B3B4

B3B4 is a long-awaited musical conversation between four Bay Area jazz veterans, combining the soulful growl of the Hammond B3 organ, the resonant bite of the tenor saxophone, the bluesy fluidity of the electric guitar and the propulsive groove of the drums.

Their performances range from mid-tempo blues to warm, intricate ballads to driving up-tempo barnburners, and they reveal the fluency and experience of the group's members in a wide range of genres.

The quartet is heavily steeped in blues and bop, drawing upon the classic organ combos led by legends such as Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Larry Young and Jimmy McGriff. The group is also building an extensive repertoire of original compositions.

Organist Kevin Gerzevitz composed the bulk of the tunes for B3B4's debut CD, and tenor saxophonist Tom Griesser and guitarist Scott Foster both contributed two pieces of their own to the recording. Drummer Dan Foltz is a stylistically diverse and rock-solid rhythmic anchor of the group, which made its debut in 2016.

B3B4 has been making its presence heard and felt on the San Francisco Bay Area scene, holding down a residency at San Francisco's legendary Club Deluxe and making a splash at Oakland's Woods Bar. The quartet's debut CD, released in late 2017, has garnered airplay on KCSM, KPFA and KZSU.

TOM GRIESSER was first exposed to jazz at age five, when he stumbled upon his father's Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington records. He has been performing professionally in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1992. Tom performed regularly in the swing revival scene with St. Vitus Dance, toured nationally with The New Morty Show, and was also the leader of The Section 8 Project, his ensemble which featured the tunes of bassist Charles Mingus. Since 1999, he has played frequently with the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra and Brass Monkey Brass Band, as well as leading his own trio, the Tom Griesser 3. Outside of the jazz world, Tom has performed with the singer/songwriter Rodriguez, the subject of the 2012 documentary Searching for Sugar Man, and recorded with Third Eye Blind on their 2009 release Ursa Major.

SCOTT FOSTER is the chair of the performing arts department at the Urban School of San Francisco, teaching Jazz Band, Music Theory and MP&E. He provides private guitar lessons for performers of all levels. When asked who he was studying with, Guitarist Kirk Hammett told Guitar World Magazine: “This local player Scott Foster… He’s a jazz guy but also a shredder”. Scott’s CD Night Blooming Jazz Men can be found on cdbaby.com. He's been a major contributor to the music community in the Bay Area for over 25 years, currently playing with the Americano Social Club, the Fil Lorenz Orchestra, Dave Scott Quartet, and The Scott Foster Ensemble.

KEVIN GERZEVITZ works as a performer, composer and teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has performed and/or recorded with James Newton, Jose Feliciano, Matt Eakle, Jimbo Trout, Jason Bowman, Jude Gold, Michael Manring, Kathryn Keats, and Andrew Hagar. He studied piano, improvisation, and composition at the University of Michigan School of Music. His musical genre range is diverse and stretches beyond organist, performing rebetika violin with The Disciples of Markos, jazz manouche accordion with Gaucho, and ‘80s pop synth with Tainted Love. He enjoys teaching as the Music & Movement specialist at Pacific Primary School in San Francisco. His composition endeavors have led to scoring several independent films, and producing several recordings which are showcased on his website: kevingerzevitz.com

DANIEL FOLTZ, a very active freelancer, has played the drums professionally since 1996, touring internationally and sharing the stage with Lavay Smith, Linda Perry, Jon Evans, and Shelby Lynne. He has been the drummer with Storm and Her Dirty Mouth, Black Lab, and The Giant Trio. He has been featured on several CDs, including One Hour Mama by Lavay Smith & The Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Headlights and Other Constellations by Sonya Hunter, Under These Skies by Noelle Hampton, and Tatamonk by Alex Degrassi and Quique Cruz. Daniel is on the roster of artists for Vic Firth drumsticks.