Guitarist and composer Steve Kovalcheck brings a distinctive voice to modern jazz, a sound rooted in the blues, rock, and country music of his Nashville upbringing and refined through decades of creative work. Now based in Colorado, he performs and records extensively across the United States and abroad, from The Hollywood Bowl to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center to the Jazz Cruise, the Vail Jazz Party, and concert stages throughout Europe and Asia. His playing reflects a deep understanding of the jazz tradition while always carrying the soulful, earthy inflections of the blues, an element that remains at the heart of his music.
Kovalcheck’s versatility, accompanimental approach, and expressive touch have made him a sought-after collaborator. He has performed and recorded with a range of artists, including Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Pat Bianchi, Terrell Stafford, René Marie, Bobby Floyd, Lewis Nash, Danny Gottlieb, Chris Potter, Nicholas Payton, and Howard Levy, among many others. His long association with legendary drummer Jeff Hamilton spans numerous projects, including the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Jeff Hamilton Organ Trio. Outside of the jazz world, Kovalcheck has also worked with artists and producers such as Robinella and the C.C. String Band, Carrie Rodriguez, Tommy Sims, Charles “Wigg” Walker, Russ Titelman, and Don Williams, reflecting a musical background that bridges jazz, rock, country, funk, and bluegrass.
As a bandleader and composer, Kovalcheck continues to expand his creative output. His albums Ghost Orchid, Stomping Ground, and Nine Mile Hill showcase his blend of modern jazz language and roots-inspired writing. Forthcoming projects include a duo project with pianist and vocalist Dawn Clement as well as her Blossom Dearie tribute featuring Hamilton and bassist John Clayton. These projects reflect Kovalcheck’s ongoing exploration of blues, groove, and harmonic color, while honoring the many traditions that inform his sound.
In addition to his work as a performer and recording artist, Kovalcheck is the Professor of Jazz Guitar at the University of Northern Colorado, where he teaches jazz guitar and improvisation in the university’s internationally recognized jazz studies program.
Known for his warm, blues-inflected tone, melodic clarity, and strong rhythmic feel, Steve Kovalcheck continues to bridge the gap between tradition and innovation, bringing authenticity, soul, and a deep sense of swing to every note he plays.

Jon Hamar is a versatile artist whose ability to find a tasteful, unique voice in any musical situation has made him a staple in the music scene. Hamar’s friendly nature, sense of humor, and work ethic have kept him busy as a freelance bassist in multiple performance genres.
Jon was born in Kennewick, Washington. He began playing the string bass at age 11 and a year later began playing the electric bass. Jon’s parents are musical, and Jon grew up listening to his father play gospel, boogie-woogie, and classical music at the piano, and his mother played the oboe and sang at church. His parents were a significant musical influence on him at an early age.
Jon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Double Bass Performance from Eastern Washington University under the tutelage of Roma Vayspapir and Kelly Ferris. Jon graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Master’s degree in Jazz and Contemporary Media, studying with Jeffrey Campbell, James Vandermark, Harold Danko, Clay Jenkins, Raymond Ricker, and Fred Sturm.
In 2001 Hamar relocated to Seattle, Washington, and was in high demand as a freelance bassist. Hamar performed for four years with jazz and blues great Ernestine Anderson and Northwest notables Greta Matassa, Jim Knapp, Randy Halberstadt, Dawn Clement, Kelley Johnson, and John Hansen. Jon also performed regularly in an orchestral setting, recording on movie soundtracks, and playing recitals and concerts around the Northwest.
In 2012 Jon joined the faculty at the Centrum Jazz Workshop under the Artistic Direction of John Clayton. While living in Seattle, Jon taught at Central Washington University, Northwest University, and Edmonds Community College and maintained a private studio. In the Fall of 2015, Hamar joined the faculty of Natalie Haslam School of Music at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN.
Jon began performing with the Jeff Hamilton Trio in July of 2018. The same year, he toured Europe with the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton, featuring renowned vocalist Cecil McLaren Salvant. You can hear Jon with the Jeff Hamilton Trio on the 2020 release Catch Me if You Can and on the most recent Jeff Hamilton Trio holiday album release entitled Merry and Bright, released in November 2021.