Players

PAUL SOMMER was born and raised in Palo Alto, California and worked in music retail in the Bay Area in the 70s and 80s. He played with bands in the Bay Area for many years before moving with his wife, Laura, to the Pacific Northwest to work for Peavey Electronics in the late 80's. After playing only electric guitar for over thirty five years he now is also playing acoustic Hot Club Jazz. He also plays electric guitar with Joe Blue and the Roofshakers, a blues band you can see at various Seattle area clubs and festivals. After almost twenty years working for KORG USA Paul is now officially retired with more time to play guitar and pursue other interests like cooking, skiing, gardening and playing pickleball.

ALEX LEW came to the jazz world after years of playing classical guitar and getting bit by the Hot Club Jazz bug. While swing and Hot Club Jazz are his main styles these days, he enjoys dabbling in many different styles as well as returning to his classical roots. His pandemic project was learning the mandolin, and after accomplishing a gigue from a Bach sonata along with his favorite jazz tunes, concluded that it would be a good idea to add the instrument into the mix. A transportation planner as his day job, he can be spotted transporting his guitar by bike with a specially adapted pannier to carry instruments.

JANNA KUSHNERYK started out as a classically trained violinist but is having way too much fun performing other genres of music from punk and Irish to Rock and Swing Jazz. Her eclectic taste in music has inspired her musical journey and she's loving learning new ways to play and meeting great folks to make music with along the way. She has performed with a variety of groups around the Seattle area such as Cafe Impromptu, Lulu Swing, Seattle Rock Orchestra, Seattle Ladies Choir, Black Rose, and Issaquah Philharmonic. Originally from Florida, she is really enjoying all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

KERRY FOWLER works as a medicinal chemist for his day job but has been hooked on bass since he was a teenager. Since moving to Seattle in 1989 he has played double bass with Orchestra Seattle, the Bellevue Philharmonic and the Seattle Rock Orchestra. He also plays electric bass in musical productions and the notorious garage-punk band Maxifinger. He's delighted to join Alex, Paul and Janna playing the evocative music of Hot Club jazz.

Byron Street Swing thanks
Mike Sentkewitz (bass), Jessica Logan (bass), Steve Ryals (sax and clarinet), Ben Kushigian (guitar),
Rachael Contorer (bass), Ivan Miller (guitar), Ryan Hoffman (guitar), and Jeff Coult (guitar)
for sitting in on past performances!

Former Founding Member
MELANIE MORALEZ - 2018-2020