The James Zeller Trio

James Zeller and his fellow musicians are easy to work with, highly experienced and professional career musicians. They always arrive well ahead of time to make sure every step is taken to set up properly. When the music starts, a great show is always a guarantee.

They strive to make every event a great success, anything that can be done to make the music perfect, getting the exact right volume, working with a client to pick the right songs, performing special requests or including guest performers, will be done.

The Trio's has a rare ability to create a mood, capturing an audience or simply creating wonderful background ambience. They can make an audience dance, enchant them with romantic love songs, have them singing along and tapping their feet.

Special details for Weddings
The James Zeller Trio has had the honor to play at a great many weddings over the years. They provide music from the moment guests arrive, for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and for the reception.

They have been described as "The greatest wedding band that's not a wedding band". Their broad repertoire allows them to perform something for everyone, and they are love by all ages from Grandmas and grandpas to grandkids.

Ceremonies: The trio can perform a vocal or instrumental processional from their repertoire or by request. They can help provide traditional options, such as aiding in the hiring of a violinist for Pachelbel's Canon.

Cocktail Hour: Musical selections at this point are usually upbeat, fun love songs like “L.O.V.E”, "Sunnyside of The Street", “I’ve Got The World On A String”, "Cupid" and “I Will” and others along these lines.

Dinner: During the dinner portion of a wedding, more subdued music can create a wonderful background atmosphere while guests converse. Songs like "Night and Day", “As Time Goes By”, “Our Love Is Here To Stay”, "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" and “Somewhere Beyond The Sea” are possible selections that are well known and can be enjoyed while conversing or eating.

First Dances and slow couples dance music: It is the musicians pleasure to perform for first dances if called upon. Often following the first dance a set of slow couples dances is a great moment in a reception. Songs would include: "You Send Me", "Let It Be Me", Unforgettable", "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons", "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You." This set of slow dances can be shorter or longer depending on how long couples are dancing for.

Upbeat Dance Music: The trio has a huge repertoire of dance music, for example "You Never Can Tell" (Chuck Berry) "Stay A Little Longer" (Willie Nelson), "Twist and Shout" (Beatles), "Hey Good Lookin'" (Hank Williams), "Yaya" (Lee Dorsey), "Twistin' The Night Away" (Sam Cooke). They can perform more or less songs in any style.

If you’re looking for a musical act to bring elegance, excitement and Jazz entertainment to your event, look no further than The James Zeller Trio!

Now located in Northern, CA, following the leader's move back to the west coast from NYC, the trio is available regionally in all of California and along the west coast. Their fantastic repertoire is a unique and entertaining mix of swinging Jazz and timeless American Songbook classics from the 1920's-50's, New Orleans and Trad Jazz, classic country, blues and folk. Their music is the perfect addition for community events, festivals, concerts, clubs, restaurants, weddings, cocktail parties, business parties and anything with the word "party" in it! Each set they perform is filled with songs audiences know and love!

The group is lead by James Zeller who supplies heartfelt vocals, tasteful trombone and rhythm guitar. Multi-instrumentalist Daniel Nickerson plays guitar, Lee Phillips is on upright bass and the trio is often joined by musical friends on many other instruments.

Zeller previously had five highly successful years with his trio in NYC with Guitarist Pat Brennan and Bassist Lorenzo Sandi.

They take pride in their work as musicians and entertainers. Beyond their ability onstage, they are classy, professional, experienced in the music business, punctual, well dressed and easy to work with.

James Zeller, a Eugene, Oregon native, spent 17 years as a vocalist, trombonist, bandleader and professional musician in NYC. In the fall of 2017, weary of city life and wanting to be closer to his family and roots, James moved to Northern, CA and reformed his trio with west coast musicians.

All three are lifelong musicians, lovers of songs and the art of performing them. A Sacramento area native, Daniel received a degree in musical composition from Lewis and Clark College. After three years touring with folk group Max’s Midnight Kitchen performing original and traditional material, Daniel became the music director at an arts non-profit called The Sanctuary in Arcata, CA. It was there that he met James, and where they began their musical endeavors together.

New Orleans native Lee Phillips adds the backbone to the trio on double bass. A natural partnership, all three have many years of experience, eclectic musical tastes and wide ranging skills as multi-instrumentalists, making each performance a unique and entertaining experience.
The trio also performs often with top call Bay area bassist Doug Stuart replacing Lee when traveling further south.

This band is a kind of stylistic chameleon, as comfortable as a playing American songbook Jazz for cocktails as they are playing Texas two-step and New Orleans styles. James musical roots grew form the music he was surrounded by growing up and spread from Billie Holiday to Willie Nelson to the Beatles. Their repertoire lists hit songs from Jazz icons like Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong to classic country covers of Hank Williams and Willie Nelson to New Orleans and cajun styles of Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and so much more. Their sets are packed with classic songs that people know and love like: "Fly Me To The Moon", "What a Wonderful World", "Yesterdays", "It Goes To Show You Never Can Tell", "Hey Good Lookin'", "Your Cheatin' Heart", "Crazy", "It Had To "Dream A Little Dream", "At Last", "The Way You Look Tonight" and hundreds more choice favorites.

Their music is the perfect addition to weddings, dinner parties, cocktail parties, birthdays, holidays and most any type of classy special event. They are a highly professional group that is easy to work with, well dressed and punctual. Music is hand-picked for each event, and with a vast repertoire with something for everyone means satisfaction is guaranteed. Every event features songs people know and love, and the trio is happy to dress according to a theme, color scheme, or for the particular style of the occasion.

The James Zeller Trio also performs as a quartet, quintet and larger ensembles. Please inquire about the availability of larger bands. Sound Equipment can be provided for all sizes of events.

Each event has it's own sound requirements which need to be discussed ahead of time. We perform acoustic instruments, but generally (except for very small events) we play with some amplification.