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Talent

Music director Nadya Ewen rehearse the Gooden School Ensemble for the opening ceremonies at A Taste of Sierra Madre.
 
Cheryl Barnes and Dr. Phil Cabasso Vocalist more in pop and fusion mode than jazz. Barnes has made polished, breezy tunes for Optimism, material strictly for contemporary fans and market. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide. Her husband Phil is regular jazz pianist performing at Red White and Bluezz in Pasadena and the Baked Potato in Studio City. A powerful dynamic duo. www.cheryldbarnes.com
 
Michael Lington A native of Denmark, saxophonist Michael Lington is a purveyor of contemporary jazz. The grandson of well-known Danish band leader Otto Lington -- an early proponent of jazz in Scandinavia -- Lington began performing at a young age as a member of the world-renowned Tivoli Boys Guard. www.michaellington.com
"Tom, thank you so much for your hospitality. It was a pleasure to meet you. The ride to SD was perfect."
 
Chris Standring Smooth jazz guitarist Chris Standring was born and raised in Buckinghamshire, England; classically trained at the London College of Music, he further honed his skills during a decade spent working for the BBC as well as a number of theatrical orchestras on London's West End. R&B and Soul ,Jazz , Pop use image provided above. www.chrisstandring.com
 
Eric Byak is a pro with the hyphens after his name to prove it. He is a guitarist - producer - engineer - composer - synthesist and founder of the Sound Design Music Group. Eric has created music for MCA/Universal, Amblin Entertainment, Buena Vista TV among other major players in the entertainment world. www.ericbyakmusic.com
 
Paul Brown Two time GRAMMY winner, smooth jazz guitarist and producer, Paul Brown is pleased to add the magic to our special event. Perfectly capturing the hopeful spirit of global cooperation that defines these challenging times, Foreign Exchange, the stylistically diverse, coolly exotic collaboration by superstar guitarists Marc Antoine and Paul Brown, is more than simply a fresh and compelling addition to the smooth jazz scene. Paul is a very successful recording artist trained in sound engineering. His albums define the smooth jazz genre for generations and is regular featured headliner in the music industry. Thank you Paul! www.paulbrownjazz.com
 
Katisse graduated from the L.A. County High School for the Arts and then from the Grove School of Music where he studied with multi-Grammy winning jazz legend, Rob McConnell. He received an NEA Jazz Fellowship Grant to study with woodwind master, Bill Green, attended the National Music Camp at Interlochen Michigan, and won the L.A. Jazz Society's New Talent Award. Upon hearing Katisse as a guest soloist with the LA Guitar Quartet Allan Kozinn of The New York Times described him as , "...a flutist whose ornate improvisations transformed this vocal score into a virtuosic instrumental work". www.katisse.com
 
Bart Samolis As well as working as a composer, Bart has also performed and recorded with a wide variety of contemporary music acts including Rod Stewart, Michael Bolton, The All American Rejects, Lori Andrews, Jon Secada, The Fifth Dimension, and Barry Manilow. For the past 14 years, he has been musical director for the Academy Awards Sci-Tech division. A well rounded composer and bassist, he has also performed with the local symphony. www.bartsamolis.com