Virtuoso violinist Christopher Voelker leads the jazz trio Dizzy Atmosphere featuring modern swing guitarist Jon Ferber and double bass ace Richard Tralles. Since 1999, Dizzy has navigated St. Louis’ competitive live music scene with elegant, sweet, sophisticated stylings of American, European, and Latin jazz.
The trio’s influences embrace gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt; French fiddler Stephane Grappelli; Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim; Cuban bandleader Xavier Cugat; and namesake Dizzy Gillespie, creator of the “Dizzy Atmosphere” jazz standard performed by the trio itself.
The trio has been lauded by music reviewers across metro St. Louis. It has performed at most music festivals; nightclubs; fine restaurants; and cultural events that feature jazz in this region, including The Focal Point; Sheldon Concert Hall; St. Louis Art Museum; Missouri History Museum; Missouri Botanical Garden; Evangeline's Bistro & Music House; The Dark Room; and many more.
What makes these guys tick?
As a high school senior in University City, guitarist Jon Ferber, now 65, loved playing in a pop music band until he heard the song “Minor Swing” by gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. “When I heard that,” Ferber says, “a switch went off that said, ‘Okay, that’s it, forget about electric rock & roll.’”
With his music buddy John Chiecsek, “We learned as many
