Jeff joined the Yosemite Jazz Band in the summer of 2001 as plectrum banjo and guitar player.  With little experience at the time with four-string banjo, 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 and a newfound leadership role in the band.  Jeff’s energetic playing style has been influenced by plectrum banjo greats Don Van Pelta, Brad Roth, Lee Floyd and others. 

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

Berl is the founder and original leader of the Yosemite Jazz Band.  Berl began playing traditional jazz in the California coastal community of Ventura where he performed with the Volunteer Dixieland Fire Brigade and The Untouchables Jazz Band.  After relocating to Bass Lake, Berl began performing with the Oakhurst Community Concert Band and formed the Yosemite Jazz Band. 

Today, Berl resides in Coarsegold where his enrichment of life continues through music, especially through Traditional Jazz.  Though he retired from the band in 2023, you may notice on occasion him sitting-in with the band to share his extreme soulful playing and good-hearted enthusiasm, which continues to inspire  both the band and the audience.

Teddy, co-founder of the Yosemite Jazz Band, has been playing clarinet nearly all his life.  In high school, the sounds of the Count Basie Orchestra caught his ear, which prompted him to take-up the tenor saxophone just to play Jazz.

Teddy earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Humboldt State University with an emphesis in Music.  He has performed in musical production pit bands, traditional jazz bands, symphony orchestras, clarinet choirs, college and university bands, and community concert bands.  His resume’ include performances with the Bakersfield Municipal Band in Bakersfield, California, and the West Hawai’i County Band in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.  He is 30+ year member of the Oakhurst Community Concert Band.

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

Les began playing trombone with the Yosemite Jazz Band in 2020, where his musical talents contribute greatly to the band.  Les has a deep musical background and is a well-respected musician in California’s Central Valley. 

As a music educator of 35 years, he taught at Clovis High, Clark Intermediate, Roosevelt School of the Arts, Bullard High, and Sunny Hills High Schools. He has served as an adjunct instructor at California State University -Fresno, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno City College, and West Hills College.  

Les is accomplished on trombone, euphonium, guitar, bass and vocals. He has performed as an artist locally and statewide with the After Dinner Mints, The Hal Magnie Big Band, Fire and Rain, Banda Libertade De Valle, Rumba 32, The Jazz Composers Orchestra, The Happy Time Jazz Band, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Frankie Valli, Bobby Vinton, Kaye Starr, Gloria Gaynor, The Who, Gladys Knight, Andy Gibb, Melissa Manchester, The Guy Lombardo Orchchestra, Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show, and many others… including the Yosemite Jazz Band.  He has also performed overseas in Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany, South Africa and Swaziland.

Peter Scaffidi began performing with the Yosemite Jazz Band 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.  Peter 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.

Peter 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.

Peter is a much-in-demand session musician for performances in Jazz, big band and pop styles, and musical theater.  Among Peter’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, Peter keeps busy… playing with the Yosemite Jazz Band, Diamonds After Dark, Sunnyside Big Band, Sunnyside Dixieland Band, Real Jazz, and Shades of Jazz.  Peter also performs weekly at the Oak Hills Church in Clovis.

Maynard Williams is the newest member of the Yosemite Jazz Band, joining in 2023.  His energetic playing style, humor, and singing are a significant contribution to the band.  He’s performed throughout the country with many different bands, playing a variety of musical genres.  Aside from the piano, Maynard is an accomplished tenor saxophonist.