Cynthia Jones has been crowned the winner of the prestigious 2008 Chuck Niles Jazz Singer competition at the Temecula International Jazz Festival. A Los Angeles based vocalist, Cynthia has played jazz and blues with some of L.A.s finest musicians for the last 8 years.
Karen Hammack, is a well respected pianist based in Los Angeles. Her diversity as a player has let her work with such artists as Jackson Brown , Michael McDonald , Bill Frisell , Perla Batalla , Niki Haris , Julie Christensen , Mellisa Manchester and Don Was, too name a few. She also stays busy with jazz artists such as Tierney Sutton , Stephanie Haynes , Larry Koonse ,and Chuck Berghofer. Karen has two CDs of her own original compositions-Lonesome Tree and Above The Clouds. She has traveled the world playing concerts like the Edinburgh Jazz Festival and local treasures like Royce Hall.
David Jackson, bass player extraordinaire, has wowed audiences across the country with his prowess and versatility on bass, piano and accordion. He has played and written with Hoyt Axton (including Ringo's biggest hit, the No No Song and Three Dog Night's Joy To The World), recorded with Jackson Brown, John Denver, and T-Bone Burnette, to name a few. Jackson helped to found and played keyboards in the Naughty Sweeties, a seminal new wave band of the early '80's and later joined the eclectic '30's swing music trio Mood Indigo that inspired the resurgence of swing in Los Angeles that continues today. Jax was also ready when David Lynch needed an accordianist and, though the show is long off the air, he still relishes being the Official "Twin Peaks" Accordionist
James was born and raised in Los Angeles. He saw the Beatles on TV when he was 9 years old and wanted to play music. Later duped into pursuing an academic career, he came to his senses at the age of twenty and has been happy ever since. James has played with J.J. Cale, Eric Clapton, Dave Alvin, Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps, The Souleros, The Twilight Lords and Dillon O’Brian among others.
LEE THORNBERG, most know for Tower of Power, playing trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone and muted trumpet LEE ALSO DID ALL OF THE HORN ARRANGEMENTS ON THIS CD.
TOM PETERSON, on tenor sax and baritone sax
TOMMY KAY, on electric guitar
DEAN PARKS on acoustic guitar.