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Meet us

members:

Sophia Bornstein - Keys

Shawn Cross - Bass

Ron Steen - Drums

Amber Anderson - Violin

Each member brings their own personality, experience and vibrancy to enhance the unique, fun and compelling sound of the quartet.

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Sophia bornstein

Sophia Bornstein has been studying performance jazz since 2005.  She hails from Pacifica, California, and studied classical piano in her youth. She moved to Oregon to attend medical school.  She stayed for the folks, outdoors, and jazz scene. 

She had her first gig with Dennis Caiazza on bass and Ron Steen on drums in 2022, and started playing with Shawn Biehle and Amber Anderson shortly after.

Her repertoire consists of select tunes from the Great American Song Book. Think Gershwin and Ellington among other luminaries. She enjoys sharing her passion for these songs with all audiences.

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shawn Cross

Shawn Cross started his early musical journey on the piano, inspired by a range of musical styles from Bach to the Beatles. He studied music into college where he mastered saxophone and bass. He graduated from Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA with a degree in bass performance, followed by professional bookings at the iconic The Viper Room, House of Blues, and Whiskey a Go Go. He then fell in love with New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, and spent five years playing at multiple venues in the French Quarter. He now resides in Portland, OR writing his own music, doing studio work, and playing with amazing players in the Pacific Northwest.


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Ron steen

Ron Steen, recently dubbed “Portland’s Jazz Master” in 2021, veteran bandleader, drummer, and one of the Northwest’s top rhythm keepers, as well as a leader of the Portland jazz scene. He is also the Godfather of Jazz Jams in Portland, having hosted ongoing jam sessions since 1980, including the famed jam at Produce Row. Notable international jazz stars who come through town stop in to Steen’s jams for impromptu music, led by one of the best in the business. In addition to hosting five jam sessions, Steen is also a sought after bandleader and session musician, who his peers hold in high regard for his solid and versatile rhythms and his engaging personality. Steen’s ability to bring together the top musicians in two and around the nation makes him one of the city’s most valuable assets.


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Amber Anderson

Amber Anderson is a Portland native who began playing viola in fifth grade and later learned violin in college. She has always had a passion for music and studied classical music throughout her life. During college she studied some jazz improv and music theory. In the past year, Amber began playing jazz with the 6/8 Quartet after meeting Sophia and Shawn through friends. She is enjoying the experience of performing and continuing to build her jazz skills. Her main inspiration is gypsy jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli.