Featured Friends
The Bass Line Revolution
Caroline Chung brings a bold, unmistakable edge to Vintage Noise — the kind of bassist whose lines don’t just support a groove, they reshape it. Her upright playing is fluid, fearless, and full of personality, giving every tune a pulse that’s warm, dynamic, and alive. Whether she’s laying into a smoky bossa nova or driving a jazz standard with quiet intensity, Caroline plays with a confidence that turns heads and deepens every arrangement.
Away from the bandstand, Caroline is a creative force across the Bay Area scene. She’s a bandleader, composer, and producer whose work has lit up stages at SFJAZZ and pushed boundaries through fearless projects like Sounds of Haejin — a blend of jazz, funk, and spoken word that showcases her genre-defying instincts. Known for honoring Nina Simone’s legacy in bold, modern ways, she moves between styles with ease and intentionality.
With Vintage Noise, Caroline brings fire, finesse, and a storyteller’s touch. She doesn’t fade into the background — she anchors the moment. Every note she plays expands the possibilities of the music and helps shape that unmistakable Vintage Noise sound: smooth, stylish, and quietly daring.
Backbone of the Groove
Since 2013, Steve Larkin has been laying down the kind of smooth, steady bass lines that give Vintage Noise its heartbeat. His playing is rich, understated, and deeply intuitive, effortlessly bridging the gap between swing and bossa nova. Whether walking a bass line through a Sinatra classic or locking into a Jobim groove, Steve’s sound is the foundation that lets the melodies soar. His presence has been a defining force in the group’s evolution, bringing warmth, depth, and just the right amount of swing to every performance.
Steve’s career has taken him to some of the most iconic stages in the Bay Area, including Top of the Mark in San Francisco, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, and Cinnabar Winery in Saratoga. A Santa Cruz local, he’s just as likely to be found holding down the rhythm at an intimate jazz club as he is commanding the low end at a packed venue. He frequently collaborates with fellow Vintage Noise alum Jack Bowers on piano, keeping the spirit of timeless jazz alive in every set they play.
Though his performances with Vintage Noise have become less frequent, Steve’s influence is still deeply woven into the band’s DNA. His unshakable sense of rhythm and effortless cool helped shape the sound of Vintage Noise, proving that the best bassists don’t just play the groove—they define it.
The Stuff of Vintage Noise
David Boyden brings a spark to Vintage Noise that’s impossible to imitate — a violin voice that dances, sings, teases, and lifts the music into something unexpected. His style recalls the electric charm of the legendary Nat King Cole–Stuff Smith collaboration, blending playfulness with deep emotional color. Whether trading phrases with Michael Carter on a swing tune or weaving gypsy jazz lines into a bossa nova, David adds a texture that transforms the band’s sound.
A Bay Area native, David trained at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts before earning his BM in violin performance from San Francisco State University. His musical world is vast — stretching across jazz, classical, Scandinavian folk, improvisation, and beyond. He has performed with groups like The Pine Needles, Kaptain Bottletop, and the 29th Street Swingtet, bringing versatility and fire to every note.
Though now living in Germany, David’s impact on Vintage Noise remains unmistakable. His violin doesn’t just fill space — it elevates it, adding a sense of joy and spontaneity that stays in the air long after the tune ends.
The Maestro
Jack Bowers joined Vintage Noise during a pivotal era, helping guide the band from its early guitar-centered beginnings into a fuller, more expressive sound. With an instinctive understanding of swing, lush voicings, and Sinatra-era phrasing, he quickly became the group’s first steady pianist — shaping the warmth and elegance that still define the Vintage Noise aesthetic today.
Jack has performed across the Bay Area’s iconic venues, from the Gilroy Garlic Festival and Wente Vineyards to hotel stages and community events throughout San Jose and San Francisco. A pianist with an intuitive sense of when to lead and when to support, he brings a depth of musicality that lifts every ensemble he joins.
Though retired from regular appearances, Jack remains a beloved part of the Vintage Noise family. When he returns for select performances, it feels like nothing has changed — the swing settles in, the room brightens, and the band slips into that unmistakable groove that Jack helped establish from the beginning.
First Strings of Vintage Noise
From the early days of Vintage Noise, Christopher Main helped define the group’s voice as the original guitarist alongside Michael Carter. A San Jose State–trained jazz musician with a degree in Jazz Studies, Christopher brought a thoughtful, modern touch to classic standards—balancing clean lines, rich harmony, and an easy, unforced swing that gave the duo its signature feel.
With Christopher on guitar and Michael on vocals, Vintage Noise grew from a little jazz/bossa nova project into a working Bay Area favorite, playing stages like Castlewood Country Club, Martinelli Winery Event Center, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Sam’s Chowder House, the Silicon Valley Sound Experience, and Yoshi’s San Francisco. These days, Christopher is busy composing, teaching, and leading his own projects, but whenever he returns as a guest with Vintage Noise, it feels less like a “sit-in” and more like a reunion with family.