Mission Gold Jazz Band

Schedule - Sounds - Musicians - Contact

Mission Gold Jazz Band
Fremont, California

Regular Gig

Please join us at the Swiss Park Dance Hall in Newark!

Swiss Park Dance Hall
5911 Mowry Avenue, Newark.
Click for map

2nd and 4th Wednesdays
7 - 9 pm

Special Appearances

San Francisco Metropolitan Club
Friday March 7, 2008 6 - 9 pm
640 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA.

JEBZ Restaurant
St. Patrick's Day
Monday March 17, 2008 6:30 - 8:30 pm
39742 Cedar Blvd., Newark, CA.

Oakland A's Ball Game
Sunday June 22, 2008 1:05 pm
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, CA.

Baywood Court 4th of July Party
Saturday July 4, 2008 4:15 - 6:15 pm
21966 Dolores St., Castro Valley, CA 94545

Channing House "National Night Out"
Tuesday August 5, 2008 7 - 9 pm
850 Webster St., Palo Alto, CA 94301

Baywood Court Retirement Center
Monday September 1, 2008 4:15 - 6:15 pm
21966 Dolores St., Castro Valley, CA 94545

Stockton Jazz Club
Sunday September 7, 2008 1 - 5 pm
Elk's Lodge, 8900 Thornton Rd., Stockton, CA 95204

Fremont Senior Center
Friday, September 12, 2008 1 - 2 pm
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont, CA 94539

Canterbury Woods Jazz Festival
Saturday, September 13, 2008 12:30 - 3:00 pm
Canterbury Woods (831-657-4195)
651 Sinex Ave., Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Call 510-657-0243 for unannounced appearances

Jazzinators

1st and 3rd Tuesdays
at the Pizza Depot in Fremont

7 - 8 pm: The Jazzinators Youth Band
8 - 9 pm: Open Jam Set for all ages

Sound Bites

from our CD “At the Depot”

I Want a Little Girl
Frog-I-More Rag

	Musicians
	John Soulis: Trombone, Baritone, Vocals, Leader John has been listening to Dixieland Jazz since his pre teenage years when he heard his trumpet-playing brother’s records of the Fire House Five Plus Two etc. He always liked to listen to the trumpet player’s part, although he has played trombone since grade school. He has played with various bands including Emperor Norton’s, forming Mission Gold in the early 1980s. He has also played with The Cell Block 7, “And That’s Jazz”, The Spirit of ’29, and Ted Shafer's Jelly Roll Jazz Band.
	Andy Parker: Drums Andy is a walking encyclopedia of 1920’s era jazz, and brings great creativity and authenticity to Mission Gold. Andy was seven years old when he became hooked on jazz. His dad would play his 10 inch LP's and Andy would keep rhythm with his brushes. Andy received his first drum set at age fourteen. For ten years Andy was on the road with Papa Do Run Run. Andy has played with many combos and has been playing the drums with Mission Gold since 2001.
	Bob Sterling: Tuba Bob is the band director at Kennedy High School in Fremont. He was introduced to dixieland jazz by then fellow teacher John Soulis who needed a tuba player for Mission Gold. He has been with the band since the early 1990’s.
	John Stringer: Clarinet John began playing traditional jazz in Liverpool, England, having started out as a classical musician. He came to California on a sabbatical leave from England, and met Bill Armstrong; he helped Bill with the Churchill Street Band, a youth band at the time, from Palo Alto High School. Eventually John moved permanently to Palo Alto, and played with the Apex Jazz Band; then a number of others bands including Professor Plum's Jazz. John's main experience was as the leader of the 52nd Street Revival Jazz Band. Along with the clarinet, John will occasionally play the bass clarinet.
	Roz Temple: Piano Roz helped us out immensely in late 2004 and early 2005, alternating with Rod on piano and bringing her own infectious stride style and ragtime solos to our repertoire. Now we're delighted to have her full time!
	Jack Wiecks Banjo Jack started a long-time interest in traditional jazz in high school. After growing up in Western Oregon (where jazz bands are as rare as giraffes) he finally saw a real live Dixieland band at the University of Oregon. He traded in his ukulele for a banjo, but after a few years of college jam sessions, the necessities of making a living and raising a family set in. Recent years have allowed more time for Dixieland and Jack has played with Professor Plum, Churchill Street, Mission Gold, Silicon Gulch, 52nd Street Revival and the Magnolia Jazz Band. Jack has been a member of Mission Gold since 1996.
	Dick Williams: Cornet Dick is a well-known and respected Bay Area cornetist. Dick was a co-founder of "Jazzin Babies", and played with the "Desert City Six" when living in Southern California. Dick moved to Montana and led the "Good Tyme JB", and since coming back to California he was a member of "Alcatraz Angels," "Tuleburg," and "Creole Jazz Kings" before joining Mission Gold. He is associated with JazzSea Cruises/Jammers and often organizes jam sets at major jazz festivals.
	Thomas Banuelos: Cornet Born and raised in the East Bay, Thomas Banuelos recieved his BA in Music from Cal-State Hayward in 2004. Along with a being a freelance musican, Thomas holds many jobs such as Director of Bands at Fremont Christian School, Music Director of Templo Betaina Church, and Private Trumpet Instructor. He began playing traditonal jazz while attending Cal-State Hayward where he played with the Section 7 Dixieland Band for over 4 years.
	Members Erraticus
	Rick Holzgrafe: Cornet, Trombone, Vocals Rick was introduced to Traditional Jazz in a Santa Barbara pizza parlor by a multi-instrumental duo who mentored his early playing. He played with the Fink Street Five in Orange County for seven years, and then the Apex Jass Band in San Jose when he moved to the bay area in the early 1980s. Lately he has also performed with the Churchill Street Rhythm and Ted Shafer's Jelly Roll Jazz Band. Rick is currently on extended leave from Mission Gold, performing with the band when the non-musical demands on his time permit. He hopes to return to full membership when conditions permit.
	Members Emeritus
	Hank Silva: Clarinet, Saxophone Hank played reeds for big band and jazz combos in the bay area for over 50 years. His introduction to dixieland came when the Gem City Jazz Band asked him to substitute for their gig at the Sacramento Jubilee. He has since played in several festivals including the Fats Waller Memorial Festival. He played with Mission Gold from 1995 until his death in 2007.
	Howard Simpson: Cornet, Vocals Howard grew up in Moline Ill., across the river from Davenport Iowa and the Bix Beiderbecke tradition. He was a founding member of the Salty Dogs at Purdue University. He also played with Miff Mole in Chicago, and backed Billie Holiday as part of a trio in Baltimore. He played with Mission Gold for over a decade, retiring from the band in 2005. Howard brought a distinctive cornet style and crowd-winning vocals to the band.
	Rod Roberts: Piano Rod has been playing piano in the bay area since the 1950’s with various bands including the Olema Owls, The Racoon Ragtimers, and the Goodtime Dixie 7. Rod joined Mission Gold in 1992, and for over a decade contributed not only his fine piano playing but many wonderful arrangements and a couple of original tunes. Rod retired from the band in mid-2005.
	Patty De Ridder: Vocalist Patty learned her love for traditional jazz and her ear for lyrics at her parents’ knees. She has sung with MGJB since the early 90’s and is also a member of the East Bay Stompers.

Contact Mission Gold

John Soulis
510-657-0243

Top - Schedule - Sounds - Musicians - Contact

Last modified February 19, 2008 - Webmaster