Musicians featured on the debut album "Fearless Dreamer"

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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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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"Saxophonist and flautist Thomas Chapin had a wildly varied career as a sideman for artists such as Lionel Hampton, Chico Hamilton and Ned Rothenberg and as a member of the free jazz/rock outfit Machine Gun. His eclectic musical history resulted in his developing a style which is somewhat atypical of a "downtown" musician. While he certainly did his fair share of "out" albums, he also recorded some more straight ahead jazz sessions on Arabesque Records, as well as explored other musics such as tango, flamenco and Brazilian music. The music of his longstanding trio was described as "mostly original compositions that mix rock-style ostinatos, hard bop, rhythm and blues, and free jazz." All the while, Chapin maintained an accessible style. The Boston Phoenix wrote, "Chapin tempers things with a lyrical warmth and irony that prevents the music from getting too self-serious." Whatever the context, the joy of Chapin's playing is always evident. His last recording "Sky Piece" is available on the Knitting Factory label. Sadly, in 1998, Thomas passed on after a year long fight against leukemia at age 40.

Fly Thomas! Your Gifts Linger.
I am grateful for the knowing . . .
For The Memory of Thomas Chapin

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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, Joyce, Don Byron, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Claudio Roditi, Dave Valentin, Toninho Horta, Gerry Mulligan, The New York Voices, The Caribbean Jazz Project, Joanne Brackeen, Herbie Mann, Kenia, Shoko Aida, Aster Aweke, Louis Bellson, Bill Watrous, Hendrick Meurkens, Dave Kikoski, Gato Barbieri, Leslie Uggams, Ray Vega, Leo Gandelman, and many others.

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Mark Egan is considered to be one of the most respected and in-demand electric bassists on the music scene today. His unique fretless bass sound and style is both distinctive and versatile and his musical contributions incomparable. With three platinum & three gold albums to his credit, Mark has recorded with the Pat Metheny Group, Sting, Arcadia, Roger Daltry and Joan Osborne; performed with the Gil Evans Orchestra, Marianne Faithfull, David Sanborn, John McGlaughlin and Sophie B. Hawkins and has added his musical prowess to such movies and television shows as: Aladdin, The Color Of Money, A Chorus Line, NBC Sports, ABC's All My Children, CNN/Headline News and numerous award winning television commercials.

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Intense and sensitive musician Hank Shroy has added his bass to the music of Salif Keita - The Voice of Mali , Vernon Reid, singer / song writer Moses, and Brooklyn's own Afro / Pop group Savane (which also features the drumming of Todd Isler). He can be heard on Salif Keita's latest release "Papa".

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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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Toby Kasavan " An outstanding Pianist with a beautiful touch "---Jazz Now. "Melodies blow in powerful gusts and gales"---Keyboard magazine Toby can also be heard with Bootsy Collins, Menace, William Hooker, Bill Laswell, Willie Bobo and others.

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Chris Cunningham's writing and fretwork has been described by Option Magazine as ". . . a delicate mix of the spiritual and the urban . . ." The New Britain (Conn.) Herald says: " . . . he's a mad genius who can create songs of dense beauty, lush texture and outlandish originality . . ." His guitars, Chapman stick, and other stringed oddities have ornamented the performances and recordings of various artists on the international scene, including Boukman Eksperyans (Haiti), Marianne Faithfull, Omar Farouk Tekbilek (Turkey), Susan McKeown and the Chanting House, Trey Gunn, Marshall Crenshaw, Hubert Felix-Thiefane (France), Katell Keineg, Gavin Friday, Lori Carson, The Lounge Lizards and many others. His solo CD, "Stories to Play", was released in '98 on NYC's Lunchbox recordings.

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Michelle Kinney has recorded, performed and toured with many respected innovators in new music today. Her downtown Cello sound can be heard on recordings of Natalie Merchant, Sheryl Crow, Elliot Sharp, Barry Reynolds, Susan McKeown, Henry Threadgill, James "Blood" Ulmer, Steven Bernstein's Sex Mob, Myra Melford, Dunkan Sheik. Michelle has composed and performed for choreographer Mark Tompkins' work Channels, which toured Europe. Choreographer Cyrus Khambatta and his Dance Theater Company PHFFFT! has presented her work at various European and American venues including the Spoletto Festival , and the University of Caracas. She also scored Jim Cozza's awardwinning documentary River Rat. Currently Michelle leads a string trio called Mississippi Peace, featuring violinist Jason Hwang and bassist Stomu Takeishi.

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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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Since moving to New York, Luis Bonilla has performed, collaborated and recorded worldwide with Dizzy Gillespie, Gerald Wilson, Henry Mancini, Tony Bennett and Celia Cruz, Lester Bowie, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, The Mingus Big Band, Astrud Gilberto, Carla Bley, Tony Bennett, William Cepeda, Paquito D'Rivera, Gerry Mulligan, Willie Colon, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, George Gruntz, Toshiko Akiyoshi , Marc Anthony, La India, Tito Nieves and DLG, Mary J. Blidge and C & C Music Factory. His debut CD, "Pasos Gigantes" (Candid CCD 795070) was voted among the top 10 Latin Jazz albums of the year by Jazziz Magazine. Soon to be released: Luis' second CD, "Escucha!" (Candid CCD 79748).

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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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