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Nelson Ortiz

Congas, Percussion, Vocals

Co-founder of YAVAZ, Nelson was born in Chiapas, Mexico, but raised in Tijuana.  He was part of a generation of rock musicians who turned Tijuana upside down in the 1960's.  Nelson was a guitarist and a singer back then in some of the most popular nightclubs like Mike's Bar, The Aloha & The Blue Note. His band played in concert with a then up and coming band called Chicago Transit Authority.  After years in retirement, his childhood friend the famed  Latin jazz guitarist Jaime Valle convinced him to join his band Equinox as a percussionist.  Soon after he was playing with them at the Puerto Vallarta Jazz Festival with such notables at Poncho Sanchez, Mongo Santa Maria and Dave Valentine.   Nelson also performed on several tracks of the Emmy award winning "Liquid Stage" soundtrack.  

Bill Shreeve

Sax, flute & wind synthesizer

Bill is one of the most sought after sax players in San Diego.  Over the years, Bill has performed with some of the most respected musicians in Southern California, as well as the Temptations and the Coasters. His crisp, fast, clean style and his amazing rif's on the sax never fail to blow the audience away.  Bill can also be heard playing as a special guest on the YAVAZ "Sea of Cortez" cd.

Drew Yantis

Drums

Drew is a native Southern Californian who has been performing since he was 13 years old.  He toured with his father's band throughout the U.S. and has studied with some of the top names in the business.   Drew has been hailed as one of the top drummers in the San Diego area. His dynamic drum solos and driving Latin beat always gets the crowd up and moving. 

Barry Bedore

Guitar

One of the original Yavaz members, Barry has been playing guitar since childhood.  He has studied and performed jazz, flamenco, classical, fusion and pop/rock with some of the top musicians throughout Southern California. He is a masterful guitarist with fast, nimble fingers and impeccable technique. He creates a passionate frenzy as he mesmerizes the audiences with his Latin acoustic guitar sounds.

Justin Grinnell

Bass

Justin Grinnell is an acoustic and electric bassist, composer, and improviser. Based in San Diego, Justin performs with some of the city's most well-known jazz artists including Peter Sprague, Gilbert Castellanos, Rob Whitlock, Christopher Hollyday, and Kevin Koch (Fattburger). Justin recently received his Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from San Diego State University.

Philip "Jay Jay" Lim

Pianist

Philip "Jay Jay" Lim is dedicated to getting people involved with music and particularly enjoys the way Yavaz interacts with the audience.  After finishing his BS with a minor in music at the University of Arizona and his BM in Music Therapy from the Berklee College of Music, he has since worked as an educator at the Greene Music Education Center and as a music therapist at the Bayview Behavioral Health Campus.  He is also pianist and coordinator of a weekly jazz jam session that has served as a meeting place for some of San Diego's best musicians.  While maintaining a busy schedule as a performer, educator and music therapist, he is currently finishing his MM in Jazz Studies at the San Diego State University.