Jazz Mirage

innovating the sounds of jazz

weddings . corporate events . parties

swing dances . receptions . wine tastings

Biographies

Double-bass player Raj Sodhi is known around Sonoma County for his very clean sound, great feeling for rhythm and perfect intonation. He first picked up a double-bass in seventh grade in New Hampshire, where he grew up. His passion and his natural talent for music led him to play in numerous jazz bands, string ensembles and symphony orchestras along the east coast. He was fortunate to have studied under the very finest bass players in the country, including Lawrence Hurst (Bloomington IN), Winston Budrow (East Lansing, MI), and Todd Seeber (Boston MA). In his final year of high school, Raj took first place in the Young Artists' Concerto Competition on double-bass. In 1990 he played for Interlochen World Youth Symphony Orchestra and in 1991, he attended the Tanglewood Music Festival. While studying at MIT, he played numerous groups in the Boston area. Recently, he has taken the jazz scene in Northern California by storm, having played at numerous wineries, weddings, hotels, restaurants and private parties. 

Matthew Rothstein is an accomplished saxophonist, vocalist, arranger, and composer. Raised in rural Lake County, CA, he was recognized by Down Beat Magazine and the Grammy Foundation as a prodigious talent while in high school. Rothstein honed his blend of jazz, folk, and gospel styles into a distinctive voice while attending Sonoma State University, where he studied with renowned composers Mel Graves and Will Johnson. Also an avid educator, Matthew strives to bring excellence, inspiration, and clarity to every professional context. If you have a creative musical idea for your event, he can help you bring it to life!

Christopher Gamper has been playing the drums since the age of 8, performing professionally since 1987. In 1995 he completed a bachelors degree in Jazz Studies/Percussion form Central State University, Ohio which demanded proficiency in drum set as well as vibraphone, marimba, steel drums and accessory percussion. Throughout the degree process he performed and recorded continuously on all instruments with repertoire ranging from baroque, classical and contemporary classical to Caribbean, latin and jazz. He performed extensively in the Cincinnati-Columbus, Ohio area, as well as in the Chicago area. The music school years also included many professional opportunities, such as: recording and performing with local jazz, pop and rock bands on drum set and conga/ multiple percussion; recording a film score on multiple percussion and hand drums; marimba performance in a percussion ensemble recording that was used for a PBS documentary; a week long jazz quintet tour to the Caman Islands playing drum set; a two week tour of Indiana schools performing solo tenor steel drum compositions. After graduating in 1995 with top honors, Christopher moved to New York City. Christopher writes about the experience: “It was a brief yet intense immersion into the the world of jazz drum set. There is a deep sense of the history of jazz, yet at the same time you need to push the boundaries and find something new. Fierce ingenuity along with a strong commitment to tradition.” After a little over a year in New York City, Christopher moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in October 1996. He quickly established himself as a serious jazz drummer for hire and began playing jazz gigs all over the bay area. Currently, Christopher performs and records regularly on drum set in the San Francisco Bay Area with small jazz combos, funk, world beat and R&B bands. He has been doing short tours with various groups, playing gigs in New York City, Colorado as well as all over California. Most recently, he has been up and down the northern California coast playing “funk pop” with the band Sugar Shack. You may catch him playing with many different jazz trios and quartets around the bay. Also, playing private events and weddings with the R&B cover band Social Funktion. He also continues his work composing solo compositions for marimba, vibraphone and tenor steel drum. 2009 welcomes the release of Christopher’s debut cd “Time Capture”, a jazz trio album featuring Chris playing jazz standards in three different trios. “Standard Funk” is scheduled to be released by the end of the year, featuring Christopher in two other trios exploring the “funk and groove potential” of jazz standards. Christopher is proud to support and be supported by some of the premier drum equipment manufacturing companies in the world today. He is currently working under artist relations programs with Mapex Drums, DW Hardware, Aquarian Drum Heads, Bosphorus Cymbals and Axis Hardware. This support is invaluable to Christopher’s musical exploration and development, as it provides him with the tools to create at the highest possible level.

Cody Anderson is a guitarist with a wide range of musical interests and influences. First picking up the guitar while attending school in Berkeley California, he went on to attend the jazz program at Sonoma State University, where he studied with esteemed performer/educators Mel Graves and Randy Vincent. Over the years he has performed in bands ranging from singer songwriter duets to twelve piece funk bands. His love of all music played soulfully and from the heart make him a welcome addition to Jazz Mirage.