James Pace
Victor Cebotari
Al Broholm
Bob Peckman
Victor Dubenco
Bob Bowen
Alan Watson
James plays piano and keyboards. James is currently touring with Serbian guitar woman and Eclectic Groove Recording artist Ana Popovic. He has performed in over 45 States around the U.S. opening for well known acts such as the Johny Lang, Taj Mahal, Marshall Tucker Band, Blues great Koko Taylor, Kenny Neal, and Kimmy Thackery. James has performed on stage with Blue Note Recording Artist Rodney Jones, guitar God and side man for "Steely Dan" Mr. Wayne Krantz, Blues Legend Eddie the Chief Clearwater, Muddy Waters' Harmonica player Mr. Carey Bell, and Blind Pig Recording Artist "Harper".
James is a regular performer with groups on the East Coast such as "The Seed", "The Emily Brass Band", "The Ministers of Soul", "The Jordan Harman Band". He is also the resident pianist at Hotel Roanoke and can be seen there every weekend.
James is a regular performer with groups on the East Coast such as "The Seed", "The Emily Brass Band", "The Ministers of Soul", "The Jordan Harman Band". He is also the resident pianist at Hotel Roanoke and can be seen there every weekend.
Victor Cebotari plays accordion, piano, and keyboards. Born in Moldova, he started playing accordion at age 5. He received a bachelor’s degree in performing, teaching, and conducting from Stefan Neaga Music College. During his studies, he won 2nd prize for accordion performance at the National Competitions of Moldova. Later he earned his Master’s Degree of Art studying accordion with professor Vladimir Zagumionniy at the Gavril Muzicescu Conservatory in Kishinau, Moldova. Afterwards, he went on to win 2nd prize at the "Barbu Lautaru" National Contest for instrumental performance. Victor collaborated with orchestras such as Ginta Latina, Mugurel, Joc, Martisor and he also conducted a gypsy band and dance troupe called Bafta. His career has spanned several European countries and finally brought him to the United States.
Al Broholm, pianist, is an accomplished music director, jazz drummer, and accompanist from Chicago. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance, and has been performing live across the country for over 20 years. In addition to regularly playing for the Homestead Hotel and Hotel Roanoke, he is also currently a church music and choir director.
Bob Peckman grew up near New York, listening to Art Blakey, Shelley Manne, Ed Thigpen and Max Roach as well as the New York Latin bands. By age 17 he was imitating the great jazz drummers and booking straight-ahead gigs using seasoned professionals in the area. Bob continued to perform in the local jazz scene while earning his Ph.D. degree in physics. He studied Latin percussion with Paul Patterson and started integrating the Latin styles into his set playing.
Bob's playing style was forever changed after playing a Billy Taylor clinic for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Since then Bob has performed throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with Harry Allen, Walter Bell, Royce Campbell, Eddie "Will" Davis, Helane Fontaine, Vincent Gross, Al Jeter, Gary Klein, Lisanne Lyons, Hans Mantel, Lenny Marcus, Rene Marie, Chip McNeill, Gary Moran, Stephanie Nakasian, Hod O'Brien, and Alan Watson, and toured in Europe with his groups. He recorded Straight Ahead and In the Pocket as a group leader and performed on John Bain's Epitome of Cool and Karl Kimmel's jazz CD Absolutely Chanukah. Bob's third recording as a leader, with co-leader Vincent Gross, is Alone Together. The fourth, Go With The Flow, was made with Jerry Weldon, Royce Campbell, and Gary Moran.
Bob's playing style was forever changed after playing a Billy Taylor clinic for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Since then Bob has performed throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with Harry Allen, Walter Bell, Royce Campbell, Eddie "Will" Davis, Helane Fontaine, Vincent Gross, Al Jeter, Gary Klein, Lisanne Lyons, Hans Mantel, Lenny Marcus, Rene Marie, Chip McNeill, Gary Moran, Stephanie Nakasian, Hod O'Brien, and Alan Watson, and toured in Europe with his groups. He recorded Straight Ahead and In the Pocket as a group leader and performed on John Bain's Epitome of Cool and Karl Kimmel's jazz CD Absolutely Chanukah. Bob's third recording as a leader, with co-leader Vincent Gross, is Alone Together. The fourth, Go With The Flow, was made with Jerry Weldon, Royce Campbell, and Gary Moran.
Victor Dubenco was born in Moldovia. He plays Clarinet, Saxaphone, Pan Pipe, Long Pipe, Pan Flutes, Flute, and Bagpipes. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance from The State Academy of Music and received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from The State Institute of the Arts in in Chisinau, Moldovia. He has been described by collaborators and colleagues as a virtuoso instrumentalist. He won the title of laureate at the First Edition of the National Contest "Barbu Lautaru" in Moldovia. In addition he won third place at the International Festival of Performers at Craiova, Romania. The President of the Republic of Moldova awarded Victor with the Title of Master of Art. He collaborated with the orchestras of Joc, Lautarii, Folklore, and several others, after working as Artistic Director for Veselia music and dance troupe.
Bob Bowen is originally from McLean, Virginia. He was always fascinated with the power of music: how it affects people; how it changes the musician personally; how people react to it within the crowd. It is a great escape from reality and can change your mood. He began playing electric bass at age 12, the same day his twin brother, Steve, started playing guitar. He started out playing what is now considered classic rock: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix, taking private lessons with Peter Mark Prince and playing in the school jazz labs. At the same time his older brother, John, played trumpet and got him involved with the McLean Jazz Workshop, a big band youth orchestra. They played big band arrangements and shows such as The 1940's Radio Hour.
Alan Watson was born in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1960. He began to play guitar, bass and drums at age 11. At St. Peters Prep, he played flute and alto sax in the high school marching band. In 1978 he entered Rutgers University to study pre-veterinary biology and his life as a jazz musician began. After school, in 1983, he started his gig at Balley's Park Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, performing opposite Freddie Cole. He toured with Regina Belle around the world, playing shows like Soul Train, the Arsenio Hall Show, the Carson Show, Big Break Today, and touring with Peabo Bryson, the Whispers, Kool And The Gang, Guy, Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince. After that he worked in Istanbul, Turkey, but had to return after three months because of the Gulf War. Then he went to Japan to work with Jean Carn and the Ohio Players. He performed and associated with people like Chaka Khan, Bobby Brown, M. C. Hammer.
