Sam Miltich & The Clearwater Hot Club

Gary Schulte is a violinist and performance composer to whom Stephane Grappelli gave his most sincere blessing. A veteran of "A Prairie Home Companion", he has done everything from classical improvisation with harpsichord master Layton James to the avante garde with David Byrne. Sought after as a jazz violinist, he has gigged with some of the greatest artists of the Gypsy Jazz genre, including guitarist legend Dorado Schmitt. He is also known for his work in the Black Gospel tradition, and for his unaccompanied solo violin performances in which he takes a story or image and creates a spontaneous composition in front of a live audience.  

Tony has been playing clarinet for 38 years. It wasn’t until 1998, however, that he began to seriously play jazz. It was then his training began in earnest when he met and started playing with The Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band, featuring original members of The Hall Brothers Jazz Band. He is fairly steeped in the tradition now, and has a certain knowledge he will be involved with New Orleans music for the rest of his life. In addition to the Southside Aces and Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band, Tony leads a "continental jazz" group with singer Maud Hixson, (French 75). Tony also plays in two quartets, one dedicated to playing the music of Sidney Bechet (The Creole Four), and one led by accordionist Patrick Harrison (Patty and the Buttons), which also plays New Orleans music. 

Mark has been playing music on stage since almost before there were two Germanys! He has played in Rock, Country, Bluegrass, Folk, Traditional Jazz and Gypsy Jazz bands, as well as being involved in theatrical and classical music. An accomplished performer on more than a handful of instruments, Mark also is a prolific songwriter, recently writing for a musical adaptation of Mark Twain’s Life On The Mississippi. Although he has played across the country and overseas, his favorite audience is always the one he’s playing for now! 

"Taste and understatement. Swing and savoir-faire. Grace and grooves. Intimacy and panache. Singer Charmin Michelle delivers all of the above and more."  This is what the Minneapolis Star/Tribune had to say about this charismatic chanteuse whose conversational style recalls the late Billie Holiday and other legendary ladies of jazz. And, yet, her music is free of tiresome camp and easy nostalgia. She's a savvy songstress and, while putting her own imprint on a melody, is always respectful of those who first inhabited it. Photo credit: Ron Kutsi

Bassist Matthew Miltich is one of ten children of musical parents, bassist Matthew Joseph Miltich, and cellist Jean Baird, both music graduates of the University of Minnesota.  After military service and college, he began performing with his brothers Anthony and Paul and others, but his jazz career began in earnest when his son Sam began to perform professionally and asked his father to accompany him. Matthew has played jazz in a variety of venues, as far away as Japan, as close as his hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota.  Photo credit: Ron Kutsi

Jay Epstein is one of the most in-demand drummers on the Twin Cities jazz scene.  He plays regularly with such luminaries as Nancy Harms, Zacc Harris, Chris Bates and Dean Granros.  He has performed on numerous albums including most recently Tall Tales by Andrew Walesch.  Jay was inducted into the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame for the release of "Easy Company"with Dean Magraw, Anthony Cox and Bill Carrothers. Photo credit: Ron Kutsi