Leader/Vocalist, Christine Ferrari.  Having begun as a singer at age 8, Christine Ferrari returned to singing in 1988 after spending some 20 years in retirement from music while raising her family.  During her teen and young adult years, Christine sang with combo bands at local venues, including The Italian Gardens.  In more recent years, Christine has performed with local big bands, the Christine Ferrari Combo and other combo bands at such venues as The Villa Hotel, The Best House at Palmdale Estates, Mariani’s, Il Fornaio, and Green Hills Country Club.  One year ago, Christine made the decision to pursue her dream of producing the best of big band entertainment in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The inclusion of some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s best musicians and singers in her band has been paramount to Christine in reaching her goal.  Christine’s efforts have expanded to providing the best in combo jazz bands as well as mid-sized a variety band which features soft rock, jazz, swing, Latin and blues music.  Christine’s big band performances have included concerts at Plaza de Caesar Chavez Park in downtown San Jose, Cuesta Park in Mountain View and Central Park in Santa Clara.  Christine’s big band has also performed at dances and gala events at The Weston Hotel in Santa Clara in addition to other venues.

Vocalist, Liz Lake.  One of the finest Bay Area vocalists, Liz Lake came to us with quite an impressive resume.  Liz has toured extensively in the United States and Canada including Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Las Vegas.  While in Reno, Liz performed with Alan King, Jerry Vale, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Harry James, The Lettermen, and Wayne Newton.  In addition, she has performed on television specials and has recorded in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York.  Liz also has worked in a showcase with Jerry Herman at the Rose Garden in Los Angeles and at showcase performances in New York.  Liz’s phrasing, vocal quality, and versatility all add up to a more than pleasing experience in listening to her vocal performances.  Liz has performed for audiences that have included Rosemary Clooney, Mariette Hartley, Sally Struthers, and Henry Mancini

Band Director/Trombonist, Steve Tyler

Be it at a rehearsal, a recording session or a performance, our band director, Steve Tyler, has the expertise and background to ensure the band’s best performance.   Steve also plays lead trombone in the band.  Steve served as Instrumental Music Instructor at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa from 1995-1999.  He directed the School of Music Vocations’ Studio Jazz Band, Concert Band and Brass Choir, and coordinated the Jazz Combos.  Steve has toured as the lead trombonist with the orchestras of Harry James, Bill Walrous, and Mel Tormé; performed with the big bands of Louis Bellson, Bill Holman, Ladd McIntosh, Dee Barton, Jim Widner, and Tex Beneke; backed many well-known jazz artists and entertainers including Tony Bennett, Peter Nero, Leslie Uggams, Marvin Hamlisch, and Joey Heatherton; and worked as a freelance performer in the Hollywood film and recording industry.  Steve is also a published composer and arranger.

Instrumentalists, Arrangers, and Composers

Our Instrumentalists have studied at the University of Miami, California State University, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, San Jose State University, and University of California, Los Angeles.  Many have dedicated their full time careers to performing, teaching, composing, and arranging and have contributed their compositions and arrangements to our band.

Collectively, they have performed in bands for or with Bob Hope, The Smothers Brothers, Louis Bellson, Joe Williams, Pete Christlieb, The Temptations, Sonny and Cher, Si Zentner, Harry James, Bill Waltrous, Mel Tormé, Bill Holman, Ladd McIntosh, Dee Barton, Jim Widner, Tex Beneke, Tony Bennett, Peter Nero, Leslie Uggams, Marvin Hamlish, Joey Heatherton, Frankie Avalon, Ray Charles, Boz Skaggs, The Four Tops, The O’Jays, Huey Lewis, Martha Reeves, The Coasters, The Drifters, Hot Frogs, Janet Carroll and the Hollywood Jazz Cats, Conrad Janis and the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, Bob Ringwald’s Great Pacific Jazz Band, the Nightblooming Jazzmen, Igor’s Jazz Cowboys, and many others. 

Several members of the band have performed on Grammy Award winning albums and many have toured overseas.