Jeff joined the Yosemite Jazz Band in the summer of 2001 as its plectrum banjo and guitar player.  Since 2023, Jeff took-on the role as the band’s leader and emcee when Berl Howell announced his retirement from the band.

Jeff had little experience playing a four-string banjo when he first joined the band, yet the Yosemite Jazz Band and supportive fans provided an encouraging environment for Jeff to grow as a jazz banjo player.  This nourishing environment combined with Jeff’s passion for music and learning has resulted in his blossoming as a traditional jazz musician.   Jeff’s energetic playing style has been influenced by plectrum banjo greats Don Van Pelta, Brad Roth, Lee Floyd and others.

Jeff often plays his guitar and five-string banjo with several other bands by performing many different genres of music, including bluegrass, pop, rock, blues, and country.  Most notably, Jeff sings and plays his five-string banjo with the Sugar Pine Band with performances two nights a week over the Spring and Summer at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad.

“Teddy” is a Yosemite Jazz Band founding member who continues performing with the band since its beginnings in October of 1993. 

Raised in the Southern California community of La Mirada, his musical career began at five years old as an organist playing hymns in church.  At 13, he performed on the “Bach Organ” at the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany.  

Though he picked-up the clarinet in the fourth grade, jazz had not yet been introduced to him until he began playing the tenor sax in his high school jazz band.  Teddy continued playing his clarinet through college while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Humboldt State University with an emphasis in Music. 

Teddy has performed in jazz bands, musical production pit bands, symphony orchestras, clarinet choirs, wind quintets, college and university wind ensembles, and community concert bands.  His resume’ include performances with the Cerritos Community Band and the Downey Symphony Orchestra in Southern California, the Bakersfield Municipal Band in Bakersfield, the Blue Street Jazz Band in Fresno, the Untouchables Jazz Band at Rincon Mountain, and the West Hawai’i County Band in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i.  Since 1992, Teddy performs regularly as principal clarinetist with the Oakhurst Community Concert Band.

His raspy singing voice and energetic playing style contribute greatly to Yosemite Jazz Band performances.

Elva first began performing with the Yosemite Jazz Band as a young child by singing her favorite traditional jazz songs with the band.  In 2018, and to the surprise of her Dad – Jeff Gurule, she took a strong interest in playing the trumpet.  Her passionate playing-style impresses audiences whenever she performs. 

While attending Yosemite High School, Elva actively performed in the high school jazz band, wind ensemble and marching band.  She had also performed in the County Honor Bands, which included the jazz band, orchestra, concert band, and featured soloist.  Elva would also perform in a local rock/pop band with her Dad. 

Elva is currently studying Music and Jazz at Loyola University in New Orleans.  The band is proud to showcase such a promising young talent.

Pete began performing with the Yosemite Jazz Band on his bass in 2023.  His musical career began as a teenager performing with his parents – big band lead trumpeter and CBS staff musician Ralph Scaffidi, and jazz guitarist pioneer Mary Osborne. 

He’s played bass for various name bands and artists, including The Les Elgart Big Band, Rock and Roll legend Chuck Berry, and Michael Feinstein to name a few.  Pete has performed with the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra for 11 years, the Tulare County Symphony as a section bassist, and the Bakersfield Symphony for 33 years as the co-principal bassist.

Pete studied privately with Peter Mercurio at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara and with premier bassist and arranger John Clayon in Los Angeles.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from California State University, Fresno in 1985.  Since then, he’s been involved in music education throughout Central California.  His experiences range from private lessons to being orchestra director for elementry and high schools, and bass coach at Bakersfield College and California State University, Bakersfield.

Pete is a much-in-demand session musician for performances in Jazz, big band and pop styles, and musical theater.  Among Pete’s credits are performances with Mickey Rooney, Barry McGuire, Harold Land, and the Lawrence Welk Show Alumni and Center Stage Productions of Beauty And The Beast, West Side Story, Big River, Hello Dolly, The Music Man, Wizard Of Oz, and Godspell.

Currently, Pete keeps busy… playing with the Diamonds After Dark, Sunnyside Big Band, Sunnyside Dixieland Band, Real Jazz, Shades of Jazz, and the Yosemite Jazz Band.  Pete also performs weekly at the Oak Hills Church in Clovis.

Kevin has performed with the Yosemite Jazz Band many times through the years.  Yet in the Summer of 2024, he became a regular band member.

Kevin is a professional drummer who has performed with more than sixty bands in multiple countries over the past four decades. Today, he resides in Mariposa, California and plays drum kit and percussion with a number of combos covering a broad range of musical genres, including Bebop Jazz, Dixieland, Americana, Blues, and Folk.

Kevin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University – Fresno, and a Masters of Arts degree from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.  In addition to performing, he is an avid photographer and writer, whose plays have been staged at various theaters in California and New York.

Benny began playing with the Yosemite Jazz Band in the Summer of 2024 after completing his freshman year of high school.  He was invited to sit-in and soon became a permanent substitute while his mentor and friend Elva Gurule continues her music education in New Orleans. 

Benjamin is attending Yosemite High School and is active in its music programs.  He performs with his high school wind ensemble, Jazz band and percussion ensemble, and is the band’s president and drum major.  As a young musician, he serves as the principal trumpeter with the Youth Orchestra of Fresno and has performed with several honor ensembles, including the Fresno Madera Jazz and Classical Honor Ensembles, and the All-State High School Honor Band.

A highlight of Benny’s music education is attending the Teagarden Jazz Summer Camp in Placerville, California.  He enjoys the experience of playing jazz along with other fine young musicians from all around the globe.

Benjamin hopes to one day become a conductor of a wind symphony band.  He is currently developing those skills as a co-director with the Oakhurst Community Concert Band.

Benny loves making music and playing his trumpet.  The band is happy to mentor such a fine musician and have him perform with the Yosemite Jazz Band.