Production Details

Presenting a festive combination of jazz, funk, soul, Creole, Cajun, gospel, Caribbean, African, Zydeco, rock and the chants and stirring rhythms of Mardi Gras Indians; New Orleans native, and Oakland's own "Queen of New Orleans Music", Michelle Jacques and some of her very special friends take all of these influences and a few more, and stir them into a stewpot of musical gumbo that is sweet, spicy, aromatic and definitely intoxicating. CHELLE! and Friends create an unforgettable sound and the ensemble is made up of some of the most distinguished and accomplished musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area.

CHELLE! Music creates programs that promote intercultural communication through the arts. CHELLE! Music presents both well known and lesser known music, dance and theater arts of New Orleans. The organization accomplishes this in two distinct ways. First by developing, preserving and producing live and recorded performing art works, and second by teaching a curriculum of New Orleans music, from Spirituals to Storyville to the Mardi Gras Indians, in various educational settings. The programs are delivered through two resident ensembles: CHELLE and Friends, a New Orleans style band and the acapella group CHELLE's Juke Joint

Artist Biographies

Michelle Jacques (Artistic Director, Vocals)
During a four-decade career in the music industry, Michelle Jacques is, was and has become: a singer, bandleader, composer, songwriter, musical-arranger and educator. Michelle has traveled and performed with many well-known artists including: Wynton Marsalis, Linda Hopkins, Ladysmith Black Mambaza, Pete Seger, The Persuasions, Al Green and Manhattan Transfer. Notable Festival appearances include Montreux, Gurten, Berne, Festijazz and the UN Conference of Human Rights, Geneva. She was also a founding member of Street Sounds a cappella quintet and an original member of Linda Tillery’s Cultural Heritage Choir. Michelle’s educational portfolio includes: director of the Select Vocal Ensemble at Oakland School for the Arts, San Francisco Symphony's Adventures in Music and Oakland Youth Chorus. She is a lecturer at University of San Francisco and also serves on the Governors Board of the Recording Academy’s San Francisco Chapter, and the board of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus.

Bryan S. Dyer (Musical Director, Vocals & Percussion)
Bryan S. Dyer is a multi-talented musician who not only sings but plays and teaches several instruments including bass guitar, percussion and piano; writes and arranges music, conducts choirs and groups, and works in television, radio and film. A veteran of some of the Bay Area’s top vocal groups including Street Sounds, SoVoSo, Slammin All Body Band, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir and CHELLE! and Friends, He also performs with Zadell, Rankin Scroo and Ginger, and R&B group, D.A.P.

Rhonda Crane (Vocals, Percussion)
Although Rhonda is native to Brooklyn, New York, she was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Being associated 17 years with the Edwin and Walter Hawkins Music & Arts National Conference has blessed her to work with numerous artists as the O’Jays, Tramaine Hawkins, Donald Lawrence, Ricky Grundy, Daryl Coley, LaShun Pace and Yolanda Adams to name a few.

Donna Viscuso (Saxophone, Harmonica, Vocals)
Donna Viscuso is an experienced performer, composer and teacher. Donna has performed, recorded and toured with many groups, including The Snake Trio, Jackeline Rago and The Venezuelan Music Project, Altazor, Wild Mango, the KTO project, Chelle and Friends, Brazilian singer Adriana Moreno and Chilean singer/songwriter Lichi Fuentes.

Michaelle Goerlitz (Drummer/Percussionist)
Michaelle Goerlitz has been playing drums and percussion since she was eight years old. She was a founding member of two renowned & long-term projects, the Blazing Redheads and Wild Mango. Among the list of people Michaelle has played with: VNote Ensemble, Venezuelan Music Project, ‘Chelle & Friends, Wayne Wallace, Mark Levine, Tom McDermott, The Brazilian Jazz Project, Ojala, rhiannon, Yair Dalal, Naser Musa, Barbara Higbie, Jami Sieber, Tuck & Patti and Samba Rio. In 2007 she was named a “rising star” in Downbeat Magazine.

Kevin Scott (Bass)
Kevin J Scott is a bassist/songwriter in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area. He plays 4, 5 & 6 string basses--fretted & fretless; and also plays upright bass. Kevin played bass for former Tower of Power singer Lenny Williams for over 22 years. He also plays for Beebe Memorial Cathedral CME church in Oakland, CA for about 8 years, R&B Hip Hop group Fiveten featuring Jammin’ Jay Lamont, Project4band, Kymberly Jackson and Destiny Christian Fellowship in Fremont

Eric Swinderman (Guitar)
Eric is a dynamic musician and composer. His bands have enjoyed extensive engagements at Ivey's, Solomon Grundy's and Pasand's in San Francisco, California. in addition to critical acclaim for his solo work, Eric is also in demand as a sideman for Bay Area celebrity singers. He has taught guitar workshops at the Jazz Camp and several college campuses.