San Francisco’s only Vaudeville Variety Show!!
What can I say about my band!?!?! Well, first off...it is not all my doing. You see, when I set out to form the first incarnation of this show I knew I wanted a tight band. I mean TIGHT! I also knew that I needed a band leader who was ready to take on the challenge of my irreverent nature. I auditioned quite a few pianists. Each one had talent...but none of them "got it". It had to swing. It had to bop. It had to be an integral part of the show. I knew I wanted all the music to be live...which meant transcribing most of the music my performers used into charts for the band to play. I also knew that it had to appeal to everyone and not only stand out on its own...but be a vital component to my dream.
Then he strutted into the auditions. He is Richard Nelson Hall. Not imposing in stature at all and wearing a porkpie hat. He spoke..."oh crap...he's British"! "He's not going to get it". Boy was I wrong! Right from the get go...we sat down and I explained my vision...HE GOT IT! Then he tickled them ivories...HE GOT IT! He was hired on the spot. We then sought out the rest of the band. I knew I had two musicians I wanted and he had a passel of jazz men he could cull from. Together we formed The Filthy Four. Four of the BEST musicians in the Bay Area, in my humble opinion. The rest is...as they say...History.
Richard is still my Bandleader and most of the guys still play with us, when they are not gigging elsewhere. Unfortunately, the name has changed. Just like with the former name of the show, when people saw "The Filthy Four"...they assumed the worst. Without any further adieu...
Richard Nelson Hall & Hush Hush Revue Orchestra
Richard Nelson Hall - Bandleader,
Piano
Born in England, Richard is a graduate
from the University of Nottingham where he subsidized his higher education
grants with jazz dates at the local clubs such as the notorious Down's
Brasserie. As a London-based professional he was involved in various jazz &
rock ensembles, a publishing contract with Warner Bros. and a multitude of
engagements including appearances at The Ritz, The Savoy, Covent Garden and,
before coming to America, a two year run at The Hotel Russell. From 1988 to
1990 he held a lecturing post at Chichester College where he taught jazz
theory and improvisation to Performing Arts students.
Arriving in San Francisco in January 1991 Richard's career continued with
nightly contracts at the renowned Fisherman's Wharf restaurant A. Sabella's
then at Club 36 on Union Square. Weekly engagements have included the jazz
clubs Storyville, Harry Denton's, The Black Cat, Moonshine and The Plumed
Horse. Appearing with various Bay Area Jazz, Latin, and Blues ensembles he
has performed at most of the live music venues in the Bay Area including The
Fillmore Auditorium, The Great American Music Hall, The Masonic Auditorium
(with Tony Bennett), Slim's and The Mystic Theater; in 1999 he participated
in the "Blue Journey" lecture/performance series presenting the history of
the blues in Universities across California; and in 2001 his trio performed
on stage with Ballet California at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
presenting original choreography with his original musical compositions. In
September 2004 he performed at the Russian River Jazz Festival opening for
Chaka Khan, and in 2005/6 was Musical Director, Pianist and Conductor for
both the "Dirty Little Secret" show (60 performances) and the Rat Pack
"Tribute" show (250 performances).
Ben Leinbach - Drums, Swing Piano
Ben started drumming in 1978 and
developed a taste for a wide variety of music. Ben played in rock bands and
jazz groups and orchestras and symphonic bands throughout my school years.
Currently Ben am gigging regularly in the jazz, rock, blues, funk, pop, and
latin-jazz idioms. Ben have performed with sax great Chico Freeman, jazz
singer Kurt Elling, and jammed with Joshua Redman. A few of my former bands
shared bills with Green Day, Primus, John Scofield, and Charlie Hunter. I've
also performed with Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers and Mingus
Amungus.
During high school in Boston Ben studied with Alan Dawson and Manny Wise.
After one year at the University of Wisconsin studying with Richard Davis,
Ben spent three semesters at Berklee College of Music under the tutelage of
Joe Hunt, Ian Fromar, and Ed Uribe. In 1989 Ben came to the University of
California, Santa Cruz, and studied with George Marsh and Willie Winant. Ben
also had the honor of performing and recording with Pauline Oliveros and
James Tenney.
Eugene Warren - Bass
Eugene is a class act all the way. No one slaps a bass like this man!
Daniel Maguy - Reeds, Flute