Javier Chaparro & Salúd

Javier Chaparro, band leader, composer, vocals, guitar and violin

A native of Lima, Peru, Javier Chaparro began his formal study of violin at the National Conservatory in Lima. He has been with the Sinfonica Nacional in Lima, the Fine Arts Theatre Orchestra in Mexico City, the Austin Symphony and currently holds the post of Concert Master for the Brazos Valley Symphony. As a guest artist he has performed solo and chamber music recitals in United States, South America, and Europe. Over the years he has built quite an eclectic musical career performing Latin, Jazz, Gypsy, Pop and Country Western music as a band leader and a sideman.
Javier has been the featured artist in film and documentary soundtracks including The Alamo, Spy Kids, IMAX’s Ride Around The World, Loaves and Fishes and PBS’s Hansel Meith. Besides the love for his music and his family, he is an avid horseman and accomplished trainer.

Mitch Watkins discovered the guitar at age 13. Only months later, he was gigging with a surf band in McAllen, Texas. He hasn't stopped since. His musical journey has taken him down many stylistic pathways, and to the far corners of the globe. His rise came when his critically acclaimed jazz fusion group Passenger toured with Leonard Cohen. He has performed with Joe Ely, Jennifer Warnes, Jerry Jeff Walker, K.T. Oslin and many others. He has performed with and produced CDs for Bob Schneider, Abra Moore and others as well as having five CDs to his own credit.
For more information you can visit Mitch's site; www.mitchwatkins.com

Laura Mordecai - percussionist and vocalist spent her formative years playing drums in her father's dixieland jazz band and percussion in pit orchestras for musical theater. She has records and performs with Stephanie Urbina Jones and the Honky Tonk Mariachi and The Texicana Mamas. She has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Grand Ole Opry, the Kerrville Folk Festival and has have the honor to perform with many other artists including Steve Miller Band, Austin Pops Orchestra, Libby Kirkpatrick and Beto and the Fairlanes. As a member of the Recording Academy, Laura has served on the Texas Chapter Board of Governors for eight years as Education Committee Chair, as Secretary and as Vice President. You can follow Laura on Twitter and Facebook. www.LauraMordecai.com

Cadence Magazine calls John Fremgen “…an adroit craftsman on the strings slapping and popping away on electric or plucking resonant tones on acoustic.” In addition to Salúd, he can be seen performing in Austin with various artists including Butch Miles, Mitch Watkins, Kirk Covington and Jeff Hellmer. He has performed with many jazz luminaries including Peter Erskine, Shelly Berg, Rick Margitza, Leni Stern, Ernie Watts and Larry Koonse. He has also performed and toured with Christopher Cross, PJ Olsson, Kat Edmonson and Butch Miles. He is an associate professor at The University of Texas where he teaches jazz improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, jazz bass and directs the AIME ensemble. He has performed, taught and conducted across the US as well as Switzerland, Russia, Italy, Guatemala, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Germany and Holland. He has appeared on many jingles and national broadcasts including Morning Becomes Eclectic, Late Night With David Letterman and the Bravo documentary In My Life with George Martin. His bass playing can be heard on the TV shows Party Of Five, Dawson’s Creek, the motion pictures Down To You and Shorts and commercials for Sonic, Starburst, Xerox and Ford. He records for the Viewpoint record label with which he has released three solo CD’s, Meanwhile, Pieces of String and If Not Now, featuring Peter Erskine, Shelly Berg and many others. John Fremgen endorses Acoustic Image amplifiers and MTD basses. JohnFremgenMusic

When he's in the country, Paul joins us.

Originally from Poughkeepsie, NY, Paul Glasse was lured to Austin Texas by his love of Texas Swing. Under the tutelage of the great electric mandolinist, Tiny Moore of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Glasse immersed himself in the vocabulary and vibe of Texas Swing. He has been inducted into the Texas Swing Hall of Fame. He has won the International Mandolin Championship as well as a host of other kudos. Paul is, himself, an accomplished composer and has a number of jazz albums to his own credit. He has recorded and performed with Asleep at the Wheel, Michelle Shocked, Ana Egge, The Flatlanders and many others.
For more information on Paul Glasse you can visit his website; www.paulglasse.com