RICK SAVAGE, TRUMPET

Educated at world renowned music school Indiana University, musician/composer/ producer/audio engineer, Rick Savage has lived and worked in & around New York City for the past 23 years. He continues to be in demand as a performing & recording trumpet player, making guest solo appearances on the CD projects of many NY area artists. He is currently at work on his own jazz cd.

Rick also has a rich composing background. He recently scored "A Whole New Day" for Cinemax, staring James Gandolfini. Other composing credits include jingles & industrial films for Nissan & Pfizer.  Locally, Rick is owner of Savage Tunes Recording (www.savagetunes.com). His history as a former band member/ studio musician for the following well known artists set the stage for the makings of an extremely versatile artist.

Rick has worked with Tania Maria, Gerry Mulligan, Jack McDuff , Mel Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett,Toshiko Aikioshi, Dione Warwick, Warne Marsh, The Jackson Five, Randy Brecker,The O’Jays, Stan Kenton, The Spinners, Peggy Lee, The Temptations , Henry Mancini, Paul Anka, Perry Como, Burt Bacharach, Andy Williams, Daniel Ponce, Anthony Jackson, Nestor Torres, Blood, Sweat & Tears

JON WERKING, PIANO

Jon's been performing, recording, arranging, composing and producing music in the NYC area for almost 20 years. One of the most in-demand session players, Jon has played on hundreds of jingles, films and artist's recordings.

Arriving in New York in the late 80's Jon began playing with the jazz vocal group "New York Voices.” That led to work with other vocalists such as Phyliss Hyman, Roberta Flack, Donna Summer, Patti La Belle, Toni Braxton and many others. Around this same time, Jon began working more as a session player and was sought after for his wide range of styles (jazz,pop,r&b,funk,rock,country and even classical) and unique ability to fit in to different musical settings and add something special. Some of his major influences are Richard Tee, Bob James, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Dave Grusin, Chick Corea, Lyle Mays, Warren Bernhardt and the late Don Grolnick.

Jon has performed and/or recorded with a vast array of artists and ensembles. In addition to those mentioned above, some others include Michael and Randy Brecker, Guitarists Chuck Loeb and Larry Coryell, Saxophonists Bill Evans and Bob Berg, The Buddy Rich Big Band, The NY and Boston Pops and many others.

Jon is focusing more now on his solo career as a player, writer and producer. Please visit the news, CKM studios and music pages to hear and read more about what projects Jon is currently working on.

KARL LATHAM, DRUMS

KARL LATHAM is a NY-based and internationally recognized drummer. He is known for his exceptional ability to dig into a variety of musical styles, playing straight-ahead jazz, avant-garde, funk, rock, Latin, and more. John Lee, bassist and director of the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, says that "Karl's greatest strength is in his versatility. In this respect, he is something of a phenomenon, having mastered every style of music he has attempted to play."

"Karl Latham is an inventive powerhouse whose influences are many but whose ideas are his own." Jeff Tamarkin AllAboutmusic.com

As a freelance performer, Karl has performed with a wide spectrum of notable artists such as Mark Egan; The Fantasy Band; The Shirelles; Claudio Roditi; Clark Terry; Hendrik Meurkins; Don Braden; the John Lee Quartet; Andy Snitzer; Amit Chatterjee; The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars; Joe Lovano; Ed Cherry; Tomoko Ohno; Antonio Hart; Slide Hampton; Edgar Winter; Johnny Winter; Michal Urbaniak; The Dalton Gang among many others.

Karl has released two solo CD's to date, "Dancing Spirits" (1999) “Karl Latham leads the band through all kinds of musical terrain with a playful, musical touch, from the elaborate shading to the sparse, funky backbeats. Latham likes playing inside and out, and his band follows suit nicely.” – Robin Tolleson, Modern Drummer and "Resonance" 2007 (#4 Top Added CMJ Jazz). On "Resonance,” Karl joins forces with guitarist JOHN HART, bassist KERMIT DRISCOLL, and trumpeter VINNIE CUTRO. "A drummer with zest and explosiveness who can also keep solid, steady time, Karl Latham makes music move. A fine example is his just-out "Resonance" DropzoneJazz CD, which sports bust-out versions of hendrix's "Spanish Castle Magic" and Monk's "Bemsha Swing"". Zan Stewart of the Star-Ledger 2007

JOHN ARBO, BASS 

 An 18-year Bellvale resident, John Arbo studied at Manhattan School of Music. He has been the bassist for Les Paul and many singers including Susannah McCorkle, Nell Carter, Tom Wopat, Ann Hampton Callaway and Nancy LaMott, and has toured with Woody Herman, Liza Minnelli and presently Tony Danza. He has also had the bass chair at several B'way shows including "Cyrano,” "Miss Saigon,” "42nd St.,” "Good Vibrations,” "The Producers" and a "A Catered Affair.” He's appeared on the B'way stage playing the role of Jonas Fogg (and the bass) in the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of "Sweeney Todd,” and in 2007's "Coram Boy.”

John teaches bass at New School University in NYC and is the author

of the eMedia Bass Method, an instructional CD rom.