Damon Buxton is a fingerstyle acoustic guitarist and composer working in the tradition of the Windham Hill artists. Picking up the guitar at age twenty-one, Buxton taught himself to play and, in the process, developed the soulful fingerpicking style that remains his trademark.  After initial success with a demo release, Buxton established a recording collaboration with Will Ackerman, Grammy award winning founder of Windham Hill Records, who produced Buxton’s latest release, “Forgiving Dreams.”  

“Forgiving Dreams is remarkable debut recording by Damon Buxton. It’s rare for someone this early in their career to have achieved a voice that is distinctively their own and Damon is definitely one of the rare ones. While also graced with uptempo and rhythmic work, the album is a reflective and introspective journey for the most part. A work of intelligence and heart, Forgiving Dreams should not be missed.”
Will Ackerman
Windham County, Vermont.

Ackerman produced the record with a graceful clarity and attention to detail that was the hallmark of Windham Hill Records. The guitars, hand made by Seattle-area luthiers, were recorded with no less than nine microphones to capture every string nuance and finger pick and place the listener in the room next to the instruments. Ackerman joins Buxton in a lyrical duet on the title track.  Buxton’s audiences report feeling as though their blood pressure is dropping as they’re listening, and the music has a remarkably calming effect on small children.  Forgiving Dreams will be available for sale during Damon's concert at Cafe Luna or on Damon's web page, www.DamonBuxton.com.

    Ben GilmerRootsy, Hard-working, Genuine Americana

      Friday, October 10, 7:30pm

Ben Gilmer grew up in the mountains of southwestern Virginia and spent much of his youth playing in the creek, working on the family farm, and playing music with his family.  His songwriting reflects a sense of place deeply rooted in southern Appalachia - honest songs about hard times, family, and love.  Ben's debut album, Juxtaposed, which is set to be released in mid-August, features several of Virginia and West Virginia's finest Americana and alt-country musicians and has already received great reviews from many within the Americana music community.  More info can be found at www.myspace.com/bengilmer

    Rolf Jones-Moore

Original Blues, Jazz & Boogie PianoEncore Performance!!

      Saturday, October 11, 7:30pm

Pianist Rolf Jones-Moore has performed professionally for over 25 years, with many engagements, including opening for Ray Charles at the Sacramento Blues Festival. During this performance, he preceded the Soulsters, then followed by the great Ray Charles, Robby Krieger, guitarist for The Doors, and the Northwest's own Robert Cray. Rolf's performances have included many concert engagements throughout Northern California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. He began his career as a keyboardist with the Misty Mountain Sunshine Band, a local favorite in Denver.  After several years in Colorado, he moved to San Francisco, performing numerous venues including the Archbishop Mansion for wedding engagements and special events. Rolf was a regular recording artist at SIR studios, and played the Chi Chi Club on Broadway, and other San Francisco hot spots.  From there, he moved to Nevada City, California, where some of his many local performances were recorded live, on the air, by KVMR, a Northern California public broadcast station.As a composer, Rolf Jones-Moore displays several styles. Jazzy blues, and boogie dominate his method, with a touch of classical movement in a number of his pieces. Although classically trained, Rolf displays a unique, energetic style. His sharp technical skills are complemented by vigor, vitality, and a soulful passion for his art.  Rolf Jones-Moorewww.rolfjonesmoore.com

    Award Winning Trumpet Player
Thomas Marriott
with his Quartet

Jazz standards, Originals and Pop Tunes

      Friday, October 24, 7:30pm

$12 Cover

Trumpeter Thomas Marriott is one of the most exciting musicians to emerge on the national jazz scene in more than a decade. Solo efforts on his recent albums and performances with luminaries such as Rosemary Clooney, The Chico O’Farrell Orchestra, Ritchie Cole, Joe Locke & Kenny Kirkland, have gained him numerous awards and recognition throughout the music world. In 1999 he won the prestigious Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition sponsored by the International Trumpet Guild and the Herb Albert Foundation.

Thomas Marriott, a Seattle native, first gained attention with the 1997 release of his first album “Open Season.” The Album won Seattle jazz radio KPLU’s top pick for that year. Earshot Jazz Magazine readers voted Thomas the Best Emerging Artist of 1998, an award The Marriott Brothers Quintet received in 1997. The Marriott Brothers Quintet, co-lead by Thomas & his brother David, released their second album, “The High Country,” to critical acclaim in 1999 and the band was voted Best Northwest Acoustic Band of that same year.

In 2000, Thomas joined the Maynard Ferguson Big Band, and relocated to New York City. After completing three world tours with Ferguson, Thomas worked in and around New York with musicians as diverse as Bob Berg, The Tito Puente Orchestra, Eric Reed, Brian Lynch, Bebo Valdez, Eddie Palmieri and many others. He was commissioned to compose three original works for the Ground Floor Dance Collaborative and actively led his own bands as well.

Now making Seattle his home once again, Thomas is a member of many ensembles including the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, and released his first solo album “Individuation” on the Origin Records label in 2005. It was named among the top 10 jazz albums of 2005 by WBEZ radio, Chicago. Thomas' new album "Both Sides of The Fence", released in February of 2007 spent three months on the national JazzWeek chart and peaked in the top ten at number 9. Thomas Marriott is a C.G.Conn sponsored artist & clinician and serves on the board of directors for Earshot Jazz & the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.  Thomas has recorded on more than 30 albums and is also an in demand producer. 

http://thomasmarriott.net

   Mike Fekete
Acoustic/Folk Solo GuitarSaturday, October 25, 7:30pm

   Halloween Photography Shoot
by Vashon Photographer
Rebecca Douglas

Free Photo Session

      Friday, October 31, 3:30pm

We are thrilled to have accomplished photographer, Rebecca Douglas, back for the fourth year in a row.   She will be snapping photos of trick or treaters (and their parents) in full goolish costume garb.  Top Halloween photos will be displayed in Cafe Luna's February art show.  The photos will be available for puchase on her web site.  www.rebeccadouglas.com