Danny Gerz
Danny Gerz has been playing bass for over 9 years. Gerz plays both the acoustic and electric bass, and is a former student of guitar players Jay Shelby and Steve Homan. Gerz has studied at Solano Community College where he received three AA degrees, to in liberal arts and one in Music performance. He was also the principal bass player in both the day and night jazz big bands ran by Tim Acosta as well as the jazz combo bands for three years. While attending Solano he also played with he UC Davis jazz big band and combo bands for two years ran by Director/Composer Delber Bump. He currently majors in Jazz Studies at San Jose State, where he studies under bay area greats: John Shifflett, Wayne Wallace, Aaron Lington, and Frank Sumares.
Cairo McCockran
Cairo McCockranis an Oakland based drummer/Jazz-percussionist. Cairo began his career in music as a member of E.W. Wainwrights African Roots of Jazz Youth Drummers. Cairo later went on to study music at the Berkeley Jazzschool under the instruction of such musicians as John Yi, Paul Hanson, Kurt Moore, Glen Richman, Jeff Marrs, Ledisi, Wayne Wallace, and Susan Muscarella.Cairo continued his education at the California Maritime Academy where he earned a bachelor's degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs. Cairo had the privilege of continuing his studies in Jazz under the instruction of Dave Lefebvre while in the CSUM Jazz Ensemble. Cairo has attended master classes/clinics with Elvin Jones, Jeff Tain Watts, Trilok Gurtu, Steve Bowman, Peter Erskine,Billy Martin, and Michael Morgan Cairo currently plays with Steve Lucky and the Rhumbs Bums featuring Ms. Carmen Getit, Quinn Deveaux and the Blue Beat Revue, Upwords Movement, and the Bryan Simmons Trio.
James Toor
James Toor is a multi-instrumentalist from the Bay Area. He studies woodwind and percussion instruments and has performed with orchestras, stage bands, wind ensembles, big bands, pit ensembles, musical theatre, dancers, studio bands and more. He holds an Instrumental Music degree from Solano College and is currently attending California State University, Sacramento. James is also a principal musician at UC Davis where he performs regularly with the jazz ensembles directed by pianist/composer Delbert Bump. Having had the opportunity to work with some of the best musicians and educators on the west coast, he enjoys the music.
Adam Everett
Adam Everett is a professional musician (drums, percussion) currently based out of the Bay Area. He is fluent in a variety of styles, including jazz, funk, afro-cuban, rock, country, pop, reggae and hip-hop. He recently graduated San Jose State University with a Bachelors of Music, concentration in Jazz Studies. He has studied with Galen Lemmon, Joe Hodge, Stockton Helbing and Jason Lewis. Aside from his education at San Jose State, Adam has spent much of his time teaching private drum lessons and gigging throughout the Bay Area. He currently plays with Emperor Norton’s Jazz Band, a local traditional jazz 6-piece group, and Jackie Gage, a San Jose upcoming soul/jazz singer. He also serves as the regular drummer for Willow Glen Methodist Church Praise Band. Adam is available for private drum lessons at Music Village in San Jose. www.adamever.com
Caleb Murray
Caleb Murray is an accomplished musician who has been professionally performing around the Bay Area since he was 16. He has played with Daddios Big Band at lead tenor led by Steve Tyler as well as with Wayne Wallace and John Shifflet. He studied under Aaron Lington at San Jose State and Tom Lockwood at Hope College. While in Michigan, Murray was lead tenor with Brian Coyle in the Holland Jazz Ensemble. www.calebmurray.com
RobG
Rob G Trumpet Bio
RobG (Robert Encarnacion Gastelum) began playing trumpet in 1995 at the age of 11. The first band he played in was a jazz combo; he was 11 years old, learning jazz standards. The second band was a cover band he joined when he was 13 years old, playing popular covers, from Santana to James Brown. After finishing high school he attended music college back east for three years. Currently RobG is composing songs for SkunkFunk Soundsystem, a band from Vallejo, as well as producing songs for a singersongwriter, also writing songs for startup salsa band. Please stay tuned for music videos and album releases for RobG coming soon! http://robgtrumpet.com
RobG (Robert Encarnacion Gastelum) began playing trumpet in 1995 at the age of 11. The first band he played in was a jazz combo; he was 11 years old, learning jazz standards. The second band was a cover band he joined when he was 13 years old, playing popular covers, from Santana to James Brown. After finishing high school he attended music college back east for three years. Currently RobG is composing songs for SkunkFunk Soundsystem, a band from Vallejo, as well as producing songs for a singersongwriter, also writing songs for startup salsa band. Please stay tuned for music videos and album releases for RobG coming soon! http://robgtrumpet.com
Danny Owens
Bay Area Trombonist
Benjamin Martinez
Guitarist/ singer /songwriter Benjamin Martinez was born and raised in the city of Vallejo, California. From playing along with songs on the radio, to being thrown into church groups to sink or swim, he is a mainly self-taught musician. He is currently pursuing an AA degree in music at Los Medanos College and currently plays in a guitar and vocals duet weekly at Biscuits and Blues in their Union Room Lounge. He also plays for Revive Worship Youth Choir, is the lead musician at Central City Christian Fellowship. Also he is in a group called “ATM” short for “All That Music” and is currently working on their first album. In the past he has won multiple talent shows for his own compositions and has played at many local festivals and in the future hopes to spread the joy of live music to the world.
