About Us

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The band in 2017

The Dangerous Kitchen channels the spirit and inventiveness of original BeBop jazz and its pioneers -- geniuses like Dizzie Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Sonny Rollins. We also throw in a hefty dose of modern modal and latin styles... and yes, you can dance to it! We're located in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area, and are available for club dates, festivals, weddings, private parties, and other events.

Chris Fink

Chris
Fink


Nationally and internationally, Milwaukee native Chris Fink is best known as a veteran of the 1980's Madison, WI music scene, where his power pop band The Other Kids recorded three albums on Butch Vig's Boat Records label, and where he received personal instruction from the likes of Richard Davis, Clyde Stubblefield, and Roscoe Mitchell. During his time at the University of Wisconsin, and later in graduate school at Florida State, Chris took every opportunity to join bands in a range of styles, from art-rock to reggae, jazz, folk and psychedelic blues, and to record with them over a dozen albums. Locally, he is better known for his decade-long stint with She Bites Dogs, as a co-founder of the Fredericksburg Jazz Collective, and as proprietor of his own record label, Metasopht Airware.



For more information, visit ChrisFink.pro.


Bruce Middle

Bruce Middle

For over 35 years, Bruce Middle has been hailed as one of the finest jazz guitarists on the East Coast. An 11-time WAMMIE nominee, his work as a studio musician can be heard on local and national radio commercials, television programs and various album recordings, and he has shared the stage with internationally known artists such as Larry Coryell, Charlie Byrd, Mick Fleetwood, The Rippingtons, Ron Holloway, The Brecker Brothers,Margo Chapman, Jon Carroll, John Jackson, Imani, Cleve Francis, Gary Grainger, and Eric Marienthal. Currently Bruce is guitar professor for the University of Mary Washington and directs its Guitar Ensemble, while managing a busy gig and private teaching schedule. Bruce is also a co-founder of the local Fredericksburg Jazz Collective.




For more information, visit BruceMiddle.com.


Joanna Smith


Joanna Smith

Joanna Smith, originally from upstate New York, is currently working as a professional bassist in and around Fredericksburg, in addition to teaching bass, cello, and piano in Stafford, VA. She received her BA in Music from the University of Mary Washington in 2012, where she playedupright and electric bass for the Philharmonic Orchestra and UMW Jazz Band. A strong background in music theory and orchestral and jazz performance allows Joanna to play in a wide variety of styles. She regularly performs with pit orchestras at UMW and Riverside Dinner Theater, local jazz and bluegrass groups, the glam rock group, The Kingbolts, and her own jazz trio, Smith, Party of
Three
.



For more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-smith-a0246a53.


Mike Huffman

Mike Huffman

Performing professionally for over a decade, Michael Huffman has had the pleasure to share the stage with world class musicians both nationally and internationally, including: Jerry Dodgion, Gary Bartz, Terrell Stafford, Steve Turre, Al Foster, Allen Vizzutti, Chris Gekker, Richard Sebring, David Childs, and Bobby McFerrin. He obtained his Masters Degree from SUNY Purchase and Bachelors from James Madison University. During his collegiate career he was fortunate to study with unparalleled teachers, including: Jon Faddis, Mike Rodriguez, Joe Magnarelli, Scott Wendholt, and Ingrid Jensen. He is currently performing and teaching in the Fredericksburg area.



For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-huffman-01708362.


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