Jackie's Groove

Dylan McDonald and The Avians deliver an intoxicating brand of eclectic rock reminiscent of John Lennon, Neil Young, Tom Petty, while creating their own path and making a distinct mark on the musical landscape. “That comparison is flattering,” McDonald admits. “They are such influences to use musically that it makes sense that people hear it in our music, but I am humbled anyway.” McDonald is the sole songwriter on the record and the son of five-time GRAMMY Award-winner Michael McDonald. “Sometimes it is frustrating because people expect to hear my dad’s iconic voice in me…and it’s just not there. Musically we are very different,” McDonald says.

The band features McDonald on lead vocals and guitar, Daniel DeMonico on lead guitar, Matt Heasley on keys, Taylor Lonardo on bass guitar and Joshua Cobb on drums, and singer Lo Carter on vocals.

Although DeMonico and McDonald have played together for many years, the current incarnation has come together within the last year. Before the band “evolved” to The Avians, it was called Dylan McDonald and the Stay Highs-- a nod to a certain segment of society. He jokes, “Well, my dad was a Doobie Brother!”

“This band is different than any that I have been in,” Cobb confides. “It’s a lot more old school because we record live. It’s all recorded live in the studio and not many bands do that anymore….It’s about being together. I enjoy doing these songs that way. To me, it is like showing respect to the past.”
www.dylanmcdonaldandtheavians.com

Born in Pativilca, Peru, 100 miles north of Lima, Alex Acuña was born into a musical family that inspired him and helped shape him as a musician. His father and five brothers were all musicians. Alex taught himself how to play the drums from the age of four. By the time Alex turned ten, he was already playing in local bands. As a teenager, he moved to Lima and became one of Peru's most accomplished session drummers, performing on many recording projects for artists, as well as film and television productions.
In Lima, Alex also earned a glowing reputation for his live performances. So much so, that at the age of eighteen, Alex was chosen in 1964 by the great Cuban band leader, Perez Prado, to join his big band. It was with the Prado band that Alex first traveled to the United States. In 1965, Alex moved to Puerto Rico to work as a studio musician and play locally. During this period, he also studied for three years at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, playing as a classical percussionist with the Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the famed Spanish cellist master Pablo Casals.
Alex moved to Las Vegas in 1974, where he played with such greats as Elvis Presley Diana Ross, Paul Anka, Frank Sinatra, Olivia Newton John. Between 1975 and 1977, he made part of jazz history when he became both drummer and percussionist for one of the most innovative and pioneering jazz groups of our time, Weather Report. He first performed as percussionist (October 1975 to April 1976), and later as drummer (April 1976 to October 1977). He recorded two albums with the group: “Black Market” (1976) and the highly successful “Heavy Weather” (1977), which included the famous tracks “Birdland” and “Havona.” “Heavy Weather” became the first jazz-fusion album to sell a million copies.
Alex next moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1978 where he quickly earned the position of a valued session drummer and percussionist for recordings, television and motion pictures. His countless album credits include such diverse artist as U2, Paul McCartney, Blondy, Joni Mitchell, Jay Z, Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox, Sergio Mendes, Yellow , Joe Cocker, Jennifer Nettles, Jackets, Chic Corea, Herbie Hancock, Paco de Lucia, Ron Carter, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Julio Iglesias, Koinonia, Chris Botti, Chano Dominguez, Tom Jones, Seals, Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel, Placido Domingo, Ron Kenoly, Sam Phillips, The Winnans, Phil Keagy, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton,Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul and also has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra, WDR big band, Alex has also performed live with the likes of Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin Roberta Flack, Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Gipsy Kings, Paco de Lucia, Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Christina Aguilera, James Taylor, Michael Mc Donald, Tito Puente, Roy Orbison, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Palmieri, to name a few. Additionally, Alex has recorded film scores under the direction of Great Composers:
Gustavo Dudamel, Dave Grusin, Alan Silvestri, Michele Legrand, Bill Conti, Michele Colombier, Marvin Hamlish, Maurice Jarre, Alexandre Desplat, Heitor Pereyra, Mark Isham, Michael, Giacchino, John Dabney, John Powell, James Newton Howard, Hans Zimmer, Randy Newman, John Williams, Harry Gerson Williams, Lalo Schiffrin, Steve Jablonski, Christophe Becker and many others. He became the recipient of many awards and honors including the

Emeritus MVP award from NARAS (National Academy of Recording for the Arts and Sciences) and winner of the "Best Latin/Brazilian Percussionist" of Modern Drummer's Readers Poll for fifteen consecutive years.
Alex's South American and Caribbean roots and understanding of contemporary and classical music make him a complete and skilled master musician. In 2000, Alex Acuña y Su Acuarela De Tambores received a Grammy nomination for “Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album” for "Rhythms for a New Millennium". This solo album...

Born in Louisiana, Beasley started writing arrangements in junior high school, which sparked the attention of Jimmy Lyons—the founder of the Monterey Jazz Festival—who recommended him for a scholarship at the Stan Kenton summer jazz camp. The pianist cut his teeth with Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard in the 1980s and has since performed and recorded with a who’s who of artists including, Steely Dan, Dianne Reeves, Chaka Khan, Christian McBride, Sergio Mendes, Herbie Hancock, John Patittucci, Al Jarreau, George Duke, Queen Latifah and AR Rahman, among others.
Living in Hollywood, Beasley juggled a touring musician’s schedule while working in studios composing for award-winning television sitcoms including Fame, Cheers, Family Ties, Star Trek, to name a few. He has worked with multiple Oscar-nominated film composer Thomas Newman for three decades on credits including James Bond Spectre and Skyfall, Get On Up: James Brown, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel I & II, Finding Nemo & Finding Dory, Wall-E, Shawshank Redemption and more. In the era of reality singing shows, Beasley was Lead Arranger for the juggernaut American Idol and helped usher in Carrie Underwood to victory in 2005 as Associate Musical Producer. He directed several TV shows, including Duets, Sing Your Face Off, and Sports Illustrated, 50th Anniversary.
While touring with Miles Davis, Beasley was inspired to make his first of eleven recordings, Cauldron—which was produced by Walter Becker of Steely Dan-and went on to earn a GRAMMY® Award-nomination for his 2011 release Positootly!.
He has since served as musical director for the Thelonious Monk Institute’s gala concerts since 2011, guiding legends and the next generation of jazz greats through all-star tributes to Quincy Jones, Bill Clinton, George Duke and Aretha Franklin. Also, since UNESCO’s inauguration of International Jazz Day in 2012, Beasley has directed each global annual concert from Paris, Istanbul, Osaka, Cuba to the notable concert at the White House in 2016 hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Beasley seamlessly shaped the televised Jazz at the White House concert featuring Aretha Franklin, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Joey Alexander and Sting through a night of swing and celebration. This earned him an Emmy nomination.
Beasley continues to be a chameleon putting on many hats as the calls come in. He co-produced two albums with Weather Report’s Peter Erskine, the first, Dr.Um, earned a 2017 GRAMMY® nomination. For two seasons, he directed the Toyota Symphonies for Youth: “Jazz and the Orchestra” for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Soul, blues and gospel singer Ruthie Foster engaged John to arrange songs for her performance with the Latvian Radio Big Band, which he conducted last month. For Thelonious Monk’s centennial celebration in Los Angeles, Angel City Jazz has appointed Beasley as Artistic Director. He has programmed an Afro-Cuban band to feature a classic recording Carmen Sings Monk with Dee Dee Bridgewater. The second set will feature DJs reimagining Beasley’s MONK’estra Vol. 1 imaginations of Thelonious Monk’s genius compositions.
http://johnbeasleymusic.com/

Salvatore Spinelli is a guitar player, vocalist, performer, composer/songwriter, session player and music instructor living in Temecula, California. Highly influenced by many genres of music, his guitar playing and writing has elements of rock, blues, funk, fusion, country, pop and jazz. Influences and guitar heroes include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana, Joe Bonamassa, Richie Kotzen, John Mayer, Jeff Beck, Hendrix, Lindsey Buckingham, Joey Eppard, David Gilmour, Nuno Bettencourt etc..

As a writer and performer, Sal has and recorded toured across the United States with several artists over the last 20 years as a guitar player, bass player and vocalist. Some artists include Inverse (M.A.N Entertainment), Samuel Larsen / Bridges I Burn, Downinside, The Outside View, Master Splinter and the Shredders and currently Midnight Satellites among many others.

Always a student of music, there is no better way to continue learning than to teach. After private vocal study with Mark Renk musicianship credentials from Berklee College of Music and hundreds of hours working aside incredible artists and producers, Sal enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience by teaching new players at Riffs Music in Murrieta, CA as well as private instruction.

It has been an exciting past year for Guitarist Adam Hawley, who’s debut record “Just The Beginning” was released on March 18. All three of Adam’s singles have topped the charts to become #1 hits and the first, “35th St. ft Eric Darius” had the longest run at #1 on Billboard in 2016.
And, Adam has been named both Smooth Jazz News and JazzTrax Debut Artist of the Year.
Adam signed with Kalimba Music (founded by Maurice White of Earth, Wind, & Fire) in August 2015. His first offering on the Kalimba label features Darius along with Euge Groove, Brian Culbertson, Gerald Albright, and Michael Lington.
Tour Dates Include:
•Seabreeze Jazz Fest
•Catalina Jazz Fest
•Berks Jazz Fest
•Jazz Fest West
•Java Jazz
•Cancun Jazz Fest
•Newport Beach Jazz Fest
•Dave Koz Cruise
•Mallorca Jazz Fest
•Napa Valley Jazz Getaway
•Jazz on the Vine
•KSBR Bash
•Houston, San Antonio, Detroit, Atlanta, Birmingham, Mobile, Pensacola, Bay Area, & Many More
Adam is also known as a prolific sideman, appearing with a who’s who list of artists in a wide variety of genres. Credits include Dave Koz, Jennifer Lopez, Brian Culbertson, Natalie Cole, Gerald Albright, Dave Koz and Friends Cruise, and American Idol to name just a few.
He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California and currently teaches at Musician’s Institute, Chaffey College, and Saddleback College.

A bona fide guitar hero and perennial poll-winner, Al Di Meola has been recognized internationally over the past four decades as virtuoso of the highest order. A prolific composer and prodigious six-string talent, Di Meola has amassed over 20 albums as a leader while collaborating on a dozen or so others with the likes of the fusion supergroup Return To Forever (with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White).
A pioneer of blending world music and jazz, going back to early Latin-tinged fusion outings like 1976’s Land of the Midnight Sun, 1977’s Elegant Gypsy and 1978’s Casino, the guitar great continues to explore the rich influence of flamenco, tango, Middle Eastern, Brazilian and African music with his World Sinfonia, an ambitious pan-global group that he formed in 1991.
www.aldimeola.com

Since their first album release in 2009, the Kenneth Brian Band’s modern Southern Rock and Americana infused style, timeless song-craft, layered with Kenneth’s gritty vocals and guitar prowess have helped earn them a loyal fan following and the respect of fellow musicians. The quartet’s musical styling and dynamic live performances also attracted the attention of some of their mentors like Lucinda Williams, Billy Gibbons and current bandmate Steve Ferrone of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Since 2013, they spent two years touring with multi-Grammy winner Lucinda Williams, who describes them as “somewhere between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Drive-By Trucker”, before joining ZZ Top in 2016 for several dates. Whether in intimate Honky Tonks or stately, sold-out theaters (with Lucinda), they continue to captivate audiences with resonating harmonies and a tight rhythm section.
Their fourth studio album With Lions, released in May, includes 11 songs all written by Kenneth and pays tribute to their musical mentors as well as their musically rich Southern heritage. The single “You’re Not Mine” is an edgy anthem with heavy-hitting guitar solos and their signature harmonies. “Beautiful Storm” is an emotionally evocative track that showcases Kenneth’s spellbinding competency with a slide.
Rock ‘n’ roll royalty Steve Ferrone (Drums, Tambourine, Shakers) and Scott Thurston (Keyboards, Piano) of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers don’t just lend their talents for the album but, Ferrone sits behind the drum kit when he’s not touring with Tom Petty. Travis and Steve met a couple of years ago at a gathering thrown by a mutual pal. Not long after, they needed a drummer for a Hollywood gig and Steve sat in with the band. He worked with the guys to hone their sound and helped them find the right players. And as they say, the rest is history.
Handpicked by Steve, drummer Chris Cano plays with KBB when Ferrone is on the road with the Heartbreakers. Popular session bass guitarist and Disresputable Few member, Paul ILL, joined the band at Steve’s urging and perfectly rounded out the Kenneth Brian Band sound. “Those two were the perfect combination for what we do,” said Kenneth Brian. “Their influence has helped elevate our playing and just being around Steve is a master class on how to be a successful artist and a decent human being,” he continued. In true KBB form, the sound of the new album honors their distinctive blend of Southern Rock that is both progressive and rooted in tradition.
While they both currently reside in Los Angeles, they hail from the South. Kenneth was born in Virginia but spent most of his formative years in Alabama before his family settled in a small town just north of Gainesville, Florida. Travis was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia and spent summers with his dad in Nashville. From a very young age, they realized their passion for creating music and have pursued it with vigor. Travis started on the piano and Kenneth penned his first country song on an old guitar at the ripe age of 4.

After moving to Nashville in 2001, founding members Kenneth Brian (Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar) and Travis Stephens (Harmony Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano) met while playing the local scene and struck up a fast friendship, which led to a creative collaboration in 2009. Travis describes the camaraderie that comes from being part of this band. “We both understand the underlying spiritual groove that we are forever trying to stay dialed into for ourselves and our fans. And that comes before egos or opinions,” he said.
With Lions, out May 19, 2017 on Robo Records, was recorded at Dave’s Room Studio in Hollywood, California. David Bianco (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Tom Petty) produced, mixed and engineered the album. It was mastered at legendary Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California by mastering engineer Kevin Bartley.
Website:

Local San Diego Recording Artist Shyla Day is an award-winning singer/songwriter, print and runway model, recording artist, and performer of sold-out shows at legendary venues like the House of Blues and Whiskey a Go Go. Shyla has been recognized for her newest release, "Kiss Me" by the Los Angeles Music Awards, Akademia Music Awards, Ventura County Music Awards, and Artists in Music Awards. Shyla was the youngest ever nominated in the category for Female Singer/Songwriter of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards. Shyla has landed coveted endorsement deals with L.A.-based guitar company Daisy Rock Girl Guitars, Guitar Hands, Thalia Capos, Prov20 Media, and US Music Corps' Oscar Schmidt by Washburn.
www.ShylaDay.com

The ethereal sound of Jake Allen's music attaches to your heartbeat and reverberates through your veins with the warmth of a long-lost embrace.
He moves around the acoustic guitar like he's been holding it for a lifetime, gliding from end to end and producing sounds that you'd normally expect from a full band. Although most audiences are introduced to Jake Allen through the spectacle of his solo acoustic performances, the scope of Allen's artistry runs much much deeper.
At age five, Allen began exploring synthesizers and recording music in his father’s Northern Michigan studio. By fourteen, he had become proficient with a variety of instruments and he solidified his commitment to a life of producing and performing music. Allen has since gone on to produce several acclaimed solo records, playing every instrument himself, while tastefully complementing his smooth to soaring voice. In addition to drums, guitars, etc., Jake often stresses his belief in using the studio itself as a key instrument to create his massive productions and concept albums. His deep and detailed records lend themselves to the fleeting practice of sitting down and really listening to a record from start to finish.
By his late teens, Jake found himself being drawn to the sounds of finger-style guitar trailblazers like Michael Hedges and Andy McKee. He started to pin point his focus on acoustic guitar, crafting his own breed of six string wizardry. On top of a two-hands on the neck, percussive tapping style, Jake employed an array of effects and live looping to create an engaging solo performance. Through the art of looping, he discovered a way to create a virtual clone-like backing band. With this sufficient bag of tricks, Jake took his solo show to the road in 2009, touring twice a year ever since.
In addition to his solo endeavors, Jake has toured the U.S. several times with his backing band bringing his lush studio productions to life on stage. These live efforts have garnered endorsements from musical gear companies like Takamine, Fender and Gretsch guitars. Jake can often be found online and in the flesh showing off new guitars and other products made by these reputable companies.
As Jake continues to write, produce albums and perform, his mission statement remains the same. "I observe, report and affirm my life through the act of making music. In turn I wish that act will enrich the lives of others and inspire them to be their own definition of great."
Website:
www.jakeallenmusic.com
Follow Jake on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/jakeallenmusic

Jerry Cortez joined Tower of Power in January of 2010.
His funky rhythm style and blazing leads are a perfect fit for TOP, and the fans are hitting the message board with many compliments. A seasoned professional, Jerry has toured and recorded with artists including Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston, Jessie Colin Young, Buddy Miles, Alex Ligertwood, and many others.

Here is more from Jerry:
"As a kid I was exposed to a variety of music from Swing and R&B to the music of the British Invasion. When I saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan I knew I wanted to be a guitar player that played in a band, and my dream never wavered from that day forward. In 1965 my uncle introduced me to the record "Papa's Gotta Brand New Bag" by James Brown. I'm pretty sure I wore out the 45 that day. That experience kick started my love of funk and soul music.
I have had many influences, but my first musical influences were my father, Victor, as well as his younger brothers, and my brother Robin. Robin is three years older than me and plays the drums. He introduced me to dozens of musicians as we grew up and brought me into musical situations with older kids with more experience.
I was surrounded by music 24/7. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area gave me the chance to go to lots of live shows and to see many of my heros. My dad played tenor sax on gigs at least five nights a week throughout my childhood and still does to this day. Besides turning my brother and I on to East Bay Grease in 1970, he exposed us to some great music, including a time when he got us out of bed and drove us, in our pajamas, to a nearby club to hear Lydia Pense and Cold Blood. We parked on the street out front and listened through an open door. What a thrill for an aspiring musician. It also made for an entertaining story to tell Lydia when I joined Cold Blood 20 years later. When I was a young kid I was going to concerts and shows at Fillmore West and Winterland. The Bay Area was a great place for a music loving kid to grow up.
I spent my formative years with my guitar in my hands almost constantly. That love of music and playing is still with me and I take pleasure in the fact that I get the chance to play with some of the best musicians on the planet in Tower of Power".