Idit Shner Trio

IDIT SHNER - saxophones
An active performer of both jazz and classical music, Idit Shner has played in various distinguished venues in the United States and abroad, such as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Lincoln Center in New York.

Currently Idit plays her own jazz compositions with her quartet in Eugene and Portland, OR. During 2006 Idit played lead alto with Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. In 2004 - 2005 Idit played lead alto with the Two O'clock Lab Band, under the direction of James Riggs at the University of North Texas. Performing her own compositions in a jazz combo setting, Idit was selected to participate in Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead (April 2005).

As an avid classical saxophonist Idit has commissioned and recorded new music and performed solo recitals in the US and Israel. During March 2006 she played in Israel as a featured soloist with a symphonic orchestra, and performed contemporary music at the national convention of the Society for Electro Acoustic Music in the US. Her last solo recital in Israel (January 2005) was broadcasted live on Voice of Music, a national public radio station.

Idit holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University, a Masters degree in Music Education from University of Central Oklahoma, and is expected to receive her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in September 2006. While with the University of Central Oklahoma she directed their Jazz Band III. During her studies at the University of North Texas she was competitively awarded a teaching fellowship. Through this appointment she taught applied saxophone as well as directed the Nine O'clock Lab Band, and the Four O'clock Lab Band. Idit Shner recently joined the faculty of University of Oregon as a saxophone instructor.

DAVE CAPTEIN - bass

Dave Captein is an accomplished performer on both string bass and bass guitar, having worked as a professional musician for over 30 years in the Pacific Northwest. A Portland native, he studied with Alice Leyden (Portland Opera Orchestra), Herman Jobelmann (Principal, Oregon Symphony), Ring Warner, James Harnett (Principal, Seattle Symphony) and Chuck Deardorf (Seattle Jazz Bassist). A music graduate of Western Washington University and the University of Washington, where he was awarded a composition scholarship, Dave has performed in a broad range of situations, from symphonic performances to studio and club work, as well as many jazz concerts and festivals around the country and in Europe.

He has worked with many well known jazz artists, and is currently working with Tom Grant. He freelances in the Portland area, and is a very active member of the music community there, frequently appearing in the city's many clubs and concert venues, as well as recording studios. He is a favorite choice for the region's many bandleaders and always in demand for his solid sound, time and feel, as well as his soloing abilities. He has played on numerous local artists' CD's, as well as nationally distributed releases by Tom Grant and Jessica Williams. He has also been a long time instructor, having taught at the University of Oregon for 10 years, he now teaches privately from his home in S.E. Portland.

He has appeared with such diverse and notable artists as Mose Allison, Richie Cole, Tal Farlow, Art Lande, Red Holloway, Ernestine Anderson, Jack Sheldon, Nu Shooz, Marlena Shaw, Frankie Avalon, Jeff Clayton, Paul McCandless, Larry Coryell, Andy Narell, Jerry Hahn, Dave Frishberg, Randy Brecker, Steve Million, Ron Miles, Rick Braun, Kenny Drew Jr., Jessica Williams (appearing on 5 of her CD's), Joey De Francesco, Eric Alexander, Pete Christlieb, Gary Smulyan, Ron Eschete, Bud Shank, Ingrid Jensen, Jackie Naylor, Bobby Shew, Wynton Marsalis, Dick Hyman, Ken Peplowski and local luminaries such as Ron Steen, Mel Brown, Dan Balmer, Gary Hobbs and Rebecca Kilgore.

GARY HOBBS - drums
Drummer Gary Hobbs is a native of the Pacific Northwest and lives in Vancouver, WA. He has played professionaly for 3 decades and appears on over 40 recordings.Gary played with The Stan Kenton Orchestra from 1975 through 1977. Through the years Gary has played with Anita O'Day, Suzanna McKorkle, Dan Siegel, Glen Moore, The New York Voices, Eddie Harris and many more. Bud Shank, Randy Brecker, Bill Mays, Kurt Elling, Dave Frishberg, David Freisen, Bobby Shew, Bobby Watson, Bob Florence, The Woody Herman Orchestra,Terry Gibbs, Jaquie Naylor, Jim Widner Big Band, Mike Vax Big Band and Tom Grant are just a few of the artists that Gary has recently performed with.
Carnagie Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Tivoli Garden, Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap are among the venues Gary has played along with scores of festivals and clubs all over the world. Gary is very active in Jazz Education teaching at The University Of Oregon and traveling all over the US doing clinics, concerts and jazz camps with the help of Bosphorus Cymbal Company and Yamaha Drum Company.