The Rhythm Serenaders is classic small-group swing at its finest. The band is a hard-swinging dedication to the style and arrangements of the mid-to-late 1940′s, paying homage to the small groups of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Roy Eldridge, Illinois Jacquet, Chu Berry, and other artists that mastered the small group sound, just as Big Band swing was waning in popularity, but before the full-on emergence of Bebop and modern jazz. Bandleader Michael Gamble’s 20+ years of work in every aspect of the global swing dance community informs the band’s repertoire and taste. The music will carry a dance floor all night long, but is just as comfortable in bars, clubs, and setting a classy tone for a private event. Michael Gamble and his Rhythm Serenaders embody the joy and infectious energy of mid-20th century American Jazz!

photo credit: Rafal Pustelny

Michael Quisao (he/him) grew up in Dallas, traveled the world with the U.S. Navy, and has been proud to call DC home since 2014. Michael loves DJing because he gets to dance with the entire room. He fell deeply in love with swing music in high school after discovering the swing era and hot jazz recordings that his mom’s smooth jazz radio station played late at night, then eventually took his first Lindy Hop workshop in 2006. Since then, his love of swing music and social dancing has taken him around the world to DJ and dance. He loves well-written liner notes and thinks there are few things better than helping to inspire creative, fulfilling dances through songs that compel you to move. 

Michael serves as Head DJ & Music Director at New Columbia Swing in Washington, DC and as Head DJ for Lindy Focus and New York Bal Week. He has been a featured DJ and competition DJ at events such as Lindy Focus, DCLX, California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, Great Lakes Balboa Exchange, I Heart Balboa, Swing Out New Hampshire, All Balboa Weekend, Bal-Ast Off, and Barcelona Balboa Weekend.

photo credit: Robert J Zhang

Mike (he/him) started dancing Lindy Hop in 1998, and was a founding member of the RIT Swing Dance Club (now Brick City Boppers) as well as a founding member of Groove Juice Swing in Rochester, NY. Since then he has traveled to dance all over the world, and taught in countless local and regional classes and workshops. He has also become a sought-after DJ at exchanges, workshops, and camps all over North America, including CCX, Beantown, Lindy Focus, Swing Out New Hampshire, and the legendary late nights at The Lindy Compound.

photo credit: Steven Thull

Artem Pugachev (he/him), or Art as he's more commonly known, began his Lindy Hop journey with Rochester Institute of Technology's Brick City Boppers. Shortly after joining the college swing dance club in 2016, he found a passion for DJing, and hasn't been able to stop dancing or nerding out about jazz since! He now DJs regularly at Rochester's local Groove Juice Swing events, and as of 2022, is Groove Juice's DJ Coordinator. The past two years, he also had the honor of being a part of the DJ teams at Stompology and Slow Dance Soirée. His choice of tunes tends to skew toward contemporary musicians, while honoring the classic jazz sound of the swing era. 

photo credit: Michelle Blake

Red Hook Sound was founded in 2016 by Evan Brent, who still owns and operates it today. Evan has over two decades of experience in live sound, event production, and event planning. He trained at Rochester Institute of Technology, and helped plan and execute some of the largest events held there, including national touring acts and commencement. Evan is a long time swing dancer and has loved helping to bring the sounds of amazing jazz music to listeners and dancers from all around the world at events like Lindy Focus, Beantown, Slow Dance Soirée, Swing Out New Hampshire, Stompology, and more.