Musicians featured on Climb

Listening to any genre of music, chances are you have heard trumpeter Pam Fleming play. Pamela Fleming toured as trumpet soloist, during the Lilith Fair with Natalie Merchant....... and was also asked nightly to go out on stage, and do guest spots with Sarah McLachlan, The Indigo Girls, Queen Latifah, N'Dea Davenport, Victoria Williams, and others...where she took off, and added an extra dimension to their music.
She has delighted fans over the years, using her trumpet and musical insight with Bonnie Raitt (VH1 Storytellers), Reggae Stars: Burning Spear, Maxi Priest, Dennis Brown,and Beres Hammond, Arrow (wrote 'Hot Hot Hot'), Bruce Springsteen, Robert Palmer, Buster Poindexter, The Mel Lewis Big Band, Cab Calloway, Pucho & his Latin Soul Brothers (CD- Groovin' High, and Mucho Pucho), Little Jimmy Scott (Sessions at 54th St. & CD "Holding Back the Years"), Imani Coppola......... and the list goes on.

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Born in upstate New York, Dana Calitri always knew she'd live in NYC. As a child she studied at the Manhattan School of Music and after completing her degree at Brown University in Rhode Island, Dana returned to the city to begin her music career. She soon became one of the top singers in town, performing with such artists as Celine Dion, Elton John, Marc Anthony, Gregory Hines and Cher, to name a few. Signed to Universal Records, Dana has toured the USA, performing her original songs. As a writer, Dana has had songs recorded by NSYNC, Dream, Jessica Andrews, Nikki Webster, Leann Rimes and Donna Summer. A top jingle singer, Dana has probably sung a commercial for every product imaginable. Currently, you can hear her on Stouffers, Visa, J.C. Penny and Old El Paso. Dana has appeared on Saturday Night Live, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and Conan O'Brien and, most recently, in the movie "Chicago".

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Trained at the Mannes College of Music in New York City Allen Won has toured and recorded with the Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet and appeared as a classical saxophone soloist with the Honolulu and American Symphony Orchestras, the Philharmonic of Westchester, The Staten Island Symphony and Mannes Philharmonic. Allen has had several pieces written for him including a concerto by Dr. Robert Cuckson, and another Galt McDermot (composer of "Hair") that lusciously incorporates classical and jazz elements. After touring with Galt and recording seven albums with the composer, Allen toured and recorded with Kiyoto Fujiwara Quintet, Fred Ho and The Afro - Asian Music Ensemble, Paul Anka, Larry Elgart, Bernard Purdie and Grady Tate, Bob Hope, Marvin Hamlisch and Skitch Henderson.

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The European press has called native New Yorker, Leo Traversa, "perfect in technique and brilliant in providing instrumental background", "master of the 5-string bass", and "without question, one of the top bassists". He has performed and recorded with a wide range of internationally known artists including Tania Maria, Eliane Elias, Randy Brecker, Ben E. King, Astrud Gilberto, Michael Brecker, Joyce, Don Byron, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Claudio Roditi, DaveValentin, Toninho Horta, Gerry Mulligan, The New York Voices, Oscar Hernandez, Phil Woods, Dianne Reeves, Milton Nascimento, Fantcha, Bebel Gilberto, Eileen Ivers, The Caribbean Jazz Project, Herbie Mann, Kenia, Shoko Aida, Aster Aweke, Louis Bellson, Steve Kimock, Dave Kikoski, Gato Barbieri, Leslie Uggams, Ivan Lins, and many others.

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Eclectic Pianist and Composer Jim West has performed with Buddy Rich, Mel Tourme, Ruby Braff and John Scofield. His roots are in Jazz, a music that embraces all other music. Jim is featured on broadcasts of National Public Radio and has worked with his father, veteran arranger and alto player Alvy West whose credits include albums with Frank Sinatra. "If it takes more than 10 fingers, Jim will do it!"

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Canadian born, now living in New York, singer / guitarist Peter Calo has been dubbed "one of the most engaging performers in the biz" by London's "Time Out" magazine, Calo is best known as Carly Simon's guitarist, and has performed and/or recorded with Hall and Oates, Joe Pecsi, Linda Eder, Robben Ford, Joel Grey, Klezmer Conservatory Band, New York Voices, Boston Opera Company, Deborah Henson Conant, Heavy Metal Horns, Myanna, Dan Moretti, and Peter Eldridge, among others. Peter has released an album of pop originals, "Wired to the Moon" as well as a recording of original solo acoustic guitar music called "Cape Ann" available on Four Winds records.

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Drummer / Percussionist Todd Isler, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has been a part of the New York music scene since the mid- eighties. His love of Jazz and World Music has led to the study of African, Indian and Brazilian music, including an apprenticeship in India under the great Karaikudi R. Mani as well as extensive study with the Brazilian great, Portinho. Todd has written several scores for dance, the latest, for the Marcy Simon Company, premiered in April 2001. Todd co-founded Savane with singer/songwriter Danon O'Sow of the Ivory Coast. The group went on to win the Disc Makers New York Heavy Hitters Contest. Mr. Isler was also a winner of the Jazziz Magazine Percussion On Fire Contest in 1997. He released his first CD as a leader, "Two Step, Duets and Beyond" in 1999. In 2002 he did a four country tour of Africa with with the great vibes player, Stefan Bauer. He has performed with such Jazz and Blues greats as Mark Murphy, Jack McDuff, and Melvin Sparks, to name a few. Todd has also graced over one hundred recordings with his unique feel on instruments like the Janoon, Kanjira, and Hadgini (the double chambered udu drum), as well as the drum set.

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Jim Clouse - Engineer. Jim has recorded some of the best musicians in New York and has a Grammy-nominated CD to his credit, "Brooklyn Ritual" by John McNeil and Kenny Berger. He is also an established saxophonist and drummer and has performed with such talent as The Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Orchestra, The Bob Mintzer Big Band, Tania Maria, The Red Garland Trio and numerous film scores.

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