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Bios

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Bob Pasarge, tuba, sometime MC

Bob is a life long Portland resident except for college, military service, and a very short teaching job in Washington state. He and his wife are now snow birds in Arizona and Bob is grateful the STJ allows him to still play with them when he returns to Oregon for the summer. Retirement from the US Postal service gives Bob the time to be involved with several music groups both in the Portland area and in Arizona.

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Tom Curran, drums

Born in Los Angeles, Ca. in 1926. After schooling, worked in engineering and marketing for RCA, Lockheed, Litton, and some years in Philadelphia, Pa. Was recruited to Portland OR. In 1988 to work for Planar. Began playing the drums around 1940 in L.A. in the big band era while still in high school. After 70 years still trying to get it right.

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Tom Pfingsten, trombone

"Trombonist Tom Pfingsten is an orginal member of the STJ. He grew up in Chicago where he took private lessons while in high school. He attended the U.S. Navy School of Music and played with a Navy band in Japan for two years. Tom is a member of the Beaverton Community Band and the Providence Stage Band. He also plays in a recently-formed trombone quartet."

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Jane Viehl, banjo

When, after four years at the University of Minnesota, I failed to graduate, I decided I may as well get married. Did. Nice husband, two sons and a daughter later, I went back to school. Got my B.A./ Fine Arts and illustrated several children’s books, which I failed to sell. Apparently I needed a Master’s Degree, so acquired my M.F.A./Writing. Wrote two novels, which also failed to sell. This string of academic and professional failures made it abundantly clear that I should become a banjo player. I played for several years with the Rose City Banjoliers, later studied with banjo virtuoso John McKinley, and am presently delighted to be a member of the Sunset Traffic Jam Jazz Band. Of course, one banjo is never enough, and I’m working to learn claw hammer style Old-Time music on my five-string.

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Lou Tauber, clarinet, MC, master jokester

Lou calls himself an amateur musician who began with the clarinet when he was in the fourth grade at Ainsworth Grade School. He played the instrument at Wilson High School also and, when he was in college, he considered a career in music but changed his mind. "Do you know the difference between a large pizza and a clarinetist?" he asks "A large pizza can feed a family of four." He said by way of explaining his decision.
Today, Lou is an electrical engineer with the Bonneville Power Administration.
Lou is soloist with the Jewish Community Orchestra.

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Tim Wells, trumpet

Tim grew up in a small town in Oklahoma and graduated with a BME from the University of Oklahoma. After teaching his first year in Duncan, OK, he moved to Portland and began teaching in the Centennial school district. After a four year departure to other school districts and earning his MST from Portland State, Tim moved back to the Centennial where he is now the only band director in the district.

Since moving to Portland in the summer of 1987, Tim has performed on trumpet and trombone with the Border Patrol Big Band Swing, Billy's Brass Band, The Bob Miller Almost All-Stars, Pacific Crest Wind Ensemble, and most recently, Festival Brass , and The Oregon Arts Orchestra. Tim is thrilled to be the "new guy" in the Sunset Traffic Jam.

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Jack Bishop, piano

Jack is the piano player who has not provided photo or bio. Hmmm, what can you say about him...anything you want. ha ha

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Tom Robinson, trumpet, singer

Tom earned a full music scholarship at WVWC college playing trumpet in orchestra, symphonic band, jazz band and brass ensemble, and earned spending money playing with a jazz combo and with several big bands. After college, he was soloist in the First Army Band for three years travelling up and down the Eastern seaboard.

Tom has sung in numerous barbershop quartets including Gusto, the comedy quartet Spare Time and Pacific Harmony (which performed locally in the Shoestring Players' the Music Man). These days he performs with the very entertaining vocal quartet The Harmonics He has performed the last three Christmas seasongs with The Dickens Carolers quartet singing both tenor and bass as needed, and has performed as soloist with the 1st Unitarian Church Chamber Choir.

Tom has a one man band The Songs You Love which performs regularly at retirement centers throughout the Portland area

Tom has two married childern, and three adorable grandchildren.