We’re welcoming Tom Strohman & Steve Rudolph (keys), and Steve Varner (bass) for our Wednesday Jazz Series.
Reservations are recommended
Make reservations below for the Listening Room. As always, there will be a few tables available for walk-in guests upstairs on our mezzanine.
About the artists:
Tom Strohman
Tom has been one of the leaders of the popular band Third Stream for over 40 years. He was Jazz Band Director and saxophone instructor at Lebanon Valley college and has many recordings and compositions to his credit. As a free-lance musician, Tom has performed for entertainers Patti Page, Sonny and Cher, Eddie Fisher, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Vinton, Johnny Mathis, and Clay Aiken. He has also performed with the Harrisburg and York Symphony Orchestras. As a solo jazz performer, Tom has had the pleasure of working with the following musicicians: Buddy DeFranco, Al Grey, John Blake, Dave Stahl, Johnny Coles, John Riley and John Von Ohlen. Tom was inducted into the Central PA Friends of Jazz Hall of Fame in 2009.Steve Varner
Steve Varner was born and raised in Tennessee and moved to the Harrisburg, PA area in 1980 where he soon became a local favorite. In addition to his extensive sideman duties as a bassist, Steve also led his own electric quartet, Modern Traffic, taking the role of "guitarist" in the band by playing the piccolo bass. Switching to acoustic bass in the early 1990's, he began to work, tour and record with a wider circle of improvisational musicians.Now residing in northern New Jersey, Steve has performed with such jazz greats as: Pat Martino, Phil Woods, Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, J.D. Walter, Steve Rudolph, Tim Warfield, Eric Alexander, James Moody, Jim Ridl, Vic Juris, Ernie Watts, Bill Goodwin, Bob Dorough, Jean-Michel Pilc, Tierney Sutton, Patty Austin, and Karrin Allyson.
Steve Rudolph
Steve has had an inspiring career in his 50+ years of professional music making. Jazz improv magazine states, “Rudolph is a savvy, swinging, glimmering heavyweight...Simply outstanding.” he was awarded two jazz composition fellowships from the PA Council of the Arts. With fourteen acclaimed cds as a leader, he has served as producer, arranger and performer on many recordings including sessions with Johnny Coles, Bill Goodwin, Ali Ryerson, Matt Wilson, Drew Gress, Cal Collins, Jonathan Raggonese, Phil Haynes, Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin, JD Walter and Vinny Valentino. His vast experience encompasses concert performances with many jazz masters including Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Terry Gibbs, Al Grey, and the Mills brothers. Steve has toured throughout the U.S., India, Europe, Canada, Russia and the Caribbean. At home he is the leader of many ensembles including the Harrisburg Jazz Collective (formerly the river city big band). Currently a Yamaha keyboard artist, he is in demand as a clinician and performer. Steve hired by Buddy Morrow to perform with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1977. Since moving to Harrisburg, he has been largely responsible for the growth and development of the thriving jazz scene in Central PA. His devotion to the art of jazz inspired him to found the Central PA Friends of Jazz, now in its 42nd year. Steve was the recipient of the 2002 Harrisburg Arts award for dedication to the arts and community service and has received two composition fellowships from the PA Council of the Arts . Steve is well known in Central PA for his 22 year long job as house pianist at the Hilton Harrisburg. His detailed recording and touring information may be found at www.steverudolph.com.Read more about the artists: Tom Strohman Steve Rudolph
