Originally from Jersey City New Jersey, Eddie Parente has lived in Boston Massachusetts where he played in a Mexican Mariachi Band, while studying Classical Indian Music with Tabla master Shashi Nayak, attending Irish Traditional Music sessions, and playing in an International folk dance band.

Since moving to the Portland area he continues to play and record with a wide variety of musical groups, covering many styles. Some of his past and present associations include Portland State University Symphony Orchestra where he studied Violin with Artist in Residence Carol Sindell, and Cascade Symphony Orchestra as Principal Violinist.

However, Jazz has always been his primary focus. He sites Saxophonist, composer and arranger Clif Waits, with whom he studied at Portland Community College as his primary mentor.

Parente has also studied and played with pianist / composer Gordon Lee of the Mel Brown Quintet, Darren Clendenin, Saxophonist / Arranger Bob Newman and Bassist / Violinist Rob Thomas. Eddie’s main influences: jazz violinists - Rob Thomas, Stuff Smith, Joe Venuti, Stephane Grappelli, Johnny Frigo and Svend Asmussen.

In April 2007, Eddie was married to Russian violinist, Tatiana Kolchanova. They met in Moscow at a concert she gave about three years earlier. After waiting for a year and a half for her fiance visa, they have happily settled in Portland, OR.

Tatiana graduated from the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory in 1989, and completed post-graduate studies there in 1993.

Violinist for the USSR Radio's Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra for ten years, which toured Europe, America and Japan. At the same time, she worked for the Moscow Conservatory's Chamber Orchestra as its soloist and concertmaster, as well as playing a number of recitals with them in Russia, Spain, and Italy; recorded a solo CD.

She was first violinist for the Glinka State String Quartet for ten years, which toured throughout Russia, Europe, and the Middle East. Recorded ten CD's with the ensemble.

Many of her students have won prestigious violin competitions around the world.

Tatiana now plays in the Oregon and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras, as well as playing for weddings and concerts with Eddie and other string musicians, in Duos, and Trios. 

Eddie also plays in Rose and Thistle and New Shilling Celtic Bands, also listed on our site,