Band Bios

After years of being asked if he plays klezmer, Steve Gruverman (clarinet, sax) can finally answer with a definite "yes" and is delighted that it's with the Tummlers. He plays various woodwinds in a variety of styles but especially loves the ethnic dance music of Europe, from Brittany to Bulgaria. Steve is currently extending his range with Spoonmaker's Diamond, a Middle Eastern music ensemble.

Carl Dimow (flute, guitar) is an eclectic musician who performs jazz, blues, classical and Middle Eastern music in addition to klezmer. He has collaborated with poets and visual artists and has composed music for theater and film. Some ongoing projects include the Kolosko-Dimow Duo, the Choro Louco Brazilian Ensemble, and Bill Soliloquy and the Night Machine jazz quintet. Carl is a long-time member of the applied music faculty at Colby College. www.carldimow.com.

Nancy 3. Hoffman (accordion, vocals) is a classically trained pianist and works nationally as a music theater director. She leads The Maine Squeeze accordion ensemble, playing international folk music. Her solo work includes international cabaret and her one-woman rendition of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Mikado. She is also director and curator of the world's only Umbrella Cover Museum. Nancy 3. lives on Peaks Island and migrates to Key West, Florida for the winter. Her middle name is really 3.

John Clark (bass) has been an active bass player on the Maine music scene for over sixteen years playing jazz all over New England and 16 years with the Bangor Symphony. John has also played with many local bands in the Portland Maine area including Darien Brahms and the Munjoy Hill Society, The Bourbonaires, Lars Vegas,The Hi Tides and Linoleum Blownapart.

Peter McLaughlin (drums) is a composer and percussionist based in Portland. His compositional output and performance activity reflect the great eclecticism of his musical interests: Babbitt to Bjork, hip-hop to Hindustani, Schumann to Sun Ra… Recent highlights include composing the tape portion of Elliott Schwartz's 'Diamond Jubilee' for its Portland Symphony premiere, two performances at the ACA chamber music festival in New York City, a two month national tour, and the launching of his record label, Pretty Purgatory. Peter has performed in thirty one states and two provinces.