BIOGRAPHIES
ALEXANDRA BELTRAN (VOCALS)
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Alexandra Beltran is an old soul who began her musical journey at a young age. Her father first noticed her musical abilities when she was 6 years old and placed her in private music lessons. Not long after, Alexandra became the entertaining act at Lilibel's Cafe in San Jose, California. Years later, Alexandra moved to New Mexico and had the privilege of joining the New Mexico All State Choir and District Honor Choir. She won awards for her work in solos and ensembles during these times. She has performed at multiple events/venues, including the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA. In 2019, she was awarded by the "National League of American Pen Women" for her achievements in music.
Alexandra is currently continuing her music education under Jim Bruno, and is the lead vocalist of Retro Notes. To learn more about her, please visit: www.alexandrabeltran.org
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BENDIK KLEVELAND (SAXOPHONE, CLARINET, HARMONICA, VOCALS, TAP DANCE)
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Bendik played clarinet and oboe growing up in Norway, playing in the Oslo youth symphony orchestra. After moving to the US and traveling through New Orleans, he got an idea while watching a band. Although he suspected he would never look as cool as the sax player, he thought that maybe he also would be able to learn to improvise and play Jazz. He studied under Morris Goldstein at South Bay School of Music Arts and under Hal Stein at Stanford University. He went on to play with the Stanford Jazz Orchestra under Fred Berry. He now studies Jazz under Alex Popoff but still keeps a foot in classical music. During the Pandemic he started two new endeavors: learn to tap and learn to sing: He now takes classes at Tude's Dance studio voice lessons from Claudia Friedlander. The Tap performance has been a hit so far, although it is more from the 'shock' factor of seeing an old 6'4" man all of a sudden starting to jump around.
GÜNES AYBAY (DRUMS, PERCUSSION)
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After spending many years playing guitar and piano and trying to form a band, Günes would grow increasingly frustrated that the drummers and singers would flake out just as they were about to hit it big. He silently started practicing drums. One day Bendik noticed the drumset in Günes' living room (guys don't notice much, but after coming by a few times he did see it) and Günes admitted to learning to play drums. He was of course recruited on the spot. By the time he figured out that being a drummer meant carrying all the drum equipment to gigs and assembling and reassembling all the hardware before and after each gig, it was, unfortunately, too late to try becoming a singer. This, all the band members are thankful for and you should be too.
KIMIKO (PIANO, MELODICA)
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Kimiko was trained in classical piano before getting into jazz and improvization. Yet, she improvises with themes and colors that mesmerizes the audience - and the band. You might ask how such a nice person would agree to play with the Retro Notes? Well, we sent Alexandra over to ask her politely to join the band, and she said yes!
RICK GRAY (BASS)
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Rick started his musical career at an early age, playing in bands in the Flint Michigan local area. He started out pursuing broadcasting as a career, but music was his passion. When the Beatles first came on the scene, people told him, "You would do well in music: you look like Paul McCartney!" Like Paul McCartney, Rick has traveled across the United States playing in bands for a number of years. Unlike Paul, Rick plays a variety of instruments. When we saw him play a gig, we were not sure whether we should hire Rick the Vibraphonist, the Guitarist, the Pianist or the Bass player, as he was juggling instruments all the night!
RETRO RINGERS
WE NEVER MISS A GIG, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE RINGERS: When we have committed to a performance and a band member gets sick or needs to travel out of town, We have always performed with a complete band for every performance booked for the last eight years. These superb professionals who know our tunes, step in on short notice and elevate the band to new heights.
CARLOS ALMEIDA (DRUMMER, BANDLEADER)
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Carlos Almeida is an accomplished drummer and bandleader whose musical journey bridges continents and styles.
Carlos currently leads the Full Spectrum Jazz Big Band, a premier Bay Area ensemble celebrated for its high-energy performances and diverse repertoire. He also holds the drum chair for A Touch of Brass Big Band, serves as a Principal Percussionist for the California Pops Orchestra, and is the regular drummer for First Presbyterian Church in Santa Clara.
Earlier in his career, Carlos performed as drummer for legendary entertainer Carol Channing, toured Europe with multiple jazz ensembles including the Mike Cohen Sextet, and appeared at major international festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival. He has shared stages with world-renowned artists, having opened for Natalie Cole and Tony Bennett.
A former member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps and a DCI Champion, Carlos’s roots in precision percussion continue to shape his dynamic and expressive approach to performance.
Beyond the stage, Carlos brings the same discipline and creativity to his professional life as Vice President of Engineering at SPK and Associates, a leading technology consulting firm in Silicon Valley,
Larry Chinn has been playing jazz piano for three decades including extended tenures with Al Molina, Margie Baker and Jules Broussard along with working for Marcus Shelby, Tiffany Austin, Kellye Gray, Frank Wess, Larry Schneider, Vince Wallace, Madeline Eastman, Nate Pruitt, John Handy, Pharoah Saunders, Mark Murphy, Harvie S, Akira Tana, Peppe Merolla, Sylvia Cuenca, Denise Perrier, Melissa Morgan, Vince Lateano and Richie Cole.
Besides playing jazz Larry also provides piano for HaZamir Silicon Valley, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City, many senior residences as well as vocal and eurythmy classes.
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Bendik met Paul at the Hedley Club Open mike jam at de Anza Hotel. He was impressed by Paul's tone and improvisation and asked what band he played in. Paul said that he had just moved up from Los Angeles and was getting started here. Bendik suggested he sit in with Retro Notes until he settled into other bands. Paul accepted and has played on numerous occasions. Even though he is busy teaching music, running his own band and playing in several other bands in the bay area, he still lends Retro Notes a hand when he has a night off.
MIKE HALLESY (BASS)
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Mike’s musical journey started at the age of 4, when he learned how to play folk music on the Baritone Ukulele from Lil Appel in Upper Nyack, New York. After winning the elementary school talent show at the age of 5 performing ‘Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor’, music was to become part of Mike’s life forever. Since then, Mike has studied classical cello, jazz piano, drums, bass and was selected to be part of the California State Honor Band when he was at Palo Alto High School. Mike’s main instrument of choice these days is the Double bass, although you may sometimes see him performing on a Fender style electric jazz bass. Mike has had the pleasure of performing with many of the San Francisco bay area’s great jazz artists, including Larry Vuckovich, Noel Jewkes, Jackie Ryan, Kay Kostopoulos, Celia Malheiros, Modesto Briseno, Jim Bruno, De Anza College Daddios big band, Full Spectrum big band, Touch of Brass big band, George Glover and Nita Hamilton, Achyutan and Barbara Hunter, the Retro Notes, and many others.
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After a gig, audience members sometimes come up to thank the band for a particular song or for bringing back a wonderful memory. Whenever Tony plays with the band we have they always come up and complement him! He has a vast repertoire and keeps impressing us with his variety of improvisation.
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