Renowned composer,arranger, producer, music director, saxophonist, and educator, Tom Scott, has made 33 solo recordings, earning him 13 Grammy nominations, and 3 Grammy awards. Over the last 50 years, Tom has appeared on over 500 recordings with diverse artists like Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Thelonious Monk, The Blues Brothers, The L.A. Express, Don Ellis, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Aerosmith, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Carole King, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Blondie, Toto, Whitney Houston, George Harrison, Olivia Newton-John, The GRP All-Star Band, Johnny Mathis, Michael Jackson, The Beach Boys, The Grateful Dead, Patrick Williams Orchestra, Richard Groove Holmes, Alphonse Mouzon, Oliver Nelson, Bill Plummer, Howard Roberts, Lalo Schifrin, Otis Spann, Ringo Starr, Gabor Szabo, Bob Thiele, Richard Marx, Eddie Money, Pink Floyd, Helen Reddy, and Steppenwolf, among many others. Tom has played on countless soundtracks, and composed numerous Film and T.V. scores. Tom has served as musical director for the Academy Awards, the Emmy Awards 9 times, Ebony’s 50th Birthday Celebration, the People’s Choice Awards, Comic Relief, the Carol Burnett Show, the Pat Sajak Show, the Chevy Chase Show, and scored the HBO documentary, “The Bronx USA”. Tom teaches master classes in woodwinds, arranging, film composing, and at the N.Y. University Summer Camp. Tom produced 2 albums for vocalist Daniel Rodriguez, selling over 400,000 copies of his recording, The Spirit of America. Tom is a member of the Les Deux orchestra and has conducted over 30 symphony orchestra performances as music director for Daniel Rodriguez. Tom’s father, Nathan Scott, was a prolific Film and T.V. composer, with more than 850 T.V. credits, and over 100 Film credits as a composer orchestrator, and conductor, most famously producing the theme songs for T.V. shows, Dragnet and Lassie.
Massachusetts native and trumpet stand-out, Aaron Janik, began the trumpet at age 10, and was tutored by master New England trumpeter, Jack Martin, and studied with Dr. Wendell Logan at Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences, receiving degrees in trumpet performance and biology for pre-med. During that time Aaron was nurtured by the late Marcus Belgrave and trumpet great Sean Jones. Now living in L.A., Aaron teaches young musicians, and is an active member of the L.A. studio scene. Aaron has toured with r&b first lady, Faith Evans, Charlie Wilson, Dwele, Micki Miller, and Kierra Sheard. Aaron has also performed with Earth, Wind, and Fire, Lil Kim, 112, Total, Robin Eubanks, the Yellowjackets, Bone Thugs, Harmony, Les Nubians, Gino Vanelli, Carl Thomas, Lisa Page-Brooks, Eric Robertson, and the Clark Sisters. in 2017, Aaron co-founded Horn-FX, an on-line community for wind instrumentalists, which is a school curriculum taught at Berklee College of Music, University of Utah, Brooklyn College, Cal Arts, the National Electrobrass convention, and high schools and middle schools across the country.
Pianist Mitchell Forman began the classical piano at the age of 7, and at 17, studied music at Manhattan School of Music for 3 years, as well as working in bands around N.Y. After graduating, Mitchell toured and recorded with sax great, Gerry Mulligan, followed by working with sax great, Stan Getz. Mitchell was in the spotlight, performing solo piano at the Newport jazz Festival, followed by tours with jazz artists, Phil Woods, Carla Bley, Mel Torme, and Astrud Gilberto. Mtchell has made 13 recordings as a leader, and for 40+ years has nearly 500 music credits to his name. Mitchell recorded with guitar great John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and ex-Weather Report sax great, Wayne Shorter, and has worked and recorded with jazz greats like John Scofield, Mike Stern, Janis Siegel of the Manhattan Transfer, Dave Samuels, Diane Schuur, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny,
Simon Phillips, Jimmy Earl, Freddie Hubbard, saxophonist Bill Evans, and Ricky Lee Jones. Mitchell recorded a tribute album to the late great pianist Bill Evans, and has established his own record label, Marlis Jazz. Mitchell has performed with the band Metro, with a quartet annually in Europe, with Rick Braun’s Band, the BWB Band, Jeff Golub, and Virgil Donato. Mitchell’s piano influences include Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, and Chick Corea.
Composer, educator, and master bassist, Chris Colangelo plays with a deep, resonating tone, and astonishing articulation. A native of New Jersey, Chris studied jazz performance at Rowan University, and began his playing career in the Philadelphia area, the Delaware Valley, and Atlantic City before moving to L.A. in the early 90’s, where he has lived, worked and toured with a who’s who’s list of jazz heavyweights, like the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Tonight Show Band, and dozens of great jazz artists and combos. Chris also tours with famed vocalists Jack Jones, and Mary Wilson. Chris has 5 recordings as a leader/co-leader.
Local drummer, Andy Fraga Jr. was influenced to play music from his late father, Andy Fraga Sr., who performed locally as a stand-out jazz pianist for many years. Andy Fraga Jr. developed his drumming skills under the guidance of bass great, Marshall Hawkins, Director of the Idyllwild Academy of Arts School. Since his teen years, Andy Jr. has performed all around the southland, including San Diego, L.A., Temecula, the Palm Springs area, and has recently been the house jazz drummer at Fantasy Springs. Andy Jr. cites jazz drumming greats Gene Krupa, and Elvin Jones as influences.
