with his own trio. His guitar playing has been heavily influenced by Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomery, and Jim Hall. “A few years ago I had a chance to play a session with Mimi Fox. It was a real eye-opener. I learned just how much energy, focus and intensity you need to bring to jazz to make it really swing.”
Ginger von Wening, once an aspiring poet at UC Santa Cruz, fell in love with jazz flute improvisation and transferred to Berklee College of Music, graduating in arranging and composition. After first settling in San Francisco and becoming an active member of the jazz community, she found herself teaching flute lessons in Texas! Ginger and her guitarist husband performed in Houston as Double Coyote favoring latin grooves, and Brazilian music. NOW…she’s back in the bay area swingin’ again.
Marty Honda took violin lessons from age 4 to 12. He began playing jazz on the upright bass at 17, but due to college, graduate school and family he did not start playing jazz seriously until 2002. Marty has attended Stanford Jazz Workshop for 6 years and is currently active playing gigs on violin and bass and organizing jam sessions. He is married to artist Yeung Ha and is retired from Sun Microsystems where he held executive management positions.
Kirk Fuller is a veteran saxophonist who has played with Simply Jazz at many gigs. An innovative soloist with a pure sound, he is equally at home bopping, crooning a ballad or wailing the blues. He also plays in big bands in the south bay and when not on the bandstand he can be found providing IT services to Fujitsu or in his contemplative mode at a retreat in Tassajara.
Holly Smolik grew up in a musically appreciative family and was particularly encouraged by her brother, Bill. Holly’s first jazz performances were at age 9 when she sang at parties with her school, uncle, brother and their bands. She joined the Menlo-Atherton jazz band in 2006 and with them she has performed around the Bay Area and parts of the U.S. Holly’s main musical influences have been Ella Fitzgerald, Stanford Jazz Camp, and her brother. She plans to continue her studies and to sing professionally.