Greg Ruby 5 plays the music of Oscar Alemán, Django Reinhardt and other Swing-era greats for the Piedmont Dance Society!
- Greg Ruby (guitar)
- Andrew “Finn” MaGill (violin)
- Michael Gamble (bass)
- Steve Karla (guitar)
- Russ Wilson (drums)
Greg Ruby (guitar, Seattle) was given a Django Reinhardt LP when he was 19 and has been playing vintage jazz music ever since. Described as “truly hot jazz” by Vintage Guitar Magazine, his most record, Syncopated Classic, uneathed the lost compositions from 1924 by the eminent Seattle jazz icon Frank D. Waldron and awarded NW Recording of the Year by Earshot Jazz Magazine. Ruby has lead bands at swing dance events including: Lindy Focus, Camp Jitterbug, Seattle Lindy Exchange, Lindy on the Rocks and the NW Balboa Fest.
Michael Gamble is best known as organizer of Lindy Focus, and bandleader of the Rhythm Serenaders. In addition to playing with that group, he’s worked as a sideman with The Low-Down Sires, The Russ Wilson Swingtet and Orchestra, Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five and Orchestra, Falty and the Defects, and countless pickup bands and ad-lib ensembles playing swing and early jazz, mostly for dancers. Michael holds an undergraduate degree in Jazz studies, and, when he’s not playing, enjoys arranging, leading student ensembles, and teaching music, musicality, and music appreciation to swing dancers. Michael currently lives and works out of Asheville, NC.
Russ Wilson has worked as a professional musician and has made a name for himself playing many different styles of music including Jazz, Rock, Country, Gospel, Blues, R&B, pit work for Broadway style shows and Symphonic music. Of all these Jazz remains his first true love.
Multi-instrumentalist, All-Ireland fiddle finalist and Ropeadope Recording artist Andrew “Finn the fiddler” Magill has watched his career surge ever since the 2016 release of his 2-disc concept album Roots (which debuted at #46 on the Folk DJ charts) & Branches. Raised at The Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville North Carolina, Magill has learned and carved out a name for himself in Irish, American, jazz and Brazilian music, collaborating with everyone from Rising Appalachia to John Doyle.
Steve Karla is an Asheville-based guitarist who performs classic gypsy jazz with a risk-taking twist, incorporating intricate melodic lines, la pompe, and hints of other world rhythms. When not making music, spends his time creating surreal paintings and learning the art of guitar-building.