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Zumbido matches instrumental prowess with a deep affinity for the traditions of Brazil. While paying homage to Caetano Veloso, Rosa Passos, Tom Jobim and many other Brazilian composers, John, Ginny & Joel play their arrangements with their own voices, their own harmonies, their own kick, bringing fresh vitality to every performance. No strangers to outdoor summer festivals, jazz clubs, house concerts, weddings, restaurants, intimate cafes, stages large and small, each member of the band has individually logged decades of professional playing around the country and abroad.
Meet the Band
JOHN MILLER
John Miller has been a professional guitarist and guitar teacher for 40 years. He began his recording career as bass player with the trail-blazing bluegrass band, Country Cooking, and went on to record five solo albums of country blues and Jazz Standards while still in his twenties. Since then, John’s work has balanced performing and teaching. He has had long teaching stints at Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Port Townsend Country Blues Workshop, B.C. Swing Camp and the European Blues Association’s Blues Week, and has released 9 instructional DVDs for Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop. In the past 18 years, John has released CDs with the acoustic Jazz trio, Catwalk, singer Rebecca Kilgore, in duos with mandolinist John Reischman and violinist Ruthie Dornfeld, the Finnish-American quartet, Freshet, the French cabaret group, Rouge, the country blues trio, Johnson, Miller & Dermody, singer Ginny Snowe, and two solo CDs.
GINNY SNOWE
Ginny Snowe’s musical training includes a Bachelor’s degree in piano and vocal performance from Albion College and a Masters degree from Catholic University in piano pedagogy. She has maintained a private teaching studio for over thirty years, both in Washington D.C. and in Bellingham, Washington, and her teaching practice continues to flourish. Ginny is a well known bassist in the international contradance community, and has played as a charter member of such bands as Uncle Gizmo, the Reckless Ramblers with Larry Unger, Sam Bartlett and Nat Hewitt and Funhouse with Ruthie Dornfeld and Forrest Gibson, touring extensively from coast to coast. She has taught at such music camps as Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the American Festival of Fiddle Tunes, Lady of the Lake Dance Camp, and Pinewoods Camp English and American Dance Week, and for years was a fixture at the Augusta Swing Week, where she served as an accompanist for Frankie Manning’s Lindy dance class. Ginny’s discography includes CDs with Uncle Gizmo, the Reckless Ramblers, two Waltz Time CDs with Larry Unger, her collection of original solo piano pieces, “Traveling Home”, and “You Fascinate Me So”, with John Miller on guitar.
JOEL LITWIN
Known for his creative and innovative style, Joel Litwin is a favorite drummer/percussionist among acoustic artists and regional bands in and around Seattle and the West coast. His credits include projects with some of the most innovative artists on the West coast, including Tucker Martine, Amy Denio, and Michael Manring. Joel performs and records with many top acoustic artists in Seattle and the West Coast, including Erin Corday, Hand to Mouth and Incendio. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Joel grew up playing jazz in downtown clubs. He lived on the East Coast for several years, where he studied African rhythms with master drummer Richard Hill and jazz drums with Bob Moses. Joel then found a home on the West coast, where he developed a love for Brazilian music and began applying traditional rhythms to non-traditional instruments. His style has made him a favorite in the Northwest acoustic music scene, and his creative use of hand-made and found instruments (including a slightly battered briefcase) makes for some unique sounds on stage and in the studio.
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".... such richly and sensitively crafted music" Michael Hobart, Bellingham
“Intense grooving and clear renditions" The Journal of the San Juan Islands
"A long-awaited evening of inspired instrumentals and songs with these widely traveled world-class musicians. It really doesn't get any better than this!" Margie Katz, Whatcom County Homemade Music Society
"Thank you for.... providing wonderful sounds of joy! I look forword to having you and your group perform again in the near future." Marienes Johnson, Executive Chef and Owner of Truffles by the Sea Restaurant
"We had real buzz on your performance. People indicated how much they were looking forward to it. And this was followed by great comments as people left the program. Everyone was refreshed and fulfilled by your music. They were hypnotized by the performance -- then came alive with praise. Zumbido was a great musical meal to be relished at the time and remembered long after." Richard Vanderway, Curator of Education, Whatcom Museum
"It was so nice to hear you and your friends perform last week at the museum. Loved the Brazilian in particular. Music to move your soul. What a delight..." Audience member, Whatcom Museum
"At Back Porch Alley we brought Ginny and John in to play on a regular basis. Their Brazilian sets were incredibly well
attended and so much fun! They have an excellent following, we could count on a sophisticated crowd..." Layne Southcott, Back Porch Alley Restaurant and Lounge, Bellingham
"John Miller and Ginny Snowe form an amazing musical duo that is a real compliment to the overall experience of dining at Brad’s Swingside Cafe. Their diverse repertoire is distinctive, romantic, sensitive, professional and more than just “fits in” to the intimate restaurant atmosphere.
They bring a loyal following that appreciate good food, wine and music, allowing for an increase in business on the nights that they perform. In business for twenty years with occaisional live music, I would count John and Ginny’s impeccable musical performances as my all time favorite.
I hope that they are a part of the Swingside experience for years to come." Brad Inserra, Proprietor, Brad’s Swingside Cafe, Fremont
"On behalf of the Bellingham Music Club, I want to thank you both for your program at our April meeting. So much talent, charm and creativity! ...John is an amazing virtuoso and musician, and a dream collaborator! As for your jazz vocalism, it was refreshing to hear such an unforced, lyrical approach and clear diction. The charm of your program was a breath of spring air....Again, Many thanks!" Jack Frymire, Program Chair, Bellingham Music Club
"We've tried to see a lot of house concerts on Gabriola in the three years we've been here and there's no question that your afternoon there was the best. In fact in a year that included Sonny Rollins in Victoria and Ernestine Anderson and Poncho Sanchez in Seattle, your show was right up there with the very best live music we've seen lately." Mick Wadsley, Gabriola Island