The Cartoon Christmas Trio!
The Cartoon Christmas Trio celebrates 26 years as the original interpreter of classic holiday cartoon jazz! The trio was started in 1995 by bassist Rob Swanson for the sole purpose of playing music from classic Christmas cartoons, especially the music of Vince Guaraldi, the composer of the "Peanuts" soundtracks. Since it’s inception, the trio has played hundreds of shows including live appearances on NBC, ABC, Fox, and NPR. The trio was also honored to perform in Philadelphia’s premiere music venue, The Kimmel Center. In addition, the trio is actively involved in musical outreach and education through an in-school assembly program.
The music of Vince Guaraldi, in particular the soundtrack of the Peanuts Christmas Cartoon, has become one of the best selling Christmas recordings of all time. The trio performs every song from this recording, using the exact instrumentation that Guaraldi originally composed for. In addition to the Peanuts music, the trio plays songs from "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman", and "The Little Drummer Boy", just to name a few. So when the 63rd version of the Messiah has left you uninspired and you are looking for a fresh alternative, come out at listen to the sounds of the Cartoon Christmas Trio because after all, Christmas Time is here!
Meet the players!
Jeff Knoettner, a product of the Berklee College of Music, is a pianist, composer, and teacher. He has performed in various festivals, including the Melon Jazz Festival, Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, River Blues Festival, the New York State Blues Festival, Cape May Jazz and Rehoboth Jazz Festivals, and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Jeff’s musical proficiency extends to playing the trumpet and organ, composing and arranging. He has performed and recorded with numerous groups, including The Renaissance Quintet, Arpeggio Jazz & Music Ensemble, the Val Ray Experience, Rob Swanson, E. Shawn Qaissaunee, and the Tino Gonzales Band, which has opened for blues legends B.B. King, Buddy Guy,and Charlie Musselwhite.
Larry Marshall started playing drums at the age of five, and started studying formerly soon after. Throughout grade school, Junior High School and High School, Larry continued lessons and was the leader of many bands. During these years, he also had several articles written about him in local newspapers due to his successes in school. In 1983, he went on to study at West Chester University and started his recording and touring career as well. After a sold out tour to Asia, Larry relocated to Japan, where he made Osaka home base for six(6) years. While in Japan, high end drum company, Sakae(Sah- kah-ee), approached and signed him as a Sakae Drum Artist. He spent(six) 6 years as the Jazz Drum instructor at the Azul Jazz Academy; and during that time, Kansai Music Conference awarded Larry with the Jazz Musician of the year award(2012). Now back in the U.S., Larry continues to enjoy teaching as an adjunct professor at Lebanon Valley College; The High Street Music Co. in Pottstown, Pa., Director of two Percussion Ensembles at High Street Co.. Adjunct Faculty at The Waldorf School ( Kimberton, Pa.), Small Jazz Ensemble Director at Waldorf School. Adjunct Faculty at The Hill School,( Pottstown, Pa.), Percussion Ensemble Director at The Hill School. Larry still tours and has formed the Larry Marshall Quartet as well as being a sideman for a wide variety of artists. He has toured with artists such as, Othello Molineaux, Randy Brecker, Kevin Mahogany and many others. In addition, he also continues to be a sought after recording artist, conduct clinics and master classes in the U.S. and abroad.
Playing bass for over 40 years, Rob has made a name for himself as one of the most versatile working bassists in the Philly metro area. Tripling on Electric, Upright, and Vocals, Rob finds himself in up to 20 different musical configurations on any given month, ranging from straight ahead bebop, groove, world, funk, and rock. Rob has performed at venues across the globe and across the street including The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, The Carl Orff Stage at Gasteig in Munich Germany, and The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Wilmington. A graduate of the prestigious West Chester School of Music, Rob balances gigging with a bit of teaching to forward the muse that was passed onto him at an early age.
You can visit Rob online at www.robswansonmusic.com