Nehal Abuelata - Voice

Nehal Abuelata is a soulful and versatile singer from the San Jose. Born in Cairo, spent her childhood in Paris, and came to the South Bay with her parents, attending high school in Cupertino. As a child, she had seriously studied music - classical piano - but came into her own after becoming involved in the South Bay Music scene. She is known for being the front woman & lead singer of Rock-Soul-Funk group Sweet HayaH, where she composes, plays keyboard, guitar & melodica. She’s also the lead singer of Vintage-Blues & Roll group Grace & the Grit, where she plays rhythm guitar. Nehal has been an active performer & recording artist in the Bay Area, France & beyond for over a decade.

 

Ricardo Leon - Guitar

Ricardo Leon exposure to music performance started very early in the school choir in his native Venezuela.  Over time, Ricardo settled on the guitar as his main instrument, after exploring the recorder, transverse flute and the "cuatro" (Venezuela's folk instrument).  For a few years Ricardo performed in pop band Propiedad Privada in Venezuela and studied with Berklee graduate Luis Alvarado.  Over the last 15 years, Ricardo has performed with various groups, including VK Lounge, Babalu, Son Tres, C7 Live, and more recently with the acoustic pop duo Kozue & Ricardo.

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John Hench - Upright Bass

John Hench grew up in a musical family playing piano and sang with the UC Berkeley Jazz Choir. His gigging career started in a Jazz quartet in Berkeley in the 1980s, playing at a number of local venues, including Ruthie's Inn, or as backup musicians for the Motown musical covers band, the Vosonics. In the 1990s, he was a founding member of the Santa Barbara based cool Jazz quartet, the Avant-Gardeners, which featured Nate Birkey on Trumpet. He now performs throughout the South Bay and Santa Cruz areas with an emphasis on Cool Jazz and Bossa Nova.

 

Jerald Bittle - Drums

Jerald Bittle is a distinguished drummer, celebrated for his innovative approach to music as both an art form and a therapeutic medium. His performances are marked by emotional depth and inventive creativity, positioning him as a sought-after talent in the Bay Area’s professional music circles. As a freelance artist, Jerald excels in crafting compelling rhythms that resonate across a spectrum of musical genres, underscoring his versatility and commitment to excellence in every endeavor.