SAM BEVAN – Arranger, Associate Producer
Since moving to San Francisco in 1999, Sam Bevan has established himself as one of the most versatile and creative bassists in the Bay Area. Bevan is able to canvas a large musical landscape where jazz, funk, r&b, folk and Afro-Cuban disciplines joyously intermingle. His sound is in response to the history of modern jazz, yet it’s his composer’s ear which informs his overall concept:
“Since I began my musical life as a pianist, including composing and arranging for pop/rock, jazz and salsa bands, I have a broad sense of the role of the bass. I am very content providing support and feel as a part of the rhythm section, as well as listening for appropriate moments to push the music into new territory. My goal is to interpret the music in interesting and creative ways, without compromising the lead melodic instrument.”
The foundation was laid for Bevan’s career where he began classical piano lessons at the age of four. Sam’s adoption of the electric and acoustic bass followed periods playing jazz and classical piano, singing professionally and getting a BA in French. After attending college in Salt Lake City, he now resides a few miles from where he was born in Oakland, California.
Throughout his professional life, Sam has had the opportunity to work with a wide range of artists including: David Grisman, Joe Craven, Zigaboo Modeliste, Geoff Muldaur, Jim Kweskin, Roswell Rudd, Kenny Washington, Mary Wilson, Barbara Morrison, Jacqui Naylor, Bjorkestra, Industrial Jazz Group, Mark Levine, Joe Locke, Dave Ellis, Matt Flinner, Scott Nygaard, Fito Reinoso, Orestes Vilato, Louie Romero & Mazacote, Jesus Diaz, Carlos Caro, Karl Perazzo, Raul Pineda, Marco Granados, Jackie Rago, The VNote Ensemble, Mamadou Sidibe, Monk’s Music Trio, Loose Wig, Steve Lippia, Chelle & Friends, the Kin, New Pickle Family Circus, Stevie Coyle, Walter Strauss, Calaveras, Telepathy, Alexa Weber Morales, Nathan Clevenger Group, Ian Dogole & Hemispheres, Fil Lorenz Orchestra and the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.
Props for Sam’s latest album include the following:
“Bay Area jazzman Bevan is a bassist for all occasions, as his quintet session bounces easily from hard-bop to groove-oriented jazz rock. It’s Bevan’s combination of tone, swing and chops that makes this line so
fine.” ~JD Constantine, Guitar World’s Bass Guitar
“Articulate, focused and highly musical, Bevan’s sense of melody and rhythmic thrust showcase his talent. Tight arrangements and well conceived writing goes to show that Bevan is a multi-dimensional artist with much to offer.” ~Randy McElligot, Jazzreview
Bassist Sam Bevan does not disappoint…Bevan’s heavy bass work provides a strong foundation not only on this track, but throughout the entire album.
~Jonah Berman, Jazz Times
Sam Bevan was out-of-sight. His bass-playing was steady, yet extremely snappy, upbeat and somehow exciting as hell. His distinct style is a combination of his unconventional phrasing and his tendency to play the bottom end in a higher register than most funk players. ~Rob Winkler, Jambase
JONATHAN ALFORD – Piano
Jonathan started playing the piano at 5. He studied classical piano at the University of Wisconisn and privately with Julian White .Mostly self-taught, he began studying jazz at the age of 25 with Mark Levine and a few years later entered the Latin music world, learning the rudiments of the latin style with the late piano legend Carlos Federico.
Bay Area native Jonathan Alford’s latin chops were honed by 12 long years playing piano in the salsa trenches – though he fondly recollects his days changing, Superman-like, from his postal worker’s uniform into his gig duds. His reputation for honest, melodic and harmonically modern compositions and accompaniment has drawn a vast array of singers to him.
“Most piano players like soloing. I like songs,” he says. He combines a typical Bay Area smorgasbord of influences from classical to blues while adding a distinctive and lyrical piano voice.
Jonathan has been a regular on the SF Bay Area music scene for 20 years. He has performed and recorded with such local talents as singers Jenna Mamina, Maria Marquez, Elaine Lucia, Daria, Roberta Donnay as well as Bobby Hutcherson, Bud Shank, David Sanchez and others. He has played at the SF and SJ Jazz Festivals among others, as well as stints in France and Italy with various artists. As a latin pianist Jonathan has been fortunate to have shared the stage or recorded with some of the greats in latin percussion, Orestes Vilato, Armando Peraza, Francisco Aquabella, John Santos, Pete Escovedo as well as Chocolate Armenteros, the Machete Ensemble, Santana and Julius Melendez.
Jonathan’s gorgeous collaborative album of 2011 is with Orestes Vilató, Sheldon Brown, Omar Ledezma Jr., Maria Marquez and David Pinto. http://azesu.bandcamp.com/
COLIN DOUGLAS – Drumset, percussion
Drummer/percussionist Colin Douglas was born into a musical family in the city of New York. The son of an acclaimed music producer, Colin was exposed to many different instruments at a young age, but was quickly drawn to the drumset. He proceeded to study the drums as well as hand percussion and classical percussion throughout his youth and eventually attended both the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music and Manhattan School of Music.
After completing his studies, Colin moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he immersed himself in the rich latin percussion scene while studying Cuban popular music and folklore with many noted percussionists, including Michael Spiro, Jesus Diaz and Roberto Borrel. Eventually, his love of the music took him to Cuba where he studied with master batalero Regino Jimenez. Colin has performed and recorded with a vast array of musicians and projects, from Michael Spiro’s Bata Ketu and Jesus Diaz y su QBA to Donna Summer and rock guitarist Slash. Colin also maintains an extremely busy teaching schedule.
CARLOS CARO – Congas, timbales, percussion
A native of Havana, Cuba, Carlos Caro was musically educated throughout his youth, graduating from the Alejandro Garcia Cultural Conservatory inHavana and the ENIA (National School of Arts Instructors), after which he began his professional career with the group “Clave.” He has performed on tour with and has recorded for some of Cuba’s biggest names in music, including Paulo Fernandez Gallo and Jackeline Castellano’s best selling “La Dama Del Son.”
Caro immigrated to Mexico City in 1993 where he was commissioned to record and perform a work in the Danzon style with the Mexico City Philharmonic. He then appeared on the West Coast music scene in 1996 to quickly become one of the most sought-after Latin percussionists, simultaneously playing in the best Cubano, Salsa, and Latin Rock bands throughout the San Francisco bay area. He has performed with Rebeca Mauleón, Omar Sosa, QBA, Avance, Eddie Palmieri, Armando Perazza, Candela, Jorge Santana & Malo, Ritmo y Armonia, Dr. Loco’s Rocking Jalapeño Band, Ramon Romero & Cuerdas de Fuego, Alexa Weber Morales, Danny Lozada, Jose Pepito Gomez and performed with the Cuban Singer Adonis Puentes at the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia two years ago.
Carlos Caro has released two albums with his own group Vission Latina and is endorsed by LP (Latin Percussion). For more information please visit www.carloscaro.net and www.vissionlatina.com.
FELIX SAMUEL – Vocals
The first time you hear Felix Samuel, you’re intoxicated by his rich sound, a potent blend of his Cuban past and global future. The dark, charismatic vocalist stirs romantic hearts with a style not unlike José Feliciano, mixed with a unique vocal color that echoes his father, Felix “Sami” Perez Castro of the charanga band Ritmo Oriental. Having travelled from Portugal to Paris, from Mozambique to Macedonia, Felix is launching the American portion of his career with his debut album, Felix Samuel en la Habana. Produced in 2010 in Cuba by Germán Velasco, featuring Manolito Simonet and a duet between Felix and his father, these 12 originals introduce you to a singer whose touch you’ll soon crave: the unforgettable Felix Samuel.
MARA FOX – Trombone
Bay Area native Mara Fox has been an established freelance trombonist in the Bay Area for over 20 years, working in jazz, latin and classical genres. She has played with a wide variety of well-known groups including the Berkeley Symphony, the San Francisco Sinfonietta, the Montclair Women’s Big Band, the Mike Vax Big Band and the Pacific Mambo Orchestra.
She has recorded and toured internationally with Conjunto Cespedes, Wayne Wallace and the Klezmorim. She currently is working with many different local salsa and jazz groups, enjoys bike riding, cooking and spending time with her spunky kittens and spunkier son.
STEFFEN KUEHN – Trumpet
German-born trumpeter and composer Steffen Kuehn must be considered as one of the rising stars in today’s popular Jazz and Latin music with a unique voice that already appeals to many music lovers around the globe! His versatility makes him a much in-demand trumpeter – his Latin Salsa Big Band ‘Pacific Mambo Orchestra’ is creating a lot of buzz, the recent EP release of his Jazz Nonet ‘Constantine’ has been getting airplay in Europe and his 2009 Smooth Jazz release ‘Trumpop’ was in the running for a 2009 Grammy nomination for “Best Contemporary Jazz Album.”
Steffen’s unique writing also secured him a publishing deal with Los Angeles-based Monica Benson and her company, Wild Pink Music. This led to the placement of the title track “Trumpop” in the Miramax movie “Birthday Girl,” starring Nicole Kidman and Ben Chaplin. In addition, his original Latin Jazz composition “One for Louie” was placed in the USA Cable Network summer blockbuster series “Burn Notice,” and aired in February 2009. Steffen lives in Concord, CA and loves tennis, movies and sushi.
GARY MANKIN – Engineer
Gary is a freelance recording engineer and producer based in San Francisco. He’s made hundreds of CDs/records over the past 20-plus years in a plethora of styles. But he’s more than a crack engineer; he’s blessed with laser-sharp ears, rapier wit and profound musical sensibility. He has engineered and mixed all three of Alexa’s solo albums starting in 2004, as well as the 2010 Latin Grammy-nominated Wayne Wallace date Bien! Bien!, on which Alexa also appeared.
