Hot Club Sandwich brings its’ unique character to the acoustic swing and Gypsy jazz pioneered by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli’s Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Adding original compositions, light hearted vocal numbers, clever arrangements and elements of Latin American acoustic music, HCS creates its own voice. Collectively and individually, Hot Club Sandwich draws from a diverse musical background encompassing many parts of the acoustic music globe.
Ray Wood has played the guitar professionally for over half a century and has performed around the world. He plays everything from bebop to doo-wop and has toured with acts such as The Coasters, and the Louvin Brothers. As one of the most revered guitarists in the Northwest, Ray is a regular instructor at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop and the Wintergrass Academy.
Guitarist Kevin Connor arrived in the Pacific Northwest as a spotted owl “hooter” and quickly became involved in Seattle’s eclectic music scene. Kevin enjoys singing standards and contributing compositions to the band. He also plays the Cuban tres guitar and is founder and co-director of the SuperSones, a Cuban Son septet, and performs regularly with Michael Horowitz and the Djangomatics.
Greg Ruby is thoroughly immersed in the North America’s Gypsy jazz scene. For years, he was the driving guitar rhythm behind the internationally acclaimed Pearl Django and has performed with jazz greats Howard Alden, Frank Vignola and Patrick Saussois. In 2003 Greg authored the Pearl Django play-along vol. 1 music book and is currently working on a transcription book of the music of Oscar Aleman for Djangobooks.com. Greg holds a degree in music from Cornish College of the Arts and teaches guitar in the Seattle area.
Bassist James Schneider is an acoustic roots musician. In addition to upright bass, James plays banjo and guitar and performs regularly with the old-timey hot jazz group The Tune Stranglers. He is also a Humanities Professor at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, WA.
Matt Sircely is an innovator among a new generation of mandolininsts. As a teaching assistant at both the Mandolin Symposium and the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Matt has worked alongside revered musicians such as David Grisman and Paul Anastasio. In addition to his solo work and collaborations in American roots music, Matt recently toured with Margot Leverett and The Klezmer Mountain Boys. As a music journalist, Matt has published articles and photographs in The Fretboard Journal and Strings magazines.
Tim Wetmiller is one of the region's most adventurous young violin improvisers. Rooted in both Swing and Folkloric traditions, Tim travels every year to Mexico to study with some of the country's greatest violinists, including the late great Juan Reynoso and Angel Tavira. Tim also performs with the Latin American roots music band Los Flacos and the bluegrass band Dysfunction Junction.