Mike Gillispie and The Jazz Flute Quartet
Mike Gillispie, flute and bass flute
Bandleader Mike Gillispie started playing accordion at age 5 and switched to flute at 7. He added saxophones to his bag and was playing out every weekend by the time he finished high school. Growing up in the rich musical community around Washington he studied both Classical and Jazz (and has continued to take and teach college level courses throughout his lifetime) and was able to pursue a graphic arts education at the same time. These parallel pursuits, music and photography led Mike to live and work in Boston, New York, Colorado, California and finally back home to DC. He has performed throughout the US, in Western and Eastern Europe, Brazil and Japan. Mike has played with and photographed many of his heroes in Jazz, and has shown his photographs in clubs and galleries including The Arts Club of Washington. He has deep roots in Pocahontas County; his parents were from Frank and Green Bank. He spent summers in Green Bank before he was old enough to gig full time.
Thomas Kitchen, Guitar
Thomas Kitchen has studied with several dedicated educators including the renowned Paraguayan Classical Guitarist Berta Rojas. He is a musician’s musician; a bandleader and arranger as well as a popular performer in both Jazz and Classical genres. Thomas balances his active performance itinerary with a busy teaching schedule and still finds time to transcribe the works of world-class Jazz musicians to support his students’ growth. He has been a professional educator in several disciplines and currently teaches guitar, ukulele, electric bass and piano privately and in community music schools, working with students of all ages in all styles of music. Thomas has traveled extensively and lived and taught in Mongolia and China. He holds a Master of Arts in Teaching degree and applies the experiential learning cycle and constant improvement techniques from his studies to both his teaching and performing.
Dan Griffin, Bass
Danny grew up in the Jazz capital of the world, New York City. He started playing accordion at 8 years of age and added upright acoustic bass at age 13 and subtracted the accordion. In high school he was playing frequent gigs in the City and Long Island. While continuing to study music–an activity he maintains some 50 years later–he has performed in many ensembles and has led a regular weekly gig throughout the past decade. Dan’s other passion is his work to improve the lives of families and individuals of all ages; he earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology, continued with post doctoral study and is a recognized educator, speaker and author and maintains a busy therapeutic practice. Somehow he also finds time to produce a weekly radio show of music and “not-ready-for-borscht-belt schtick.”
James Deshler, Drums
Growing up in Los Angeles in a musical family, Jim hung and played with a diverse group of Jazz and Progressive Rock musicians during his formative years. Except for a 2-year hiatus to heal a broken wrist he has continued to study and perform throughout his lifetime. That hiatus allowed him to discover another lifelong passion as he began his study of molecular and cellular biology, ultimately leading to his doctorate at UCLA and post-doctoral study at Harvard Medical School. When he is not busy performing or leading sessions Jim provides leadership and oversight as Deputy Division Director at the National Science Foundation. Jim met his wife Veronica while playing for a surprise birthday for her. In addition to being an in-demand Jazz musician, Jim is an active pilot and ardent motorcyclist.
