Swing Cafe features the smooth vocals and guitar of Ted Powers, the mandolin and vocals of Eric Kilburn, Peter Tillotson on acoustic bass and Steve Rose on drums.

Swing Cafe's two founding members, Ted Powers and Eric Kilburn, played in bands together in high school. After graduation, Ted played for several years in The Games, a popular rock band that toured relentlessly around New England and the east coast. After The Games, Ted pursued a solo career and developed his skills as a tap dancer. Eric performed for many years at colleges, folk clubs, and festivals, and released 4 albums of original songs, one of which was covered by Arlo Guthrie. Eric developed a parallel career as a recording studio owner/engineer/musician, and has produced over 400 albums since 1986 at Wellspring Sound.

After a 20 year hiatus, Eric and Ted reconnected in the late 90's when Eric engineered a demo CD of Ted's at Wellspring. Discovering a mutual love of classic American Songbook material and early rockabilly, Swing Cafe was born. Peter Tillotson , one of Boston's hardest -working bass players, and drummer Steve Rose, a 25 year veteran of the US Air Force Jazz Band round out Swing Cafe's lineupas a quartet.

Swing Cafe often performs as a quintet with Billy Novick, one of the country's most esteemed clarinet and sax players. In a career spanning four decades, Billy has previously toured with David Bromberg, the New Black Eagle Jazz band, Guy Van Duser, and many others, and has performed in many of John Sayles' film scores. Billy also is fluent in klezmer styles, and Swing Cafe can play a romping klezmer set with Billy leading the way.

For bookings involving Billy, please try to give us as much notice as possible.