|
Bio submitted by Roy Carlson
Bassist Roy Carlson has been an active member of the jazz community for more than three decades. He is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a Master’s Degree in Music Education.
In the mid ’70’s Roy worked out of Las Vegas backing pop singers and groups like The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, and other Motown stars. He played in Hawaii for the better part of a year, then went to New York where he played some well known venues; The Waldorf with Sammy Davis and Arthur Prysock, Madison Square Garden with Curtis Mayfield. He even did a two week run at "Small’s Paradise," the famous jazz club in Harlem.
Over the years Roy has had the good fortune of playing with several major names in jazz, among them Joe Henderson, Gary Burton, Ernie Watts, Blue Mitchell, Lou Marini, Bob Mintzer, plus numerous pop acts when they came to town. Roy was a founding member of the jazz fusion band, NO PRISONERS, that also included Mike Dana, Craig Von Berg, and Brian Hamada. He has been a long time staff musician for Good Company Players and Northwest Church.
Roy currently teaches instrumental music with Fresno Unified School District and continues to enjoy going on musical adventures with the local jazz luminaries.
E-Mail:
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
|
|
 Bio submitted by Nye Morton
NYE FREDERICK MORTON, Bass
Born in 1943 in Berkeley, California, Nye was exposed to classical music at an early age and played piano and ‘cello as a boy, but by high school had lost interest in all of it. Mainly for lack of a better idea, he eventually settled on a music major at the University of California, took a B.A. in 1965, and moved to Los Angeles, where he found employment in music recording. Exposure to other types of music and an entirely different sort of “serious” musician eventually inspired him to get back into playing, this time with the double bass.
After 20 years engineering in various Hollywood studios doing records, film and television scores, and post-production mixing, Nye moved to the Central Valley and spent 10 years engineering at Maximus Media in Fresno. In 1997 he left full-time studio work but is still involved in engineering, doing live sound mixing and both studio and location recording. However, these days he plays a lot—mostly jazz— and is hardly ever cranky.
|
|
|
 Bio submitted by Rich Severson
Originally from the L.A. area, Rich Severson has been playing professionally and teaching guitar for over 30 years. His education includes years of college and private instruction with a variety teachers including Mitch Holder, Ted Greene, Joe Pass, Charlie Shoemake to name a few. He feels education is a continuing process, there's always more to learn. Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Ted Greene and Larry Carleton have all influenced his playing.
Rich wrote three books for a major publishers Dale Zdenek/ Belwin Mills/Columbia providing him the opportunity to work with other great artist/authors like Tommy Tedesco, Joe Diario and Ted Greene. After teaching at GIT/Musicians Institute, in Hollywood, CA, for three years he developed and published his own home study guitar school type curriculum available on his website www.GuitarCollege.com which has helped over 10,000 students improve their playing. Rich has won honorable mentions and awards in songwriting and served as president of the Ventura County Producers and Songwriters Guild. Touring for three years with "Dick Clarks Good Old Rock and Roll Show" he had the opportunity to perform with Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Little Anthony and many other great, old time rock and rollers. When moving his family the Fresno area he taught guitar and directed the jazz band Fresno Pacific University for 2 years.
Being a well-rounded player, Rich is comfortable playing a variety of styles including jazz (his favorite), blues, rock, fusion, country and solo fingerstyle. He performs at local venues in a number of different scenarios; as a solo guitarist, with his jazz trio or quartet or smooth jazz quintet and also with the 11 piece Joe Lenigan Little Big Band as well as performing with Lisa’s Big Night Out, The Guitar Titans, Debbie Ruud, Karen Marguth and other various artists. Rich is currently producing a smooth jazz album with friend Chris (Call Me) Montez that will be released by the end of the year.
At home in his studio he is continually producing new lessons for Guitar College. In addition he hosts and publishes the quarterly Guitar College Video Magazine, an “Entertainment Tonight” style show for guitarists. Each issue includes interviews with a variety of guitarists, performances, guitar events, product demos and multiple lessons in an array of styles.
For over fifteen years Rich has been playing guitar in church. Serving as the musical director and guitarist at Northside Christian Church since 2003, Rich is committed to raising the level of musicianship in the Christian church today. He travels throughout the U.S. and Canada instructing and playing at variety of Christian worship conferences, workshops and seminars. Rich is also endorsed by Hofner Guitars which takes him around the country to guitar shows, workshops and clinics. He also hosts an annual Guitar College Jazz Workshop in the Yosemite area.
You can contact Rich at
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
or 559-642-2597.
|
|
|
 Bio submitted by Paul Lucckesi
Paul Lucckesi is the Director of Jazz Studies at the Buchanan Educational Center in Clovis, California. At the center he directs the Buchanan High School Jazz Bands and combos ‘A’ and ‘B’ as well as the Alta Sierra Intermediate Jazz Ensembles. He has a degree in music education from CSU, Fresno and played lead alto with the the CSU, Fresno Jazz Band ‘A’. As a professional Paul has performed with Michelle Rosewoman, Craig Handy, Peter Erskine, Jon Faddis, Michael Spiro, David Garibaldi, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and acclaimed poet Quincy Troupe as well as in numerous radio and television commercials. He is currently a member of the Jazz Composers Orchestra and a board member of the California Band Director’s Association. Paul is on the board of Directors as well as a staff member of the La Sierra Creative Arts Camp where he teaches private saxophone lessons and directs the top jazz ensemble. He and his lovely wife Sarah reside in Fresno, California.
|
|
|
Jim Schmidt was born in Omaha Nebraska and moved to California at the age of nine. Involvement with music started with early influences of rock stars such as Jimi Hendrix and Ian Andersen (Jethro Tull). Attracted to the “Locomotive breath” tone of Ian Anderson’s flute, Jim began studying wind instruments. Progressing into Jazz was a natural continuation his musical studies. Jazz provided the depth of complexity and freedom of expression that has held Jim’s attention and kept him involved in the ever growing Jazz scene. Now the leader of “CLOUD 99”, Jim’s band can be heard at any of several establishments in and around Fresno – usually in the Tower district. Expect to hear some interesting crossing over into Funk and pop in the manner of predecessors such as Charlie Hunter, Medeski Martin & Wood etc. Jim Schmidt and the ever changing members of “Cloud 99” like to stretch beyond traditional barriers and explore new avenues of music. Is fun and that’s what jazz is all about.