Jerry Watts, Jr., has an extensive list of recording credits, having appeared on hundreds of CDs, numerous film & TV soundtracks, as well as commercials, film trailers, and instructional DVDs. Jerry has a wealth of international touring experience, representing a broad spectrum of artists at the highest levels of rock, pop, jazz, and "world" music. Educated at both William Paterson University, New Jersey, and California State University, Northridge, his recording/performance credits include work with: Andy Summers, Andy Timmons, Babaghanoush, Billy Idol, Dave Stewart, Don Grusin, Dori Caymmi, Dr. John, Flora Purim, Gerald Eaton, Herbie Hancock, Jai Uttal, Justo Almario, Keiko Matsui, Keith Emerson, Kevyn Lettau, L. Subramaniam, Mitchel Forman, Mylene Farmer, Pat Leonard, Peter Cetera, Sergio Mendes, Sheryl Crow, Simon Phillips, Steve Vai, worship leader Tommy Walker, and Wishful Thinking.

Originally from Cleveland, OH, Andre moved to LA in 1985 to attend the Los Angeles City College Music Program, where he studied under Doc Simpson and Woody James. After four years of classes, he landed his first big road gig in 1989 with the Busboys. Andre then went on to join A&M Records recording artist Total Eclipse. Since then, he has performed and/or recorded with Dave Koz, George Duke, Warren Hill, Marcus Miller, Danny Jung, Jeffrey Osbourne, Tom Scott and the L.A. Express, Mindi Abair, Dave Benoit, The Brothers Johnson, Rick Braun, Peter White, Jeff Golub, Steve Ferrone, A Tribe Called Quest, Paul Jackson, Jr., and many others. For the latest information, please visit www.andreberry.com.

Steve Billman attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and also graduated from Musician's Institute in 1981. Steve studied with Jeff Berlin and Bob Magnusson while at Musicians Institute. He has worked with some of the world's finest musicians, including Brian Bromberg, Brandon Fields, Rob Mullins, Pat Kelley, Gregg Karukas, Free Flight, Alex Acuna, Tom Brechtlein, Gary Novak, Jeff Richman and most recently, Frank Gambale, to name a few. He was a member of the band "Continuum" for 15 years, and has been a member of the Academy staff since its very earliest days.

Bassist, producer, and composer Mark Browne has played with Melissa Etheridge, Paula Cole, Emmylou Harris, Philip Sayce, Chrissie Hynde, Sarah McLachlan, Lily Wilson, k.d. lang, George Michael, Patty Griffin, Sheryl Crow, Wynonna, Beth Thornley, Neil Finn, Joan Osborne, The Dixie Chicks, Billy Idol, Dolly Parton, Lindsay Buckingham, Mark Goldenberg, Gloria Estefan, Chaka Khan, Rufus Wainright, Donna Delory, Mary J. Blige, Jewel, Garth Brooks, Cindy Lauper, Destiny's Child, Pat Benatar, Simple Minds, Anne and Nancy Wilson, Ichiro, and Vonda Sheppard.

Philip Bynoe, originally from Boston, studied at the Berklee College of Music under Wit Browne. He has played on several TV shows, jingles, and soundtracks including The Tonight Show, The O.C., and Las Vegas. In addition to touring with Steve Vai on the G3 tour, he has also toured and/or recorded with Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt, Terry Bozzio, Virgil Donati, Kevin Eubanks, Buddy Miles, Bette Midler, Steve Perry, Mike Mangini, Slash, Derek Sherinian, and many others. He is endorsed by Yamaha Guitars, Carvin Amplifiers, Morley Pedals, and LaBella strings.

Lynne's aggressive, groove-oriented style earned her the title of "LA's Groove Goddess" in Bass Player Magazine (July '99). Lynne began public performance at the age of 7, upon beginning her training as a pianist. After attending the university of Delaware and the Austo-American Institute in Vienna Austria, she began playing the bass guitar, which was destined to become her stock in trade. Since moving to LA in 1992, she has done hundreds of session dates, TV appearances, and performance engagements with such artists as Go West, Colin Hay & The Records. Lynne has been sharing her ideas about music creativity and improvisation through teaching for 15 years, and has been on staff at the LA Music Academy for 7 years. www.lynnedavis.com

Hussain Jiffry is recognized internationally for his in-the-pocket feel and versatility. In 1982, while performing with a local band in Sri Lanka, Hussain was offered to tour Europe with an R&B band, eventually spending six years on the European club circuit. In 1988, he moved to Los Angeles to study music at Musician's Institute in Hollywood, California. He graduated from MI in March 1989, receiving the Vocational Honors Diploma. In the past fifteen years, Hussain has gradually grown busier and more in demand as his reputation has spread as a player, writer, and producer. He currently tours with Sergio Mendes, The LA all stars and the Dave Weckl band. He has also toured and recorded with: Tom Scott, Paul Russo, Kleber Jorge, Jim Messina, Robert Kyle, Dirk Fisher big band, Kenny Kirkland, Pauline Wilson, Robben Ford, David Foster, Michael MacDonald, Whitney Houston, Dione Warwick and Chaka Khan. In the recent past Hussain has been busy writing, recording and producing various artists at his Recording studio in Tarzana. He and his partner Sanjay Divecha wrote the theme song and part of the sound track for the movie "Leela".

Tim hails from the Boston area and attended Berklee College of Music as well as studying with Neil Stubenhaus and Whit Brown. After two semesters and a brief tour with Al Kooper at eighteen years old, Tim moved to New York City and resided there for the next six years where he played and recorded with Al DiMeola, Billy Cobham, Mike Stern, Gil Evans, Michael Brecker, Tiger Okoshi, Bill Frisell, and many more. In the mid-1980's, Tim switched to the west coast where he soon established himself as one of LA's top session bassists. He has recorded with the likes of Tori Amos, Vince Neil, Tracy Chapman, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Vinnie Colaiuta, Tom Scott, John Tesh, The Crusaders, Al Stewart, Vital Information, Brian Hughes, Marc Jordan, Beyonce, Gladys Knight, Taylor Hawkins, Loreena McKennitt, etc. Tim is also a Grammy and Dove Award-nominated record producer and songwriter and was recently a member of the short lived but highly acclaimed Crimson Jazz Trio before drummer Ian Wallace's untimely death in 2007. You can easily check in on Tim any time by visiting timlanders.com

David Levray studied at the American School of Modern Music and was a session musician at Piccolo Studio in Paris, France, before moving to the US. In addition to co-writing a song for the Grammy-nominated album Joined at the Hip with Bob James and Kirk Whalum and working with Les McCann for 10 years, he has also performed or toured with Liz McComb, Kirk Whalum, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Luther Allison, Phil Upchurch, Patrice Rushen, Oleta Adams, Ronnie Laws, and many others.

Doug Ross graduated with honors from Musicians Institute in 1988 and the University of Maryland in 1992. For over twenty years, he has performed, recorded and taught bass all over the world, including four years as head of the bass department at Fukuoka School of Music in Japan. A few of the artists that Doug has recorded or performed with include Brett Garsed, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Otmaro Ruiz, Fantasia Musical Circus, Katia Moraes and Sambaguru, Gregg Bissonette, and jazz pianist Ron Kobayashi. Information on Doug's activities and recent solo album can be found on his website at www.dougross.net.

Abraham Laboriel, Sr., has played on over 4,000 recordings and soundtracks. Guitar Player described him as "the most widely used session bassist of our time". Originally a classically trained guitarist, he switched to bass guitar while studying at the Berklee School of Music. Henry Mancini encouraged Laboriel to move to Los Angeles and pursue a recording career. Since then, he has worked with artists as diverse as Donald Fagen, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Dave Grusin, Andy Pratt, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Al Jarreau, Billy Cobham, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Ray Charles, Madonna, Paul Simon, Keith Green, Alvaro Lopez and Res-Q Band, Lisa Loeb, Quincy Jones, Russ Taff, Engelbert Humperdinck, Umberto Tozzi, Ron Kenoly, Rabito, Mylène Farmer, Crystal Lewis, Chris Isaak, Paul Jackson Jr. and Michael Jackson.

Lee Sklar has been a prominent figure among LA-session bassists dating back to the 1970's. Lee has more than 2,500 albums to his credit (and still counting) and is considered to be one of the "A" players in the highly selective LA music community. His very recognizable bass playing style has been heard on hits by Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Hall & Oates, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, Billy Cobham, and George Strait, to name just a few.

Jimmy Haslip grew up in a rich, musical environment which had Latin and salsa music around the house. Being mostly self-taught, Jimmy's bass playing skills were refined by Ron Smith from New York and the legendary Jaco Pastorious. His many credits include Rod Stewart, Al Jerreau, John Scofield, Chaka Khan, Kenny Loggins, Rickie Lee Jones, Pat Metheny, Michael Sembello, Joe Cocker, and Bonnie Raitt among many others. He also helped found the widely popular jazz-fusion group the Yellowjackets.

Jonathan Herrera is the Senior Editor of Bass Player Magazine and has played/recorded with Cyrus Chestnut, Oz Noy, Atma Anur, Will Kennedy, Alex Acuna, Jerry Goodman, Derek Sherinian, Zigaboo Modeliste, Steve Turre, Kai Eckhardt, Jon Fishman, Russ Ferrante, and many more.

John was born into a musical household and raised in San Gabriel, California. He began playing guitar at six and bass at sixteen. John cut short his musical studies at East L.A. College to tour with El Chicano and soon found himself on tour opening for Santana. John later toured with jazz vocalist Randy Crawford, and, in 1981, he co-founded Food For Feet. He then joined New Wave band Oingo Boingo in 1984, who he played with until 1995. During his tenure with Oingo Boingo, John co-produced four full-length releases with Danny Elfman and Steve Bartek. Since 1995, John has run his own recording studio called Brando’s Paradise, producing bands such as Reel Big Fish, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Quetzal, and Robbie Krieger. During this time, he also played bass on recordings by Steve Vai and the Stewart Copeland Orchestra. He also sang lead vocals on Disney’s Another Goofy Movie.

A native of Southern California, Jeff studied privately at the prestigious California Institute of the Arts while still in high school and then went on to the University of Miami School of Music. Jeff’s diverse list of gigs ranges from James Taylor, Robben Ford, Shelby Lynne, Julio Iglesias, and Larry Carlton to shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live (as keyboardist/arranger) and The Drew Carey Show to film scores for movies such as The 40 Year Old Virgin, Garden State, and Super Bad. He also has his own solo project with albums that feature the likes of Vinnie Colaiuta, David Fiuczynski, Toss Panos, Jeff Coffin, and Mike Landau. Visit www.jeffbabko.com for more info.

After studying classical music at the Conservatory of Music (University of the Pacific in Stockton, California), the Northern California native moved to Los Angeles. Kacee recorded her debut CD Seeing Red in 1996 and her sophomore effort Mama Came to Sing in 2008. In the summer of 2001, Kacee was cast in the role of playing the lead in the extreme rock musical Love, Janis, a journey into the mind and music of the legendary Janis Joplin. In early 2002, she was asked to join Big Brother & The Holding Co., Janis Joplin's original San Francisco-based band, as their lead vocalist. In 2005, she joined forces with the legendary Joe Cocker as a background singer on his Heart & Soul world tour and continued in that capacity through the Hymn For My Soul world tour, which ended at the top of 2008. Kacee also began touring with Luis Miguel extensively during his Complices tour in 2008. For more info, please visit Kacee's website at www.kacee.info.

Native New Yorker, long-time studio musician, and session guitarist Chris Juergensen is in constant demand as a sideman, frontman and clinician. He has played sold-out venues as intimate as the worldfamous Blue Note and as large as the Long Beach Auditorium. After teaching guitar for six years at the prestigious Musicians Institute in Los Angeles alongside Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), Scott Henderson and Joe Diorio, Chris left the states to become the Director of Education at Tokyo School of Music in Japan where he resided for fifteen years. He currently divides his time between Tokyo and Los Angeles where he continues to write, record, play and teach. His first solo CD Prospects was critically acclaimed worldwide and his second release Big Bad Sun painted a completely new portrait of him, showcasing his singing talent as well as his guitar playing. The opening song "Sweet Melissa" was used by Australian filmmaker Sean King in his short film Regrets. His newest CD Strange Phenomena was released in early 2008.

Dave Pozzi has been a Los Angeles based free-lance artist since 1979, recording and playing with artists like: Henry Mancini, Mel Torme, Celine Dion, David Foster, Johnny Mathis, Jeff Hamilton, Rich Little, Charlie Shoemake, Mellissa Manchester, Marvin Stamm, Bobby Shew, Pete Christlieb, Don Menza, Roy McCurdy, Bob Cooper, Jeff Berlin, Diana Krall, Billy Childs, and others. Big band credits include Ray Anthony, Bob Crosby, Bill Watrous, Louie Bellson, Bob Florence, and Doc Severinsen. Dave is featured as a soloist on recordings with John Patitucci, Nick Brignola, Dick Berk, Bob Magnusson, Ray Pizzi, and Milcho Leviev. Other recording work includes radio and TV commercials, TV shows like The Osbournes, and numerous demos and record dates.

After receiving a master's degree from the Eastman School of Music, Howie moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a musician/composer/arranger. He soon took a slight detour to go on the road where he played lead trumpet with the Woody Herman Orchestra. After two years, he moved back to LA, and has since performed on countless TV and movie soundtracks, commercials, Broadway shows and recordings. Howie has performed with Tony Bennett, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Natalie Cole, Linda Ronstadt, and Mel Torme, to name a few. In addition to performing, Howie has been an active composer/arranger/orchestrator getting his first big break as the musical arranger for the Joan Rivers late night talk show, where he composed for a 16-piece big band 5 nights a week. Howie is currently scoring his fourth movie and, in 2002, received his doctorate in music from the University of Southern California.