Band Members

Berl is the energetic leader and founder of the Yosemite Jazz Band. Berl began playing traditional jazz many years ago in the California coastal community of Ventura. There he performed with the Volunteer Dixieland Fire Brigade and The Untouchables Jazz Band. Making Bass Lake his permanent residence, Berl began performing with the Oakhurst Community Concert Band and eventually formed the Yosemite Jazz Band. Berl is dedicated to the enrichment of life through music, especially through traditional jazz. His extreme soulful playing and good-hearted enthusiasm is inspiring to both the band and the audience.

"Teddy" co-founded the Yosemite Jazz Band with Berl, having played the clarinet nearly his entire life. Growing up in Southern California, sounds from the big bands caught his ear and prompted him to take up the tenor saxophone in high school... just to play jazz. His musical career started by performing with a "pit band" for a musical production. While in college, Teddy performed with the Humboldt State University Symphonic Band in order to stay out of the rain. Upon graduation, a "day job" moved him to Bakersfield where Teddy performed each summer with the Bakersfield Municipal Band. Teddy later relocated to Coarsegold and met Berl during a rehearsal with the Oakhurst Community Concert Band. It was there discussions about forming a traditional jazz band began, and the rest is history. Teddy is probably most notable for his raspy singing voice and energetic playing style.

Jim is another of the band's original founding fathers! He started playing drums with bands in the Chicago area many years ago. After a twenty-year hiatus, he dusted off his sticks and began performing with the Yosemite Jazz Band. On the humorous side, Jim is vicariously listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as a participant in the world's largest band while performing at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. When not performing with the band, Jim can be seen in the back row pounding on different percussion instruments with the Oakhurst Community Concert Band. The Chicago-style beat the "Drummerman" has brought to the Yosemite Jazz Band is fundamental to the band's beat.

"Chops" professional musical career started at the ripe age of fourteen by playing trumpet and saxophone with a polka/dance band in central Wisconsin. He became a music teacher in 1965 after earning a degree in music education in Arizona. For 13 years, he played euphonium, trumpet, and tuba with the Arizona 108th Army National Guard Band. "Chops" began with the Yosemite Jazz Band on the tuba in 1996 and now performs with his trombone. "Chops" is the assistant conductor, trombone player, and Board member with the Oakhurst Community Concert Band, and during his free time "Chops" teaches music at Yosemite High School. If you ask, "Chops" will gladly play his double-belled euphonium for you!

Jeff resides in North Fork, the exact center of California, where he can almost always be heard strummin' or pickin' a banjo. After years of playing experimental finger style solo guitar Jeff discovered the powerful feeling of playing music with others through drumming. It was just a matter of time before the drums and the strings collided and coalesced into a banjo on his knee. Jeff’s enthusiasm for the banjo and music in general knows no bounds as he has performed in numerous bands playing jazz, bluegrass, Brazilian, and even African percussion. Though you will see Jeff perform traditional jazz with his Plectrum banjo and tenor guitar, you may also find him playing bluegrass music on his five-string banjo with the Smiley Mountain Bluegrass Band. Jeff is the kind of inspired musician who can easily jam all night and has greeted many a sunrise... with a banjo on his knee.

James began playing music and singing early in his life as a result of his parents' dedication to music. As a note of trivia, Pat Mierkey, the band's trombone player is James' father! James began playing the drums at the age of six and the piano followed closely there after. Over the past decade James has taken an extreme interest in all forms of jazz music, especially traditional jazz. He is involved with numerous musical projects where he often takes on the roles of a musician, arranger, and recording engineer. Through the summer, his solo piano performances at Duceys on the Lake provides just the right ambiance as patrons enjoy a great meal and view of Bass Lake.

Despite the fact that "Curly" has been a trumpet player since he was twelve, he was asked to join the band as its tuba player in 2004. Years of performance experiences, including performances at the US Capital building and at Disneyland, aided him in quickly adjusting to his new musical roll. As "Curly" likes to put it, "I just fake it and have been faking it pretty well since!" "Curly" is a Board member with the Oakhurst Community Concert Band and performs with his trumpet in the concert band. His sense of timing and humor are a welcomed edition to the band.

Gary joined the Yosemite Jazz Band in 1994. Though you may not see him at every performance, Gary often sits-in to cover the piano, bass, or banjo parts when "Fingers", "Curly", or Jeff are away, respectively and not all at once! Gary is originally trained as a classical pianist and during the 1970’s he toured extensively throughout the US and Canada playing the Hammond B-3 Organ. In the early 1980s he settled in Central California and was a session player at various studios for country music artists. For several years Gary was the arranger, pianist and bass player for Hi-Hat Records, a national square dance record company. Gary is a fantastic musician who can perform most styles of music, from jazz, to country, disco, Dixieland, classical, lounge, pop and rock. You may often find Gary in his recording studio near Yosemite and playing his upright bass with the Smiley Mountain Bluegrass Band.