Results for "Los Angeles"

Donna Deussen

Donna Deussen’s singing has been praised for her “agile musicianship and wise good taste.” (John McDonough, writer for Downbeat). A magna cum laude graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Donna began performing and recording with various pop/rock bands when she first moved to Los Angeles after graduation, before committing herself to the “art of jazz.” She studied privately with Tierney Sutton, one of her many influences (along with Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, and Nancy Wilson, to name a few). Donna performs regularly throughout southern California and Arizona

Andrew Howe

Born: August 30, 1949

ANDY HOWE Biography-Andy Howe (818) 422-1807 [email protected] Andy was accompanist and musical director for Debbie Reynolds from 1975-1979, conducting her Las Vegas act, acting as assistant conductor of ‘Annie Get Your Gun’, and traveling extensively with her. For the next few years, Andy toured with Deniece Williams and performed at The Greek Theater and Sun Splash in Jamaica with her. He then toured Germany including playing at the Zurich Opera House with Eartha Kitt. Other notable performers he has worked with include Sammy Davis, Jr., Leata Galloway, Yma Sumac, and Ed Ames. He played for the AFI Tribute to Jimmy Stewart, and performed on The Tonight Show several times. Other television credits include a Bob Hope Special, Liberace Special, Sonny & Cher, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Dinah Shore, and a Jerry Lewis Telethon. In recent years, he has worked extensively in his own studio, recording CD projects for artists including Barbra McNair’s and Linda Hopkins. In 2004, he was musical director/producer in a tribute to Leiber and Stoller. In 2005-2006, played a 52 week Tuesday night engagement at the Catalina Bar and Grill, with various jazz artists including Marilyn King, Barbara Mcnair and recording a live CD for Linda Hopkins. In 2006, Andy performed with Ed Ames for a PBS special (Airdate 8.7.07), and traveled to Paris to play for a children’s charity function. From 2007 through 2014 Andy was musical director/conductor for Vikki Carr, and he was with her when she performed to a sell out engagement in Monterrey, Mexico

Gia Mora

Born: April 26

Gia Mora is an American actor, singer, and writer known for her work on Baskets (2016), Impress Me (2015), and True Detective (2014). In addition to film and television, she has an extensive theatre resume and has performed with companies including Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth, the Kennedy Center, Ford's Theatre, and Michael Kahn's Shakespeare Theatre Company. She is a four-time Helen Hayes nominee and an Academy Company Member at New Musicals, Inc. A third-generation jazz musician, Miz Mora frequently performs with her father, guitarist Rick Chinisci. Her critically acclaimed one-woman musical comedy, "Einstein's Girl," has played to sold-out houses on both coasts

Felipe Alonso

Guitarist and composer Felipe Alonso, raised in Peru, is much at ease in both electric and acoustic settings. His dedication for the guitar has led him to explore jazz music in the US and flamenco in Spain. Felipe moved to Los Angeles to attend Musicians Institute in Hollywood and the prestigious Thornton School of Music at University of Southern California. His versatility makes him standout as a unique guitarist able to perform different musical traditions with much ease and authority. "A Gathering" celebrates Felipe's musical upbringing as an innovative jazz musician able to preserve South American culture and showcase his improvisational skills on the guitar.

Theo Croker

Born: July 18, 1985

Theo Croker is a Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer, and producer who continually pushes the boundaries of jazz, neo-soul, and hip-hop. He has collaborated with artists including Jill Scott, Ari Lennox, J. Cole, and Common, crafting a sonic identity that is both expansive and deeply personal.

Born and raised in Florida, Croker picked up the trumpet at age 11, inspired by his grandfather, Grammy-winning jazz trumpet legend Doc Cheatham. He later attended Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied under Donald Byrd and Gary Bartz. After graduating, he spent seven years in Shanghai, becoming the first artist-in-residence at the historic Peace Hotel Jazz Club. Splitting his time between Shanghai and New York, he immersed himself in diverse musical collaborations that shaped his signature sound.

David Witham

Born: November 16, 1957

David Witham studied piano with Jaki Byard at the New England Conservatory of Music, and Alan Broadbent in Los Angeles. He's had writing and performing associations with saxophonist Ernie Watts, bassist / composer Jay Anderson, the Jeff Gauthier Goatette, and percussionist Luis Conte. David was Musical Director for George Benson from 1990-2007, and has also served as a producer for Tom Scott and Grover Washington. Recording and performance credits include Barbra Streisand, Patti Austin, Lee Ritenour, Jose Feliciano, John Patitucci, Bluezeum, Joao Bosco, Larry Carlton, Randy and Michael Brecker

Dale Fielder

Born: July 27, 1956

Dale Fielder is an American jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays all four saxophones: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone with equal authority. He is known for his original compositions and choice of performing rare, obscure jazz classics as well as his varied group concepts and variety of presentations. Fielder has recorded over 20 CDs as a leader for various labels since he first appeared on the national jazz scene in 1993 with his first CD Free Flow.

He grew up in Midland, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh where he studied oboe, bassoon and tuba in the school system and clarinet, saxophone, composition and arranging privately with noted Pittsburgh area tenor saxophonist Phillip Celli. Fielder is also a product of the University of Pittsburgh Jazz Studies Program, where he studied as an ethnomusicology major under Dr. Nathan Davis. Fielder's debut jazz performance was as a member of the Joe Harris Quartet, former drummer of the Charlie Parker Quintet and Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra. After relocating to NYC, he was a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1984, studying with trumpeter/composer Frank Gordon and completed his first large work, "The Aquarian "for alto saxophone and chamber orchestra. While in NYC, he also performed with a host of current jazz stars such as pianist/composer Geri Allen and trombonist Robin Eubanks among many others.

Chuck Manning

Born: May 30, 1958

Anyone who has been involved with the Los Angeles jazz scene over the last quarter century doesn‘t need to ask, but if you haven’t, you‘ve been missing out and you’re in for a long overdue treat with this release of his first solo CD. Saxophonist Chuck Manning is not new to recording-he has made dozens of appearances and collaborations with other musicians such as the Los Angeles Quartet, and his long-time collaboration with Swiss multi-instrumentalist Isla Eckinger. Chuck Manning’s new CD “Note’s from the Real” “…is a great one” writes the LAWeekly. “Manning is a fine inventive tenor player

Ignacio Berroa

Grammy Award winner and international drum star Ignacio Berroa has been recognized by many as one of the greatest drummers of our times. His numerous contributions to the American music scene have earned him a place among a very selective group of artists known to have set new musical trends for the 20th century. Jazz Legend Dizzy Gillespie best defined Ignacio as: ..."The only Latin drummer in the world, in the history of American music that intimately knows both worlds; his native Afro-Cuban music as well as Jazz..." Highly respected among his peers, Ignacio's musicianship and versatility have enabled him to build a successful career by gaining the recognition of some of the most important artists in the business. Ignacio Berroa was born in Havana Cuba on July 8,1953

Alexei Zoubov

Born: November 15, 1936

I was born in 1936 in Moscow, Russia into the family of scientists and I was supposed to become a scientist too! Following the family tradition, I graduated from Moscow University with a master’s degree in Physics and was offered a prestigious and exciting job that other aspiring physicists would kill for. But… the insidious serpent of jazz had been seducing me since the early fifties. Stalin was still alive when I started to spend my nights trying to tune to the jazz programs, which were broadcast on Voice of America, BBC and other similar stations. Then, in my sophomore University year, I surrendered to the urge to play jazz