THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Dr. Gio Washington-Wright's Top Los Angeles Studio Musicians Tribute Site
GEORGE BOHANON
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: "Blue Phase"
WEBSITE: www.georgebohanon.com
George's solo on "Sister Sadie" from the GRP All-Star Big Band
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/ss.mp3
George playing "You Don't Know What Love Is" from his album "Tribute"
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/Bohanon - You Don't Know What Love Is.mp3
It is no small wonder that the National Association of
Recording Arts and Sciences awarded George Bohanon the
"Most Valuable Player" award in 1980. His genius
approach to trombone playing creates a lyrical quality
that rates high in tone color and dynamics. His
evolution as a jazz musician has put him in the
company of Kenny Burrell, Yusef Lateef, Barry Harris,
and Donald Bird, to name a few. He was also a member
of the Chico Hamilton Quintet with Charles Lloyd and
Gabor Szabo in the early 1960s.
Born in Detroit Michigan, Bohanon began playing
trombone at the age of eight. He attended Northwestern
High School, Wayne State University, and the Detroit
Institute of Musical Arts, where he decided to pursue
a career as a musician. Some of his greatest
influences were J. J. Johnson, Miles Davis, Charlie
Parker, and John Coltrane.
Motown Records hired Bohanon as their first
trombonist, a position he held for some seven years,
accompanying artists such as Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye,
Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and many more. In 1968
Bohanon moved to Los Angeles and became very active in
the jazz and recording studio scenes. In addition to
his position with the UCLA Jazz Studies Program, he is
also a music contractor, a signatory to the American
Federation of Musicians, a music publisher, writer,
arranger, producer, clinician, and performer.
BILL BOOTH
EQUIPMENT: GIARDINELLI MOUTHPIECE, BACH AND CONN TENOR TROMBONES, CONN BASS TROMBONE, BACH BASS TRUMPET, WILLSON EUPHONIUM.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: “BALANCING ACT” (CRYSTAL RECORDS).
Bill soloing on "I Love You" (with Jim Self)
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/Bill Booth - I Love You.mp3
Bill playing "Thema: Allegro" from "Balancing Act"
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/boothallegro.mp3
BORN IN SEDALIA, MISSOURI, BILL BOOTH IS AN ACTIVE WORKING MUSICIAN AND TEACHER. HE EARNED MASTER’S DEGREES IN MUSIC AND BUSINESS. IN ADDITION TO BEING AN OUTSTANDING CLASSICAL TROMBONIST, BILL IS ALSO A FINE JAZZ TROMBONIST (WHILE IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIRMEN OF NOTE, BILL PLAYED THE JAZZ TROMBONE CHAIR). HIS RECORDING CREDITS INCLUDE ALBUMS WITH FRANK SINATRA, BARBRA STREISAND, LOUIE BELLSON, AND ELVIS PRESLEY.
CURRENTLY, HE IS THE PRINCIPAL TROMBONIST FOR THE PACIFIC AND PASADENA SYMPHONIES, THE JOFFREY BALLET AND AMERICAN BALLET THEATER ORCHESTRAS, AND THE LOS ANGELES MUSIC CENTER OPERA. HE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LOS ANGELES BRASS.
SOME OF HIS FILM CREDITS INCLUDE “TITANIC”, ALL OF THE “JURASSIC PARK” FILMS, “THE SUM OF ALL FEARS”, “THE PANIC ROOM”, “TRIPLE X”, BOTH “STUART LITTLE” FILMS, “SIGNS”, “ROAD TO PERDITION”, “SCOOBY DOO”, “THE MASTER OF DISGUISE”, “THE MINORITY REPORT”, “TREASURE PLANET”, “THE SCORPION KING”, AND “ICE AGE”.
RICH BULLOCK
WEBSITE: www.bassbonevoice.com
Rich playing on "23 Degrees North, 82 Degrees West" from Paul Cacia's "Alumni Tribute To Stan Kenton"
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/2382bullock.mp3
Rich playing on "Check's In The Mail" from Gordon Goodwin's "Close To The Edge"
BRUCE FOWLER
EQUIPMENT: BACH MOUTHPIECES, YAMAHA AND BACH TENOR TROMBONES, YAMAHA BASS TROMBONE, YAMAHA EUPHONIUM.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: “SYNTHETIC DIVISION” (W/ PHIL TEELE).
TRIVIA: COMES FROM A HUGE MUSICAL FAMILY. HAS FOUR BROTHERS WHO ARE ALL TOP-NOTCH MUSICIANS.
WEBSITE: www.fowlerbrothers.com
BRUCE IS A MULTI-FACETED MUSICIAN. NOT ONLY IS HE AN ACCOMPLISHED STUDIO TROMBONIST, BUT A GREAT COMPOSER, ARRANGER, ORCHESTRATOR. HE FIRST GAINED NOTORIETY IN 1967 AT NORTH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, AND IS FEATURED ON THEIR “LAB ‘68” RECORDING. THE SAME SUMMER, HE DECIDED TO GO ON THE ROAD WITH THE FAMED WOODY HERMAN BAND.
SINCE THOSE DAYS, HE HAS PLAYED WITH BUDDY RICH, FRANK ZAPPA, ELLA FITZGERALD, QUINCY JONES, THE AKIYOSHI-TABACKIN BIG BAND, AND THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA. HE AS ALSO PLAYED ON OR ORCHESTRATED THE SOUNDTRACKS TO “JURASSIC PARK”, “BATMAN RETURNS”, “BACK TO THE FUTURE 2”, “BATMAN RETURNS”, “BACKDRAFT”, “REGARDING HENRY”, “ALWAYS”, “MISSION IMPOSSIBLE”, “MULTIPLICITY”, “THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES”, “DAYLIGHT”, “THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT”, “A BUG’S LIFE”, “TOY STORY 2”, AND “DINOSAUR” -- AND APPEARS IN THE MOVIE “SHORTS CUTS”.
CRAIG GOSNELL
Craig Gosnell is a freelance bass trombonist and vocalist currently residing in the Los Angeles area. In 1997 and 1998 he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in music with an emphasis in instrumental performance from the University of Northern Colorado. In 2003, he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami. He was born near Miami, Florida and attended public schools in Palm Springs North, FL. as well as Littleton and Lakewood, Colorado. He currently teaches trombone in the L.A. area, and doubles on other low brass instruments.
Gosnell has studied with Buddy Baker, Jack Robinson, Dante Luciani, Pat Blodgett, Anita Valdez, and Joy Cayler. He has performed as an instrumentalist and vocalist since 1985. He has performed with numerous ensembles including but not limited to: Opera Pacific, the Bill Holman Big Band, the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bob Florence Limited Edition Big Band, the Woody Herman Orchestra, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, the 1995 Disneyland All-American College Band, and the Henry Mancini Institute's Orchestra, Big Band and Chamber Orchestra. His television credits include "The Academy Awards," "The Primetime Emmy Awards," ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," NBC’s “Grease: You’re the One that I Want,” and NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." He has also performed and/or recorded with artists including Barry Manilow, Kevin Spacey, Celine Dion, John Williams, Ray Charles, James Taylor, Paul Anka, Quincy Jones, Andy Williams, Nancy Wilson, Randy Newman, Vic Damone, Julio Iglesias, James Brown, Tom Jones, Tony Bennett, Burt Bacharach, Pat Boone, Dionne Warwick, Michael Bublé, Keely Smith, Natalie Cole, Dianne Reeves, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Debbie Allen, Arturo Sandoval, Roberta Flack, James Ingram, Diane Schuur, Seal, Beyoncé, Lyle Lovett, Kurt Elling, Patti Austin, Aaron Neville, Billy Crystal, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, The Four Tops, Melissa Manchester, Peabo Bryson, Jennifer Hudson, The Pussycat Dolls, John Pizzarelli, Steve Tyrell, Diahann Carroll, Randy Brecker, Ernie Watts, Jon Faddis, Gunther Schuller, Clare Fischer, Vince Mendoza, James Newton Howard, Lennie Niehaus, Jorge Calandrelli, Russell Watson, Matt Dusk, Annie Ross, Maria Schneider, Bob Mintzer, Sir James Galway, Steve Lippia, Billy Preston, Matt Catingub, Nelly Furtado, Joss Stone, Korn, Billy Ray Cyrus, Natasha Bedingfield, Eliane Elias, Christian McBride, and Jiggs Whigham.
Gosnell's motion picture credits include performance on the scores of "Hairspray" and “Rocky Balboa,” as well as pieces included in the movies “Mission Impossible III,” “Everyone's Hero,” and “Bah Humduck!: A Looney Toons Christmas.” In 2003, Gosnell was inducted into the national music honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda, and has been a member of the International Trombone Association since 1993. He placed second in the Donald Yaxley International Memorial Bass Trombone Scholarship Competition, and is a recipient of three DownBeat Student Music Awards during his time performing with the University of Miami's "Jazz Vocal I" and the University of Northern Colorado's "Jazz Lab Band I" and "Et Cetera."
STEVE HOLTMAN
Steve Holtman is a trombonist, composer, orchestrator, and arranger. He has recorded with Arturo Sandoval, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Manhattan Transfer, and has recorded for such films as Proof of Life, X Men II, Polar Express, and Bad Santa. His orchestration talents can be heard on the soundtracks of Pearl Harbor, and Deep Blue Sea.
ALEX ILES
EQUIPMENT: SCHILKE, BACH, AND HAUSER MOUTHPIECES; KING, BACH, AND CONN TENOR TROMBONES; YAMAHA BASS TROMBONE; YAMAHA EUPHONIUM.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: “TROMBANIA” (SEA BREEZE RECORDS)
“WOW!” MOMENTS: SOLO ON “FUNUPSMANSHIP” FROM BOB FLORENCE’S “FUNUPSMANSHIP”. SOLOS ON “MAMA USED TO DO THE CHA-CHA” AND “PAYIN YOUR DUES” FROM TOM KUBIS’ “KEEP SWINGIN’”.
ALAN KAPLAN
EQUIPMENT: BACH AND HERRICK MOUTHPIECES, KING AND BACH TROMBONES, CONN BASS TROMBONE, YAMAHA EUPHONIUM, MIRAPHONE TUBA.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: “LONELY TOWN” (RYLAN RECORDS)
TRIVIA: AT AGE 19, HE WAS THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO EVER PLAY LEAD TROMBONE WITH BUDDY RICH.
WEBSITE: www.alankaplan.org
“WOW!” MOMENTS: SOLO ON “SAMBANDREA SWING” FROM LOUIE BELLSON’S “DYNAMITE”. SOLO ON “BAG-O-BONES” FROM FRANK CAPPS’ “IN A HEFTI BAG”.
HAILING FROM LOS ANGELES, ALAN KAPLAN TOOK UP THE TROMBONE AT AGE 8. AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, HE ENROLLED AT LOS ANGELES VALLEY COLLEGE AS AN ENGINEERING MAJOR, BUT DIDN’T STAY LONG. AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL, HE WENT OUT ON THE ROAD WITH BUDDY RICH. HE ALSO PLAYED WITH HARRY JAMES, LOUIE BELLSON, DON ELLIS, AND LIONEL HAMPTON.
UPON RETURNING TO L.A. FROM THE ROAD (IN THE EARLY 80‘S), ALAN FURTHER HONED HIS SKILLS BY STUDYING WITH OTHER LOS ANGELES STUDIO TROMBONISTS. ALAN HAS PLAYED ON THOUSANDS OF CARTOONS AND TELEVISION SHOWS. HE HAS ALSO ON OVER 600 MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS INCLUDING “DANCES WITH WOLVES”, “APOLLO 13”, “CON AIR”, “BATMAN AND ROBIN”, “SILVERADO”, “GODZILLA”, “PLANET OF THE APES”, “SPIDER-MAN”, “ARMAGEDDON”, AND “MEN IN BLACK 2”.
NICK LANE
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: "Smile and Nod" (Strokeland Records) - w/ saxophonist Greg Smith
WEBSITE: www.nicklanemusic.com
CHARLIE LOPER
EQUIPMENT: BACH MOUTHPIECES AND TROMBONES.
CHARLES LOPER WAS BORN IN ATLANTA, TEXAS AND STARTED PLAYING TROMBONE AT AGE 14. ALTHOUGH HE WAS SELF-TAUGHT, HE STILL MANAGED TO EARN FIRST CHAIR IN THE TEXAS ALL-STATE BAND BY HIS SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, HE ENROLLED AT MEMPHIS STATE UNIVERSITY.
THE SUMMER BEFORE HIS SENIOR YEAR IN COLLEGE, HE TOURED WITH THE BUDDY MORROW ORCHESTRA. HE SOON RETURNED TO SCHOOL AND GRADUATED. AFTER GRADUATION, HE WENT BACK ON THE ROAD WITH THE MCKINLEY-MILLER ORCHESTRA.
AFTER TOURING WITH THAT BAND, HE SPENT TWO YEARS IN THE ARMY AS AN ARRANGER, THEN JOINED THE JIMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA. AFTER TOURING WITH THAT BAND, HE DECIDED THAT HE’D HAD ENOUGH OF THE ROAD AND MOVED TO LAS VEGAS WHERE HE REMAINED FOR 6 ½ YEARS.
SINCE MOVING TO LOS ANGELES IN JANUARY OF 1967, HE HAS PERFORMED ON OVER 600 FILMS AND COUNTLESS RECORD DATES. A FEW OF HIS CREDITS INCLUDE “MEN IN BLACK 2”, “SPIDER-MAN”, “THE RED DRAGON”, AND “PLANET OF THE APES”.
He performs as a regular member of the Pasadena, Santa Barbara and New West Symphonies and The Crown City Brass Quintet. In addition, he works with most of the leading musical organizations in the Los Angeles area. These include the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra as well as the Long Beach Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival. He teaches trombone at Cal State University - Northridge and Pepperdine University and is active in the area as a solo recitalist.
He recently commissioned and premiered Sonata for Trombone and Piano by Stanley Friedman, Fantasy by Lincoln Hanks and Dozeandeeze by Jim Self in a series of three solo recitals in Los Angeles. He has completed work on a solo album, BEST OF FRIENDS, including these new works and other works never recorded.
In the recording field, Mr. Malloy plays regularly for many well known film composers and has played on hundreds of film soundtracks. In 2005 he has played a joint recital with Alex Iles at Cal State, Northridge and with organist Nancy Ackerman in Williamsport, PA. As a member of the Crown City Brass Quintet he has performed on recital series in Pacific Palisades and Palos Verde. In June the quintet performed and recorded Shadowcatcher as guest artists with composer Eric Ewazen at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, as part of the Ojai Festival and in concert in Westport, NY. Mr. Malloy also participated in the programs of the Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music Festival and the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival.
ANDY MARTIN
EQUIPMENT: BACH MOUTHPIECES AND CONN TROMBONES.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: “IT’S FINE… IT’S ANDY” (FRESH SOUNDS RECORDS).
TRIVIA: BROTHERS SCOTT AND STAN ARE ALSO TOP-NOTCH L.A. STUDIO MUSICIANS.
WEBSITE: www.drewbone.com
“WOW!” MOMENTS: SOLOS ON “SAMBA DEL GRINGO” AND “SWINGIN’ FOR THE FENCES” FROM GORDON GOODWIN’S “SWINGIN’ FOR THE FENCES”. SOLO ON “EMILY” FROM CARL SAUNDERS’ “BE BOP BIG BAND”. SOLO ON “WARM BREEZE” FROM FRANK CAPPS’ “PLAY IT AGAIN SAM”.
ANDREW MARTIN WAS BORN IN PROVO, UTAH ON AUGUST 10, 1960. WHEN HE LEFT HIGH SCHOOL, HE HEADED WEST TO LOS ANGELES. HE ENROLLED AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY - LONG BEACH AND GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE. SINCE THE EARLY 80’S, ANDY WASTED NO TIME ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS A SUPERB STUDIO TROMBONIST AND A SECOND-TO-NONE JAZZ PLAYER.
HIS FILM CREDITS INCLUDE “MONSTER’S INC.”, “PLANET OF THE APES”, “SPIDER-MAN”, “JOY RIDE“, “ENEMY OF THE STATE”, AND “DRACULA 2000”.
For more on Andy, visit his tribute page at http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/andymartintributepage.htm
BOB MCCHESNEY
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: "No Laughing Matter" (Summit Records)
WEBSITE: www.bobmcchesney.com
Bob McChesney was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and began studying the trombone at the age of nine. McChesney holds a bachelor's Degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia. In 1979, Bob moved to Los Angeles where he remains, working as a studio musician and in a wide variety of musical situations including film, television, records, jingles and can be heard on recent CD recordings by Ray Charles - his Grammy Album of the Year 2005 "Genius Loves Company", Grammy 2000 winner Diana Krall - "When I Look In Your Eyes", Michael Bolton ("Bolton Swings Sinatra" and soloist on "Michael Bolton Christmas"), Shakira, Michael Buble', Kenny G, Barry Manilow, Chicago's "Night and Day- Big Band", Natalie Cole's "Snowfall on the Sahara", Rod Stewart (American Songbook II), Hanson (w/ Hey Horns), Dave Koz, Steve Tyrell, Michael Davis' "Brass Nation", Chris Walden Big Band, Lisa Marie Presley, Art Garfunkel, Joey DeFrancesco, Monica Mancini, Mickey Rooney, Juice Newton, Steve Lawrence, James Darrin, Facundo Monty, Matt Catingub, Steve Allen, Adam Sandler, Mark Winkler, Bill Watrous, Nita Whitaker, David Hassellhoff, Ryan Dehues, Matt Catingub, Buddy Greco, George Graham, Mel Torme, John LaBarbera, Dave Pell, Lisa Richard, Victor Lewis, Rebeka, Shelly Berg, Patrick Tuzzolino, Barbara Morrison, Calabria Foti, Curtis Amy and Anita O'Day.
As a jazz soloist, McChesney is featured on his own "No Laughing Matter - The Bob McChesney Quartet Plays Steve Allen", Horace Silver's "Its Got To Be Funky", Bob Florence's Grammy 2000 winning CD "Serendipity 18", and Florence's "Earth" and "All the Bells and Whistles" and on Randy Waldman's latest on Concord "Unreel". He has performed live with Arturo Sandoval, Nancy Wilson, Kenny G, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, The Long Beach Symphony, Lalo Schifrin, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Patti Austin, Stanley Clarke, Robb McConnell, Tony Bennett, The Tom Scott Bebop Sextet, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Rosemary Clooney, Jack Jones, Bill Holman, Jack Sheldon, The Long Beach Municipal Band, Frank Capp and Juggernaught, The Woody Herman Band, Supersax, and has performed on the Tonight Show.
Some
of his film and television credits include "Rocky Balboa", "Pursuit of
Happyness", "Everyone's Hero", "The Good Shepard", "Mystic River",
"Rush Hour 2", "Bringing Down the House", "The Cooler", "Space Jam",
"First Wives Club", "Titan A.E.", "Double Take", "Soldier", "The
Siege", "Dracula - Dead and Loving It", "Graceland", "Robin Hood - Men
In Tights", "George of the Jungle", "The Durango Kid", "A Will of Their
Own", "Rhapsody in Bloom", and many others, -TVs "The Simpsons",
"Family Guy", "American Dad", "Happy Hour", "Looney Toons", "Jag","
King of the Hill", "Futurama", "American Dreams", "Once and Again",
"Providence", "Diagnosis Murder","The Drew Carey Show", "Bette", "From
Earth to the Moon", "America's Funniest Home Videos", "PBS's Great
Performances Theme" and a variety of cartoon shows.
Visit Bob's Tribute Page here: http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/bobmcchesneytributepage.htm
LEW MCREARY
deceased
Lew McCreary was a huge talent. He was one of the best doublers (tenor and bass bone) ever. In fact it was impossible to tell which was his primary instrument. He was also a thoughtful and giving person who helped many young, up and coming players with straight and honest advice. The second of two LPs recorded by the Page Seven (a group led by pianist Page Cavanaugh that consist of trombonists Lew McCreary and Dave Wells, Bob Jung on baritone and alto, guitarist John Pisano, bassist Don Bagley and drummer Jack Sperling) has catchy arrangements of standards and originals, very concise playing and spirited if lightweight music. This album, which will be difficult to locate, has music that is in a similar vein of a group the Page 7 preceded, the Tijuana Brass.
CHARLIE MORILLAS
A clip of Charlie's solo on "Payin' Your Dues" from Tom Kubis' "Keep Swingin'"
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/morillaspyd.mp3
Charlie Morillas has enjoyed a varied and successful career as a freelance
trombonist in Hollywood and the Southern California area.
Charlie grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and then graduated from the
University of Southern California. He was selected to play in the
California High School All Star jazz band, and the College All American
Band. He has studied trombone with Bob Soder, Dan Livesay, Ned Meredith,
Dennis Smith, Terry Cravens, and studied jazz improvisation with Charlie
Shoemake.
Charlie has performed with numerous national and local productions of
Broadway musicals including " The Lion King", "42nd ST.", " The Producers",
" Peter Pan", " Will Rogers Follies", " The Drowsy Chaperone", and the
world premiere of " Like Jazz" at The Mark Taper Forum".He has recorded the
music to numerous rides, parades, and shows, at Disneyland, Disneyworld,
Tolyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
He has performed and recorded with the big bands of Tom Kubis, Jack
Sheldon, John LaBarbara, Steve Spiegle, Bill Elliot, Artie Shaw, Bill
Watrous, Les Hooper, Bill Holman, and Gordon Goodwin. He has backed up and
recorded with many celebrities such as, Paul Anka, Barry Manilow, Keely
Smith, Ray Charles, Brian Setzer, and Alan Jackson, Motion pictures that
he has played on include" The Mambo Kings", the remake of " The Blob",
"Payback", "Hellraiser", "After The Sunset", "Just Like Heaven", " The
Incredibles", "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge", " Stuart Little". Charlie
has played on television shows such as " The People's Choice Awards"" The
Cable Ace Awards", " The American Music Awards", "Third Rock From The Sun"
Jerry Seinfeld's "HBO Special", " That 70's Show", and many radio and
television commercials.
DICK NASH
EQUIPMENT: BACH AND WICK MOUTHPIECES, BACH TENOR TROMBONES, CONN BASS TROMBONE.
TRIVIA: FATHER OF JAZZ SAXOPHONIST TED NASH.
Dick playing "Katy" from Sammy Nestico's "Portrait Of Sammy" (at almost 80 years old!)
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/Katy.mp3
Dick playing his high-note feature "Nirvana"
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/Nirvana.mp3
RICHARD T. NASH WAS BORN IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ON JANUARY 26, 1928. HE STARTED PLAYING BUGEL AT AGE 10. EVENTUALLY, HE MIGRATED TO TRUMPET. ALTHOUGH STAYED WITH THE TRUMPET FOR A WHILE, HE REALLY WANTED TO PLAY TROMBONE. SO, HE GOT ONE BEGAN PRACTICING IT IN SECRET (HIS BAND DIRECTOR DIDN’T WANT HIM TO PLAY TROMBONE). ONCE HE REACHED HIGH SCHOOL, HE ABANDONED THE TRUMPET AND MADE TROMBONE HIS FULL-TIME INSTRUMENT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE SOUGHT OUT SERIOUS STUDY WITH LOCAL MUSICIANS -- MOSTLY FROM THE BOSTON SYMPHONY.
ALTHOUGH DICK WAS A SERIOUS CLASSICAL STUDENT, HE LOVED BIG BAND MUSIC. HE WENT ON TO PLAY WITH SOME OF THE GREAT BIG BANDS OF 40’S AND 50’S, LIKE TEX BENEKE AND LES BROWN. HOWEVER, ONCE THE SWING MUSIC CRAZE DIED DOWN, HE DECIDED TO SETTLE DOWN. IN 1953, HE MARRIED, TOOK HIS HONEYMOON IN L.A., AND HAS NEVER LOOKED BACK.
DICK IS AN L.A. STUDIO LEGEND. HIS THOUSANDS OF CREDITS INCLUDE SOME OF THE GREATEST MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS IN MOTION PICTURE HISTORY. THEY INCLUDE “AIR FORCE ONE”, “ATLANTIS”, “COLLATERAL DAMAGE”, “DAREDEVIL”, “FIRST KNIGHT”, “INDEPENDENCE DAY”, “JAWS”, “PLANET OF THE APES”, “ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES”, “ROCKY”, “THREE MUSKETEERS”, AND “WATERWORLD”.
BRUCE OTTO
Bruce Otto began his career in his hometown of Chicago when he was 15. By the time he was attending DePaul University he was very much in demand playing radio and T.V. commercials and backing up performers such as Mel Torme, Tony Bennett and Nancy Wilson. After relocating to LosAngeles in 1990, Bruce has maintained a busy schedule,playing on many motion picture and televison soundtracks such as 'Mission Impossible, Seven Years in Tibet, ClueLess,The Horse Whisperer and Star Trek Voyager'. He can also be heard on many episodes of 'Anamaniacs, Sylvester and Tweety and Pinky and the Brain'.
BILL REICHENBACH
EQUIPMENT: GEORGE ROBERTS MODEL SO BASS TROMBONE MOUTHPIECE, CONN TENOR & BASS TROMBONES, HAAG CONTRABASS TROMBONE, BACH BASS TRUMPET, YAMAHA EUPHONIUM, BOOSEY & HAWKES TUBA.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: “SPECIAL EDITION” (NOTHING BUT BILLS RECORDS).
“WOW” MOMENTS: BASS TROMBONE SOLOS ON MIKE DAVIS’ “BONETOWN”. TUBA SOLO ON “CARNIVAL” FROM “SERGIO MENDES”.
Bill's composition "Mambo Mucho Ado" from HBO's comedy series "One Night Stand"
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/Mambo Mucho Ado.mp3
Bill Reichenbach - composer, trombones, keyboards, bass, percussion; Jerry Hey, Gary Grant - trumpets; Dan Higgins - tenor sax & solo; Luis Conte - percussion.
Bill's bass trombone solo on "H, I, Jay, & Kai" from "Bonetown"
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/hijk.mp3
Bill's tuba solo on "You Hid What In The Sousaphone?" from Wayne Bergeron's "Plays Well With Others".
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/yhwits.mp3
WILLIAM FRANK REICHENBACH, JR. WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 11, 1949 IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. HIS FATHER, A WELL-KNOWN JAZZ DRUMMER, HELPED BILL START HIS CAREER IN HIGH SCHOOL BY LETTING HIM SIT IN WITH JAZZ GROUP. SO, FROM AN EARLY AGE, HE WAS PLAYING WITH THE ZOOT SIMS, AL COHN, CLARK TERRY, MILT JACKSON, AND OTHERS.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, BILL ATTENDED EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC. THERE, HE PLAYED THE JAZZ CHAIR IN THE CELEBRATED EASTMAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE. AFTER COLLEGE, HE JOINED BUDDY RICH’S BAND AND WAS FEATURED ON JOBIM’S “WAVE” FROM THE “STICK IT” ALBUM.
IN 1975, BILL MOVED TO L.A. AND WON THE JAZZ TROMBONE CHAIR ON TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI’S BIG BAND. SINCE THEN, HE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST HERALDED STUDIO MUSICIANS IN L.A., EQUALLY ADEPT IN CLASSICAL, JAZZ, AND COMPOSITION. HE HAS PLAYED ON OVER 800 RECORDINGS AND 500 MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS. A FEW OF HIS RECENT CREDITS INCLUDE “TRIPLE X”, “DAREDEVIL.”, “X-MEN 2”, AND “BRUCE ALMIGHTY”.
BOB SANDERS
Robert Sanders, a member of the part-time faculty at California State University, Fullerton, teaches trombone. He is also a bass trombonist in the Los Angeles area. As well as being a freelance musician, Sanders is a member of the Pacific Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Opera Pacific Orchestra. He also regularly performs in many major motion picture and television studio recordings.
MAURICE SPEARS
Maurice Spears has played an integral role in the music business for more than four decades. Among his many accolades, his peers recognize him as "a first call" bass trombonist on the West Coast, where in the 70's and 80's he honed his skills as a studio musician and an accomplished sideman in big bands. Spears' career spans a wide spectrum of entertainment including motion pictures and/or sound tracks; Broadway shows; television series, movies and specials; commercials; recordings and videos; and live performances.
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Spears says he was always surrounded by jazz. "My parents owned a café in Oklahoma City and they were host to many jazz bands and artists that came to the city to perform. As children, my brother (bassist Louie Spears) and I saw internationally acclaimed musicians eating in our café. Too young, at the time, to understand and have any idea that some of those same artists/musicians would influence our lives enormously."
At the age of 27, Spears was leading his own big band and various sized combos. They performed in nightclubs, played social engagements in the surrounding areas and provided pick-up for stars that came through Oklahoma City such as Lou Rawls, Jackie Wilson and Jesse Belvin.
Maurice began establishing his musical career when he was 12 years old. His first instrument was the trombone, even though he experimented with guitar and piano as well. "I played other instruments, but there was a special love affair with the trombone," explained Spears.
Spears graduated from Douglas High School and received a scholarship to attend Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma. In college, Spears seriously contemplated his future and began to analyze his challenges, which enabled him to excel and graduate cum laude in Music Education. He did his graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.
After college, Spears received musical training while he served in the U.S. Army at the Army Element of the Navy School of Music in Washington, DC. He later served in the 62nd Army Band.
In 1966, Spears relocated to Los Angeles. His trip was initially planned as a visit to see his parents but instead turned out to be his new home. He immediately began networking and affiliating with local musicians. By 1967, Spears was a member of the Ray Charles Orchestra, traveling world wide.
Spears has a deep appreciation for education. He has taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District as well as the public school system in Oklahoma City, and is mentor to several young trombonists including candidates and recipients of the Thurman Green Memorial Scholarship Foundation. (An organization that awards scholarships to college level trombone students.)
In conjunction with being a musician and educator, Spears is known internationally as a music copyist par excellence. His client roster reads like "Who's Who" including Benny Golson, American Jazz Philharmonic, Festival Productions, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Oliver Nelson, Gerald Wilson, Benny Carter, Dr. John, Diana Krall, WDR Big Band, James Morrison, Lena Horne, and Peggy Lee, to name a few. Mention Maurice Spears to any one of them and their comments are always the same: "He makes me look good on paper."
In 1995, Spears collaborated with fellow trombonists George Bohanon, Garnett Brown and the late Thurman Green to form "BoneSoir," (five trombones with piano, bass and drums). Their focus is to introduce audiences to the versatility of the trombone and to spotlight the varied styles of the featured players. The group has performed in numerous music programs and/or venues including the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Playboy Jazz Festival, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Central Avenue Jazz Festival, The Jazz Bakery, The Armand Hammer Museum and The 2004 Charlie Christian Jazz Festival.
Spears is currently a charter member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra where he serves in the capacities of librarian, music copyist and bass trombonist. The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was voted #1 Big Band by Downbeat Magazine Reader's Poll in 2003 and #2 in 2004. Their tours have included performances at the Kennedy Center, New York, Manchester Craftsman Guild, and festivals in Holland, France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Italy, the UK and Japan. They celebrated their 20th Anniversary in 2005.
Maurice has recorded and performed with an array of international acclaimed musicians/artists in several genres including Rock 'N Roll, Pop, Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, Latin, Blues and Fusion. In 2004, Maurice was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
PHIL TEELE
EQUIPMENT: MINICK MOUTHPIECES, YAMAHA BASS TROMBONE, MINICK CONTRABASS TROMBONE, YAMAHA EUPHONIUM.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: “LOW AND OUTSIDE” (FILTHY BEAST RECORDS)
TRIVIA: PLAYED ON BOTH THE 1968 & 2001 “PLANET OF THE APES” SOUNDTRACKS.
“WOW!” MOMENT: SOLO ON “SATURDAY NIGHT IS THE LONELIEST NIGHT OF THE WEEK” FROM PATRICK WILLIAMS’ “SINATRALAND”.
Phil playing on "Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week)
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/snitlnotw.mp3
Phil playing "I Ain't Gonna Ask No More" with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/I Ain't Gonna Ask No More.mp3
PHIL TEELE HAS BEEN A FIXTURE IN THE L.A. STUDIOS SINCE THE 1960’S. HE HAS SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER PLAYING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ORCHESTRAS AND THE STUDIOS. HIS RECENT MOVIE CREDITS INCLUDE “EVOLUTION”, “DON’T SAY A WORD”, “BLACK KNIGHT”, “DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE”, “BLADE 2”, “SIGNS”, “TRIPLE X”, “STAR TREK: NEMESIS”, “SOLARIS”, “ANTWONE FISHER”, “THE PANIC ROOM”, “ALONG CAME A SPIDER”, “THE GLASS HOUSE”, AND “PLANET OF THE APES”.
GEORGE THATCHER
George Thatcher, trombonist, performs currently as a Hollywood freelance recording and symphonic musician whose career has transversed a wide variety of styles as well as a number of continents.
Since returning to Los Angeles in 1988, Thatcher has recorded for such motion picture luminaries as John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Randy Newman, Thomas Newman and Danny Elfman, on such film as Jurassic Park, Anastasia, Men in Black and the Shawshank Redemtion. He records for television, advertising and records, having performed with such artist as Barbara Streisand, Natalie Cole, Neil Daimond, and Frank Sinatra.
Thatcher's orchestral associations include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Long Beach Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, the Pacific Symphony, and the American Ballet Theater, San Francisco and Kirov ballet companies.
His work abroad includes positions of principal bass trombone with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, principal bass trombone with the National Symphony Orchestra of the S.A.B.C., principal first trombone with the Cape Town Opera Orchestra, and principal bass trombone with the Orchestra Sinfonica Municipal de Caracas.
Thatcher records for Raptoiria Caam Records as a solo artist and as principal bass trombone of the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony. An active symphonic soloist, Thatcher recently performed Maria Newman's Concerto for Bass trombone and Orchestra (Peccavi) with both the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony and the Occidental-Caltech Orchestra in Los Angeles.
He also appeared as soloist with the Eastern Sierra Symphony Orchestra, the Palisades Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra at ST. Matthew's, and has been featured at many well known music festivals nationwide.
On the jazz scene, Thatcher has toured extensively with famed trumpeters Harry James and Al Hirt. While residing in Johannesburg, South Africa he recorded two original solo albums for the S.A.B.C. Thatcher's newest compact disc with jazz ensemble Hailbop ins entitled, Even Call Girls Get the Blues, and will we released in early 1999.
LLOYD ULYATE
deceased
Lloyd Ulyate was been one of the most active musicians in the Hollywood musical scene for many years. He has worked in all aspects of the music business, beginning with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra through radio, television, phonograph recordings, and over a thousand motion pictures.
Some of the composers he has worked for include David Rose, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Henry Mancini, Percy Faith, Jerry Fielding, Max Steiner, Alfred Newman, John Williams, Victor Young, Jerry Goldsmith, Bernard Hermann, Elmer Bernstein, Franz Waxman, Igor Stravinsky, and more....
Some of the movies he has worked on include Jaws, Star Trek, E.T., West Side Story, Close Encounters, Dick Tracy, My Fair Lady, Twister, Around the World in 80 Days.
Ulyate's television credits include Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Highway to Heaven, The Academy Awards, the Grammys, and many more.
He has toured Japan at least six times with the Percy Faith Orchestra and the Henry Mancini Orchestra, and returned to Tokyo in fall 1997 to participate in the 100 Trombones Concert with George Roberts and Harry Betts.
His spectacular recording Lloyd Ulyate and His Trombone, Trombone, Trombone..., one of the early successes in multi-track recording, has been reissued as a CD*. The recording has Lloyd playing all the parts in arrangements for trombone ensemble, such as "Clang, Clang, Clang Goes the Trolley" and "In My Solitude" that demonstrated his extraordinary versatility.
CRAIG WARE
Craig playing bass trombone on "Hunting Wabbits" from Gordon Goodwin's "XXL" (with Andy Martin, Alex Iles, and Charlie Morillas)
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/craigwabbits.mp3
Craig's solo on "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes"
Craig was born and raised in Chicago, and moved to the L.A. area to continue his education at Azusa Pacific University. While there, he began his career as a free-lance bass trombonist, tubist, arranger, orchestrator and copyist.
He enjoys performing in a variety of styles, and has worked with groups and artists such as The Riverside Philharmonic, Redlands Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Boston Pops at the Hollywood Bowl, Barry Manilow, Ralph Carmichael’s Big Band, and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. He has taught theory and applied music at Azusa Pacific University and Citrus College.
Craig has also worked on mumerous recordings for films (such as the oscar-nominated “Silverado” and “National Treasure”), television (including Emmy-winning “Tiny Toons” and “Animaniacs,” and "Lost"), and Broadway shows (“Ragtime”, “Chicago”, “The Lion King,”and “The Producers”).
BILL WATROUS
WEBSITE: www.billwatrous.com
Bill playing Patrick Williams' lovely theme to the short-lived TV show "After MASH"
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/aftermashtheme.wav
Bill's burnin' solo on "How High The Moon" with the vocal jazz group Pastiche
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/Watrous HHTM.mp3
Bill's solo on "Not Really The Blues"
http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/Watrous - Not Really The Blues.mp3
One of the finest bop-oriented trombonists of the past 30 years, Bill Watrous has had a low profile since moving to Los Angeles in the 1980s despite remaining quite active. Possessor of a beautiful tone and remarkable technique, Watrous has been constantly overlooked in jazz popularity polls of the past two decades. His father was a trombonist and introduced Bill to music. He played in traditional jazz bands as a teenager and studied with Herbie Nichols while in the military. Watrous made his debut with Billy Butterfield, and was one of the trombonists in Kai Winding's groups during 1962-1967. He was a busy New York-based studio musician during the 1960s, working and recording with Quincy Jones, Maynard Ferguson, Johnny Richards, and Woody Herman; playing in the television band for Merv Griffin's show (1965-1968); and working on the staff of CBS (1967-1969). After playing with the jazz-rock group Ten Wheel Drive in 1971, Watrous led his own big band (the Manhattan Wildlife Refuge) during 1973-1977, recording two superb albums for Columbia. After moving to Los Angeles in the late '70s, Watrous continued working in the studios, appearing at jazz parties, playing in local clubs, and leading an occasional big band. He has recorded as a leader for Columbia, Famous Door, Soundwings, GNP Crescendo, and with his late-'90s big band for Double-Time.
DAVE WOODLEY
Dave is a remarkable trombonist who has performed all over the world -- His crisp tone and impeccible control can be appreciated on "The Lawyer" and on "WC Meadows". He has worked countless studio sessions and live performances. An extremely versatile musician, he has recorded with Pop, Rock, Classical and Jazz greats. To name a few: Mark Masters Ensemble; Grachan Moncur III Octet; John Fick Southern California Jazz Company; Lee Konitz; Ten Hands; The Dewey Redman Septet; Stan Kenton Best Of 50th Anniversary Celebration.
