Live & Local: Bop of the Bay

Bop of the Bay gathers six top musicians from all around the Monterey bay area to perform their original compositions and classic hard bop favorites. Featuring Brian Stock, Roger Eddy, Steve Wilson, Marshall Otwell, Dan Robbins, and Michael Strunk, this swinging sextet cooks up a tasty musical smorgasbord. Trumpeter Brian Stock hales from Along Came Betty, the acclaimed jazz quintet that has been dazzling Monterey audiences for nearly twenty years. Saxophonist Roger Eddy, well known as the leader of the Roger Eddy Band, is another longtime Bay Area favorite. Steve Wilson’s inventive trombone soloing has enhanced many excellent Bay Area groups over the years, including the Union Dues Big Band, Havana Jazz, Midnight Mambo, and the popular White Album Ensemble. Pianist Marshall Otwell’s distinguished resume includes performances with many giants of jazz: Dizzy Gillespie, Michael Brecker, Freddie Hubbard, and an eight-year stint as vocalist Carman McRae’s pianist/musical director. Dan Robbins is one of the busiest bassists in Northern California, always involved in a diverse array of groups and musical styles. Like Robbins, drummer Mike Strunk is another seasoned performer, comfortable in any mode of musical expression. Together, these veteran musicians comprise the crème de la crème of Bay Area jazz.