Artist Information
Biography
GENO HAFFNER - PIANO, VOCALS
Originally from Troy, Missouri, Geno grew up like many musicians do; singing in the choir at church, playing trumpet in his high school band, and playing piano for school and church functions. After graduating with honors from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, he moved to Nashville in 1991 and began performing and recording with a virtual who’s who of local artists, including Kristi Rose, The Road Runners, Annie Sellick, Delicious Blues Stew, and many others. From 2000 through 2002, he was on the road performing extensively throughout the United States and Canada with The Scott Holt Band. Geno’s heroes include boogie woogie pioneer Pete Johnson (Big Joe Turner), bop master Oscar Peterson, early rocker Johnnie Johnson (Chuck Berry), and New Orleans legend Henry “Professor Longhair” Byrd. He incorporates all of these styles into rollicking piano playing that keeps the dance floor jumping.
JOHN OWEN - BASS, VOCALS
Bassist John Owen began his musical career in Evansville, Indiana in the late '60s playing upright bass in small jazz groups and big bands, moving to Fender Bass in the '70's playing in original blues and rock & roll groups in Louisville, Ky, then in Nashville, where he hit the road with songwriter Tim Krekel, then later with Americana hero Dave Olney in his seminal band the X-Rays.
He rediscovered his jazz roots after hearing, then sitting in with, Gene Haffner doing piano bar in the early 90's, and has been playing with Geno since then. John still plays the 1966 Precision bass that he bought new in Louisville, through a 1961 Fender Bassman amp.
CHRIS BUCK - DRUMS, VOCALS
Our resident Brit, Chris grew up in Portsmouth, England. Back in the UK, he worked with everybody. Since moving to Nashville in 1997, he has worked with and/or recorded with Jack Greene, Jeannie Seeley, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, The Drifters, Ben E. King, The Platters, The Three Degrees, Greg Holland, Steve Hall, Rick Altizer, Sam Moore, Mark Collie etc,etc. Chris brings the technical prowess of his idol, Gene Krupa, to the stage, but he can also work the brushes like Philly Joe Jones. He endorses Soultone cymbals and Silverfox sticks.
BEN GRAVES - GUITAR, VOCALS
Ben represents an eclectic history of musical experience; in high school in rural Tennessee he was a neo-folk/classical guitarist, a jazz saxophonist, and the lead singer in a band that would become the platinum-selling hard rock outfit Fuel. He attended Wesleyan University and Berklee College of Music, where he was awarded scholarships for both saxophone and voice. After Berklee, he won an assistantship at Washington State University where he earned a master's degree in music and was recognized as “outstanding alto saxophonist” at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Ben is a true multi-instrumentalist; he's jammed on guitar and harmonica with Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith, played electric bass with Kid Rock and at the Grand Ole Opry, and has blown saxophone with Modern Jazz Quartet bassist Percy Heath, Late Show drummer Anton Fig, and tons of people you've never heard of. His voice-over and instrumental skills have contributed to dozens of jingles and original recordings. Ben is truly the olive in The Dean Martinis.
REGGIE MURRAY - SAX, FLUTE
Reggie moved to Nashville several years ago from his hometown of New Orleans, LA. Before emigrating from the Big Easy following hurricane Katrina, he attended Loyola University and the University of New Orleans, where he earned a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies. In addition to playing saxes and flute, Reggie also plays keyboards and bass, and he loves composing music as much as performing live. He has played with Bonnie Raitt, Russell Batiste of the Meters, and the late, great gospel artist Raymond Myles, and has opened for Larry Carlton with contemporary jazz group Entourage. Reggie enjoys a very eclectic mix of music from old to new, and he is active in worship music with his wife Sandy.
Instrumentation
Geno Haffner - piano, vocals
John Owen - bass, vocals
Chris Buck - percussion
Ben Graves - guitar, vocals, harmonica, etc.
Reggie Murray - sax, flute
Discography
Links
Video
Press
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Ain't That a Kick in the Head
[+ Show ]
Unlike most of America, we take our lounge music very, very seriously: our cocktails are like commun...
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Alley Kats Swing Dance Club
We went over and checked these guys out and they are awesome! If you get a chance to see them - GO!
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Beyond The Edge
[+ Show ]
“You guys individually have amazing talent, and when you all come together, it defines synergy.” - M...
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The French Quarter Cafe
[+ Show ]
“The Dean Martinis are one of the hippest acts we’ve had here in our eight year history. They are as...
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Sharkbait Studios
[+ Show ]
“I highly recommend a round of beer and The Dean Martinis to anyone in need. Easy on the ears, beaut...
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SwingCat Dave
[+ Show ]
“The Dean Martinis are Versatility, Swingability, Hot Rhythm, and Cool Vibes all rolled up into one ...
Setlist
Afternoon in Paris
A foggy day in London town
Ain't misbehaving
Ain't That a Shame
All Blues
All of me
All the things you are
Angel eyes
April in Paris
Around Midnight
As time goes by
Autumn Leaves
Autumn in New York
Beautiful love
Big Bess
Big Chief
Big 10 Inch Record
Black Orpheus
Blue Bossa
Blue monk
Blue moon
Blues for Alice
Blues in the night
Bluesette
Body and soul
Boplicity
But not for me
Bye Bye blackbird
C jam blues
Candy
Ceora
Cherokee
Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
Come rain or come shine
Cry me a river
Cute
Dancin' on the ceiling
Darn that dream
Days of wine and roses
Desifinado
Do nothing 'til you hear from me
Don't get around much any more
Don't let the sun catch you crying
Easy living
Embraceable you
Everything happens to me
Fly me to the moon
Flying home
Footprints
Four
Freddie the freeloader
Gee baby ain't I good to you
Gentle rain
Georgia
Ghost of a chance
Girl from Ipanema
God bless the child
Got My Mojo Working
Green dolphin street
Have you met miss Jones
Here's that rainy day
Hey, Good Lookin'
How high the moon
How insensitive
How long has this been going on
I can't get started
I could write a book
I love you
In the mood
In Walked Bud
I'll remember April
Is you is or is you ain't my baby
It had to be you
I've got it bad
Jersey bounce
Jive at Five
Joyspring
Jumping at the Woodside
Just one of those things
Just the way you look tonight
Kansas City
Ladybird
Lady is a tramp
Laura
Little Darlin'
Love for sale
Lover man
Lullaby of Birdland
Lullaby of the Leaves
Mack the Knife
Makin' Whoopie
Misty
Moonglow
Moonlight in Vermont
More than you know
Moten Swing
Move It On Over
My foolish heart
My funny valentine
My Romance
Nice work if you can get it
Night and day
Night in Tunisia
No moon at all
One for my baby
One note samba
On the street where you live
On the sunny side of the street
Our love is here to stay
People will say we're in love
Perdido
Poinciana
Polka dots and moonbeams
Prelude to a kiss
Quiet nights
Robin's nest
San Francisco
Satin doll
Scotch and soda
Scrapple from the Apple
Sentimental Journey
September song
the Shadow of your smile
Shake, Rattle and Roll
Skylark
Song for my Father
Sophisticated Lady
Stardust
Stella by starlight
St. Louis Blues
Stompin' at the Savoy
Stormy weather
Straight, no chaser
Straighten up and fly right
String of pearls
Stolen moments
Summertime
Sweet Georgia Brown
Take five
Take the A Train
Taking a chance on love
Tenderly
That's all
There will never be another you
These foolish things
Things ain't what they used to be
Time after time
Tokyo blues
Unforgettable
Wave
Well, you needn't
What I Say
What is this thing called love
What's new
When I fall in love
When Sunny gets blue
Willow weep for me
Witchcraft
Yardbird suite
Yesterday
You'd be so nice to come home to
Basic Requirements
Calendar
| Date | Time | Venue | City | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 3, 2012 Sunday | 7:00 PM | Sambuca (Nashville) | Nashville, TN, US |  |
| Jun 17, 2012 Sunday | 7:00 PM | Sambuca (Nashville) | Nashville, TN, US | |