Jazz / Fusion

Carter Beauford is a truly ambidextrous drummer who plays left-hand lead on a right-handed kit à la Billy Cobham. He’s famous for his distinctively intricate hi-hat patterns, yet, like Cobham, he can groove, and like Dennis Chambers he has a great ‘pocket’. And what’s more, he’s a pretty mean vocalist as well! 

“These are the men who put brass music on the map: with their unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity and humour, they brighten the rosters of concert halls, international festivals and orchestra series throughout the world. Their numerous recordings, frequent television appearances and tireless efforts in the realm of music education have resulted in vast new audiences for the Art of the Canadian Brass." (Source: Washington Post) 

With recording, performance and co-writing credits as varied as Eric Clapton, Babyface, Al Jarreau and Phil Collins, Nathan East has deservedly gained a reputation as much for musical versatility as his profound skills on bass. Few players are in more constant demand. 

Few guitarists have extended their playing horizons like Rik Emmett. From rock and blues, through jazz and fusion, to folk and classical, his long and flourishing career underlines his ability as one of the world’s most accomplished and versatile exponents of the instrument. 

Anton was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and started playing the drums at age four. He moved to Boston in the USA when he was 17 and studied both jazz and classical music at the New England Conservatory, graduating in 1975. The following year he moved to New York and began making his name as a freelance musician. He soon met Letterman show MD Paul Shaffer on a session for Joan Armatrading, but it was almost ten years before he got the chance to join Shaffer on the Letterman show. 

David Friedman, internationally renowned vibraphonist, marimbist, composer and jazz educator, has his own musical message, born of fascinatingly diverse musical influences. Few jazz musicians can claim as broad a spectrum of performing and recording experience, with such varied musical personalities as Leonard Bernstein, Luciano Berio, Bobby McFerrin, Wayne Shorter and Yoko Ono. The list doesn`t stop there. Friedman has been heard either live or on recordings with, among others, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Johnny Griffin, Jane Ira Bloom, Ron Carter and John Scofield. His compositions are featured on Chet Baker`s award winning Enja release, Peace, with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Joe Chambers. Friedman is also the featured soloist on this recording. 

Steve Gadd is the most acclaimed drummer’s drummer of the past quarter century. From the early 1970s he forged a new era in studio craft with his phenomenal technique and emotionally intense playing. Whatever the music, be it jazz, pop, RnB or fusion, Gadd was simply the best. 

Australian-born Frank Gambale is a man dedicated to the guitar, not only as a fine player and composer, but as a teacher of the instrument, whether face to face or through his instructional books and videos. Many are the players who have progressed through his guidance and inspiration. 

Ralf began playing at the age of 10, first experimenting with selfmade drum sets composed of tin cans and a soap containers. He started out by playing to the music of the local American radio station AFN, who aired a lot of R&B, Rock, Funk, Jazz and Soul. 

A player with remarkable technical skill and energy, Akira Jimbo has in recent years become the first Japanese drum set artist to achieve worldwide acclaim on the clinic circuit. His amazing ambidexterity and musical command of both acoustic and electronic sounds always brings the house down.