Meg G. (Saxophones):

• Piano lessons early in first grade.
• Began playing sax in the 5th grade.
• Picked up clarinet in High School.
• B.S. Music Education, Indiana State University.
• My loves include:

  • Sax quartet, playing soprano and alto with three guys calling ourselves "Three Men and A Babe",
  • Big band music and play lead tenor in Rose City Swing,
  • Jamming! Straight-ahead, standards, be-bop, ballad.
• Guilty pleasure: Broadway Musicals.

 Jon O. (Bass & Trombone):

• Began making noise on a banjolele as a preschooler in Minnesota.
• Studied classical guitar for a few stretches.
• Rediscovered the joys of making group music a few years ago - took up bass and dragged out my hi-school trombone from my parents attic.
• Avid 78 record collector - 20's - 30's two beat jazz and 50's cool jazz are my favorite genres.
• Also a member of the Cooper Mountain Trio swing & string band.
• I love the adventure and camaraderie of creating improvised music.

 Matt S. (Drums):

• Born, Kansas City, MO.
• Influenced by Herb Alpert, I played the trumpet in the 5th through 9th grades.  Unfortunately, I tucked the trumpet in the back of my closet and forgot all of my music training!
• Well into my banking career and nearing the end of my child rearing gig, I decided to develop a hobby involving music.  I was always impressed with the fact that drummers have the best seats at any concert, and I found it to be hypnotic watching the cymbals of  Billy Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart dance behind Jerry and the rest of the band on a beautiful summer day at Autzen Stadium.  So, I started playing drums during 2000, and have had the good fortune to study under Mr. Donny Osborne, and am currently a student of Mr. Israel Annoh.
• Volunteer under Umpqua Bank's "Connect" program, at Portland Public School's Beaumont Middle School Music Program.
• Percussionist, Portland Community Wind Band.
• Very blessed to be making good music with these very talented folks!

 Wil W. (Guitar):

• Born, Rockaway Beach, New York City.
• Learned guitar during the "folk-scare" of the 1960's.  Influenced by guitar greats like Merle Travis, Leo Kottke, John Renborne, and Richard Thompson.
• Attended "Woodstock".  That's right, the first one!
• With his wife, Kelly (flute), plays acoustic and Celtic music.  The guitar playing gene was inherited by their two grown daughters.
• A regular on guitar with the "Cooper Mountain Cats", which plays jazz with a bluegrass edge (guaranteed to get a guy with two left feet out of his chair dancing).
• Has a daytime gig as a middle school teacher with Portland Public Schools.
• Enjoys comping behind the horn section and being in the mix of a big sound, be it "Bop" or "Swing" 
• Favorite chord? Why "m7b5", of course!

• Smiling Dog Music Workgroup 

 Pleasure:

• Friends of Smiling Dog Music
• Smiling Dog Music on MySpace