PROFILE

When you have experienced musicians with wide-ranging musical interests who come together to form a unique ensemble, the whole is not only greater than the sum of its parts (as the old saw says). That greater whole is infused with the divine afflatus of musical rapport and interplay. But it is nonetheless good to know the parts:

Peter Kim-Fredell, lead vocals and acoustic guitar:
Peter likes to point out that he started playing guitar "before everybody and their brother were playing the guitar." He joined his first gigging band in the seventh grade (trumpet, sax, trombone, guitar and drums). In eighth grade he and the drummer left to join a real rock and roll band with some older guys. By the time he was fifteen he had taken over the lead singer slot and written several songs for the group. At seventeen he had begun developing the acoustic side, coming under the influence of artists like Dave Van Ronk, Buffy Saint-Marie, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell. He started college as a tuba player at music school, but that didn't take. Not too long after came a touring stint in the Boston area as rock band lead singer, and a back and forth pattern between acoustic "folksinger" and electrified "rock etc. guy" was set, until a plunge into world music complicated the design. When he founded Stone Soup, it became his primary vehicle for group expression, but he also produces solo studio projects of original music.

Jeffery S. Cole, bass and backing vocals:
Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, Jeff started with guitar and violin at age 6 and in his teens began to play rock and roll music inspired by bands like the Beatles, The Band, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and Spirit. After playing in several groups, he formed the group known as Tin House. This three-piece band was signed by Columbia Records and recorded two albums on the Epic label. (Tin House was managed by Steve Paul, who also managed Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter and White Trash, and Rick Derringer.) The band played such storied venues as The Fillmore East, Chicago's East Town Ballroom, The Scene, The Rock Pile, and the Capital Theatre in Montreal, Canada, and shared tour dates with such household names as Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Seals and Croft, Jethro Tull, and the Steve Miller Band. After several years, Jeff left the band to pursue a career in the Visual Arts as a studio-artist, teacher, and assisting professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. Musical performance also led to an interest in instrument building, which began a career as a builder of concert classical guitars, lutes, and harpsichords.

John Bagale, drum set and harmony vocals:
John has performed and taught music in the Rochester area for over thirty years. He has also composed music for television, film and dance. He holds music degrees from Nazareth College and the Eastman School of Music. Currently, John teaches music theory/composition, general music and music technology at Penfield High School. He lives in Pittsford with his wife Moire and two Australian Shephards. Together they have three sons, each of whom are in the music business.