David Enos (Arturo Sandoval, David Benoit, Sergio Mendes, Stan Getz, Bobby Caldwell, Frank Gambale, Otmaro Ruiz, Russell Ferrante, Danilo Pérez, Nelson Rangell, Kirk Whalum, Toninho Horta, Tak Matsumoto, Alphonse Mouzon): David played a long-running trio gig with me, and we would hang out and talk about music. Even though he is now a busy music producer in Los Angeles we still talk about music over the phone. An inspiration.
Guido Fazio (Steve Allen, Phyllis Diller, Mel Torme, Patsy Cline, Sarah Vaughn, Rich Little, Louis Bellson, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Bill Watrous, Phil Woods, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bruce Forman, Gordon Goodwin): Sweet and funny, Guido is an expert in jazz history. We both love the early 60s era, so Guido was the perfect choice to arrange parts for my recording HORNS. When my sextet performs in the East Bay, I try to have Guido, master pianist and recording engineer Don Turney, Richard Conway (Gordon Goodwin, Brian Lynch, Conrad Herwig, Eric Marienthal, Geoffrey Keezer, Bobby Shew, Peter Erskine, Andy Martin, Wayne Bergeron, Chuck Findley, Ernie Watts, Bob Sheppard, and Grant Geissman) on trumpet, Larry Stewart on bari and either Eric Lyons, John Hettel (Don Haas) or Daniel Parenti (Rosemary Clooney, Michael Brecker, and Lionel Hampton) on bass.
Brian Gary (Eddie Money Band, Rhett Akins, Linda Davis): a child prodigy, I met Brian as an adult keyboardist and singer, when he joined the pop band, Marshal Fields. We started our own fusion band together, using Dann Zinn (Joe Henderson, Taylor Eigsti, Russ Ferrante, Jeff Tain Watts, Freddie Hubbard, Chuck Findley, Mary Wells, Martha and the Vandellas) on tenor sax. No one has more fun than Brian. Writing music with him is pure joy.
Kurt Huget plays both jazz and pop music equally well. He is always willing to help out with fundraisers for those in trouble and has played with just about every top pop player in the Bay Area. Kurt has many recordings including a couple with me under the group Moonlight Rodeo-- (Mississippi Sunset and Rio Lindo).
Lucky Drive: I am so fortunate to play with one of the best pop bands in Marin County, led by Richard Fike (videos here and here).
John McClellen: John and I have been friends and musical colleagues since high school. I joined his band, Marshal Fields, co-led by Eric von Radics, for a record and cross-country tour and record with John frequently. He is the most prolific song writer I have had the pleasure to support with cajon and hand percussion.
Steve Schuster (Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship, Sly Stone): Steve is a great woodwind artist and also a creative and original composer and arranger. He has helped and encouraged me in arranging as well as written for his own nine-piece group. We play together in my own North Bay sextet along with Jerry Long (Albert Collins), Michael Price, and Todd Gray.
Bette Spinrad: every time I perform with the multi-instrumentalist Bette (my mom) I am amazed how closely we feel the time. Also I always know when she's going to end a song. I wonder why?
Frank Sumares (Bill Watrous): the head of the Chabot College jazz program until his passing, Frank taught all of us students how to have a great jazz feel, and how to improvise, write and arrange. Playing a trio or quartet gig with him was like driving a sports car--exhilarating.
Guido Fazio (Steve Allen, Phyllis Diller, Mel Torme, Patsy Cline, Sarah Vaughn, Rich Little, Louis Bellson, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Bill Watrous, Phil Woods, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bruce Forman, Gordon Goodwin): Sweet and funny, Guido is an expert in jazz history. We both love the early 60s era, so Guido was the perfect choice to arrange parts for my recording HORNS. When my sextet performs in the East Bay, I try to have Guido, master pianist and recording engineer Don Turney, Richard Conway (Gordon Goodwin, Brian Lynch, Conrad Herwig, Eric Marienthal, Geoffrey Keezer, Bobby Shew, Peter Erskine, Andy Martin, Wayne Bergeron, Chuck Findley, Ernie Watts, Bob Sheppard, and Grant Geissman) on trumpet, Larry Stewart on bari and either Eric Lyons, John Hettel (Don Haas) or Daniel Parenti (Rosemary Clooney, Michael Brecker, and Lionel Hampton) on bass.
Brian Gary (Eddie Money Band, Rhett Akins, Linda Davis): a child prodigy, I met Brian as an adult keyboardist and singer, when he joined the pop band, Marshal Fields. We started our own fusion band together, using Dann Zinn (Joe Henderson, Taylor Eigsti, Russ Ferrante, Jeff Tain Watts, Freddie Hubbard, Chuck Findley, Mary Wells, Martha and the Vandellas) on tenor sax. No one has more fun than Brian. Writing music with him is pure joy.
Kurt Huget plays both jazz and pop music equally well. He is always willing to help out with fundraisers for those in trouble and has played with just about every top pop player in the Bay Area. Kurt has many recordings including a couple with me under the group Moonlight Rodeo-- (Mississippi Sunset and Rio Lindo).
Lucky Drive: I am so fortunate to play with one of the best pop bands in Marin County, led by Richard Fike (videos here and here).
John McClellen: John and I have been friends and musical colleagues since high school. I joined his band, Marshal Fields, co-led by Eric von Radics, for a record and cross-country tour and record with John frequently. He is the most prolific song writer I have had the pleasure to support with cajon and hand percussion.
Steve Schuster (Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship, Sly Stone): Steve is a great woodwind artist and also a creative and original composer and arranger. He has helped and encouraged me in arranging as well as written for his own nine-piece group. We play together in my own North Bay sextet along with Jerry Long (Albert Collins), Michael Price, and Todd Gray.
Bette Spinrad: every time I perform with the multi-instrumentalist Bette (my mom) I am amazed how closely we feel the time. Also I always know when she's going to end a song. I wonder why?
Frank Sumares (Bill Watrous): the head of the Chabot College jazz program until his passing, Frank taught all of us students how to have a great jazz feel, and how to improvise, write and arrange. Playing a trio or quartet gig with him was like driving a sports car--exhilarating.
