After ten tears of due diligence, the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (a.k.a. PMO) finally gained well-overdue recognition with a crowd-funded, self-title debut resulting in a Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Album.  This San Francisco based orchestra is leading the rebirth of Latin Big Band, using the traditions of the classic mambo-craze orchestras of the 50s.  While their repertoire consists of mostly original scores they also include clever arrangements of hit songs, performed in English and Spanish.

PMO’s music spans many Latin genres –Salsa, Mambo, Latin Jazz, Cha Cha Cha and a fusion of R&B and Hip Hop.  Led by pianist Christian Tumalan and trumpeter Steffen Kuehn, the 20 piece band includes a powerhouse percussion section featuring 14 time Grammy Award Winner Karl Perazzo and two lead singers.  Together they rejuvenate the Latin big band sounds of the 1940’s through ‘60s.

It is said that Marcus Miller has one of the most enviable careers in music, having performed, recorded and toured with legendary artists such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Luther Vandross, in addition to working with various rock legends, hip hop icons and pop stars.  Marcus Miller is a multi-instrumentalist, albeit primarily known as an electric bassist.

Born in ’59, Miller, was raised in a musical family that included father William Miller and jazz pianist Wynton Kelly.  His career kicked off early, working regularly in NYC by age 15, playing bass, writing and recording with musicians around the globe.  The two-time Grammy winner is also a producer, writer and a composer for more than 20 films.

Dave Grusin, 10 time Grammy winner, is a 7 decade music professional:  pianist, arranger, composer, record producer and co-founder of GRP Records.  Grusin is considered one of the top 10 film scorers of his generation, writing over sixty film scores including The Graduate, On Golden Pond and the Fabulous Baker Boys and recipient of 8 Academy Award noms and one Oscar.  

Dave Grusin’s career includes several jazz fusion releases, two classical projects and 4 critically acclaimed acoustic piano tribute albums.  He holds 3 honorary doctoral degrees, is the subject of the documentary, ‘Dave Grusin, Not Enough Time’ and co-founder of the National Foundation for Jazz Education.’  

Grammy Award winner Lee Ritenour has been a guitarist for 6 decades beginning with session work in the late 60s.  It was in the studio with the Mamas and the Papas that he earned the nickname ‘Captain Fingers’.  In this 60 years, Lee Ritenour has garnered 19 Grammy noms, #1 spots on guitar polls, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Canadian SJ Awards, Alumnus of the Year Award from USC and 35 chart songs from more than 40 releases. 

If that isn’t enough he was a founding member of Fourplay, a group considered to be the most successful group in contemporary jazz, and organizer of ‘6 String Theory’ a multi-national competition, which has since expanded to include a Rhythm Section competition for Piano, Bass and Drums.

Since forming in 2012, Alabama based rock & roll soul band, St Paul & The Broken Bones has released 2 albums, toured the world relentlessly, opened for the Rolling Stones, appearred on Letterman, Kimmel and twice on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.  They have become a must see performance due in part to front man Paul Janeway’s fearless showmanship, thoughtful lyrics and dedication to performance. 

Janeway is supported by co-band leader Jesse Phillips and a full eight man roster of the best young instrumentalists in the South.  St Paul & The Broken Bones’ first full length recording, which received critical acclaim from many national journalistic outlets, was produced by Alabama Shakes’ Ben Tanner, and their latest release handled by hip hop / modern R&B producer, Jack Splash, responsible for those duties with Alicia Keys, John Legend and Jennifer Hudson.