Al Giambastianni :    Born November 2, 1946  , Pawtucket,  R. I.. and moved to Canoga Park , Ca. in June of 1960.  He is a 1964  graduate of Canoga Park High School, General & Music major. He attended  Ventura College 1964 thru 1968 as an Engineering & Music Education major and San Fernando Valley College, 1970 -72, as a Music major. 

Besides an array of small combo's , he's played with big bands such as : the Lawrence Welk band in 1970 and as a union sit in with Stan Kenton at the Valley Music Theater.  Al played at Disneyland at Carnation Square with the Dixie Band  all summer of 1975,  He's also played with the Horace Height Jr.  Big Band  1980 thru 1982, the Les Haslam Big Band  for 2 years  1994-96 and the Leroy Lovitt Big Band  1999 - 2000.  He is currently playing with the Joe Vento Allstars (for the past 12 years) and Rex's band.    back

Don Roberts : From playing with the first rock and roll band that landed an ongoing gig in Las Vegas, to setting off stink bombs in the lobby of a Midwest hotel as a member of The Brian Setzer Orchestra, multi-instrumentalist Don Roberts has probably seen it all. I spoke to Don over the telephone from his home in Los Angeles and what follows is his story. No names have been changed so the innocent will not be protected!
Los Angeles born and raised, Don Roberts started his musical journey by taking clarinet lessons at the age of 8. Don's interest in the saxophone prompted him to start studying that instrument in the seventh grade. One of his major influences at that time was Little Richard's tenor sax player, the incomparable Lee Allen. In addition to being knocked out by Allen, Don credits his music teacher-saxophonist Don Raffell, John Coltrane and StanGetz as also being major inspirations. The years prior to his high school graduation and subsequent stint in the US Army were easily some of the most exciting years in American musical history and Don's enthusiasm when discussing that period (1956-1962) is quite evident. While a freshman at Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles, Don joined the regionally popular surf band, The Vulcanes. Playing tenor saxophone with TheVulcanes assured that Don's high school years would be anything but typical.
In 10th grade the band signed a contract with Capitol Records. After his sophomore year, Don left Notre Dame High and enrolled in Van Nuys High School. In addition to counting Don among it's graduates Marilyn Monroe was also a student at Van Nuys. It was at this point while he was a high school junior that Don started touring with the Vulcanes, who at this time, thanks to exposure on "The Bob Eubanks Show", had become very popular indeed. The band even made it to the silver screen by appearing in the film, "I'll Take Sweden" which starred Bob Hope and Tuesday Weld. That's certainly a rather impressive series of accomplishments to have under your belt while still in high school and not yet 18 years old! In 1962 The Vulcanes were assured a place in rock history by becoming the first rock and roll band to get a job working on the strip in Las Vegas. The band played two weeks at the Stardust Hotel. Incredibly, rock was not welcome in Vegas at that point and Don notes that you needed a sheriff's card to play there and that the road into town was dotted with large billboards reminding people that if they were caught with illegal substances in their possession that they would be facing life in prison. The musicians who played Vegas at that time were also told that if they were arrested and convicted for anything that they would never play there again. The rules that a rock band playing Las Vegas were forced to abide by in 1962 were nothing compared to the discipline that Don was forced to deal with when, during a Salt Lake City gig, with The Vulcanes, he was informed that Uncle Sam needed sax players. Don was drafted into the US Army in 1964 and began a two year residency in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Over the course of the next two years he was not only a member of the US Army band but also formed his own band called The Knockouts who were very popular with the troops.
After his stint in the service Don was in his early twenties and free to find work where he could put his, by now, considerable talents to good use. In addition to his ability to play every member of the saxophone family (alto, tenor, baritone), Don also continued studying his first instrument, the clarinet, and along the way became quite accomplished at playing the various members of the flute family. Don's reputation as a dependable, multi-instrumentalist created alot of work for him both in the Los Angeles area and in Las Vegas.
During the mid 60's Don did a mountain of session work and played with several bands but it was a tour with the horn-driven pop band Chicago in 1969 that signaled the beginning a career in music that would become much more high profile as the years went on. After a short stint with legendary big band leader Harry James, Don began a gig with the very successful duo, Loggins and Messina. He toured and recorded 4 albums with the pair including their final LP, Native Sons which was released in 1976 and along with their previous efforts went gold.
Concurrent to working with Loggins and Messina, Don landed the gig that any musician would kill for. For 5 tours Don found himself a member of Elvis Presley's band. He played baritone saxophone with the King from 1973 until 1976. Don's memories of those Elvis tours are clearly very special to him and he still laughs while recalling how Elvis would try to crack up the band by making faces at them during the shows. A very poignant story that Don shared was one that involved Elvis's love for gospel music. From time to time Elvis would have his backup singers (JD Summers and The Stamps Quartet) perform agospel number during his set. Elvis would actually sit down on a chair in the wings and listen to the song and on more than one occasion was actually moved to tears by the live performance of what Don believes was definitely Elvis's favorite style of music.
After the breakup of Loggins and Messina in 1976 and after his final tour with Elvis, Don signed on to what would become his longest musical collaboration. The Manhattan Transfer were a 4-part vocal harmony group and within the context of their musical style (swing, jazz, doo-wop and pop) Don would really be able to spread his musical wings and as their soloist, really show his stuff. Perhaps the best known recording that the Manhattan Transfer released was the 1981 top ten hit "Boy From New York City". Although a major American hit, that song doesn't really do that group's musical legacy justice. It should be pointed out that in addition to being a member of The Manhattan Transfer throughout 1976-1991 Don also kept himself busy by performing with the Los Angeles blues band, The Bombers. He also played on the self-titled debut album by Christopher Cross. Although Don downplayed the Christopher Cross connection, I should point out that that album went platinum and won five Grammy Awards.
By 1991 Don felt that he had spent enough time with the Manhattan Transferand quit the band to continue playing around LA doing sessions and live work. It wasn't long after this that he got a call from a musical colleague letting him know that Brian Setzer was auditioning horn players for a new musical project called The Brian Setzer Orchestra, a wild concept in which an electric guitarist would front a big band. Don auditioned for Brian and eventually became the BSO's baritone sax player. He is the only current member of the BSO who (along with Brian of course) actually played the band's very first show. He's literally been in the band since day one. I asked Don to tell me about the first few BSO shows and wondered if he ever imagined that things would explode for the band the way they have in the last year. Don distinctively recalls that prior to the first BSO gig nobody knew what to expect and that (as has often been related by Brian himself) very few tickets were sold. Don points out that it took only a few live shows for the word to spread about this unusual band, and that within a very short period of time people were lined up around the block waiting to get into the BSO gigs. When I asked Don to recall a defining moment when he knew that the BSO were well on their way to turning people on to this exciting new sound, Don sites a gig in Canada, at the Montreal Jazz Festival in the summer of 1995 as being very memorable. He recalls that after the band left the stage the audience went wild for at least 15 minutes. That reaction made it clear to Don that the best was yet to come. He also mentioned that during the recording of the second BSO CD, "Guitar Slinger" it was clear to him that Brian had nailed what he'd set out to do and was only going to get better with each new release. In this short biography on the life of Don Roberts I think I have properly filled the reader in on Don's musical history but I really have not given you a picture of what Don is like as a person. I've had the pleasure of spending time with Don on several occasions and I must say that you'd be hard pressed to find a more engaging person (even if you weren't buying the drinks!). Don has a dry wit and a very relaxed manner that gives you the impression that you've always known him. He's incredibly generous with his time and generally reminds you of an uncle who visits during the holidays and spends most of his time playing with the kids. In a way, Don reminds me of a big kid and the best way to support that statement would be to share the following story: During a BSO American tour a couple of years ago, the band were staying in a hotel in the Midwest that turned out to be less than accomodating in that there was no hot water, the rooms were dirty and the service was less than stellar. While they were checking out, someone in the band got wind that Don had a stink bomb in his possession. Without much prompting, revenge was taken and the band's buses were out of town long before the hotel lobby could be considered "stink-free". As the BSO prepare to embark on their second tour of Europe within the space of 7 months, one can only hope that the hotels will be sufficient!    back

Denis LaPron: Born in Foxboro Mass. A reed specialist, started playing the oboe in high school.  He later studied the saxophone, clarinet and flute, English horn, bass clarinet   and drums.

Over the years he has worked with the following well-known bands:  Horace Heidt Jr., Randy van Horne, Art Depew with the Harry James band, Woody Herman, and Pat Longo.

Denis served in the Air Force, stationed at Lackland, Chanute and Andrews.

A few of the big bands in the local area he has worked with are: Eric Eckstrand, Jummiy McConnell, Leroy Lovett, Jack Ranelli, John Fick and John Newsome.  He also plays in the rehearsal bands of Dave Wells and Dr. Woody James of the Los Angeles Valley College.   His latest CD's are with Jimmy McConnell and Leroy Lovett.  He has also had experience doubling reeds on stage shows such as:  Hello Dolly, Camelot, South Pacific and No No Nanette to name a few.

Denis is one of the few Jazz oboists in the country and for years has had his own jazz quartet in the L. A. area.

L.A. Jazz Scene:    May Claim Title as a Replacement Drummer... His career as a jazz drummer has included so many cases of his working as a replacement, Denis LaPron may put in a claim for a Guiness Book of Records listing.   It started when he was in the army during the Korean war from 1952 to 1955. and serving ar Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois.  On one occasion, he went home to Detroit on a three day pass and ended up at one of his old haunts, a jazz club called The Bluebird where Sonny Stitt and Miles Davis were being featured, along with Barry Harris at the piano, Alvin Jackson at the bass, and Alvin Jones on the drums.  During the evening, Jones got a phone call from Milt Jackson, who needed his services immediately, Jones asked Stitt if LaPron could sub for him for the weekend, which resulted in LaPron being auditioned on the spot.  He says, 'So, of course, they pulled out 'Cherokee' - you know, that 'Cherokee ' formula back east:  see if you can keep up with them on it.  So I get up there and we did 'Cherokee' as fast as you can go.   One-two-three-four, one-two-three-four, way up there.  Everybody took solos.   they gave me one solo and when we got through, Sonny turned to Alvin and said, 'Ok, he'll do.'  So that was my first replacement drumming.

   Staff Sergeant LaPron also was a woodwind player and went to Washington, D.C. to join the Airmen of Note as an oboist.  There, he became acquainted with two fine drummers, Lloyd Morales and Gene Estes.   Estes was leaving the band and fate intervened for LaProm - he became his replacement drummer.

    Following his dishcarge from the army, he worked for 7-8 months as a replacement drummer for Joe Dukes in the Jack McDuff band in Champaign, Illinois.  Following this, it wasn't long beforen he made his way west with a letter of introduction to Harold Land in whose group drummer Frank Butler was working.  Butler befriended LaPron, recommending him to work in a band on the east side.  Subsequently, Butler used him as a replacement whenever there was a need for one, and it led to many contacts for LaPron, helping him to establish himself here. One gig was with Leroy Vinnegar and Sir Charles Thompson, and he and Vinnegar became friends.  Later on, Vinnegar phoned LaPron to advise him that Stan Getz was auditioning for a drummer and told him to go for it, which he did.  Actually a drummer was needed to replace Shelly Manne, and he got the job. On it, he worked with Getz, Conti Candoli and Lou Levy.

    In his words, let him tell about another gig:  "Later on, I was working with Richey Kamuca (as a replacement) for Chuck Flores down at Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach.  I guess Richey liked my playing because two weeks later, he called from this nightclub at Western and Hollywood Blvd., and said, 'Hey, I'm here with Chet Baker. Philly Joe Jones walked out on him and he can't find a drummer. Are you available for the weekend? I was; so I went up there. I didn't know who was in the group.   When I got there, there were two of my friends, a piano player from New York, Elmo Hope, who I worked with back there, and also, a great friend of mine from Detroit whom I considered to be one of the world's greatest bass players, Doug Watkins.   It was great to see someo one I knew on the bandstand.  So I worked there Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and that was another replacement job..

    He drummed at Jimmy Madden's Sundowner Club on the Sunset Strip, where he had a few chances to fill in for Mel Lewis with the Terry Gibbs big band on Sunday nights.  Frank Butler, in another one of his many referrals, had him contact an upcoming, young pianist by the name of Les McCann who was forming a trio.  He already had a bass player, Jack Bruce, and LaProm go the job as drummer.  As he says, "We were the origninal Les McCann Trio.  That was no replacement - I was the man.

    One of LaPron's other prizes memories is when Butler sicked him onto organist Wild Bill Doggett whose band was performing at Tiki Island at Western and Exposition.  Doggett's drummer was late in getting in from Chicago. So LaPron had a fine evening's work with Doggett and the "original guys," including the playing of the band's hit tune, "Honkey Tonk."

    Other bands he worked in as a replacement for Butler were those of Curtis Count, Jack Sheldon, Earl Bostick and Teddy Edwards.   Summing it up, an ever-grateful LaProm says,  "Thanks to Frank Butler, who I called my mentor on the West Coast, and to the other drummers who helped me out when I first got here, Lloyd Morales and Gene Estes."   Also, never forgetting his back east mentors, he added his gratitude to Alvin Jones and Art Mardigan who helped him during his Detroit Days.back

Dennis Conowitch:   Plays Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Pocket trumpet and piccolo trumpet in all styles of music.

Dennis has appeared at the Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Jazz Fest the past 10 years, the Lancaster Performing Arts Center and the Antelope Valley Fair.

He has played with the Jimmy Valves Big Band, the Ted Warner Big Band, The Playboys Jazz Band, and the Bathtub Gin Band.

He currently plays in the Antelope Valley Jazz Ensemble and Rex's Band.   back

Mel Bator:      Started playing zither at age six, he was a child prodigy.  In school he joined the choir, but was shuffled off to the band director. This is where he started to play trumpet. Mel likes the color green and has a pet dog named Greg. His favorite food is prime rib with petite peas. Favorite movie "From here to eternity." He's a big fan of Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinson, Bill Chase, Louis Armstrong, Don Ellis, Harry James, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Fats Navarro, Snooky Young, Bobby Shew, Chuck Findley, Vaughn Nark, Mike Vax, Byron Stripling, Mic Gillette, Lew Soloff, Chet Baker, Clifford Brown, Charlie Shavers, Lee Morgan, Art Farmer, Blue Mitchell, Conte Candoli, Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Jack Sheldon, Ron Stout, Sweets Edison, Freddie Hubbard, Scott Englebright,  Arturo Sandoval, Bud Brisbois, Cat Anderson, Dave Stahl, Roy Roman, Jon Faddis, Leo Shephard, Paul Cacia, Eric Miyashiro, Andrea Tofanelli, Maurice Andre, Rafael Mendez, and Allen Vizzutti.   back

Anne King: She majored in Music at Cal. State University Northridge.  Studied privately with John Clyman, Charley Davis, Uan Rasey, William Adam, Bobby Shew, and Terry Trotter.  She has taught the Jazz America Program at LeConte and Bancroft Middle Schools. She is a clinician throughout the Los Angeles area. 

She has played with Sheena Easton, Ray Charles, Joan Rivers, Billy Crystal, Hal Linden, FrankSinatra Jr., Scott Henderson, Michael Feinstein, k.d.lang, Mary's Danish, Lenny Kravitz, Steven Tyler, Guns N Roses (world tour 1991-1993, also recorded Paris Pay-Per- View, Japan Concerts, South America concerts, November Rain video), MTV Awards with Guns N Roses and Elton John.  Brothers Johnson, Victoria Williams, Temptations, Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Phil Collins, Take 6, Cheyenne, Warren G., Eric Benet, Shirley Bassey 1998 Tour, Lou Bega (Tonight Show and Martin Short Show), Lou Bega 2000 U.S., Cananda and South America Tour, Wilson, John Lithgow, Mike Myers, Rob Reiner, Renee Zellweger, Spinal Tap, and Jennifer Lopez.

Some of the Albums she has recorded on are Take 6, Scott Henderson, Sheena Easton, k.d. lang, Mary's Danish, Sponge, Poe, Carl Hancock, Laidlaw (prod. by Nikki Sixx), Warren G., Kid Ramos, Finis Tasby, Buddy Collette (2001 Grammy Nominated), and Jennifer Lopez.

Movie and T.V. recordings (partial List) include: Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Blue Chips, The Player, Ford Chrysler, Acura, The New Adam 12, E! Entertainment Television, Southwest Airlines, Lexus, Breaker High, The New Addams Family, Stark Raving Mad, Labor Pains, Who's Line Is It Anyway?, BET Live1, Tonight Show Band/ Victoria Williams, Tonight Show Band/ Michael Feinstein, Tonight Show/Maiden Voyage, Tonight Show/Lou Bega, Martin Short Show/ Lou Bega (2xs), and Motown Live/ Lou Bega.

Orchestras: Burbank Symphony, Concordia Symphony, Olypia Philharmonic, and the Palm Desert Symphony

Big Bands:  Maiden Voyage Japan Tours 11/94, 11/95 and 5/96 lead trumpet, Frank Sinatra Jr., Les Hopper, Roger Newmann, Louis Bellson, Don Menza, Ray Anthony, Buddy Childers, Paul Cacia, Union Plaza Las Vegas Main Showroom Band, Kay Kaiser/Harry Babbitt, Buddy Collette (Library of Congress Recording) 

Jazz Festivals: The Playboy Jazz Fest. Monterey Jazz Fest., Laguna Jazz Fest., Sedona Jazz Fest., Phoenix Jazz Fest., Concord Jazz Fest., Billy Taylor Jazz Fest. at the Kennedy Center Wash. D.C.

Sidelining: Blue Chips, Lush Life, The Player, Roseanne, Totally Hidden Video, Lexus, The Rat Pack, Buddy Faro, Man in the Moon, Stark Raving Mad, Monkey Bone, Once Charmed, American Sweethearts, Rumor Has It.back

Cece Worrall Rubin Cecilia "Cece" Worrall was born in Los Angeles, California. She has been playing wood winds since age 10. In high school she was drawn to playing & listening to R&B... Earth, Wind & Fire, Ohio Players, Tower of Power and such other powerhouse horn driven bands. In her senior year she won the coveted John Phillip Sousa Award. Her music studies were through private instruction with many prominent Los Angeles studio musicians, such as Stan Seckler, Phil Sobel, Charlie Shoemake, Dave Boruff & Bob Sheppard. She also attended the Stan Kenton Clinic, winning 1st alto seating in the top band. She cut her teeth on live performances with the David Ii, Love Ii Orchestra, which boasted of great black musicians like Fred Wesley, Nolan Smith, Ray Brown and Will Miller. Chuck E Weiss, an old school under ground legend, took her under his "tutelage". He performed for years at "the Central" now known as Johnny Depp's "Viper Room" in Hollywood and at infamous rooms like The House of Blues & BB King's to name a few. She later worked on two albums simultaneously, first with Morris Day as the producer of an all female group called "the Daisy's" and then with Randy Jackson (of the Jackson family fame) on his debut solo album called "Randy & the Gypsy's". Her performance experience has been with an eclectic mix of artists: Guns & Roses' World Tour (Hard Rock), John Tesh (New Age), Bateke Beat (African / Congo), Chuck E. Weiss / Jimmy Wood & The Imperial Crowns / King Cotton (Roots, New Orleans, 2nd line, Blues). Motown groups, the Four Tops, the Temptations and the Fifth Dimension. With "Guns and Roses" she had the opportunity to perform with Lenny Kravitz, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of "Aerosmith", Ron Wood of "The Rolling Stones", Soundgarden and Elton John on the M.T.V. award show. In 2000 she toured with "soul diva" Diana Ross and the "Return to Love" tour featuring the Supremes. She has since continued to perform with Miss Ross for many prestigious events. One such event was Hollywood's farewell performance for President Clinton.   back

Gary Herbig  Gary grew up in Montana where he received his musical education at the state university. Gary plays alto sax, tenor tax, bari sax, flute, oboe, clarinet and sings. He has two of his own albums: "Gary Herbig" 1988 and "Friends to Lovers" 1989. Gary can be heard on albums by Herbie Hancock, Toto, George Benson, Larry Carlton, The Yellowjackets, "Cheers", the "Simpsons" TV show. He has toured and/or recorded with: Elvis, T.O.P. Rod Stewart, Weird Al Yankovic, Barry Manilow, Harry James, KC and the Sunshine band, Cher, Michael Bolton, Dave Koz, Bette Midler, Olivia Newton-John, Dolly Parton, Peaches and Herb, Dionne Warwick, Donna Summer, Pat Boone, Pat Benatar, Marshall Tucker, Gloria Loring, Pat Kelley, the Jacksons, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, Tom Petty, Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, Maynard Ferguson, George Duke, Paul McCartney, Lenny Williams, Mike Garson, Christopher Cross, The Spinners, Jennifer Love Hewitt, 12 Gauge, Teena Marie, Barbra Streisand, Lionel Richie, David Foster, B.B. King, Lee Ritenour, Eva Ayllon, Candy Dulfer, Kenny Rogers, Dori Caymmi, Peaches & Herb, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Jermaine Jackson, The Pointer Sisters, Rick Springfield, Sly & the Family Stone, 3rd Force, Terence Trent d'Arby, James Ingram, Brenda Russell, Lyle Lovett, The Red Elvises, Stanley Clarke, Lee Oskar, Diane Schuur, The Tubes, Manhattan Transfer, Laura Branigan, Greg Adams, Cleo Laine/Ray Charles, Lee Ritenour, Rufus & Chaka Khan, The Isley Brothers, Janis Ian, Melissa Manchester, Bill Champlin, Cuba Gooding, Peter Cetera, Randy Crawford,  and more.   back

Tom Luer   is currently a freelance saxophonist working in the greater Los Angeles area. As an educator, Tom has taught at The University of North Texas in Denton, TX, Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, North Lake College in Irving, TX, and Bethel College in North Newton, KS. Tom is a University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band Alumni, and can be heard on the album "Lab 2003". You can also hear Tom on current Maynard Ferguson Band drummer Stockton Helbing's new release "Lodestar", as well as bassist Brian Mulholland's new album "Deco".   back

Jonathan Stanger   Jon started playing sax and hasn't stopped. He likes the beach and long walks in the park. His favorite color is periwinkle and his favorite movie is "Back to the future II"   back

Brooks West : Brooks, He likes dancing and origami. Favorite color indigo. Favorite movie "Gone with the wind."   back

Lance Rickman : Lance currently plays with four big bands and one "casual" band.  They are: The Val Diamond Band, The Jack Lantz Big Band, The So. Cal. Jazz Company,  The Bob Couto Big Band and Rex's band. He plays soprano, alto and tenor saxes, clarinet, flute and piccolo.  He has performed with various artists such as; Tony Bennett, Cab Calloway, Charo, Jimmy Heath, Jacj Jones, Al Martino, Diane Shuur, Carol Sloan, Jerry Vale and Nancy Wilson.  He has backed up 'American Idol', Bo Bice and the Tonight Show.   back

Dennis Noda:  Dennis Noda, is a funky rockin' bassist with a high visibility factor. His early musical career found him in Cannibal and the Headhunters who achieved international acclaim with the hit "Land of a Thousand Dances".
    Dennis later went on to become an in demand musician performing with Edwin Starr, Al Wilson, Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night), Spencer Davis, Bobby Kimball (Toto), and numerous others. Dennis served as Music Director for Micky Dolenz of the Monkees, Otis Day and the Knights (National Lampoon's Animal House; "Shout"), and several tours of The 30 Years of Rock 'N 'Roll Show.
    During his tenure with 30 Years of Rock'N'Roll he became friends with Mike Pinera and Jerry Corbetta who along with Peter Rivera formed the now famous "Classic Rock All Stars".
    Besides touring with the Classic Rock All Stars, Dennis is also currently involved with a Modern Rock group known as "The Jonah Kiss". They have had several songs placed in the TV shows; "Caroline in the City" & "Party of Five".
Starting in December "The Jonah Kiss" is recording a CD at A&M Recording Studios. An interesting side note: the A&M lot used to be Charlie Chaplin Studios in Hollywood.   back

Danny Pucillo Jr.   Born and raised in New York, Dan's family moved to Los Angeles in 1969, where his father, a studio drummer, worked on various television shows and studio sessions.  Dan received an early and intense education in reading and studio drumming.  He recorded his first album at the age of twelve.

Dan is currently active in the local studio scene, working with European fusion guitar great Alessandro, and writher producer Steve Lindsey, where he can be found on the newly released CD "Roll Over Baby."  In addition, Dan has recorded with Bunny Burnell (Chick Corea) and various A&M Records projects with Mel Larson and Jerry Marceleno (writers for the Jackson 5), just to name a few.  Dan works with several television "jingle" outfits in town, including AD Music, where his sounds can be found on such commercials as "Callaway Golf" and "AT&T".

Dan has worked on several movies, sidelining as a drummer along with drumming on the soundtrack.  The most notable being the Blake Edwards Productions "Blind Date", "That's Life", and "Sunset."  He has also been involved with major plays such as Camelot, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Bye, Bye Birdie.

Most recently, Dan has toured the United Stated, Canada, and Europe, with blues legend, Guitar Shorty.  Dan has played with many artists in his career, including Stevie Wonder, Robert Goulet, Freddie Fender, Mary Wells, Johnny Tillison, The Platters, and the Drifters. He has played with Joe Sample, and Wilton Felton (The Crusaders), Russ Freeman (The Rippingtons), John Ovia (Oingo Boingo), John Pettitucce (Chick Corea), Mike O'Neil and Dave Garfield (George Benson), Herbie Hancock and Wa Wa Watson, Steve Lukather (Toto), Danny Jacobs (Sheena Easton), Rory Kaplan (Michael Jackson), Frankie Crawford (Jeffery Osborne).  The list goes on.

Dan can currently be seen on a local Time Warner Cable show as "Dan the Drummin' Man", where he showcased his band, "The Bada Bing Band", and drum instruction sessions, which have produced a large demand for his teaching abilities.  He now has numerous students, who he also showcases on the show.  He has gained praise as a instructor by several prominent drummers in the business.  His capacity for precise time and "in the Pocket" grooves, along with his solid, hard-hitting rhythmic sense, and exceptional reading technique, make him the perfect choice for any music motif.   back