Meet the Band Members
Craig enjoys the luxury of employing many professional level musicians....the finest in the DC area. Here's a short list of players and the ensembles they play in.
Craig Gildner
Piano, Guitar, Vocals
Craig divides his time between piano and guitar depending on the ensemble and the availability of instruments. With a love for the masters like Ellington. Basie, Hines, Wilson, Van Eps, Ellis, Montgomery, Burrell and Kessel plus an appreciation of all music old and new, his trio is able to do both. He's been a fixture of DC jazz and swing for 26 years running.
The focus on guitar is recent and for many reasons. "The guitar is perfect for jazz. It's portable. It's intimate all alone, but can also fill a room with drums and bass. Notes can bend and slur like a horn's...a perfect tool for limitless expression." The content for expression? Porter, Gershwin. Van Heusen, Berlin...but also Lennon-McCartney, Bacharach, Jobim and even Nora Jones.
His foray into 7 string guitar came at the challenge of his dear friend John Pizzarelli in 2017, expanding the tonal palette of the trio and duos where a bass won't fit.
Craig plays a Moll John Pizzarelli 7 string arch top guitar, a Gibson ES300 or ES175 depending on the mood.
Pete Revell
Acoustic Bass
Boston-born Peter Revell has been a bassist on the DC and Baltimore scene since the early 90’s, studying jazz with the great Steve Novosel while still in college, and with symphonic bass instructors from DC and surrounding areas before graduating with a degree in Instrumental Education, K-12. He auditioned for and won assignment to the Navy Band in 1995 and was stationed at the historic Washington Navy Yard for his entire career, until his retirement in late 2021. He was a string and electric bass instrumentalist in both the Commodores Jazz Ensemble and the Sea Chanters Chorus, as well as performing in many other ensembles, from symphonic band performances to small groups for VIP events, and at the White House. In and out of the Navy he played with a long list of national and local artists. Festivals include Montreux Jazz in Detroit and the Montreal Jazz Festival, plus the Navy’s International Sax Symposium, supporting Chris Potter and Eddie Daniels. Since military retirement, he’s also been getting involved with the theatre in several downtown DC productions, first playing electric 5-string bass for the DC world premiere of the new Broadway show Once Upon a One More Time in late 2021, while in 2023 and 2025 he was selected to play for Broadway classics Evita and Guys and Dolls, respectively.
In between shows he’s a suburban dad to three in a blended family who likes to hit the links when can. Finally, he’s also a string bass luthier, bringing out the best in other professional’s instruments. Pete plays with all Craig's ensembles, but particularly Ivy City 6 and the Trio
Chuck Ferrell
Drums, Percussion
Chuck Ferrell is an accomplished American drummer, educator, and author, and a stalwart of the Washington D.C. and Baltimore music scene. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Ferrell is renowned for his impeccable grooves and musicality, providing a solid foundation across genres. His recording credits include work with guitarist Damon Foreman and as a member of the multi-Wammie award-winning Gayle Harrod Band.
Ferrell's professional reach extends to the national stage, having performed with legendary R&B and Motown artists including Mary Wells and Melba Moore. Beyond performing, he is a dedicated drum educator, sharing his expertise through private instruction and his authored educational materials. Combining technical skill with deep pocket sensibility, Chuck Ferrell has built a respected, decades-long career as a first-call rhythm section player in the vibrant Mid-Atlantic music community.