Red Skunk Jipzee Swing Band

This group of young central coast musicians puts together a surprisingly mature sound that draws from Django Reinhardt,' 30s European jazz and American roots traditions. These talented players are fresh, spontaneous, spunky and exceedingly entertaining. With two CD’s already available and several large festival bookings, this band is looking forward to spreading their unique brand of how swing a whole new audience.

Molly Reeves

guitar & vocals

Molly Reeves musical career began the summer of 2005 when she was sent to the Mammoth Youth Traditional Jazz Camp. While there, she experienced a riveting style of music which she would soon make her own. She began listening to artists such as Django Reinhardt and Oscar Aleman and spending all of her time playing tenor banjo and swing guitar. Once she became proficient on both instruments she sat in with bands as a guest artist and worked her way though the jubilee circuit. She then took it upon herself to found her own gypsy swing style band. This band has become an outlet for her songwriting abilities. introducing new songs such as “Not Another Jipzee Serenade” and “Premonitions”. Molly has produced 2 CD's with this ensemble. Listening to Molly’s music is a time warp: flavors of 1920’s and 30’s roots jazz twisted with spunky well composed melodies and lyrics. Only 18 years old, Molly’s career looks quite promising. There no stopping this firery red head.

Pamela Sheffler

violin

Pamela Sheffler 18, is a classically trained violinist who began her music studies 10 years ago at the age of 8. She caught the eye of the Red Skunk Jipzee Swing Band while performing in a fundraiser with her string quintet. During an interview she expressed her desire to "run away with a gypsy caravan" and shortly afterwards joined the band. With the sweet sounds of her violin, Pamela has added a new dimension to the Django-style band. A freshman at Cal Poly SLO, she is currently studying violin with Paul Severtson, concertmaster of the SLO Symphony. With Paul's expertise, Pamela is learning jazz improvisation and the secrets of soloing Grappelli style. She is also a member of the SLO Symphony and concertmaster of the Cal Poly Symphony. When she is not practicing the violin, Pamela enjoys watching the classic films of her favorite actor, Oskar Werner and listening to her favorite radio station, Classical KUSC.

Sam Boorman

guitar

Sam Boorman received his first guitar at age 11. In the last 6 years, he has played the part of a die-hard rock and roller, a hot swing guitarist, and most everything in between. Sam has picked up licks from the likes of Cap’n Jim Murphy, Guy Budd, and Eddie Erickson. As the only remaining RedSkunk member still in high school, it is impressive what a range of music he has already discovered. From his vibrato driven whistle solo, to his masterful control of the guitar, he is an captivating showman, and a cornerstone of the RedSkunk sound.

Justin Au
trumpet

Justin Au, an alumnus of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s jazz education programs, has been playing the traditional jazz of New Orleans nearly all of his life, ever since his Uncle, trombonist Howard Miyata turned him on to the music at an early age. In high school he garnered Best Trumpet awards at various music festivals, and was awarded an Honorable Mention at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Big-Band competition at Lincoln Center, NY. He has toured Japan, Brazil, and China with various jazz ensembles and the Sacramento Youth Symphony’s Premier Orchestra.

On the festival circuit, Justin has filled in on trumpet for many well known groups such as the Creole Syncopators, Polly’s Hot Paupers, Cell Block 7, The TJYBF Clinicians, The Ron Cunha Big Band, and more. He has performed alongside such jazz greats as Andy Martin, Taylor Eigsti, Red Holloway, Don Byron, Jim Cullum, Duke Heitger, Bob Draga, Tommy Saunders, Bill Allred, Jon Cocuzzi, Eddie Erickson and many more.

Mitch Houseman
bass

Mitch Houseman's love of music is insatiable. He started out as a drummer, but quickly switched to bass when his High School Jazz band had five drummers and no bass player. He switched to guitar at the end of high school, but switched back again in college when, again, guitar players outnumbered bass players. He received his BA in Music from Point Loma Nazarene University where he studied bass under Bob Magnusson, and took master classes from David Nelson, Jeremy Kurtz and the Cyrus Chestnut Trio. Mitch has played in groups of many different styles from Classical to Blues, Rock to Jazz, and has a great passion for Indian music and Electro-Acoustic Composition. He has also studied composition, arranging and film scoring, and greatly enjoys them all. He wants nothing more than to learn and teach music, and the more he learns, the more he wants to learn. As the oldest member of the Red Skunk Jipzee Swing Band, he is excited to bring a lot of experience, but is more excited about what he is going to learn from the group.

Kenneth Davis

drums & percussion

Kenneth is known for his unique style of blending driving rhythms with the tight nuances of gypsy swing. He has done a remarkable job of finding a spot to incorporate percussive textures into a style that does not traditionally have drummers. His first experience with drums came from listening to and emulating the styles of various rock n’ roll drummers such as Alex Van Halen, Nikko McBrain, and Keith Moon. Since then, his experiences with the Skunks have given him a whole new outlook on percussion, and also taught him several new tricks. He is now not only a masterful drummer, but also an in the pocket washboard player, as well as an accomplished Spooner.

	Molly Reeves guitar & vocals Molly Reeves musical career began the summer of 2005 when she was sent to the Mammoth Youth Traditional Jazz Camp. While there, she experienced a riveting style of music which she would soon make her own. She began listening to artists such as Django Reinhardt and Oscar Aleman and spending all of her time playing tenor banjo and swing guitar. Once she became proficient on both instruments she sat in with bands as a guest artist and worked her way though the jubilee circuit. She then took it upon herself to found her own gypsy swing style band. This band has become an outlet for her songwriting abilities. introducing new songs such as “Not Another Jipzee Serenade” and “Premonitions”. Molly has produced 2 CD's with this ensemble. Listening to Molly’s music is a time warp: flavors of 1920’s and 30’s roots jazz twisted with spunky well composed melodies and lyrics. Only 18 years old, Molly’s career looks quite promising. There no stopping this firery red head.
	Pamela Sheffler violin Pamela Sheffler 18, is a classically trained violinist who began her music studies 10 years ago at the age of 8. She caught the eye of the Red Skunk Jipzee Swing Band while performing in a fundraiser with her string quintet. During an interview she expressed her desire to "run away with a gypsy caravan" and shortly afterwards joined the band. With the sweet sounds of her violin, Pamela has added a new dimension to the Django-style band. A freshman at Cal Poly SLO, she is currently studying violin with Paul Severtson, concertmaster of the SLO Symphony. With Paul's expertise, Pamela is learning jazz improvisation and the secrets of soloing Grappelli style. She is also a member of the SLO Symphony and concertmaster of the Cal Poly Symphony. When she is not practicing the violin, Pamela enjoys watching the classic films of her favorite actor, Oskar Werner and listening to her favorite radio station, Classical KUSC.
	Sam Boorman guitar Sam Boorman received his first guitar at age 11. In the last 6 years, he has played the part of a die-hard rock and roller, a hot swing guitarist, and most everything in between. Sam has picked up licks from the likes of Cap’n Jim Murphy, Guy Budd, and Eddie Erickson. As the only remaining RedSkunk member still in high school, it is impressive what a range of music he has already discovered. From his vibrato driven whistle solo, to his masterful control of the guitar, he is an captivating showman, and a cornerstone of the RedSkunk sound.
	Justin Au trumpet Justin Au, an alumnus of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s jazz education programs, has been playing the traditional jazz of New Orleans nearly all of his life, ever since his Uncle, trombonist Howard Miyata turned him on to the music at an early age. In high school he garnered Best Trumpet awards at various music festivals, and was awarded an Honorable Mention at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Big-Band competition at Lincoln Center, NY. He has toured Japan, Brazil, and China with various jazz ensembles and the Sacramento Youth Symphony’s Premier Orchestra. On the festival circuit, Justin has filled in on trumpet for many well known groups such as the Creole Syncopators, Polly’s Hot Paupers, Cell Block 7, The TJYBF Clinicians, The Ron Cunha Big Band, and more. He has performed alongside such jazz greats as Andy Martin, Taylor Eigsti, Red Holloway, Don Byron, Jim Cullum, Duke Heitger, Bob Draga, Tommy Saunders, Bill Allred, Jon Cocuzzi, Eddie Erickson and many more.
	Mitch Houseman bass Mitch Houseman's love of music is insatiable. He started out as a drummer, but quickly switched to bass when his High School Jazz band had five drummers and no bass player. He switched to guitar at the end of high school, but switched back again in college when, again, guitar players outnumbered bass players. He received his BA in Music from Point Loma Nazarene University where he studied bass under Bob Magnusson, and took master classes from David Nelson, Jeremy Kurtz and the Cyrus Chestnut Trio. Mitch has played in groups of many different styles from Classical to Blues, Rock to Jazz, and has a great passion for Indian music and Electro-Acoustic Composition. He has also studied composition, arranging and film scoring, and greatly enjoys them all. He wants nothing more than to learn and teach music, and the more he learns, the more he wants to learn. As the oldest member of the Red Skunk Jipzee Swing Band, he is excited to bring a lot of experience, but is more excited about what he is going to learn from the group.
	Kenneth Davis drums & percussion Kenneth is known for his unique style of blending driving rhythms with the tight nuances of gypsy swing. He has done a remarkable job of finding a spot to incorporate percussive textures into a style that does not traditionally have drummers. His first experience with drums came from listening to and emulating the styles of various rock n’ roll drummers such as Alex Van Halen, Nikko McBrain, and Keith Moon. Since then, his experiences with the Skunks have given him a whole new outlook on percussion, and also taught him several new tricks. He is now not only a masterful drummer, but also an in the pocket washboard player, as well as an accomplished Spooner.