Musicians featured on CD

Bernie Dresel has been one of the busiest studio and live musicians in the world since moving to Los Angeles in 1983. He has occupied the coveted drum chair for Grammy Award-winning Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band since its inception in 1999.  
He was the drummer for the multi-Grammy Award-winning Brian Setzer Orchestra, selling close to 4 million records. Modern Drummer magazine’s readers’ poll named Bernie “Best Big Band Drummer” and Drum! Magazine honored him as Best Big Band Drummer.

Grant Geissman is a guitarist and composer with 16 albums released under his own name. Geissman  co-wrote the music for the hit CBS-TV series Two and a Half Men and for CBS-TV series Mike & Molly. Geissman recorded the guitar solo on Chuck Mangione’s 1978 mega-hit “Feels So Good.” He has recorded with such artists as Burt Bacharach, Inara George, Joanna Newsom, Lorraine Feather, Julio Iglesias, Quincy Jones, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, David Benoit, Van Dyke Parks, and Ringo Starr.

A Los Angeles native, Paul began playing upright and electric bass at the age of 12 and has enjoyed a long career playing all styles of music.  Paul has worked with many artists on a variety of projects including movies, television, theatre and studio work.  Some of his credits include: Sideways, Life Aquatic and Legally Blonde 2.  He has worked on shows at the Pantages and Shubert theatres as well as NBC and PBS.

Geoff Stradling has recorded with Ernestine Anderson, Ladd McIntosh, Kenny Goldberg, Joe Gallardo, and Jane's Addiction and performed with Quincy Jones, Mel Torme, Sammy Davis Jr., Diane Schuur, Torsten de Winkel, The Banda Brothers, Rubin Estrada, Line Renaud, and Sue Raney.  His music has been featured in the feature film Ray of Sunshine, Entertainment Tonight, the American Music Award, Flushed Away, The Number 23 and Shrek the Third.

Jamie Hovorka is a studio/jazz trumpet player based in Los Angeles. He has been a member of Paul Anka's band since 2005, Brian Setzer's Orchestra since 2007, and John Tesh's band since 2010. He tours locally and internationally with these projects regularly. Prior to this he worked with Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau band, where he played the split lead/jazz chair.

Dave Richards received both his BM in jazz arranging and his MM in jazz composition from the University of North Texas.  During his time at North Texas Dave played both trumpet and trombone in the One o'clock Lab Band.  Dave has gone on to travel the world with various big bands and touring musical theater productions of broadway shows.  He currently resides in Los Angeles where he works as a freelance brass player, composer, arranger, and band leader.

Carl Saunders  is a jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator who has worked with Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Bill Holman,  Clare Fischer, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Paul Anka.

Jeff is a  studio trumpeter and member of the Steve Spiegl Big Band. He has worked with Horace Silver, Pancho Sanchez, Tom Harrell, Bill Watrous, Louis Bellson, Ray Charles, Bob Brookmeyer, David Sanborn, Clare Fisher, Michel Legrand, David Benoit, Tom Kubis, Mel Torme, Dianne Schuur, Diana Krall, Rosemary Clooney, and such noted entertainers as Jerry Lewis, Johnny Mathis, Dionne Warwick, Andy Williams, Steve Allen, Joel Grey, Lou Rawls, Brian Setzer, Bobby Vinton, Tommy Tune and Maryln McCoo.

Nicholas Daley, trombone, is a freelance trombonist in the Los Angeles area where he regularly performs and records with ensembles ranging from orchestras to jazz, salsa and pop bands. Nicholas was a prize winner at the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts Competition as well as being honored with the Order of Arete and membership in the National Music Honor Society. Nicholas maintains a private teaching studio and works as a classical music recording engineer and orchestrator.

Nick played with Maynard Ferguson’s band from 1977 through 1981, recording  on 5 albums. Lane has recorded on hundreds of CD’s including Coldplay, Green Day, No Doubt, Pink, Macy Gray, Tim McGraw, Babyface, The Offspring, The Wallflowers, Ziggy Marley, Fastball and Joe Cocker. Lane has been filling in with the group Chicago the last few years, most recently sharing the stage with Earth, Wind & Fire. He’s also performed with Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, The Who, Tom Petty, and Etta James.

Scott Whitfield is recognized for his work with contemporary big bands, including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra and Johnny Griffin’s Big Soul Band, as well as his own Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestras. Whitfield has worked with Robert Goulet, Rita Moreno, Marilyn McCoo, Vic Damone, Jack Jones, and Frank Sinatra, Jr.  He played in the orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl for a tribute to Nancy Wilson, including Patti Austin, James Ingram, Tom Scott, Terence Blanchard and Natalie Cole.

Ken has been a member of the John La Barbera Big Band and plays throughout LA. He has orchestrated or conducted some 55 movie scores including The Simpsons movie, Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean, October Sky, Fly Away Home, A River Runs through it and many others.

Brian plays with Gordon Godwins Big Phat band and has toured with Ben Vereen and appeared on the “Tonight Show” as a member of the NBC Orchestra (1988-1992). He also toured with Doc Severinsen (1988-1996) and  played lead alto with Buddy Rich (1986).

Brian can be heard in movies “Monster’s Inc.,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Moulin Rouge” and “Analyze This.” He has worked with  Randy Newman,  Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King,  Natalie Cole and Maureen McGovern.

Glen has played with Tom Jones (World Tour 1990, 1993-1998), Donna Summer, Shakira, Barry Manilow, Toni Tenille, Simon Shaheen, Stanley Clarke Band, Glen Frey, Huey Lewis, Michael Bolton, Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle, Natalie Cole, Temptations, Four Tops, Supremes, Dionne Warwick, Miki Howard, Bob Hope & Rosemary Clooney,  Bill Watrous Big Band,  Jack Sheldon Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Gerry Mulligan, Glenn Miller Orch., Erskine Hawkins, Xavier Cugat Orch.

Eric was a member of Chick Corea Elektric Band recording 6 CD's  winning 2 Grammy Awards. Eric has performed with Al Hirt, Elton John, Barbara Streisand, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Aaron Neville, Johnny Mathis, Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, George Duke, David Benoit, The Rippingtons, The Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band, Patti Austin, Lou Rawls, David Lee Roth, The Yellowjackets, B.B. King, Ramsey Louis, Patti Labelle, Olivia Newton-John, and many others. 

Dick Mitchell is currently the principal saxophonist of Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He has performed together with several classical, jazz and pop artists, including Frank Sinatra, Harry James, Woody Herman, Poncho Sanchez, Paul McCartney, Prince, Robert Palmer, Tori Amos, Clare Fischer & His Latin Jazz Sextet, Tom Talbert Septet, Woody Herman & The Young Thundering Herd, Woody Herman And His Orchestra and Chris Botti. He has also played on numerous television and film soundtracks

John has worked and recorded with Stan Kenton, Laura Dickinson, Captain & Tennille, Vikki Carr, John Lithgow, Air Supply, John Tesh, Lee Ann Womack, Hans Zimmer, Ray Charles, Barry Manilow, Aerosmith, Michael Buble, Michael Feinstein, Joshua Bell, Michael Jackson and dozens of others.