Night Whale ... .... A contemporary acoustic and progressive folk music group. Night Whale is ..... Nina Brant Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion Ken Ainsworth Vocals, Acoustic Guitar Philip Kaufmann Vocals, acoustic and classic guitars, harmonica For Night Whale bookings call ..... (425) 303 - 8591, (541) 752-6340,  or (541) 741-1495 E-mail:NightWhale@nightwhale.com With bassist John Helton at High Bridge Park, Spokane

Night Whale first performed together in 1975 at a benefit concert for hunger relief in Pullman, Washington.  At the time, Nina was performing with the pop-rock group Ash Breeze, and Ken was the house musician at The Winery in Moscow Idaho.  Before this performance, no plans for a permanent group were made.  However, the music was special, and with the break-up of Ash Breeze the next spring, Night Whale became an important part of each of the musician's lives. Night Whale toured Northwest lounges and night clubs for the next two years.  This was a time of growth for the group, and the development of a unique style led to the recording of the group's first album, 31 Foot Ketch. Things were going well until Ken moved to Marysville, Washington to take a teaching job in 1978.  The three musicians have not lived in the same town since, but the music continues to survive and grow. The group was back together in the summer of 1978 for the recording of Nina's solo album, Dream Flight. Several successful concerts accompanied the release of the album, and Phil and Nina again hit the road to play full-time.  First with the Kaufmann-Helton Trio, then as Interplay, they performed up and down the west coast.  Ken appeared with them frequently enough to keep Night Whale remembered. Then in 1981, when Phil and Nina settled in Corvallis, Oregon, Night Whale was reborn in concert at the Old Worlde Centre.  For the next six years the group performed regularly at coffee-houses, bars, concerts and festivals, and released two albums of live recordings: Night Whale: 10 Year Anniversary and Traditions.  At the same time, the musicians were growing in other directions.  Nina immersed herself in her piano arrangements.  Nina and Phil began experimenting with jazz standards.  Phil continued his study of classic guitar.  Ken continued writing new songs and began performing with The Rondos, a classic rock group. Finally, in 1996, Night Whale decided to head for the studio once again.  The intent was to catalogue the remarkable twenty years of music.  The result was the release of the compact disk Soundings in December of 1997.  The energy and enthusiasm generated in the studio has carried over into a profound desire to share Night Whale's music in live performance.  1998 has seen a return to more frequent live performance.  Phil, Nina and Ken are looking forward to a busy 1999.