Connie Bunyer Connie Bunyer is a master vocalist, multi talented musician, percussionist, drummer, dancer and songwriter. She is currently performing with Ocho Pies and the legendary Obrador band. Her educational history includes a BA from The Evergreen State College along with undergraduate studies at Viterbo College, LaCrosse, WI and SIU Carbondale, IL and master's studies in voice at Cornish Institute Seattle, WA. At Naropa Institute in Boulder, CO, Connie studied the music and dance of Haiti, Cuba and West Africa plus various forms of improvisation. She has been actively involved in the Obrador Guanabacoa Project, a cross-cultural exchange program for children of La Escuela de Guiermo Tomas, Guanabacoa, Cuba and schools in Thurston county of Washington state. Her other professional credits include Butoh and glass harmonica, drummer and percussionist for the Mud Bay Jugglers, principle vocalist for the Olympia Chamber Orchestra, music and dance instructor for South Sound Kids Drumming and Dance, Dancing Hearts Art Camp, YOCAP youth at risk, City of Olympia's After School Program, the Olympia school district and the Olympia community.
Paul Hjelm A seasoned performer of more than 45+ years, Paul played in his 1st band in 1959. His main instrument is guitar, but easily fills in on bass, trap drums, piano or just about any other instrument that's needed. A versatile a musician as well as composer/songwriter, Paul branches out to explore many forms, from free form to all form and electronics to "Pop-ish" songs. Hjelm has been an Obrador member since it began in 1976. He has been known to participate in experimental music groups and large theatre productions. In the early '70's he studied composition, film making, tape recording techniques, animation and music for film. In the 60s he performed with Northwest R&B and jazz groups and while in,the U.S.Army he played in hospitals, clubs and USO shows in Japan & Korea. His institutional studies include: The Evergreen State College, B.A. in Music & Film and The Olympia Vocational Technical Institute where he studied early computer programming. He has put in numerous hours in the recording studio as musician and producer and his multi-faceted talents can be heard on numerous recordings throughout the years. Ocho Pies' nylon string guitarist brings almost 5 decades of music experience to the group. Paul contributes a rhythmic strength and unique soloing to his ensemble work and many of his original tunes are in regular rotation during an Ocho Pies performance.
Steve Luceno Originally from Mamaroneck, New York, Steve's lifelong dedication to Jazz gives Ocho Pies a modern harmonic presence while reflecting his deep respect for Latin-American music traditions. Steve is not only a guitarist but also a highly respected Northwest acoustic bassist for a number of regional artists. Besides writing songs for Ocho Pies, Steve has produced CDs of his own original Jazz compositions. Before moving to Olympia, WA Steve involved himself with Jazz studies with John Stowell, Anthony "Gump" Marinelli and Lou Stein. In Olympia his studies included work with Jack Percival and Bert Wilson. After joining Obrador his education continued with South American & Afro-Caribbean studies. Steve's playing experience included many trips to Mexico with the Jerry Michelsen Trio and working with a variety of artists in the Northwest, these include; Obrador, Kelley Johnson, Donna Robyns, Bert Wilson, Jack Perciful, John Stowell, Joe Baque, Slim Galliard, Sonny Simmons, Phil Snyder, Mose Allison, Ocho Pies, Dennis Hastings and Hadley Calliman.
Michael Olson Michael is a professional musician and teacher. He had his first drum lesson at 10 years of age and continued to explore the drum kit and the development of percussion instruments. In the early 70's he began his study of African drumming from Dumi Mariare of Zimbabwe and later with master drummer Obo Addy of Ghana and Haitian master John Amira. His Cuban music studies include 8 years of work running a cross-cultural program for the Guillermo Tomas School of Music in Guanabacoa,Cuba. While in Guanabacoa he was a student of Cuban master percussionist Eugenio Arango. He has also studied with Cuban masters Bongo Don Gimmel, Roberto Burrell, Jesus Alfonso, Brazilian Mystro Accordion and Puerto Rican Bomba master Jesus Cepeda. Over the years Michael has recorded with numerous music groups including Obrador, Ocho Pies, Bert Wilson, Marc Smason and Allen Youngblood, and has shared the stage with musical legends such as Slim Gaillord, Charles Mingus, Don Cherry, Collin Wolcott, Jack DeJohnette, Dizzy Gillespie, Poncho Sanchez, Joe Baque, Tony Lujan, Paublo Menendez, John Stowell, and Changuito. His diversity has allowed him to work with Jazz, Latin, R&B, Blues, theatrical and improv artists and even with the renowned Mud Bay Jugglers. Michael has performed at festivals, colleges and clubs from The United States to Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico and Canada. He is presently performing publicly and teaching at his studio and in private and public schools.
Connie Bunyer is a master vocalist, multi talented musician, percussionist, drummer, dancer and songwriter. She is currently performing with Ocho Pies and the legendary Obrador band. Her educational history includes a BA from The Evergreen State College along with undergraduate studies at Viterbo College, LaCrosse, WI and SIU Carbondale, IL and master's studies in voice at Cornish Institute Seattle, WA. At Naropa Institute in Boulder, CO, Connie studied the music and dance of Haiti, Cuba and West Africa plus various forms of improvisation. She has been actively involved in the Obrador Guanabacoa Project, a cross-cultural exchange program for children of La Escuela de Guiermo Tomas, Guanabacoa, Cuba and schools in Thurston county of Washington state. Her other professional credits include Butoh and glass harmonica, drummer and percussionist for the Mud Bay Jugglers, principle vocalist for the Olympia Chamber Orchestra, music and dance instructor for South Sound Kids Drumming and Dance, Dancing Hearts Art Camp, YOCAP youth at risk, City of Olympia's After School Program, the Olympia school district and the Olympia community.
A seasoned performer of more than 45+ years, Paul played in his 1st band in 1959. His main instrument is guitar, but easily fills in on bass, trap drums, piano or just about any other instrument that's needed. A versatile a musician as well as composer/songwriter, Paul branches out to explore many forms, from free form to all form and electronics to "Pop-ish" songs. Hjelm has been an Obrador member since it began in 1976. He has been known to participate in experimental music groups and large theatre productions. In the early '70's he studied composition, film making, tape recording techniques, animation and music for film. In the 60s he performed with Northwest R&B and jazz groups and while in,the U.S.Army he played in hospitals, clubs and USO shows in Japan & Korea. His institutional studies include: The Evergreen State College, B.A. in Music & Film and The Olympia Vocational Technical Institute where he studied early computer programming. He has put in numerous hours in the recording studio as musician and producer and his multi-faceted talents can be heard on numerous recordings throughout the years. Ocho Pies' nylon string guitarist brings almost 5 decades of music experience to the group. Paul contributes a rhythmic strength and unique soloing to his ensemble work and many of his original tunes are in regular rotation during an Ocho Pies performance.
Originally from Mamaroneck, New York, Steve's lifelong dedication to Jazz gives Ocho Pies a modern harmonic presence while reflecting his deep respect for Latin-American music traditions. Steve is not only a guitarist but also a highly respected Northwest acoustic bassist for a number of regional artists. Besides writing songs for Ocho Pies, Steve has produced CDs of his own original Jazz compositions. Before moving to Olympia, WA Steve involved himself with Jazz studies with John Stowell, Anthony "Gump" Marinelli and Lou Stein. In Olympia his studies included work with Jack Percival and Bert Wilson. After joining Obrador his education continued with South American & Afro-Caribbean studies. Steve's playing experience included many trips to Mexico with the Jerry Michelsen Trio and working with a variety of artists in the Northwest, these include; Obrador, Kelley Johnson, Donna Robyns, Bert Wilson, Jack Perciful, John Stowell, Joe Baque, Slim Galliard, Sonny Simmons, Phil Snyder, Mose Allison, Ocho Pies, Dennis Hastings and Hadley Calliman.
Michael is a professional musician and teacher. He had his first drum lesson at 10 years of age and continued to explore the drum kit and the development of percussion instruments. In the early 70's he began his study of African drumming from Dumi Mariare of Zimbabwe and later with master drummer Obo Addy of Ghana and Haitian master John Amira. His Cuban music studies include 8 years of work running a cross-cultural program for the Guillermo Tomas School of Music in Guanabacoa,Cuba. While in Guanabacoa he was a student of Cuban master percussionist Eugenio Arango. He has also studied with Cuban masters Bongo Don Gimmel, Roberto Burrell, Jesus Alfonso, Brazilian Mystro Accordion and Puerto Rican Bomba master Jesus Cepeda. Over the years Michael has recorded with numerous music groups including Obrador, Ocho Pies, Bert Wilson, Marc Smason and Allen Youngblood, and has shared the stage with musical legends such as Slim Gaillord, Charles Mingus, Don Cherry, Collin Wolcott, Jack DeJohnette, Dizzy Gillespie, Poncho Sanchez, Joe Baque, Tony Lujan, Paublo Menendez, John Stowell, and Changuito. His diversity has allowed him to work with Jazz, Latin, R&B, Blues, theatrical and improv artists and even with the renowned Mud Bay Jugglers. Michael has performed at festivals, colleges and clubs from The United States to Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico and Canada. He is presently performing publicly and teaching at his studio and in private and public schools.
