Maureen, (Mo) Fleming has years of performance to her credit.  She started out in San Francisco where she was born and raised and performed regularly as a young folk and pop musician, playing solo, in combos and with big bands as well.  She later migrated to Los Angeles and attended Dick Grove School of Music where she formally studied jazz composition and graduated from their keyboard instruction program.   In LA, Mo sang with jazz greats such as Monty Budwig, (bassist on Vince Giraldi’s “Cast Your Fate to the Wind” recording), and Frank Collett, (music director for Sarah Vaughan and many others). She’s a songwriter, musician and singer and has performed and written in many styles but her original music goes back to her roots as a  blend of jazz and folk.  She plays guitar and piano and pulls out the accordion and Bohran drum from time to time, especially for traditional Irish music.  Maureen’s original compositions are featured on the Album, “Dreamers”, available through CD baby and include incredible performances by Peter Sprague, Tripp Sprague, Bob Magnusen, Kevin Hennessey, Tommy Aros, Duncan Moore and Sarah Watkins, (of Nickel Creek),  some of southern California’s finest musicians.  Peter Sprague says of Mo and “Dreamers”,

 I was blown away at this women's voice and songwriting abilities...Maureen's style reminds me of one of my favorites, Joni Mitchell. Great lyrics and melody, embracing the folk and jazz styles, a gorgeous voice floating over a sensitive band. At another moment she's singing her original jazz tunes with a tongue in cheek, Mose Allison-like lyric.        

One of Mo’s songs, “Golden Gate Park”, is featured in a coffee table book called “Sights and Sounds of San Francisco”, published for distribution worldwide.  Maureen works by day as a Physician Assistant in family practice and in Latino health, but music is her first love.  Says Mo:  “The two keep me balanced and are both a healing art in their own right”.  When she met Lisa Hightower and Sheryl Goodman, it was like a dream come true. “I have always wanted to sing in a 40s style trio with great female singers that can really harmonize”.  Lisa and Sheryl are not only top notch singers and musicians but in a stroke of incredible luck, are also wonderful to work with and great human beings.  What a combination!    Mo also plans to release more original music in the future.  Album number two and three are ready to go and will be released as soon as money and time permit!  Mo’s heart is in the music and the music is in her heart so the best is yet to come!

Lisa Hightower has led a musical life! Since she was six years old, she has known that music would be an essential part of her life. Although she was raised in a small mid-western town. she knew that her musical journey would take her away from small town life.

Just out of high school, she joined up with the all-girl rock band called Rare Illusion. The band toured with the same members for eight years and played venues all over the upper Midwest and Canada. Their experiences on the road would make a good movie! Rare Illusion split up in the early nineties and Lisa decided that California was her destiny.

After being on the road for so long, Lisa decided that a restaurant job would help make ends meet. This is where she would sing jazz for the first time - and how lucky she was to have her first jazz experience be with Peter Sprague! After that, she was hooked on listening to all the jazz greats.

Lisa recorded her first c.d. with guitarist Micky Maga in the mid 1990’s at Peter Sprague’s recording studio. Lisa and Micky had some original tunes that soon turned into their first c.d. entitled “Walkin in the Waves.” Peter brought in all of his best studio musicians and the music took on its own magical life.

The whole recording experience was great fun for Lisa as well as everyone else involved in the project. The title cut Walkin' in the Waves was selected for an episode of CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful.

Her second c.d. was again recorded at Sprague’s studio and this time she included classic jazz standards as well as a few “not so standard” songs from groups that were popular in the 1960’s and 1980’s. She has also received local air play on KSDS in San Diego.

Guitarist Peter Sprague says of Lisa:

"When we played the Coyote Bar last week, vocalist Lisa Hightower sat in and burned the house down. This gal sings! Her repertoire leans into the jazz tradition and she scats up a storm. Lisa has a wonderful recording out called Walkin' on the Waves on SBE Records and for this concert we've gathered the "A" team and we're ready to hit."

"Lisa singing the blues is like a disease workin' in reverse!"

In addition to singing out at local venues, Lisa teaches piano and voice lessons and is a licensed Kindermusik Educator. She continues to thrive in her musical journey and is trying to reach as many people as she can with her musical talents.

Sheryl Goodman knew at nine years old what she wanted to do with her life; she wanted to be a teacher. But how was she going to be a singer if she was a teacher? Well, that was quite a predicament for a nine year old girl.  She can still remember that fourth grade moment of revelation, staring up at the chalk board and thinking, “A music teacher, that’s it, I’ll be a music teacher”. Decision made.

Sheryl began singing at a young age under the guidance of her grandfather, who had a beautiful voice of his own and wasn’t afraid to use it! Together, they listened to the music of the greats such as Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. He encouraged Sheryl to do children’s theater, and over the years she landed singing and dancing parts in “The Music Man”, “Sound of Music”, “Once Upon a Mattress”, “No No Nanette”, and many others. Sheryl’s love of music and drama was evident to those around her. Her brother, who at the time was the resident composer for South Coast Repertory Theater in Orange County, California, paved the way for her to become part of a group of young teens who performed drama, pantomime and improv at the theater. This experience led to roles in summer theme park productions and performances as living art at the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, California. Sheryl’s love for the timeless music of the 40’s made her a natural choice for the jazz swing choirs in the Pacific Northwest, where she was now living.  She spent three years performing and competing in swing and concert choirs, where the art of singing in an ensemble made a lasting impression.

Sheryl spent many years in the gem and fine jewelry business, but her drive to teach and perform music never waned. With the encouragement of her husband, she went back to school, studying voice, theory and jazz ensemble, and eventually won a vocal scholarship.

In 1999, after taking a Kindermusik class with her son, she fell in love with the program and realized this was a way to fulfill her dream of becoming a music teacher. Her son’s teacher was Lisa Hightower, and the two became fast friends. Lisa mentored Sheryl through the credentialing program, and after securing her license, she has worked for Lisa as a Kindermusik educator for the last eight years. She considers enhancing the lives of children and their families with the gift of music as one of her life’s highest callings.  Sheryl has been a vocalist in several contemporary Christian bands, done studio background vocals and is currently working on a CD of jazz standards. She is a vocalist with the Harmony Grove Band, a member of several contemporary Christian worship bands at her church, and a proud member of the Harmonettes. “I love being part of the Harmonettes. I feel like I’m a part of something special”