Vin Scialla hits us up NYC style drummer for the Blossom Band

Drummer and bandleader, Vin Scialla, has traveled the world performing jazz and world music. Vin balances a career as drummer, composer, and educator in New York City. US Department of Defense entertainment tours have taken him to the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia and Egypt.Sciallais best known for his innovative fusion of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean/Southern Italian, North Indian and American musical traditions. 

Sciallaco leads a writing and recording band with saxophonist Eric Schugren, which includes Brian Charette on B3 organ and Mike DiRubbo on saxophone. In addition, he has performed with artists such as Valery Ponomarev, John T. La Barbera, Cyrille Aimee, Francois Moutin, JD Allen, Abraham Burton, Fabio Morgera, Vernon Reid, Eric Revis, Alessandra Belloni, Isa Pereira and Nashaz.

Scialla’s recording history includes several albums including The Sciallaand Schugren Project (Liftoff/Prime Directive Jazz), Mission: on Mars w/Neel Murgai (Liftoff Records) and Snehasish Mozumder (Random Chance Records) to name a few. Scialla recently performed at Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors NYC, Symphony Space, United Nations, and The Greene Space at WNYC Radio. His sponsors include Sennheiser/Neumann, Remo, and Sabian Cymbals. Link:liftoffmusic.com

Drummer Jack LeCompte joins West Coast Blossom Band

Jack LeCompte is a Los Angeles based drummer and percussionist, and an overall outstanding musician. He has recorded and performed with a multitude of renown artists such as Anita O’Day, Les Brown Big Band, Stevie Wonder, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, and Natalie Cole. He has also been featured in movies and on TV, such as ‘Bird, The Charlie Parker Story’ and ‘ The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’. He is endorsed by YAMAHA, VIC FIRTH, and REMO.

Jack LeCompte grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he began formal music lessons at age 13. After high-school Jack studied at the School of Music at Philadelphia School of the Arts (now University of the Arts in Philadelphia ), before he could complete his Bachelor in Music, Jack became a full-time professional musician and has been working ever since. Jack attributes his love and knowledge of drums to his teachers Carl Matolla and Ed Shea, both well known Philadelphia musicians, and to his master teacher Murray Spivack.

Jack has toured with leading musicians all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. In 2008 Jack toured Jazz Festivals in Europe with Cheryl Bentyne, from the Manhattan Transfer, and in 2008 he was in Havanah, Cuba and recorded at the Egram – Studios with legendary bass-player Orlando “Cachaito” Lopez. Currently Jack also has a monthly engagement with the Desert Symphony Orchestra in Palm Desert. Jack LeCompte’s movie and TV apperances has earned him a membership in SAG, he is also a member of AFM and the Local 47.

Jack is active in the Los Angeles Unified School District after-school programs that brings jazz to youths in Los Angeles and performs with MUSIC CENTER ON TOUR with grammy nominee Dr. Bobby Rodriguez and the Jazz Adventure. He presently conducts the percussion classes with the Jazz America Program, and serves as Orchestral Percussion Coach of the Irving Middle School.

Chris Conner is West Coast Blossom Band Bassist!

Happy to be on board for “Bird Amongst the Blossom” in Jaye Maynard’s West Coast Blossom Bank, Chris Conner is a bassist, composer and arranger who began playing professionally at the age of 15. He lived in Toronto for 12 years where he played with the likes of; Rick Wilkens, Moe Koffman, Ian Bargh, Pat LaBarabra, Jim Galloway, Brian Browne, Archie Alleyne, Eugene Amaro, Ed Bickert & Rob McConnell.

Currently making his home in Los Angeles, Chris is one of the most sought after musicians in the area. In addition to appearing at international jazz festivals as a member of Los Angeles’ Swing Savant as well as other national acts, he performs regularly at all of San Diego’s and Los Angeles’ top jazz listening rooms.

He is also a long standing member of the Hollis Gentry III Acoustic Quartet & Bruce Cameron’s Latin Jazz Ensemble. 

Arranging and composition are two additional skills that Chris has mastered and he is involved in an assortment of writing projects with artists who represent a wide range of styles, including Bobby Caldwell & Gary Puckett.

Chris has toured and recorded with many jazz masters such as Johnny Hartman, Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Sal Nistico, Bob Crosby, Buddy DeFranco, Phil Woods, Don Menza,the Bill Holman big band, Kate Reid and Oscar Peterson.

Mary O’Brady directs NYC Cabaret Debut

Mary has worked professionally in theatre and television for over 25 years.
As an actor, She appeared in the Broadway National Tour and Los Angeles Productions of Neil Simon’s Rumors. She toured the US as Shaw’s Candida for the Guthrie Theatre and for 20 years worked at Shakespeare Festivals and theatres across the country. She appeared as Sissy Hicks on ABC’s “All My Children.” Her voice has been heard on documentaries, commercials and animated series and she can currently be seen in the short film, “Gone Elvis” by David Newhoff.

As a director and producer her NY stage work includes new plays on Theatre Row, the Cherry Lane’s New Look series and Ensemble Studio Theatre along with numerous video projects. Based in New York, Mary and husband Terry Caza spend part of the year in Chatham, MA where she recently directed Last of the Red Hot Lovers and choreographed f1776. at the Cape’s Monomoy Theatre. Past productions there include Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Quilters, The Odd Couple, My Fair Lady, Rumors and A Streetcar named Desire.

Mary takes great pleasure in working with young actors and musicians. In addition to private coaching, she has taught master classes and directed at Professional Actor Training Programs including UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina School of the Arts, The Hartt School, and NYU, staging classical and contemporary works from Lanford Wilson’s 5th of July to Noel Coward’s Present Laughter. As co-owner of Tour de Force Communications she also coaches corporate executives and has performed, written and directed corporate theatre and video projects throughout the U.S. and Europe.

The Tartan of Collaboration-My Developmental Co Producer

Dorian DeMichele-Co Producer pictured above at The United Solo Theater Festival’s Closing Night Festivities.

I am fortunate in my relationship with my gal pal from my undergrad days at the University of Utah in SLC-Utah. You have seen the beautiful campus featured in the Winter Olympics. It was a great place for a couple of Midwestern gals (from Bannockburn, Il. and Middleton, Wi.) to go to school. We met in class and became fast friends over Barbie, “Plan Nine From Outer Space”the musical,  and Andre Gregory’s “Alice in Wonderland”.  Life took us elsewhere for several years beyond those at the U of U and we came together having each lost a parent as our paths reconvened as only the fabric of life can weave, easily seamlessly and effortlessly.

Dorian DeMichele (Co-Producer) is a performer/writer and educator who has worked in theater, television, film and music. She co-edited the recently debuted novel, “This Wonderful Year” by Mark E. Benno.

Dorian quickly became my supporter and my co producer at PlaidBird Productions during its development. Her musicality, gift of language, interpretation and style jived with my own and I have continued to feel fortunate to have her on my team in a supportive, creative, and business-like position. She understands producing as a solo artist.  She has made the calls, been my company rep (with The United Solo Theater Festival) and been my eyes and ears on and off stage so I can fly unencumbered. She managed my spring preview performances at the HourGlass Tavern with Beth Sheinis with aplomb. She was the hostess with the mostess. She also held my hand during the lead up to the shows theatrical presentation in November on Theater Row and most recently during our two performances at Red Carpet Jazz Upstairs at Vitello’s in SoCal.

West Coast Blossom Band

Music director Nicholas (Nick) Fryman: a leap year baby will be playing keys and directing the trio including himself, Jaye Maynard on vocals, and Fred (Freddie) Johnson on upright bass: playing The First Blossom Dearie Songbook an out of print publication first presented by Daffodil Records in 1982, arrangements by Mike Renzi.

Nick Fryman:

Playing professionally since the age of sixteen, Nick has performed as a soloist and also as a member of various large and small jazz and popular music groups, working extensively with vocal and instrumental artists.  His compositions and arrangements have been featured on the stage, on records and CDs, and in radio and TV commercials.  He has previously been Musical Director/Arranger of: the University of Texas Experimental Jazz Ensemble, the award-winning PBS children’s bilingual television series, CARRASCOLENDAS, the FOOTLIGHT FOLLIES Show and Ball, the NEW YORK ALUMNI SHOW starring Milton Berle, the ALL NITE SHOW late-nite TV entertainment and talk show, and several original musical theater productions.  Other credits include work for BetteMidler, Howie Mandel, Holland America Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and orchestration work for the feature animation film CATS DON’T DANCE and the TV movie IN SEARCH OF DR SEUSS. Nick has toured with actress/entertainer, ANN-MARGRET, recently performed with singer, JANE HARVEY and is currently musical director for cabaret and concert artist, DEAN REGAN.

Fred Johnson:

Over the past 34 years L.A. native Freddie Johnson has been playing the bass and ‘doing’ public radio. He has performed around town with the likes of The Page Cavanaugh Trio, The Torchlighters, Rob Rio and The Revolvers, Snotty Scotty,Dread Zeppelin, The Hollywood Combo, The Aristokats and many others. His radio experience includes stints at KROQ, KPCC, KGAM, and KCSN FM both as on-air talent and in station management.Freddie continues to perform and tour to this very day and is a #1 fan of Blossom Dearie and Jaye Maynard!