Laurent Fourgo & His Ensemble is comprised of seasoned musicians with 15 to 30 years of experience: vocals (female & male), piano, upright bass, electric bass, drums, guitar, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone sax, clarinet, flute, trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, violin, viola, cello and accordion.
Laurent Fourgo
Vocalist, Band Leader
BORN IN PARIS, FRANCE, Laurent Fourgo grew up in the southwest suburb of Paris and began studying the saxophone when he was eight years old. By the time he was 12, he switched to oboe and played in the local classical orchestra. At 16, he had decided that singing would be his main instrument.
One person who encouraged his interest in music was his father, an avid fan of all the early American Rock’n’Roll music of the Fifties and Sixties masters such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis. "I think Papa had every recording Elvis Presley ever made and I tried to learn as many as I could."
Another influence was his paternal grandmother who’s been a passionate singer since childhood. She’s been singing for friends and family all the hits from before and after the Second World War. While spending summer vacations every year in the South West of France, Laurent had the opportunity to listen to tunes from the 30s, 40s and 50s that he would have never heard without being around his grandmother. She told him that his grandfather (who died before he had a chance to get to know him) was also a singer, as well as an accordionist. “Singing was in my blood – there was no way to avoid it!” said Laurent.
Laurent started his first band while in the army, playing at various local city fairs and also at a black tie event attended by all the Air Force officers to celebrate the change of commander that occurs every 2 years.
After his military duties, Laurent put his desire to perform professionally aside and pursued a Masters in Business in the southwest of France. While in school, he studied with renowned French vocal coach Christiane Depero and after graduating he recognized that music was indeed his true passion.
America would be his destination. “Since age 10, I knew I wanted to live in the US: the desire possibly inspired by movies and music I was exposed to during my childhood”. Laurent landed in San Francisco, put his band together and began performing at various clubs and private parties.
Sonali Bijor
Vocalist
Sonali Bijor has become well known across California as a singer/songwriter, appearing regularly at clubs and venues such as The Sunset Room, The Joint, and The House of Blues and has appeared several times on MTV receiving accolades for her performances.
Sonali’s artistic goals and accomplishments cover a wide scope of audience not only on the U.S. level but also on the international front with recent developments in India and the U.K. With one EP album under belt, Sonali is always working on new projects that will keep her stimulated and excited. Currently, her work with Hit Waves satiates her appetite for performing in an exuberant way! She looks forward to continuing her work in the music realm and is focusing on opening up her own music studio in the next few years in addition to her side projects.
Lastly, Sonali's love for music fused with her compassion for worldly causes has become a lifelong goal for her. She hopes to continue to affect change in the non-profit world through her passion for music and the arts.
Enrico Kemp
Vocalist
Doug McKeehan
Piano / Keyboard
Doug McKeehan began playing the piano at a young age. A music aficionado, McKeehan joined his first band at the age of fourteen. Trained in classical piano, he has been playing jazz in the Bay area for the past twenty years. McKeehan has performed at venues such as the Great American Music Hall, Yoshi’s, and Herbst Theater—as well as steady engagements at San Francisco’s Fairmont, Park 55, and the Convention Center Marriott hotels.
McKeehan works frequently with Bay Area jazz artists such as Denise Perrier, Glenn Walters, Jim Grantham, and Warren Gale. He tours regularly with his original group Ancient Future. As a producer, McKeehan has found a niche in the ‘world music’ genre, producing albums for the noted Pakistani vocalist Shafqat Ali Khan and Chinese gu zheng virtuoso Zhao Hui. McKeehan currently resides in Oakland and runs his own recording studio there. As a dedicated artist, he loves playing music and is always looking for that next hit right around the corner.
Dave Miotke
Piano / Accordion / Vocals
After singing and playing piano as Music Director at Max’s Opera Café in San Francisco for five years ending in October, 2002, David is currently freelancing, performing solo and with groups in styles as varied as jazz, cabaret, tango, Italian, French, strolling strings and classical. He specializes in performing the standard American songbook repertoire, Cole Porter, Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, etc. He has also recently released a new CD of original songs set to the poetry of Francis Brabazon entitled “In Dust I Sing.” While he takes his inspiration from many sources and is always trying to grow spiritually and well as musically, he is most often compared to Bobby Short, Michael Feinstein, Mel Torme and Tony Bennett. Never having tried to sound like anyone but himself, he considers these comparisons to be the highest of compliments.
David studied at Northwestern University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition and a master’s degree in applied piano. He graduated with honors and proceeded to be successful at singing, playing and arranging countless national radio and television commercials. While still an undergraduate at Northwestern, he took time off to tour as co-lead singer and keyboardist with the well-known folk-rock group H.P. Lovecraft, recording two highly successful record albums.
Steve Hanson
Upright Bass (+hi-hat)
The multi-talented Steve grew up in Minnesota, and graduated from Moothead State University, after which he toured Europe as the trombone soloist with the U.S. Navy NATO band for three years. While studying for his master's degree in music at North Texas State University, he was a staff musician at Six Flags Over Texas in Dallas. After moving to New York City, he played tuba with Woody Allen's New Orleans Jazz Band and performed at the White House with actor/musician George Segal. He has toured Japan, and has also performed in the Eddie Davis off-Broadway production of The Roots of Jazz. Steve is currently active in the San Francisco Bay Area as a string bass player.
Tom Martin
Upright Bass / Electric Bass
Tom Martin, Bassist, is heard at premier San Francisco area jazz venues with, among others, pianist John Allair (of Van Morrison fame) and vocalist Opie Bellas (also featured on her recent release 'How Do You Keep The Music Playing?').
As music director and composer for theater, Mr.Martin's commissions have taken him throughout North America and Europe, including Washington DC's Kennedy Center, Knoxville's Clarence Brown Theater, and Project Istopolitana in Slovakia.
Rick Silvestri
Upright Bass / Electric Bass / Guitar / Banjo / Mandolin
Jeff "Jeffo" O'Sammon
Guitar / Vocals
Jeff "Jeffo" O'Sammon is a well known guitarist playing for many years in the Bay Area. Jeffo studied classical guitar but plays all genres from rock and jazz to country. He performs with big bands, rock groups, a jazz octet and his own swing jazz trio, Le Hot. Jazzplanet is Jeffo's quintet, playing all original pieces.
Bill Belasco
Drums
Bill started drumming at the age of three. He played in various school groups
and orchestras until he went on the road with “The Graduates”, a brass rock
band that played all over the country at the age of 17. Bill finally settled in the Bay Area.
Today Bill is a well respected drummer on the San Francisco music scene.
Upon arrival in the Bay Area Bill studied with George Marsh and Tony Williams,great drum set teachers.
After playing drums with the Pickle Family Circus for fifteen years, Bill has been continually adding musical diversity to his repertoire by playing with such diverse groups as Patrick Maier, Majestic Swing, The Sharmen Duran Trio, The Dave Miller Trio, and the Mike Vax Big Band. Bill currently freelances with many different singers such as Faye Carol, Pamela Hawkins, and Tony Lindsey, as well as, instrumental groups, such as, The Moodswing Orchestra, The Medicine Ball Band, and Jazz Caliente, playing in night clubs, cabaret shows, weddings, concerts, and recording sessions.
Bill has studied timbales with the great Louie Romero from Masacote and Afro-Cuban theory with Michael Spiro. Having a long love affair with Afro-Cuban rhythms Bill has realized his dream with The Kenny Dorham Project playing at Yoshi’s and Pearl’s. This band, with arrangements by trombonist Jules Rowell is a tribute to Kenny Dorham using his compositions in a Latin jazz format.
Bill also performed 7 summers in The Catskills in New York with Speedy Garfin and The Garfin Gathering, a variety show band, from 2001 to 2007.
Click here to watch a video of Bill performing a solo
Matthew MacGillivray
Drums
In 1968, drummer Matthew MacGillivray was born in Buffalo, New York. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Buffalo (S.U.N.Y). During his undergraduate years, MacGillivray also studied under renowned educator Jan Williams. He performed symphonic and avant-garde music. During the 1980s, when still residing in Buffalo, MacGillivray performed with the members of 10,000 Maniacs, legendary funk band Shok-Z-Bop, Populuxe, and many other staples of the music scene. He earned a Masters in Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduating, MacGillivray worked as both an architect and musician in New York City, New York.
In 2005, MacGillivray relocated to the Bay Area with his wife, Leah. MacGillivray has performed in numerous jazz settings, as well as world music, funk, and rhythm and blues. In addition to playing with Laurent Fourgo, MacGillivray regularly performs with Quinn Devaux and the Blue Beat Review, Jacques Ibula, Suzanna Smith and Stephanie Crawford. In addition to his musical pursuits, MacGillivray also teaches in the after school program, Rhythm Rocks—which was founded by Bay Area music legend Alan Hall.
Rob Gibson
Drums
Rob is a S. F. Bay Area drummer with a varied experience of playing many different styles of music: Top-40 club bands, Jazz groups, original rock/pop projects and Broadway-style musicals - he's even toured with a circus!
Because he's a Bay Area native Rob has been fortunate to study with most of its great players including Scott Morris, George Marsh, Al Coster, Steve Mitchell, Narada Michael Walden and Michael Spiro.
He's also had one-time lessons with Steve Smith, Mike Clark, Colin Bailey, Dave Black and Casey Schuerell. His career has included gigs with the Coasters, Rich Little and he has performed at the Monterey, San Jose and Reno Jazz festivals. Currently Rob is backing up singer Laurent Fourgo as well as playing with the Jules Rowell Quintet which features Mario Suraci on Bass. Lastly, he is on the just released Claudio Madierios CD, 'Esperanca' that features Pete Escovedo.
Jason Bellenkes
Alto & Tenor Sax, Clarinet
Since the age of nine, Jason Bellenkes has been playing reed instruments. He honed his saxophone skills by performing at his school concert and jazz bands in his hometown of Los Gatos, California. His musical interests have been inspired by family members. In fact, during his childhood, Bellenkes’s uncle introduced him to jazz and blues. At the age of fifteen, Bellenkes grew in his musical confidence, and began playing with local big bands and jazz combos. Bellenkes later earned his music performance degree from California State University, East Bay, and studied under saxophone instructor Dan Zinn and clarinetist William Wohlmacher.
During his college years, Bellenkes played in a variety of bands—ranging from jazz to “top 40 rock/pop/R&B” to original rock. He even performed at established Bay Area venues, music festivals, weddings and corporate events. In addition to performing with Laurent Fourgo, Bellenkes can be seen playing with Bay Area swing band, JP and the Rhythm Chasers, at different venues. When he is not performing, Bellenkes teaches a full studio of private saxophone and clarinet lessons in Fremont, California.
John Stafford
Soprano, Alto, Tenor Sax, Clarinet, flute & percussions
John makes San Francisco his home base and has performed in the finest venues in the San Francisco Bay Area and Hawaii. His long and varied career in music includes extensive touring of the US, Europe and Asia. He is proud of his New Orleans roots, the city he calls his “second home” and the place where his loyal following of jazz fans began. John excels at jazz, rock, blues and standards.
Doug Morton
Trumpet, flugelhorn, Arranger
Originally from the Midwest, Doug Morton began playing trumpet at the age of 7. In his teens he attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, played with the World Youth Symphony, Michigan Youth Orchestra and was soloist with the Dun Scotus Bach Festivals. He received his bachelor's degree in trumpet (Phi Beta Kappa) from the New England Conservatory, studying with Armando Ghitala, Gunther Schuller, and Daniel Pinkham. He founded and directed the Scholarship Brass Quintet, and was principal in many of Schuller's ensembles and Boston area groups.
Since moving to the Bay Area, Morton has performed with the Sacramento, Berkeley, Monterey, and California symphonies, among others, including being featured with the Santa Rosa, Monterey, Bay Area Concerto and Concord Pavilion orchestras as soloist, and has been invited to perform at many summer music festivals. He has been principal trumpet in Santa Rosa Symphony since 1992. Morton continues to pursue his interests in music of all kinds, performing with such diverse groups as the Jazz Composer's Orchestra, CARMA, Mental Floss, The Grateful Dudes, the Clubfoot Orchestra, SF Mime Troupe, Beach Blanket Babylon, and the Bohemian Club Jinks Band. Morton also composes and arranges. His works have been commissioned and performed by the California Shakespeare Festival, ACT, SF Chamber Singers, Napa Valley Chorale, Santa Rosa Chamber Players and KQED. He currently performs with Orient Express, a world-music group, CJQ, a cross-over jazz combo and the Epiphoné Brass ensemble. He also writes for and plays with the Trumpet Supergroup, the Bay Area Composers' Big Band, Marcus Shelby and many others.
Jeff Lewis
Trumpet, flugelhorn
Jeff is a San Francisco based freelance trumpet player, clinician, and educator. He received his B.A. in jazz performance from San Jose State University in 1987 and have studied with Claude Gordon, Dave Burkhart, and Mark Inouye. He is also Professor of Jazz Trumpet Studies at San Jose State University.
Recently, he has been performing in a variety of musical settings including: salsa, R&B, Jazz, classical, mariachi, funk, soul, and classical.
Jeff has performed with Ray Charles and the California Symphony and has also recorded with B.B. King on his Grammy winning “Duets” album. he has also played and/or toured with Boz Skaggs, Kenny Loggins, Huey Lewis and the News, Diana Krall, The Sons of Champlin, Robben Ford, Pete Escovedo, Maria Muldaur, Conjunto Cespedes , Mary Wilson, Jon Faddis, The Coasters, Cedar Walton, SteveTurre, The Temptations, Red Holloway, The Four Tops, Peaches and Herb, Tim Hagans, The O’ Jays, GQ, The Drifters, Joe Louis Walker, Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers , Martha Reeves, Peaches and Herb, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Shirelles, The Delfonics, and Kevin Mahogany. The last two years has also given him the opportunity to play in the Orchestra for the Broadway musicals “White Christmas” , “The Drowsy Chaperone”, and “Spam-A-Lot” in San Francisco.
John Halbleib
Trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonica & vocals
John has played with Grammy winning artists such as Roberta Flack, Aaron Neville, John Lee Hooker, Sheila E. and Pete Escovedo to name a few. He's also recorded with Grammy nominated Craig Chaquico, 3rd Force and Jimmy Dillon as well as appearing in and recording for Warner Brothers feature film, Mad City with Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta. Whether performing live, recording, composing or directing John enjoys sharing his love of music with an audience.
Benito Cortez
Violin
I started violin at 8 years old. Largely self-taught through grade school, I pursued more formal violin and chamber music training with Dale King while attending Santa Clara University, from which I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. I used to balance my creative life between engineering and music. While designing audio test equipment, creating sound for stage theatre, and writing software for high tech children's toys, I was also a recording session sideman, orchestra concertmaster, chamber musician, and jazz musician. My favorite career highlight: I designed the sound for 1996 holiday hit toy "Tickle Me Elmo."
Currently, I reside in San Francisco and perform frequently with gypsy swing jazz and salsa ensembles, including Carambola, Panique!, the Tipsy Gypsy Trio, and Oriente Salsa.
