Tod Dickow, Vernon Ice Black, Al Bent, Felix Samuél.
Art Jackson & AREYTO is pleased to include Tod Dickow, Vernon Ice Black, Al Bent,
and Felix Samuél in its membership.
Tod Dickow, a San Mateo College alumnus majoring in music and winner of Downbeat Magazine's
coveted "outstanding college student soloist" award, is easily one of the most exciting saxophone
performers calling the Bay Area his home. His early influences include John Coltrane,
Michael Brecker, Dexter Gordon, Cannonball Adderly, Eric Dolphy, and Ornette Coleman,
among other important contributors to his complex and inviting style.
He has performed with such dignitaries as Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Harry Connick Jr.
Jackie & Roy, and the Full Spectrum Big Band. He is also known for his work with the
James Leary Big Band as well as that of Full Faith & Credit. Tod leads the 16 piece
Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and is an in-demand spokesman for his instrument. His energy and
fire are key in generating cathexis with the audience as well as a collaborative response from
the other members of the band.
Vernon Ice Black is superb as a "groove master"! Just the right chord structure, just the right
rhythmic pattern, and precisely the tone that ensures the beauty of guitar. And- he also sings!
Vernon has an extensive and impressive claim on high profile musical alliances: Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock,Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Chaka Khan,
Lionel Richie.......... He can boast film credits in several blockbusters such as The Bodyguard,
License To Kill, and Beverly Hills Cop II. The Spice Girls, Regina Belle, Phillip Bailey,
and Lenny Williams know him as musical director or composer.
Al Bent, trombonist, arranger and composer extroadinaire attended University of Nevada, UC, and Sacramento State as a student of Elementary Education. His reputation as a composer/arranger is
attended by accolades of the highest order. Santana, Cal Tjader, Patti LaBelle, and Pete Escovedo
will attest to his writing skills. Influenced in the main by the trombone of the great J.J. Johnson,
Al has performed with Carmen McRae, Cal Tjader, Mark Murphy, La Belle, and Pete Escovedo,
among others.
A quiet, always the gentleman, musical perfectionist, Al has an instantly recognizable
stabilizing effect on bands, kept buoyant by superior command of his trombone; he is
THE bottom line in any horn section!
Felix Samuél comes to us by way of Cuba. His dad, musician Felix Perez Castro Saml, contributed to inspiring young Felix to audition for an important role in a musical, "Cabaret Parisienne".
Felix was chosen, and so well received he was invited to Acapulco where under the direction of Rafael Hernandez, he toured South America singing in the production, "Así Somos".
Rome and prestigious venues in Portugal were his next destinations. Extending his stay in Portugal, he formed a Latin Jazz ensemble, "Felix y su Aché", while also performing with the group
"Cubanissimo". He subsequently opened a school of music and dance in Mozambique and led
a highly popular 10 piece band combining Latin Music with Mozambican percussion thus fostering a
platform for Cuban-African dance.
He moved to the Bay Area in 2008, and was immediately immersed in the Latin dance scene,
notably as a vocalist for the very sophisticated and popular Moderna Tradición.
Felix has an eloquent delivery and polished understanding of the music he sings, which has endeared
him to audiences wherever he appears.
No comments:
Post a Comment