About

Joanna Rios

I wanted to sing professionally as long as I can remember, but I was always too embarrassed to sing in front of others--unless I was in a group of singers. I don't know what that was all about, but Dad--a drummer for 50 years before he passed away--had always told me that singers were a dime-a -dozen--and I think he was right. Of course, the fact that he was an accomplished drummer, didn't help. In my eyes, he seemed light years ahead of what I ever could accomplish. If you had told me then that I would have my own band today, I don't think I could have imagined it. And my "band today" only happened because I outgrew my selfconsciousness after going to college. And also because I had this continuous drive with a deadlock grip on me to sing. It wouldn't leave me alone. I think that's the way it is with all performers. I don't know why we're like that, and I could probably start another blog on that subject alone.

When I look at my resume, I think--wow, it's quite bleak. I didn't have the personal mentoring and coaching of quasi famous people, or the opportunity and money to get me through prestigious schooling. I was one of those kids who had to earn a living right after graduation--and then the marriage followed and then the children,and then the postponement of all my dreams. It wasn't until after I became a single woman again, that I discovered myself.

I was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and began my training (if you want to call it that) in the mid 50s through the 60s. That training included 4 years of choir in high school and studying one semester with a voice coach in college. But I basically taught my self to sing--of course, the aptitude and the musical talents on both sides of my parent's families contributed. My dad and mother were good singers, one uncle was a professional guitarist, another had been a jazz singer with his own band, and another uncle was an opera singer. While the male musicians in the family had their own bands or were involved in a band, I'm the first female singer on both sides to have my own band. My parent's taste for jazz influenced me passionately. I listened to all the great jazz singers and marveled at their wonderfully seasoned voices. The assemblage of the string and horn sections in the big bands that were prolific then left their marks on me, too. But my singing style and techniques have continued to develop over the course of many years of listening to the phenomenal jazz singing icons that have been slowly dying off. (A little side note here: I think if you want to sing like a jazz singer, you'd better listen to them.)

Now some say I have a little Clooney in me or they can hear Ella--some have even gone on to say that they can hear Billie's influence. Someone once called me a female Frank Sinatra. That was nice! Whatever it was, I had good teachers in those singers. They didn't skimp on sound, technique, style, or anything--and all of it all became my foundation. What is schooling anyway? You listen, you study, you practice, you learn, you test--and you graduate. And now I'm part of a great jazz band! I love it, and it's a pleasure to perform in front of real jazz enthusiasts!

Charles Guerin (Photographer of the Oakland Bay Bridge on our homepage.)

began his musical studies at a young age, studying with William Bolton in Hollywood California. After his formal education, he joined the Air Force and was accepted into an Idaho Air Force Band. He immediately requested a transfer to the Air Force Band in Spain where he spent his next 3½ years touring as a performer at major and minor fiestas, public venues -- even bullfights. His travels and performances also took him to Casablanca, Marrakech, Ismir, Athens and Paris. While on tour in Spain, he also studied piano and solfege at the Real Conservatorio De Música De Madrid and spent a year at the Universidad Autónoma De Madrid studying Latin, Arabic, Linguistics and Art History.

After he received his B.A. with high honors from Portland State University, he joined the 104th Army Reserve Band in Vancouver where he became drum major. He later transferred to the 234th Army National Guard Band in Portland and then retired after more than 26 years with military bands. In 2003 he retired from his 9-to-5 job and has since been involved in the Portland jazz scene.

He studied advanced jazz improvisation with New York Pianist Darrell Grant at Portland State University and was the house pianist for the first year of "Portland Jazz Jams", then called the West Side Jazz Jam at Bethany Village Grill. He has performed with The Portland Jazz,The Let's Dance Band and with the TV Jazz Big Band under the direction of Joe Marcinkiewicz (trumpet player with Stan Kenton, Don Ellis, and Ray Charles). As an avid student of the history of jazz piano, Charles has also been influenced by all the major players and styles. Oscar Peterson is his favorite player.

Raymond Rios

embodies the tenacity and drive behind Blue Gardenia.

If it weren't for his undaunting efforts, Blue Gardenia Jazztet probably would have never happened. Through his persistence and belief in the band, Blue Gardenia's name has become more recognized in the last couple of years than at any previous time. Raymond does the majority of talking, pitching, and scheduling--literally making Blue Gardenia's gigs happen.

He was playing congas & traps with various San Francisco Bay Area bands more than 35 years ago. His experiences with straight-ahead jazz & swing included community big bands in San Francisco & Oakland, California. When you hear our recordings on this website, that will be only one percussionist you will hear--not two as some would suppose. Raymond sometimes plays both Latin and swing percussion simultaneously. How does he do it? Come to one of our gigs and find out for yourself!

Everyone loves the conguero!! And Raymond is well known for his natural rhythm & native talent. Using authentic Cuban-styled conga techniques, he captures mood and enhances the music with creative brushwork on a snare drum lending a sensual pulse to TBGJ music. His influences include Poncho Sanchez and the late Ray Barretto. A little known tidbit about Raymond's early years is that while growing up in the Dolores district of San Francisco, he lived down the street from Carlos Santana.

Raymond’s versatile recent and past band experiences include sitting in on congas with The Paul Painter Trio at J. James Restaurant in Salem, Oregon, and Spinnaker, a popular Oregon, Celtic fusion band . He has also performed with Tamara Brown, singer-songwriter-guitarist, who’s played the West & East Coast circuits. His most recent big band affiliations include the Tualatin Valley Jazz Band (TV Jazz) along with TBGJ fellow musicians Charles Guerin, Kevin Winston, and Keith Collins.

KARIM YENGSEPKEITH COLLINS

RICH CASTLEMAN TOM RUTTAN