Mike Faast Quartet

The “Mike Faast Jazz Quartet,” shares jazzy renditions of the American songbook ranging from the great swing era of the 40’s to the soul of the 60’s.  The band features Andy Carr, one of the most sought-after pianists in the NW well versed in many styles of music including classical, jazz and latin styles. He is a member of The A-town big band, The Swing Nuts, Whistle Lake Jazz Quartet and Tangoheart. Walt Burkett from Fairhaven, plays the stand-up bass in the band. He also plays in the popular Bellingham group, “the Walrus.” Whidbey Island native Eric Vanderbilt-Mathews is featured on sax and clarinet. Eric has performed at the prestigious Djangofest Northwest Festival on numerous occasions. A popular sideman, he has performed with Ranger and the Re-Arrangers and the Hot Club of Troy and is involved with many Seattle groups.

Band leader, Faast, has been part of the NW music scene for over thirty years, and his bands have performed in hundreds of events in the great Northwest, such as Wintergrass (12 times) and the Darrington bluegrass festival, Town festivals such as the Oak Harbor Arts festival and the Coupeville and the Anacortes Arts festival. Mike has performed several times with the legendary country jazz fiddle player, Johnny Gimble, and in 2016, Mike was inducted into the Northwest chapter of the Western Swing Hall of Fame! An accomplished vocalist and guitarist, Mike is equally at home singing a warm country ballad, a high honkin’ bluegrass tune or crooning a jazz standard.