Douce Ambience is a string trio of violin, viola and cello that covers that wonderful and vast terrain that is best described as “Brahms meets Wayne Shorter”. Jazz standards, Brazilian choros, Musette waltzes, American fiddle tunes, and original compositions highlight their live performances.

Gwen Franz has been a classical freelance violist in the Seattle area for many years. She plays as an extra musician with the Seattle Symphony and Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestras, was a member of the Northwest Sinfonietta for six years and concerto soloist with the Bremerton Symphony in 2006. However, over the last several years, Gwen has discovered the very colorful, inspiring and challenging world of jazz music and fiddle playing. She and her husband, Ernie Franz, live on Bainbridge with their three almost-grown children.

Michael Gray is the violinist for Pearl Django, the Puget Sound based, internationally renowned gypsy jazz ensemble. This continuing 16 year chair in Pearl Django has resulted in 10 CD releases and performances and teaching throughout North America and Europe. Michael has performed and recorded with everyone from bluegrass greats Scott Law and Darol Anger, Seattle folk icon Jim Page, to jazz luminaries such as Frank Vignola, Howard Alden, Larry Coryell, Andreas Oberg, and an upcoming week long performance at Jazz Alley with Martin Taylor.

Cellist James Hinkley has performed with the Cleveland, Detroit, and Baton Rouge symphonies, and served as principal cello for the Lima Symphony, Cleveland Ballet, and the Ohio Light Opera. In 2005 he joined the Northwest jazz ensemble "Billet-Deux and currently lives on Whidbey Island where he is active as a teacher and performer in both classical and jazz idioms.

Currently there are no upcoming performances