LA Music Academy - News Archive

Bryan Baker (Guitar, 9/01) is currently in pre-production for his debut album on Joe Zawinul's label birdJam Records. He will also be touring the world with legendary jazz/rock group Steps Ahead, featuring Mike Mainieri on vibes, Donny McCaslin on saxophone, Etienne Mbappe on bass, and Rodney Holmes on drums.

Nando Raio (Bass, 3/00) is currently on tour with pop sensation Jesse McCartney.

Linda Casul (Vocals, 9/07) is currently singing background vocals for funk legends Slave, who just played the Old School Funk Fest alongside Teena Marie, Brick, The Gap Band, and Zapp. She just recorded backing vocals for an upcoming Delfonics’ single and will be opening for The Spinners and Ana Gabriel with Smooth Touch and Bumptown.

Chase Duddy (Drums, 9/05) is currently touring with Ryan Cabrera, who recently appeared on Good Morning America and The View. He is also playing/recording with Tim Myers and Interscope artists The Knux, who have a new album due out in August, featuring Chase on the track “Play Boy”. Chase has also been working with producers Jeff Saltzman, Mikal Blue, Rusty Anderson, Danny Wilde, and Chris Roach. He also produces, engineers, and writes with his cousin Miles Porcaro for The Symetrics and is endorsed by DW, Zildjian, Vic Firth, and Aquarian.

Kelly Fauth (Vocals, 9/07) and Halina Larsson (Vocals, 9/07) have been touring with Coheed and Cambria and were recently featured in Teen Vogue. Click here to read the story!

Hiroo Nakano (Drums, 3/07) is playing with the Ikeda Kings Orchestra, led by Bennie Maupin, as well as big band Premire and Blues singer Jill Sharpe. Hiroo is also busy teaching in Santa Monica, CA, and is part of a music education group called Fundamentals.

Peter Friestedt (Guitar, 3/00) just released his new CD LA Project II, which features top-notch musicians Abraham Laboriel, John JR Robinson, Tris Imboden, Joseph Williams, Bill Champlin, Bill Cantos, and many others.

Ryan Lacey (Drums, 3/02) is touring with Gaelic Storm, who just finished their 7th record with Ryan co-producing. Gaelic Storm will also be featured on a charity album, which will be produced by Jamie Oldaker. Ryan just started his own record label called Rum Raisin Records and is producing Irish dance practice CDs.

Alberto Albis (Bass, 9/99) just finished recording and co-producing his band Viva La Union’s new album Chinese Baby, which is featured in Harold and Kumar 2: Escape from Guantanamo Bay. The album also features fellow grads Paul Kaiser (Drums, 9/00) and Erez Ginat (Drums, 3/00). Alberto also recently played on Roy Ashen’s Eclipse, violin virtuoso Dorian Cheah’s “Lullaby”, and is the bassist and musical director for Karisa Winett.

Marcus Liliequist (Drums, 3/01) recently recorded a track with guitar legend Mike Landau, who is also recording guitar tracks for Marcus’ upcoming solo album.

Gerry Wimmer (Bass, 9/99) is playing with country artist Buffalo Bill, who can be heard on the German radio station Radio Positive Energie.

Juan Estanga (Drums, 3/02) recently played with Al di Meola pianist Mario Parmisano at the Ford Amphitheatre, and his band Afro Tango Ensemble received a great review from LA.com.

Timothy Bailey Jr. (Bass, 9/05) is gigging with R&B superstar/actor Tyrese Gibson and has recently played with ?uestlove, Tony Royster Jr., John "Jubu" Smith, and is performing every Wednesday at Cozy's Bar and Grill in Sherman Oaks. He also recently signed a publishing deal with FoxxKing Entertainment (owned by Jamie Foxx) and BUG Music and also picked up endorsements with Dean Markley Strings and CAD Microphones.

Yosuke Yokoyama (Drums, 3/03) just recorded with Sony artist Redballoon with an album due out in September ’08. He is also busy teaching in Japan.

Andre Oettel (Drums, 9/00) recently picked up an endorsement from Mapex Drums.

Jamie Payne (Guitar, 9/06) just finished a 6 month contract playing in the show band on a cruise ship.

Matthew Moore (Drums, 3/03) has started a recording studio in Altadena, CA, called Greenstone Studios.

Cristian Borneo (Drums, 3/01) has been doing sessions in Paraguay and Colombia and is busy touring throughout Central, South, and North America, as well as Spain and Japan. He is also currently endorsed by DW and Paiste.

Chris Jones (Guitar, 3/07) is teaching full time and doing some pit orchestra work.

Andy Schechinger (Drums, 9/99) is touring with German Idol Winner Elli promoting her new album Moving On, is in the studio with songwriter Jake Roeder, and picked up endorsements from Anatolian Cymbals, Vater Drumsticks, and Protection Racket Cases.

Maya Overbye Herulf (Vocals, 3/99) just received her certification in Complete Vocal Technique from the Complete Vocal Institute in Copenhagen. She is also busy teaching and working on her second CD.

Tal Hazon (Bass, 9/00) is majoring in Music Performance at the University of Pan American in Texas and is now endorsed by MTD basses.

Vincent Alvarez (Drums, 9/06) recently played with the CrossHart Jazz Experience and is teaching in the L.A. area.

Ali Wilson (Guitar, 3/04) just released a new album with his band Jumpstart called Make It Big and has been busy gigging in and around the South East of England. He is also busy playing with cover band Almost Unheard and teaching over 40 students at a Yamaha Music School.

Sandro Feliciano (Drums, 3/99) recently recorded drums/percussion and co-produced Steve Fister's most recent album. He also recorded drums /percussion for Danish rock band The Storm, who just scored their first gold record under the guidance of famed producer Roy Thomas Baker.

Seth Woods (Drums, 3/07) just received a scholarship to the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

Tobias Schulte (Drums, 9/06) opened a school called Drumschool and is playing with Final Fantasy, Sidewinder Lounge, Jazzbox, and Valsanova.

Brian Evans (Drums, 9/06) is teaching full time at McMillan Music School and privately around San Diego in addition to playing with Marc Allen.

Cesareo Castillo (Drums, 9/06) is touring Mexico with Los Claxons, including a stop at Teatro Metropolitan in Mexico City.

Aram Zarikian (Drums, 3/05) and Johanna Tham (Vocals, 3/05) are busy with inina gap, who have just released The End of Red on Automat Records. Aram is also busy playing with singer/songwriter Ed Schnabl, touring with guitarist Martin Koller, and just recorded tracks for the Harlequin Orchestra with Peter Kastner (Bass, 3/05).

Angie Donkin (Vocals, 9/01) is the lead singer, composer, band leader, and artistic director for the L.A.-based band Vibrasol. She is also the drummer and one of the vocalists for the Grayson Wray Project and teachers music classes for newborns and toddlers as part of program called Foothills Music Together.

Roland Mayer (Drums, 9/97) is touring Austria and Germany with Irish Steirisch, including a stop at popular festival Donauinselfest in Vienna. He is also busy teaching with fellow grad Lukas Schloegl (Drums, 9/07).

Javier Villanustre (Drums, 9/01) is still at sea working in a show band for Carnival Cruises.

Ave Nemitz (Vocals, 9/06) is playing in Billie Rocha, who will be playing around Switzerland this fall.

Christian Majdecki (Drums, 3/03) is playing with Karmacopter in Mannheim and teaching privately.

Lacki Vasilios Miliadis (Drums, 3/01) just finished recording with Basses and Drums Inc. and will be touring around Sweden with Vanya Keen. Lacki is also very busy teaching privately.

Julien Bresson (Drums, 9/01) recently recorded an album with In Delirium.

Tullio Giusi (Drums, 9/99) is playing with pop band Amnesia in Bergamo, Italy.

Magnus Josbrant (Drums, 9/01) recently toured with ethnic band Skaddjil throughout Scandinavia and Costa Rica.

Hunter Crews (Drums, 3/01) is busy touring the Northeastern U.S. with two bands and is teaching three days a week.

John Wells (Bass, 9/04) is currently touring with stage show The Bee Gees Story and performing with EMI artist Neil Thomas. John is also endorsed by Ashdown Amps and Ernie Ball.

Barbara Anne Tanner (Bass, 9/01) is teaching privately at Instrumental Music in Thousand Oaks, CA, and is beginning work on her Masters in School Psychology at Cal State University Northridge.

David Grant (Drums, 3/04) is playing with ProperDose, who can be heard on iTunes and on local radio stations in Sacramento, CA.

Jonas Wendel (Drums, 3/03) is working on his Masters in Popular Music and Media at the University of Paderborn and is playing in four Samba/Batucada groups and recently toured Europe and the U.S. with Pull A Star Trip. He is also busy teaching drums and percussion at various schools in Germany.

James Burton (Drums, 9/07) is playing with rock band Aftertrust and is teaching at a local school and privately.

Steven Heet (Drums, 3/05) and brother Brett Heet (Bass, 3/05) are still busy playing with rock band DESA. Steven is also playing with singer/songwriter Matt Embree’s Love You Moon.

Estelle Bigler (Drums, 3/07) is playing drums and singing throughout Switzerland and France and will be traveling to Africa in October to play for a conference and do voice workshops.

Hiroko Sumida (Vocals, 3/04) is teaching a vocal technique called Freedom of Natural Voice Production to voice actors, MCs, and many others. She is also gigging around Kobe, Japan.

Matt Baker (Drums, 9/06) is touring with Carlotta, who recently released their new CD Out of Love. He is also playing around Hollywood with experimental fusion group The Pantinal with fellow grad Jarrad Lander (Bass, 3/06).

Robert Ikiz (Drums, 9/99) recently toured China, South Africa, Dubai, and Russia with South Maxico, Barbara Hendricks, Andreas Oberg, and Magnus Lindgren. He also did some recent session work with American Idol artist Ace Young, as well as Andreas Oberg, and Sharon Dyall.

Brando Vianna (Guitar, 9/05) is teaching at his own music school called Step Academy of Music and is producing various bands and singers including Brazilian gospel singer Chris Duran.

Paul Kaiser (Drums, 9/00) recently recorded tracks for Viva La Union and is touring Germany and Austria regularly with modern jazz band the Lorenz Hargassner Quartet. He also recorded and toured with pianist Samuel Jersak and is currently touring with British pop band Monkeeman. Paul is also now endorsed by Canopus Drums.

Bjorn Fleuren (Bass, 9/02) is busy playing with various artists in L.A. and is writing film scores and music for commercials.

Shingo Tanaka (Bass, 9/99) is playing/recording with fusion band T-Square and is the bassist for the Hiromi Uehara show.

David Jones (Bass, 3/00) recently played with Alice Bag, punk legends Deadbeats, and Lysa Flores. His band Carnage Asada have a new album in the works, featuring guitar legend Nels Cline on three tracks, and his band Magnolia Thunderpussy just released studio and live recordings showcasing their twenty year career, receiving rave reviews from the likes of Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and Flea.

Dan Grody (Drums, 9/98) and his band Killola just released I Am the Messer, which can be heard on MTV’s Real World and Road Rules. He will be hitting the road with Killola in September, stopping in more than 25 U.S. cities. Dan also regularly records jingles with producer Luke Tierney, including a recent spot for E! Television.

Matthias Wurm (Guitar, 3/03) just signed an endorsement deal with Washburn Guitars and recently conducted clinics at NAMM, Musikmesse, and in-store events for Randall Amps and Washburn Guitars.

Will Grano (Drums, 9/06) is teaching and playing around Finland with alternative blues/rock band Horse and jazz/rock band Vinyljam, who are working on their second LP.

Santiago Granados (Guitar, 9/06) has been touring Mexico and the U.S. as producer for multi-platinum artist Elan for the past five years.

Jorge Medina (Guitar, 3/04 and Vocals, 3/05) is working on a solo record with producer/film composer Bob Esty and is playing around L.A. with guitarist Jeffrey Briggs. He is also playing in a jazz trio with Jacek Moczulski (Bass, 3/07) and David Martin (Drums, 9/02).

Evren Edler (Bass, 9/00) is finishing a record as a writer/producer, touring internationally with a few Persian singers, and is teaching at Opus Music of South Bay.

Cesar Galarza (Guitar, 3/06) just produced Joanne Vance’s first CD Silencios Incomodos and is touring Ecuador with songwriter Sergio Sacoto and throughout Colombia with Juan Gernando Velasco.

Scott Coffman (Drums, 9/06) is working with several Austin-based bands, including a tour with Whitman this summer. He also recently recorded with Gravelwhip and Clear Picture and appeared with Gravelwhip and the Jeff Metil Band on local TV show The Infynit Hour.

Andre Martins (Guitar, 9/98) just released his second CD entitled Argila, which is receiving great reviews in Brazil. He is also getting ready to release his 5th instructional book, is teaching at GIG in Brazil, and is having a signature guitar made by Brazilian custom guitar shop Seize Tagima.

Jaime Quijano (Drums, 9/06) is playing guitar, drums, bass, and percussion in the band Nardos.

Bobby Albright (Drums, 9/97) just finished recording tracks for an upcoming release with fellow grad Hoyt Binder (Guitar, 3/03) and the lead singer of rock band Enuff z’ Nuff. He is also performing with blues band 3rd Degree this summer in support of their second CD Live at B.B. King's and is working on his own CD.

Sam Young (Guitar, 3/04) is writing and recording a second album with his band Echoes of Eternity on Nuclear Blast Records. He now endorses ESP Guitars, Engl Amplification, and EMG Pickups.

Teresa Perrelli (Vocals, 3/04) is still teaching at her own studio Bella Voce in Stockholm, Sweden, and occasionally at Rytmus. She also recently started a community for dancers and singers called Ragdollz and is in the process of writing her first solo record.

Patrick Teasley (Guitar, 9/04) is currently playing in reggae band The Fatties and recently taught guitar classes at Barstow College.

Mario Alsleben (Guitar, 9/00) is working on his new material with a band and will be touring London and Germany soon.

Gil Alves (Drums, 3/03) is touring with Barbatuques throughout Europe and the U.S. and just did a recent gig in Sao Paulo opening for Bob McFerrin.

Dio Avila (Bass, 3/00) is currently teaching at Rowland Heights School of Music.

Hoyt Binder (3/03) is working on a prog rock album and an Alice in Wonderland rock opera with Enuff z’ Nuff singer Donnie Vie, is doing film scores and sound editing for TBLN, is playing with Lobate Scarp, and has formed a modern rock band called Hangin’ Gardens.