Band

Kiki Ebsen
vocals, keyboards

Kiki Ebsen is a singer/songwriter/keyboardist from Los Angeles, California. She has recorded four solo CD under her name and played and/or sang on countless others. Her compositions have been covered by sax stars Boney James, Jessy J and Eric Marienthal.

As a solo artist, Kiki has performed worldwide including at the Java Jazz Festival, Maui Music Festival, Tin Pan South, The Temecula Music and Wine Festival and The Waikaloa Music and Wine Festival. She has also opened for Christopher Cross, Al Stewart, Peter Cetera and Jeffrey Osborne.

Kiki has toured worldwide and on TV with artists such as Al Jarreau, Boz Scaggs, Tracy Chapman, James Ingram, Chicago, Peter Cetera, Belinda Carlisle and many others.

She recently released her fifth solo CD called "The Beauty Inside".  You can get it at CD Baby.

Kiki is passionate about animals and performs regularly to raise money for charitable causes. Visit her at kikiebsen.com for more information.

 

 

Dave Beyer
drums

Dave Beyer is an in-demand professional drummer and educator in the Los Angeles area. He has toured, performed live and/or recorded with such artists as Melissa Etheridge, The Motels, Wilson Phillips, Jewel, Joan Osborne, Gregg Allman, Michael McDonald, Loggins & Messina, Jimmy Messina, Stephen Bishop, Buzzy Feiten, and Jango.

Dave is currently touring and recording with Christopher Cross, and played on his most recent release, "Dr. Faith," the "30 Rock" Soundtrack and "Café Carlyle Sessions."

Dave has performed at major venues worldwide, including the Greek Theater, Universal Amphitheater, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Woodstock, Madison Square Garden and Royal Albert Hall. He has played on such TV shows as The Tonight Show, Late Night With David Letterman, The Princess Diaries II and Ally McBeal, as well as numerous commercial jingles.

Dave also stays busy as a studio musician, and as a producer who runs his own studio, Beyer Recording. He teaches at the renowned L.A. Music Academy in Pasadena, and created the school's Rock Drums and Producing/Recording curriculums. He is married to singer/songwriter Debra Davis.

 

David Mann
sax

As a 25 year veteran of the NYC music scene, David Mann has worked in a wide range of roles: saxophonist, solo artist. studio musician, sidemusican on tour with various artists, pit musician on Broadway, producer, composer, arranger, and engineer.

In 2010 David co-produced "Finding My Way Home" with his brother Ned Mann who has been battling ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) for over a decade. The All-Star CD, which features jazz greats such as Mike Stern, Chuck Loeb and Randy Brecker, has been raising funds for Ned's charity to help find a cure for this disease (helpnedfightals.org)
David's Performance and Recording credits include James Taylor, Tower of Power (1993-1996) Paul Simon, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bette Midler,Bob James, Rod Stewart, Steve Tyrell, Diana Ross, Pat Metheny, Gil Evans, Special FX and George Russell

Recent recording credits include Daryl Hall, Jeff Lorber and Christopher Cross
Currently David Mann can be seen on tour with Christopher Cross, Michael Franks and Steve Tyrell.

David Mann has 3 albums as a solo artist "Games" (1987 Island Records), "Insight" (1989 Island Records), "Touch" (2001 N-Coded Music) and 1 album with the Mann Brothers, featuring bassist Ned Mann, entitled "Mann to Mann" (1993 DMP Records)

David Mann has produced over 50 albums, mainly contemporary Jazz artists such as Steve Cole, Nelson Rangell, Rachel Z, Wayman Tisdale and has composed many chart- topping smooth jazz hits.

Originally from Ann Arbor Michigan, David Mann graduated from New England Conservatory in 1986 with a BA in Jazz Studies

 

Richie Gajate-Garcia
drums

Richie Gajate-Garcia is a drummer, percussionist, clinician and educator.  He has traveled the world and recorded with many renowned artists.  His nickname "El Pulpo" (which means "the octopus" in Spanish) was given to him for his unique independence and ability to play multiple percussion instruments simultaneously.

Gajate grew up Puerto Rico with friends of his father, including Tito Puente and Armando Peraza, who fostered his appreciation for salsa and a love for Latin percussion.  Gajate obtained his bachelor's degree in Music Education from the Conservatory of Music in Chicago, as well as his teaching credentials.
Gajate is a sought after percussionist who has accompanied artists such as Phil Collins, Sting, Celia Cruz, Diana Ross, Hiroshima, Patti Labelle, Amy Grant, Brooks and Dunn and many, many more.

Richie was voted one of the top Latin percussionists by his peers in the Modern Drummer Reader's Poll and one of the top Rock percussionists in DRUM! Magazine by its readers this year.

He has recorded on soundtracks to films and is the percussionist of choice for the Disney studios. Richie has toured the world as a top clinician for Latin Percussion Inc. and Sabian Cymbals Ltd.   He has two instructional videos entitled "Close-Up on Congas" and "Close-Up on Bongos and Timbales." He has authored three instructional books entitled "Play Timbales Now," "Play Congas Now" and "Play Bongos and Hand Percussion Now."  Richie is also a contributing author to DRUM! Magazine. 
 
Richie has three solo projects out.  His "Entre Amigos" CD celebrates his Latin roots and is a celebration of Richie's life. His CD "Mis Tres Hijos" is an instrumental work of art, which showcases his ability to master the finesse of graceful percussion. His third CD is titled "Reggaeson con tumbao with R & T" (Richie and Thania). Reggaeson con tumbao is a hybrid of today's popular style Reaggaeton.

 

Chazz Frichtel
vocals, bass

As a bassist, singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist, Chazz has recorded and performed with artists as talented and diverse as Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Chuck Mangione, Wilson/Phillips, Karla Bonoff, Perla Batalla, David Pack, America, Chaka Khan, Gregory Hines, Sheena Easton, Vonda Shepard and many others. He can also be heard singing the theme to NBC's syndicated hit sitcom "Saved By The Bell" which has aired continually since 1990.

As a session bassist/vocalist, Chazz has appeared on numerous recordings for television and film soundtracks, commercials, jingles, and many recording projects.

Chazz attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass studying bass with Rich Appleman and William Curtis, while majoring in music theory and composition. He also attended the University of South Carolina, studying music education and symphonic percussion.

He is a long standing member of AFTRA and endorses Hartke amplification, Music Man/Ernie Ball basses/ strings and Sadowsky Guitars NYC.

 

Andy Suzuki
Sax
Website

 

 

 

Alex Budman
Sax
Website

 

 

 

Ross Pallone
Front of House Mixer

Ross Pallone has been working in the pro audio business for over 30 years. He started his career at Hollywood Sound Recorders where he met Michael McDonald who jumpstarted his career recording and mixing records for Michael and his wife, Amy Holland. Michael recruited Ross to go on the road as his FOH mixer for the next 10 years.

Ross is among the rare few to be an accomplished studio engineer as well as a live mixer and tour manager. His credits include music greats; Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Prince, David Benoit, Mindi Abair, Jeff Bridges and James Newton Howard just to name a few. He has earned several Gold and Platinum Records and was nominated for an Emmy for mixing skills. Ross is currently mixing projects in his home studio as well as mixing live shows with Christopher Cross and others.

Ross can be found on Facebook where you can view his full credit list.