Bios

The distinguished musicians of Swing Soiree:

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  Yusuf Kilgore

  Yusuf Kilgore is an accomplished guitarist, teacher, and composer known for his versatility. He earned a B.A. in Folklore &Ethnomusicology at Indiana University, studied at the IU School of Music, played at cafes in Paris and Berlin, and now plays a variety of styles including Brazilian choro, gypsy jazz, Americana, Latin jazz, salsa, funk, R&B, and bluegrass. He has taught guitar ensembles at Seattle Waldorf Highschool, and has led workshops on gypsy jazz and bluegrass at Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival. He leads his own group Swing Soiree as a premiere act for entertaining at weddings and special events.

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  Brandon Vance

  Brandon is a two-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and the youngest to received the award, at the age of 14. He graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music with both a Bachelors and Masters in Music, Studied under renowned violinist and pedagogue, Mr. Paul Kantor. Discography includes "Beyond the Borders" with Mark Minkler and Alchymeia's Debut Album. Received Suzuki Certification through book four from the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies and took a workshop from Mr. John Kendall, the man who first brought the Suzuki Method to America. Played with four professional orchestras. He is a current member of Northwest Sinfonietta and Tacoma Symphony, collaborated with folk crossover musicians Mark Minkler (Irish flautist/Jazz pianist), Eliot Grasso (Uillean piper/Classical pianist), and Nadia Tarnawsky (Ukrainian folk singer).

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  Tim Wetmiller

  Regarded as one of the most adventurous and exciting fiddlers in the Northwest today, Tim founded HCS on a front porch in Olympia ten years ago. Along with playing swing violin and contributing compositions and arrangements to HCS, Tim explores folk styles from around the world, and works with many bands including the Seattle-based Latin American roots music band Los Flacos.

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  Lamar Lofton

  Lamar Lofton is a consumate well-rounded bassist equally at home on electric playing reggae, funk, rock and R&B as he is on stand-up playing jazz. He received his advanced education in jazz from Cornish College of the Arts. He has played in almost every venue in Seattle, and worked for Seattle's reggae master Clinton Fearon. Lofton, was featured in the Seattle Arts and Performance fall issue 2012 jazz section. He has been in the business for more than two very productive decades.

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  Jim Char

  Jim Char has over 35 years of experience as a musician/performer. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, he moved to Washington after studying at the famed Guitar Institute in California. His loves the swing music of the 20's and 30's, as well as songs from the Great American Songbook. Also an educator, Jim has taught for 27 years as a school teacher and holds a Masters Degree in Education. He currently teaches choir and drama to middle school kids. Jim has also written 8 full length musicals which he has produced. He has taught the Gypsy Jazz Workshops at the Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival for the last 2 years. JIm is married to Bonnie, who is also a an instrumentalist and vocalist in their duo, "The Chars". Jim Char also leads the band, Hot Club of Seattle, in the tradition of Django's Hot Club of Paris.