Sweetfire Bandmates
Jana Heller: guitar, mountain dulcimer, song-writing
Jana Heller has recently returned to the United States after fifteen years living and playing in England. There, after producing two independently released cassettes entitled Mad Waltzing and Twist and Turn, she signed in 1995 to Cycle Records and released her first CD Laughing in Crime. The album has received airplay in the UK and across Europe as well as in the United States.
Born in Los Angeles, Jana played widely around California with her rock bands Aaahs and The Phantoms, winning American Songwriters' Awards and writing music for TV commercials and soundtracks. On moving to the UK, Jana found a new and very different audience for her music on the English Folk Club circuit. These intimate venues proved ideal for Jana's own brand of folk-tinged acoustic rock music.
Andy Gilhooley: percussion - bodhran, doumbek, “lap-top” (no, not a computer)
(Bio coming soon)
Sweetfire CD Collaborators and Occasional Guest Artists:
Amy Krupski: Celtic Harp on CD
Amy Krupski took her first harp lessons after traveling to the British Isles in 1980, rediscovering the musical roots of her Tennessee childhood. Her visit to the Celtic countries and a piano background inspired Amy to take lessons on the pedal harp. She later switched to the concert lever harp, her best medium of expression, on which she arranges all of her music. "I was enthralled with the beauty of the harp's mystical voice, and fell irrevocably in love with this wondrous instrument."
Amy has produced two commercial recordings, Sea Harp and Celtic Echoes. Amy founded and has directed the well-loved Celtic Christmas Concerts, a tradition on the Monterey Peninsula since 1986. In November of 2001, she was awarded Best Performing Artist by the Pacific Grove Arts Commission and the Pacific Grove Friends of the Arts.
Amy currently spends much of her time on cruise ships, touring around the world with her harp!
Warren John Wolfe: guitar, percussion on CD
Warren John Wolfe is a Singer/Songwriter, originally from the Chicago area. After traveling, and living in different parts of the United States, he settled in the upper Carmel Valley, where he bought 16 acres of woodland on the edge of the Los Padres National Forest, and built his own home.
Warren began studying percussion at age 5. "I was lucky enough to find and study with a friend of Gene Krupa's. I studied rudimentary swing drumming with Jake (Jerger) from fifth grade through High School. Percussion is not noise, it's understatement, and being rock solid is the only way to play, whatever your style".
In addition to vocals and percussion, Warren also plays guitar, and piano and has composed over 380 songs. Warren has opened concerts for Kenny Rankin, Nicolette Larsen, Donovan, and Larry Hosford. He's worked extensively as a studio musician, and a studio tech and engineer. He's also done radio work, voice-overs and programming. Warren has two CD's titled "Just Waking Up", and "Darkness Into Light” and is working on a third.
Warren also plays traditional Hindu instruments; tabla, tamboura, and harmonium. “East Indian Music elevates me spiritually, and physically, like few things can.”
Warren currently lives in southern Oregon.
