Results for "Los Angeles"

Skip Heller

Born: October 4, 1965

October 4 ,1965, El Paso, TX — Johnny Cash is arrested for smuggling amphetamines across the border from Mexico. Meanwhile, in the thriving metropolis of Philadelphia, Skip Heller is born. HartfordRaised in and around the City of Brotherly Love, he develops an early interest in music, largely the result of seeing John Hartford on the Smothers Brothers and Glen Campbell television shows. At age 4, he buys his first record, EARTHWORDS AND MUSIC, with money he got for his birthday, thus beginning a lifelong habit of running to a record store every damn time he has money in his hand. His school years are uneventful

Susan Krebs

Born: July 1

Susan Krebs, Jazz Gardener at Work

Over three decades, Los Angeles vocalist and songwriter Susan Krebs has created a captivating body of work, combining a free-ranging imagination with a supple sense of swing. Dubbed the Jazz Gardener, both for her lovingly tended musical bouquets and the inspiration she draws from cultivating her small plot of land, Krebs has sown a brilliant array of projects and recordings with a regular cast of L.A. jazz luminaries.

A restlessly creative artist, she's covered a lot of sonic territory over the years, and her latest album, 2025's Little Did I Dream, marks a return to her straight-ahead roots. Eschewing the kind of crafty conceptual frameworks that have defined most of her previous albums, she simply revels in interpreting a set of songs that provided pleasure and succor during the pandemic's chaotic hangover years.

Scott Whitfield

Born: March 10, 1963

Scott Whitfield (trombonist, composer, arranger, and vocalist) is internationally recognized for his work with many contemporary big bands, including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra and the new edition of Johnny Griffin’s Big Soul Band, as well as his own Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestras (East and West). Whitfield’s discography includes 7 recordings as leader and more than 50 recordings with other artists. In addition to his own recordings, his compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by such artists as Diva, Maurice Hines, The Pied Pipers, Bill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band, and Pete Petersen’s 23-strong Collection Jazz Orchestra. A clinician and guest artist for Bach Stradivarius trombones, Whitfield has appeared throughout the world, from Australia to Zurich, sharing his expertise on trombone technique, improvisation, composition, arranging, and jazz history

Richard Niles

Born: May 28, 1951

“Richard Niles is one of the best composer/arrangers around and a truly exciting musical force.” 20x Grammy winner PAT METHENY

Internationally acclaimed composer, arranger, and producer Dr. Richard Niles is known for his work in pop (Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, Cher, Tears for Fears, Grace Jones), jazz (Pat Metheny, Randy Brecker, Bob James, John Pattitucci, Gary Husband, Bob Mintzer), soul (Ray Charles, Tina Turner, James Brown, Michael McDonald). He has worked with actors Oliver Reed, Robert Powell, and Jessie Buckley.

His arrangements helped “define the sound of pop” (Making Music Magazine), while his work in jazz is “accessible, yet thought provoking” (Randy Brecker). Pop hits include Left to My Own Devices (Pet Shop Boys), Breakout (Swing Out Sister), and Sowing the Seeds of Love (Tears for Fears).

Ric Craig

Born: July 16, 1963

Johnnie Valentino

Born: September 2, 1957

Born in 1957 in a South Philadelphia neighborhood filled with a history of jazz guitarists that starts with 1920's legend Eddie Lang continuing through to today's jazz guitar legend Pat Martino. Johnnie studied privately as a young man with Dennis Sandole, Joe Sgro and Pat Martino. Also during that time he studied composition at Rutgers University while doing local club dates and recording sessions at Alpha recording studio for Philly World Records. In 1984 Johnnie relocated to Los Angeles where he has been musically active in many facets such as writing,,recording, scoring, performing and sound designing for TV, films and recordings. During these years he has recorded with some of today's leading contemporary improvisers including , Alex Acuna, Bennie Maupin,Vinny Golia,Wadada Leo Smith, Billy Drewes, Oscar Brashear, Andy Lester, Kermit Driscoll, Sherman Ferguson, Luis Conte, Mick Rossi, Alphonso Johnson,Delmar Brown and Pat Martino. At the 2000 International Monitor Awards in LA he was awarded the Best Sound Design Award

Jeff T. Alu

Born: January 1, 1966

Jacques Lesure

Born: December 19, 1962

Just when you thought you knew everything about recording artist Jacques Lesure, he offers up yet another dimension of his existence which transcends any artistic limitations the world may have tried to relegate him to. Currently a resident of Los Angeles, California Jacques Lesure is a Detroit, Michigan native. His classic style along with his innovative, yet sincere approach to the music, are an integral part of the signature Jacques Lesure sound. Guitarist, Educator and Actor Jacques Lesure is an enigma. His sound is steeped in the rich tradition of his mentors like George Benson, Kenny Burrell and a host of others, but more than that, he’s also a visionary.

Elaine Miles

Born: January 19

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ I came to Southern California from Connecticut, cutting through the backyards of Iowa, with a side trip to Austin, Texas, picking up more music on the way. My songs and I travel all over the world, learning more and growing with every interpretation. Jazz is my love and life is my influence. Want to make me smile, just ask me to sing some Monk. Hope to meet you at a gig really soon...

Drew Anders Gustav Engman

Born: September 2, 1958

I started becoming interested in guitar at about age 10, got into playing about age 14, and started through the old Mel Bay Guitar Method books, 9 of them I think, with weekly lessons from an old school jazz guitar teacher. I played in all the high school bands playing various instruments, and played in community college jazz bands in Los Angeles and Victorville, CA. From 1980 to 2000 I was a hard gigging guitarist/vocalist with several working bands in the Victor Valley, playing bars, clubs, and dance halls. Country, blues, classic rock, and pop were mostly what club owners were willing to pay us for, so that's what we did