Jeff Wollman - Piano Keyboards. Co Founder of FOURUM
Jeff was born in New York City. Music was always around him. His mother, an accomplished singer exposed him to Jazz and Latin music. He became involved in Rock, R&B and Soul as a teenager. Studying the piano in grade school and taking drum lessons in high school, he played drums in a dance band.
In 1970 Jeff moved to Berkeley California to pursue his music studies. He studied with Elvo Di Amante music composition and played piano in the big band. He became a student of Oakland pianist Ed Kelly and jazz pianist Dick Wittington. While playing in the Laney Big Band he met Oakland drummer Larry Vann who asked him to audition for the Marvin Holmes band Justice.
Jeff played piano with Marvin’s soul band where he learned to groove and solo, playing many gigs and performing on numerous recordings. Jeff started playing with other groups and founded The Prime Time Band in the bay area from 1978-2012., touring the Far East and many states. During this time he was recording songs with Prime Time. He also played and arranged demos for many Star Search singers. Jeff played solo jazz piano in the best bay area establishments and beyond. Currently he is performing with FOURUM a group he co-founded in 2016 with guitarist Louie Moon culminating from a friendship started back at Laney College. Fourum plays jazz originals, funky fusion and jazz favorites. Jeff and the talented players in this group are bringing creativity to the forefront and looking forward to new musical landscapes and journeys.
Louie Moon - Guitarist, Vocalist, Composer. Co-Founder of FOURUM
Louie Moon was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. At age 16, inspired at local performances by musical luminaries like Miles Davis, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Wes Montgomery, Stevie Wonder, BB King, Carlos Santana and Earth Wind and Fire, Louie began singing and playing guitar. At 18 he started performing professionally with bands and by 20 was touring internationally.
Louie began his formal study of music in the Bay Area with local legends Ed Kelly, Bob King and Elvo D'Amante. Within a short time the Hollywood music scene called and he moved to Los Angeles to formally study guitar, music theory and composition with Pat Martino and Joe Diorio at Guitar Institute of Technology (now Musicians Institute) in Hollywood CA.
Soon after graduating from MI Louie toured Brazil as Orchestra Leader for Eartha Kitt. Numerous recording sessions, club gigs, national and international tours followed with artists and bands including "Louie Moon and Mankind Band"
Returning to the San Francisco Bay Area Louie studied and graduated from the Audio Engineering program at Los Medanos College, and was recruited by the Sound Design team for Danger Productions on the ABC network television production “Bump In The Night”
Louie Moons musical styles draw from a rich brew of Jazz, R&B, Funk and Latin that influence his compositions, guitar playing and vocal performance.
Co-founder with Jeff Wollman of “FOURUM” in 2016 culminating from a friendship started back at Laney College.
Original compositions are featured on his CD "Round Midnight" Louie Moon (2005) available on CD Baby and iTunes.
Louie Moon plays and is an Ambassador for Benedetto guitars.
Timothy Leong - Bass, Vocalist
Tim had the great fortune to perform in many bands that played different musical styles including jazz, blues, soul, R&B, smooth jazz and rock. The blending of all the different musical styles, and the opportunity to play with so many musicians, have contributed to his high level of musical understanding and playing. Tim enjoys working with a drummer to provide the foundation for the band, and the challenge of finding the unique role for the bass player in each band. He has performed on many stages throughout the bay area and nationally including venues in Denver, Washington DC, Reno and Las Vegas.
Although he has limited formal music training, Tim credits the wonderful diverse family of musicians he has had the pleasure to play with for providing the “on-the-job” training and experience that has led to his unique style of playing.
Tim was honored to join FOURUM in 2017, and continues to perform with other talented musicians including the GTS Band, a 60s/70s/80s R&B and soul band, and Blind to Reason, a blues/rock band.
Gerry Kennett - Drums, Vocals, Harmonica
Gerry Kennett began his musical career on clarinet and saxophone, but switched to drums in high school. A member of the award winning University of Nevada Jazz Band, he soon branched out to nightclub and dance band work. After performing many shows at Harrah’s, Harvey’s, and the Nugget in the Reno Tahoe Las Vegas circuit he moved to the San Francisco Bay area, becoming a popular drummer and singer and established an active teaching schedule. Val Diamond, one of the stars of Beach Blanket Babylon relied on Gerry’s drumming for many years in her solo performances at the Great American Music Hall, Bimbo’s, and The Boarding House. With his own band, and as an in demand sideman he began a long career in the private party band business. After playing and emceeing for over 1000 weddings and private parties, Gerry still enjoys being a part of these special occasions and celebrations and can be seen regularly at various jazz clubs and hotels in the San Francisco Bay Area. On the right gig he can be also be heard on harmonica and doing some serious jazz whistling.
Bob Blankenship - Drums and Percussion
Bob moved to the Bay area in 1972 and began performing with club bands and groups writing original material.
Over the years he has appeared with John Handy, Eartha Kit, Bill Watrous, Red Holloway, Jo Henderson, Joey Calderazzo and others.
In addition to Fourum he performs monthly with the house concert series, "Supper and Song” and the vocal show series “Performance Encore.”