Anne Walsh Was born into a musical family (her father Frank was a baritone/tenor who sang the lead in many productions for local light opera companies). Early on, Anne’s parents knew they had a singer on their hands. Anne humorously recalls “At age seven, I wanted to be Shirley Jones”.

After high school, Anne went on to attend Anna Maria College where she studied voice and music therapy. She also attended Orange Coast College, where she soon was invited to sing with the OCC Big Band.

Anne furthered her education pursuing a Master’s degree in music at Cal State Long Beach. There, she received voice training in the ‘bel canto’ art of singing with vocal teacher Marvelee Cariaga and sang and studied opera. Being well versed in operatic singing as well as jazz gives Anne a unique background and perspective to her vocals.

What really opened up new vistas for Anne was an audition at Carmello’s in Southern California. There she landed the gig and this was her introduction to Brazilian Jazz and the world of Jobim, Dori Caymmi, Basia, and Flora Purim. “The experience of singing Brazilian music gave my voice a freedom I had never known before.”

After receiving her master’s degree, Anne soon started singing with a local jazz quintet, where she met her future husband pianist Tom Zink. Presently, she sings at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach, CA and other various clubs in the Southern California area, including Spaghettini’s.

Recently Anne collaborated with her husband Tom Zink on a new recording project. It is a Brazilian jazz release “Pretty World”, and it includes many outstanding musicians:

Vocals: Anne Walsh
Piano/Keys/Arrangements: Tom Zink
Bass: Brian Bromberg, Carlitos Del Puerto, Jerry Watts
Drums: Chris Wabich
Percussion: Tiki Pasallis, Rogerio Jardim, Joe DeRenzo:
Sax: Gary Meek:
Guitar: Oscar Castro Neves, Gannin Arnold

"With her debut jazz CD ‘Pretty World’ Anne Walsh has sublimely captured the concept of this planet of ours as a beautiful place to be. Her voice is as clear as a bell and as she joyously interprets a range of songs that span the decades the entire collection is blessed with a luscious string section and picture perfect production from husband Thomas Zink. In fact Walsh navigates this wonderful amalgam of buoyant Brazilian jazz grooves and poignant heart tugging ballads with total aplomb..."  -  Denis Pool, Smooth Jazz Therapy

To hear audio clips visit here!

For more information on Anne Walsh visit:

www.annewalsh.com

Thomas Zink is a pianist, composer, producer, and engineer who has written/produced soundtracks for “Doug”, “101 Dalmatians” television cartoon series, commercials, and feature TV movie “Treasure Of Dos Santos” (a complete orchestral score). Tom owns and operates the Ming Dynasty Studio where he has also recorded many outstanding artists including Michael McDonald, Richard Elliot, Brian Bromberg, Dave Koz, Peter Nero, Fernando Ortega, Ronnie Laws and many others.

 Tom has also recorded several hundred projects for the Yamaha Disclavier, and Yamaha used his studio as its main facility for recording audio disks for their PianoSoft Plus Audio Disclavier series including projects with Joey DeFrancesco, Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, John Novello, Carol Welsman, and Judy Roberts.

Tom is also a member of the jazz trio the "3&Band" an acoustic jazz trio in the style of ECM featuring piano, guitar, drums and bass with additional percussion and orchestral elements. The other two members of the band include notable outstanding drummer Chris Wabich and guitar whiz Gannin Arnold.

"Beautiful, mellow, and warm, this CD has a spiritual energy that will be sure to resonate and touch you deep within! The musicianship and writing are absolutely impeccable" - David Arivett (CJA Network)

To hear the 3&Band new release "American Folk Song" visit here! 

www.tomzink.com

Kemba Cofield is an internationally known jazz vocalist, recording artist, writer, and composer. She has entertained diverse audiences nationwide including performances at some of the finest venues such as the 2008 Atlanta Jazz Festival, the National Black Arts Festival, Lincoln Center Philadelphia Museum, Atlanta’s High Museum and New York’s Historic Lenox Lounge. Kemba has shared the stage with the Zapp Band, Midnight Star, Bernard Linnette, Don Braden, The Aaron Goldberg Trio, Takana Miyamoto, Freddie Cole, Rene Marie, and other jazz greats.

Kemba shares that "I don't just consider myself a vocalist but a storyteller. If I'm talking about love, I convey that emotion to the audience."

In 2003, Kemba met trombonist Wycliffe Gordon who invited her to sing with his ensemble as well as to appear on his album, "In The Cross". Her relationships with Linnette and Gordon have exposed her to new audiences, taught her the true meaning of hard work, and provided her with an entrée to the jazz scene.

On her CD release "Shades of Kemba" she sings traditional straight ahead standards while blending in and retaining her gospel roots. The "New Orleans" jazz sound also shines through as Wycliffe Gordon leads an ensemble in "When The Saints Go Marching In" and the  "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me." A stellar group of jazz musicians contributed their musical expertise to the recording including Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines, Marcus Printup, Reginald Veal, Doron Johnson and Alvin Atkinson.

“Kemba Cofield has been on the jazz scene for years and delights her audience with a masterful blend of straight ahead jazz with the influence of her gospel roots.” –eJazzNews.comeJazzNews.com

To hear audio clips visit here!

More information on Kemba Cofield here!

Jetro Da Silva was born in Meier, Rio de Janeiro, in February 28th, 1967. DaSilva began his musical training at 12 years old. With only one month of piano lessons, Jetro was already playing for his church congregation (Sao Joao de Meriti Baptist Church). When Jetro turned 14, he started attending   Escola Nacional de Musica, the most respected classical school in Rio de Janeiro. Jetro auditioned and was awarded a full scholarship.

At only 16, Jetro was the sole supporter of his family, playing both with world-renowned musicians and for his Pentecostal church, Nova Vida da Tijuca in Rio da Janeiro. After touring with several Brazilian artists Jetro moved to Boston to extend his music education at Berklee College of Music, majoring in Music Production and Engineering.

Because of his talent and experience in Brazil as a producer, performer, arranger and songwriter, it didn't take Jetro very long for the music community in Boston and LA to embrace him. Jetro now holds a position of Professor at the ensemble department at the prestigious BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC in Boston, Ma. Jetro lives in East Greenwich, RI with his wife Rhonda da Silva.

Jetro’s experience, training as keyboardist/producer/arranger has increased his opportunity to work with people such as: Whitney Houston, Jamie Fox, Patti Labelle, Pastor Andrae Crouch, Earth Wind and Fire, Chaka Khan, The Pointer Sisters, Gladys Knight, Brandy, Sheila E., Namie Amuro, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Kem, Celine Dion, Patti Austin, Emilio Santiago, Monica, Mary and Mary and many others.

On Jetro's CD release "Live" the dominant sound is smooth jazz mixed with Brazilian, R&B, funk, and a touch of classical. The compositions range from well chosen covers, Miles Davis' "All Blues", Milton Nascimento's "Nothing Will Be As It Was", Caetano Veloso's "Voce E Minha", and a classical piece, "Conciertode Aranjuarez", by Rodrigo, to Da Silva originals.

To hear audio clips visit here!

More info on Jetro here: www.jetrodasilva.com

 Michael Prigodich is a jazz pianist, composer and arranger.  Other instruments Mike can play include clarinet, trumpet, electric bass, classical guitar, and drums/percussion.  He began composing and learning to play jazz and rock on the piano after hearing Chuck Mangione, Dave Grusin, and Van Halen on the radio while in his early teens!  

Mike studied jazz in the late 1980's and early 1990's at Wheaton College in the Chicago, IL area with Howard Whitaker and Larry Panella (who later toured the world with the Phil Collins Big Band) Mike also took classes at the Wheaton Conservatory of Music, studying music theory, music history, and sight-singing, as well as piano lessons with John Zimmerman, a jazz combo class with Audrey Morrison, and a music technology class with Tony Payne. He also developed his musical versatility by playing in a jazz ensemble, a black gospel choir, composing original material and transcribing and arranging material by other artists including Kansas and Toto covers.  He also performed rock, pop, country, gospel, and jazz with many great musicians while continuing to hone his transcribing and arranging skills.  

After college, Mike stayed in the Chicago, IL area and played keyboards for several years during the mid-1990's with the Michael Newmark Orchestra, and continued his jazz piano studies with Bradley Williams (Woody Herman), Dennis Plies and Clay Giberson.

Within recent years, after moving to the Portland Oregon area he began playing electric bass at West Hills Covenant Church, along with occasional piano and keyboards.  Mike has also been hired to transcribe music for others to perform, including transcribing the hit song "Carry On Wayward Son" for the band at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago,Illinois for a guest appearance by guitarist Kerry Livgren from the Classical Rock group Kansas.

Mike has many interesting jazz, funk, and progressive rock arrangements of church music, as well as a growing catalog of original jazz and rock compositions.  He has recently formed a jazz quartet "Someday Syndrome" and is now playing jazz gigs with the group with plans for a new CD release soon.

To hear audio clips visit:   www.mikeprigodich.com

http://www.myspace.com/mikeprigodich

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