David Chown

PIANO & KEYS

David Chown has been playing piano professionally for over 25 years. He has released 7 CDs on his own label. David’s latest CD, “Somewhere Only We Know”, is his second collaboration with singer Miriam Picó. It was produced at David’s Lookout Music Productions Studio in Traverse City. In addition to solo piano concerts and club appearances, David leads a variety band, the “Pico & Chown Band”, which features some of Traverse City’s top musicians. David received a Bachelors of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University in, and a Bachelors of Music in Piano Technology from Michigan State University. He appears regularly at the Traverse City Golf and Country Club, and in concerts and weddings around the state.  Since settling in Traverse City, David started his company “Lookout Music Productions”, and owns and operates “Lookout Music Productions Studio”, which is located at Building 50 at the Village Center, where he teaches over 40 students and records and publishes music.

Rick Kiehle

GUITAR

Rick Kiehle has been on the music scene for many years. He plays lead, rhythm, and bass guitars. He also plays keyboard and sings. Rick was awarded a music scholarship in college and during that time toured with the USO to many U.S. bases to entertain the troops. Rick regularly plays with the NMC JazzLab and Big Bands.  He is a regular at Kensington Church in Traverse City and fills in as music director.  Locally, Rick can be seen playing bass or guitar for the LookoutCats, Drew Hale Band, the Swan Bros., Jim Hawley and Co. and the Chowntown Family Band.  He has also played with Abraham Laboriel Sr., Earl Klugh, Bugs Beddow and Michael Bradford. Rick owns an internet marketing company and manages promoting our gigs at local establishments.  He is also a partner in an audio video production company MusicHub.LIVE.

John Paul

BASS

John Paul got his start playing music at a relatively young age, beginning with saxophone and piano before moving over to the electric bass. In college he performed weekly with a handful of acts in and around the Lansing area, while also gracing stages regionally and nationally, opening for such acts as All American Rejects, The Format, and scores of other early-2000s indie acts. Since moving back to his hometown of Traverse City in 2007, John has played bass for and with a who’s-who of Northern Michigan musicians and bands including: The Bihlman Brothers, Levi Britton, David Chown, Drew Hale, Chris Michaels, Mike Moran, One Hot Robot, Miriam Pico, John Pomeroy, Elizabeth Rivers, Chris Sterr, Stolen Silver, Strobelite Honey, Sweetwater Blues Band, Clint Weaner, and The Wild Sullys, to name but a few. Since 2016, he has been the bassist and backing vocalist for the Drew Hale Band, performing both locally and nationally, sharing the stage and festival lineups with the likes of Trace Adkins, Frankie Ballard, The Cadillac Three, Toby Keith, LoCash, Bret Michaels, Dwight Yoakam, and more. In 2019, he began performing regionally as a duo, this time on acoustic guitar and vocals, with Rhett DuCouer, as Rhett & John.

Alex Wyant

DRUN & PERCUSSION 

Alex Wyant is a multi-instrumentalist from Traverse City. He produces alternative rock/metal music out of his home studio for local Michigan bands, such as Correct Aesthetic, You and Them, and Big Slip Daddy. Alex is primarily a drummer, but can also play guitar, bass, and keyboards. He spends time playing with the NMC Big Band, and is the primary drummer at Kensington Church.

SkyeLea Martin Fitch

GUITAR & UKULELE

SkyeLea is local to the Traverse City/Kalkaska area and has been heavily involved in performing arts her whole life. She released her first musical EP “LOVESICK” in 2021, and is currently studying Audio Technology at Northwestern Community College. She can be seen performing as a soloist singing, playing guitar and ukulele, as well as, singing with a variety of acts including: East Bay Drive, Trillium Groove, The Mad Profs., David Chown, and Mateo. SkyeLea has 17 years of dance experience under her belt, has performed in over 15 theatre productions, teaches dance and piano, as well as being the leader and founder of NMC Audio Tech’s Student Group. She comes from a family full of musicians, artists, dancers, and creatives and plans to continue their legacy through her own music and choreography.

Ryan Critchfield

SAXOPHONE

Ryan Critchfield fell in love with the saxophone at the age of 8 after watching the “Sha Na Na” show. My mom picked up a 30 dollar saxophone at a garage sale and I never looked back. Playing all through junior high and high school and was lucky enough to study under Bill Sears who was head of jazz studies and saxophone at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. I was awarded the Louis Armstong award for outstanding jazz student at Central High School, and also awarded best jazz soloist in the nation my senior year of high school. I then went on to study at Central Michigan University and won top soloist at the Montreux Jazz Festival my freshman year. I headed to Nashiville, Tennessee and Studied with Jeff Kirk head of Jazz studies and saxophone at Belmont School of Music. While there I had the opportunity to play with Trisha Yearwoods band, Hank Williams Jr band and various jazz and blues artist. I currently play with Mac Daddy, NMC jazz band, Bayview Wesleyan Church worship team, and most recently East Bay Drive. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to play with such talented and gifted musicians.

Laurie Sears

SAXOPHONE

Laurie Sears is familiar to Michigan audiences through her work on various jazz stages, with Broadway show orchestras and with symphony orchestras throughout the state. Laurie performs with her own groups as well as with numerous other Michigan jazz artist/ bandleaders in concert and festival settings, in clubs, and for school clinics, including the Building Bridges With Music program with Jeff Haas. National jazz and popular artists that Laurie has shared the stage with include Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Liza Minelli, Julie Andrews, Johnny Mathis, Henry Mancini, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and The Four Tops. As an educator, her teaching experience currently includes Northwestern Michigan College Director of Jazz Ensembles and Adjunct Instructor of Woodwinds, private lesson instruction, and the Interlochen College of Creative Arts Adult Band Camp.

Jack Dryden

BASS

Jack Dryden is a masterful six string bassist, proficient in all genres, and has played with many greats such as Bob James and Leo Creek and in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Broadway. He locally performed for YES with Interlochen’s orchestra, and for 30 years of Jazz at Sunset at chateau Chantal.