The Missing Man Quartet (MM4) plays original interpretations of jazz and Great American Songbook standards using an unusual instrumental format. By integrating mandolin into the more standard lineup of drums, bass, and guitar, the MM4 brings a new twist that provides a tonal color rarely heard in mainstream jazz.
Guitarist and jazz educator Greg Reginato attended Berklee College of Music and subsequently studied at UCLA. Pianist John Herbst writes, “[Greg has] an irrepressible need to be funky [and] has developed a comping style that's equally at home in any number of musical settings. His solos are always joyful and energetic”. Greg was also one of the contributors to the iconic first edition of the Real Book, the renowned jazz fake book widely considered to be the bible for jazz musicians throughout the world. His tutorials can be found on YouTube at Reg523.
Drummer Gerry Kennett was a member of the award-winning University of Nevada Jazz Band and soon branched out to nightclub and dance band work. After performing many shows at Harrah’s, Harvey’s, and the Nugget in the Reno-Tahoe-Las Vegas circuit, he moved to the Bay Area where he backed up Val Diamond (of Beach Blanket Babylon) in her solo performances. As an in-demand sideman, Gerry began a long career playing private parties and various jazz clubs and hotels in the Bay Area. If you are in the right place at the right time, you may hear him whistling jazz solos.
Tom Bekeny, mandolin, has been performing, touring, and recording since 1974 as a bluegrass musician and, for about the last 15 years, has been obsessed with jazz mandolin. He has appeared with Peter Rowan, David Grisman, Laurie Lewis, and Jerry Garcia. In addition to playing with the Missing Man Quartet, he plays regularly with grammy award winner Kathy Kallick, High Country (fiddle), and banjoist Bill Evans. Tom is helping unlock the jazz potential of the mandolin and is among the very few mandolinists today playing in an authentic mainstream jazz style.
Craig Griffeath, electric bass, has been a fixture on Bay Area stages playing blues, r&b, folk, rock, and jazz for over 50 years, He is also a veteran recording engineer/producer of more than 100 albums. For 15 years he has held down the bottom with the Missing Man Quartet, developing a unique melodic voice on his seven string-electric bass.
Tickets are $5 on-site.