Johnnie Valentino/Kenneth
Burgomaster/Elissa Lala Quintet
Guitarist and composer Johnnie Valentino was born
in 1957 in
South Philadelphia, where he studied privately with Philly legends
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 writing, recording, scoring, performing and sound
designing for TV, films, toys, and recordings.
He has recorded with some of today's leading improvisers including Alex
Acuna, Oscar Brashear, Delmar Brown, Luis Conte, Billy Drewes, Kermit
Driscoll, Mark Ferber, Sherman Ferguson, Erik Friedlander, Vinny Golia,
Gerry Hemingway, Alphonso Johnson, Russ Johnson, Andy Laster, Pat
Martino, Bennie Maupin, Darek Oles, Michael Pedicin, Alan Pasqua, Mick
Rossi, Mike Sarin, Bob Sheppard, Wadada Leo Smith, and Trevor Ware.
He performed here previously with the Johnnie Valentino/Kenneth
Burgomaster/Michael Pedicin Quintet.
http://www.johnnievalentino.com/
Composer/pianist Kenneth Burgomaster was raised in
a musical
family (his parents are both professional musicians) in Indianapolis,
IN. After graduating from Kenyon College in Ohio he spent a year in New
York City scoring commercials, and playing piano at the famous
Empire
Diner, before heading to LA.
His composing credits include three Garfield films and "Hero Wanted"
for Sony Pictures, and over 500 episodes of television.
As a keyboardist, Burgomaster has worked with Herbie Hancock, Bennie
Maupin, and Carly Simon, and has performed on "The Tonight Show,"
"Conan O'Brien," and at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His band
"Back of the Hand All Stars" has been playing at The Brig in Venice, CA
every Tuesday since 2002, with guest musicians including Sal Marquez,
Robbie Krieger,
Jimmy Haslip, Harvey Mason, Doug Webb, and Jimmy Earl.
He performed here previously with the Johnnie Valentino/Kenneth
Burgomaster/Michael Pedicin Quintet.
Vocalist and lyricist Elissa Lala grew up in
Philadelphia and began singing professionally at the age of five. By
the time she was in her early teens, Elissa was doing background vocal
sessions at Philly's then explosive Sigma Sound Studios.
Pursuing her jazz muse, Elissa and Johnnie Valentino performed together
at every major venue on the east coast, eventually getting married and
moving to Los Angeles.
Not long after the move to L.A., Aaron Spellings' music supervisor
heard her and hired her to sing "All the Things You Are" for the ABC
miniseries "Crossings, and Elissa's voice was heard throughout the
world. Thus began more film and TV studio work with credits such as
"Dirty Dancin'", "The World's Greatest Magic Show", "The True Story of
Bonnie and Clyde," and a host of A&E documentaries.
Another one of Elissa's passions is writing lyrics for pieces such as
Ralph Towner's "I Knew It Was You." Elissa has written and/or recorded
with Pat Martino, Narada Michael Walden, Michel Legrand, Alex Acunña,
Tommy Tedesco, and Bennie Maupin.
Elissa's newest project is on OmniTone, entitled "Touch of Your Voice:
New Takes on Chet Baker". Touch is a deep and melancholic project which
consists mostly of beautiful ballads recorded by Chet Baker and two
originals composed by Johnnie Valentino and Elissa. Elissa's previous
recordings are "Eternal Now" (Insight) and "Promises of the Heart"
(Four Winds).
http://www.omnitone.com/touchofyourvoice/
Since moving to San Francisco in 1999, Sam Bevan
has
established himself as one of the most
versatile and creative bassists in the Bay Area.
The foundation was laid for Bevan’s career where he
began classical piano lessons at the age of
four. Sam's adoption of the electric and acoustic
bass followed periods playing jazz and classical
piano, singing professionally and getting a BA in French.
Sam has had the opportunity to work with a wide range of artists
including: David Grisman, Zigaboo Modeliste, Joshua
Redman, Roswell Rudd, Houston Person,
Kenny Washington, Joe Locke, Michael Wolff, Jim Kweskin, Geoff Muldaur,
Joe Craven, Meklit Hadero, Lisa Engelken, Jackie Ryan, Jacqui Naylor,
The VNote Ensemble,
Telepathy, Nathan Clevenger Group, New Pickle Family Circus, Ian Dogole
& Hemispheres, Fil Lorenz Orchestra, and the Contemporary Jazz
Orchestra.
He performed here previously with Scott Foster, and the Johnnie
Valentino/Kenneth
Burgomaster/Michael Pedicin Quintet.
http://www.sambevan.com/
Drummer Deszon X. Claiborne is one of the busiest
musicians in the Bay Area. His very diverse credits include Don Cherry,
Ornette Coleman, Bo Diddley, Phyllis Hyman, Jay McShann, Michael White,
Andy Narell, Alex Acuna, Ray Obiedo, Alphabet Soup, Charles Brown, Dave
Ellis, Rodney Franklin, and Peter Apfelbaum.
He studied with Ralph Humphrey, James Levi, Billy Cobham, Richard
Peterson, Barry Jekowsky, and Kenneth Nash, and has taught at the
Stanford Jazzz Workshop and Berkeley's Jazzschool.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Larry Schneider, Glen
Pearson, and Charles McNeal.
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