Front man Michael Quinby got his start playing blues in the ‘90s alongside the likes of Johnny Nitro and Tommy Castro in San Francisco’s North Beach. On tour with Joe Louis Walker and the Boss Talkers, Quinby met Nick Daniels (Dumpstaphunk) and Mean Willie Green (Neville Brothers), who introduced the aspiring blues man to New Orleans style funk. Quinby cut a record with Nick and Willie in 1999 and opened on tours for acts like Elvin Bishop and Buckwheat Zydeco.
Damian Erskine has played in the studio or on the stage with the likes of Gino Vannelli, Peter Erskine New Trio, The Jaco Pastorius Big Band (featuring Richard Bona, Peter Erskine & Damian Erskine), Les McCann & Javon Jackson, Jeff Lorber, Teri-Lynn Carrington, Sveti w/ Marko Djordjevic, Brandon Ross, Vardan Ovsepian, Charmaine Neville, Jessy J, Tony Furtado and many others. Whether playing as a sideman or with his own group, he is known for his rock solid bass work, virtuosic solos and thoughtful chordal abilities. Damian is an adjunct professor at both Portland State University and Marylhurst University in Portland as well as the Berklee College of Music's Guitar Week. Damian has also written for Bass Player Magazine, NoTreble.com, Bass Musician Magazine as well as authoring his own book, "Right Hand Drive".
Drummer Reinhardt Melz currently lives in Portland, OR and has made a living as a freelance drummer since the age of 17. Born into a family of musicians and dancers, Reindhardt was exposed to a large variety of musical styles from birth which has led to his "top call" status as a drummer. Over the years Reinhardt's versatility has led to gigs with a diverse combination of international artists including Buddy Guy, Earnestine Anderson, Steve Miller, George Colligan, James Carter, Luis Conte, Tony Furtado, Charmaine Neville, Jeff Lorber, Randy Porter, Curtis Salgado, Les McCann, Javon Jackson, and many more. Currently, Reinhardt tours internationally with Gino Vannelli, and with Les McCann & Javon Jackson. When not touring, he also keeps a busy schedule in Portland and Northwest area teaching and gigging with several local artists.
Alex Milstedt is an accomplished keyboardist and saxophonist in the Portland, Oregon area. Alex grew up in a musical family and starting playing at a very young age. In 2009, he was awarded a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston where he spent a year before returning to play professionally. Milsted has performed with artists such as Mike Phillips, Stevie Wonder, Liv Warfield, Farnell Newton, and many others. Milsted proudly endorses P Mauriat saxophones and Theo Wanne Classic Mouthpieces.
LaRhonda Steele began her musical journey in Jones, Oklahoma. At the age 13 she sang her first solo in church one Sunday morning. Over the years she has enjoyed working with local, national and international artists: Curtis Salgado, Norman Sylvester, Linda Hornbuckle, Janice Scroggins, Paul Delay, Obo Addy and Thara Memory. She has had the pleasure of recording with Thara Memory, Obo Addy, Janice Scroggins, Norman Sylvester and Ken DaRouchie. Performing at the Lincoln Center with Obo Addy in 2005 and her yearly appearances at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festivals are just a couple of the highlights of her career.
Catón Lyles is an accomplished Pacific Northwest artist who is a night club and concert favorite. In 1986 Catón received a Gold Record for co-writing “You Put Me In A Trance” for Nu Shooz on Atlantic Records. He has worked as a sideman with many stylistically including, Shirley Scott, Dennis Springer, Sonny King, William Elmwood, Jim Pepper, Sally Harmon, Janice Scroggins & Mario DePriest, Billy Rancher, Phillip Boulding, Mel Brown, Bhagavan Das, Liv Warfield, Slowtrain, The Crazy 8′s, H.B. Barnham, Chris Parker, Thara Memory, Obo Addy, Randy Cannon, Andre Kitaev, The Supremes featuring Mary Wilson and many more.