1958
Pianist Hal Galper of Cochecton, NY, completed an interactive, play-along jazz instruction book titled Forward Motion. It has 193 PDF pages containing 300 exercises with quick-loading musical files that are transposable and have adjustable tempos. Visit www.forwardmotionpdf.com for more information.

1963
Composer Graham Collier of M‡laga, Spain, has released two new CDs: Winter Oranges with the Danish Radio Orchestra and Bread & Circuses with the Collective in Perth, Australia. His online jazz discussion forum is posted at www.jazzcontinuu.com/.

1967
Saxophonist Roger Lee Neumann of Santa Clarita, CA, has recorded three CDs with Roger Neumann's Rather Large Band. He has been the saxophonist or arranger for such artists as Ray Anthony, Les Brown, Bill Elliott, Buddy Rich, and Ray Charles and received the 2002 Composer/Arranger Award from the Los Angeles Jazz Society.

1972
Guitarist Frank Potenza of Lakewood, CA, released a new CD with his quartet titled The Legacy, dedicated to the late pianist Gene Harris, with whom Potenza worked for four years. The disc was released by Azica Records, Inc. (www.azica.com).

Gary Ruggiero of Milford, CT, received awards for 25 years of service and the Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award from the Connecticut Music Educators Association. Ruggiero is band director at Danbury High School and plays saxophone professionally.

1974
Nick Labuschagne of Johannesburg, South Africa, operates Urban Rhythm Factory, the largest post-production music company in South Africa. Labuschagne has four studios and a staff of composers, programmers, and sound engineers who create music for commercials and television and radio programs. Visit www.randburgite.co.za/urf.htm for information on his company.

Patty Larkin

Singer/songwriter Patty Larkin released a new CD titled Red = Luck for Vanguard Records. The disc features 14 original songs recorded at Larkin's studio.

1975
Composer David Kowal of Los Angeles, CA, released the new CD Songs of Love and Devotion. He also composes film and TV music and is producing several bands in his own studio. For more on his career, visit www.kowalmusic.com.

Keyboardist/arranger Rob Mounsey of New York City has been contributing arrangements and keyboard tracks to CDs by Aaron Neville, James Taylor, Sissel, the Chieftains, Diana Krall, and others. Visit www.robmounsey.com for more details.

Richard Niles of London, England, has completed a series for BBC Radio 2 on the history of pop arranging. The program featured interviews with great arrangers such as Arif Mardin, George Martin, Jimmy Haskell, and others who collaborated on hit records over the past five decades. To hear it online, visit www.bbc.co.uk/radio2.

Guitarist Kim Norton of Castaic, CA, is currently working with the touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar with Carl Anderson in the lead role. Norton also has toured with Roger Daltrey and played on numerous recording sessions in Los Angeles.

1976
Percussionist /composer Johnny Goings of Sioux Falls, SD, completed an album titled Checkoutthisstuff, which is available at www.cdbaby.com/johnnygoings. He also has written a screenplay titled Perfect Match featuring five songs from the album.

Pianist/composer Gene Bohlmann of Redondo Beach, CA, is currently pursuing his doctorate in psychology at Argosy University.

1978
Ken Field of Cambridge, MA, was featured on the cover of the May/June 2003 issue of Saxophone Journal, and his educational CD Music for Layered Saxophones was included in the magazine. Visit his website at www.kenfield.org.

Saxophonist Buck Splescia of Auckland, New Zealand, has released a CD titled Pleasure, Pain, Dezire. Visit www.ambrosejazz.com for more info.

Producer/engineer William Garrett of Long Island City, NY, is the studio manager and chief engineer at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a studio that has fostered collaborations between many songwriters and recording artists including Jesse Harris (songwriter) and (singer) Norah Jones.

1979
Guitarist Jon Catler of New York City has published a book called The Nature of Music, which describes the evolution of his 62-tone, just intonation guitar. He has toured with the Catler Brothers Band and avant- guarde composer LaMonte Young. His book and CDs are available at www.microtones.com.

1980
Saxophonist Robert Hughes of Maplewood, MO, received his Ph.D. in musicology last December from Washington University in Saint Louis. He is an assistant professor of music at Saint Louis University and plays professionally in Saint Louis.

Composer/arranger Henry Moss of Nassau, Bahamas, was the music director for the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism's Cacique Awards. His 17-piece band played his compositions and arrangements of Caribbean standards in a jazz style.

In addition to performing often in Bangkok, singer/guitarist Ti Muntarbhorn of Bankok, Thailand, will sing in the "Rolling Requiem" on September 11, 2003, at the site of New York's World Trade Center. Singers will perform Mozart's Requiem around the globe in every time zone for a 24-hour period to mark the second anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.

Guitarist Paul Nelson of Stamford, CT, is featured on the song "Jason" from the Jason Becker tribute CD Warmth in the Wilderness Volume II (Lion Music).

1981
Composer/engineer/producer Rick DePofi of New York City is co-owner and president of NY Noise, a a Manhattan recording studio. He has worked with artists such as Shawn Colvin, Rosanne Cash, Marc Cohn, Michelle Branch, and others and has worked on numerous TV and radio ad campaigns.

Saxophonist/composer Laura Dreyer of New York City, a former member of the DIVA big band, released the CD Mysterious Encounter: Brazilan Jazz for the Lavasphere label. Dreyer wrote eight of the disc's 10 tunes. Visit www.lauradreyer.com for more information. Jay Nichols of Brigantine, NJ, has served as the drummer/conductor for the Legends in Concert show at the Claridge Casino Hotel in Atlantic City for seven years.

Saxophonist Scott Robinson of Teaneck, NJ, played on the Mingus Big Band's Tonight at Noon . . . Three or Four Shades of Love CD, which was nominated for a Grammy. Robinson has played on more than 150 albums and was a winner in Down Beat magazine's 2002 critic's poll.

1982
Vocalist Lenora Zenzalai Helm of New York City has released a new CD titled Voice Paintings for the MidLantic label. The disc features a mix of original and standard tunes.

Violinist Benjamin Smeall of Green Bay, WI, performed at universities in Wisconsin and Michigan, and did a live radio broadcast in Chicago with the Chilean world music singer Laura Fuentes and her ensemble Calicanto. Smeall teaches strings, guitar, voice, and piano in Green Bay. Visit his website at www.songcycles.net for more information.

1983
Pianist Pete Gianakopoulos of Chicago, IL, recently opened the Old School Records store. He operates a label of the same name and performs with Castle Broadway throughout the Midwest.

Reggie Lofton of Framingham, MA, produced and played drums on Clearing My Head, the new CD by singer Jes Perry. Also appearing on the disc's 13 original songs are Jeff Perry '90 (bass) and Steve Fekete '96 (guitar). All four are Berklee staff members.

1984
Composer Joel Goodman of New York City, recently scored several feature and documentary films. Evenhand, Seabiscuit, and Robert Capra: In Love and War are screening in theaters and at festivals. Another short documentary, The Collector of Bedford Street, was nominated for an Oscar. For more information on his work, visit www.hifiproductions.com.

Guitarist/composer Steven Kirby of Concord, MA, has released a new CD titled North Light featuring saxophonist Chris Potter, pianist Bruce Barth, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Matt Wilson. The tracks include eight original tunes and two standards. Visit www.sonicbids.com/na/epk.asp for more information.

Tom Andes

1985
Pianist Tom Andes of Columbia, MD, released his fourth CD, Outer Limits, with the Tom Andes Quintet. Six of the disc's eight tracks are Andes's original pieces.

Claudio Tarris of Monterrey, Mexico, has been appointed director of Escuela Superior de Mœsica y Danza de Monterrey. He is also director of the Monterrey Big Band.

1986
Drummer Jim Kersey of Burbank, CA, plays with the popular Los Angeles-based Led Zeppelin tribute band Led Zepagain. See the band's website at www.zepagain.com.

1987
Pianist composer Satoko Fujii of Sayama, Japan, released a second CD titled Minerva with her quartet. It features Fujii with drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, bassist Takeharu Hayakawa, and trumpeter Matsuki Tamura on five extended jazz compositions.

Bassist Terje Gewelt of Oslo, Norway, has released the duo CD Interplay on the Resonant label with pianist Christian Jacob '86. Gewelt has played on more than 50 jazz recordings and recently performed in India and Brazil.

Saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree of Brooklyn, NY, stars in a short comedy film titled The Sound Barrier, which was screened at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in April. Mitcheltree plays frequently in New York.

Bobby Borg

1988
Bobby Borg of Beverly Hills, CA, authored Musician's Handbook: A Practical Guide to Understanding the Music Business for Billboard Books. It describes business relationships, revenue streams, and the important steps necessary for success in the music business.

1989
Guitarist Gene Ess (formerly Shimosato) of New York City played at the Blue Note jazz club in May with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, bassist Matt Garrison '92, and drummer Gene Jackson '84.

Trumpeter Mark Mazor of Antioch, CA, is actively performing locally. He recently received a grant from Shell Oil to play a concert in Martinez, CA.

Brian Transeau (a.k.a. BT) of Los Angeles, CA, has been working as a DJ lately. He previously has done remixes for Madonna, Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan, and has written film scores for two movies. Stories on him recently appeared in Billboard and EQ magazines.

1990
Saxophonist Peter Barbeau of Taos, NM, is the jazz programmer for KTAO radio in Taos. His radio show airs on Sunday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Barbeau also has recorded three CDs.

Thomas Berthold of Rehling, Germany, wrote and produced the music for the rock-pop recording The Boston Project. Alumni helping out on the disc include Andreas Brade '94 (drums), Rainer Plaschka '96 (bass), and Berklee student vocalist Andrew Parker-Renga. Berthold played guitars, keyboards, sang backgrounds, and also composed the string arrangements.

Saxophonist Javier Girotto of Rome, Italy, has been playing with groups led by trumpeter Enrico Rava, pianist Rita Marcotulli, Roberto Gatto, and with his own groups. Visit his website at www.javiergirotto.com.

Acoustic bassist Christopher Sharkey of New Orleans, LA, played at a music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the Jerry Embree Band.

Guitarist Alessandro Ricciarelli of Brooklyn, NY, is highlighted on a CD by the Billy Nayer Show and on a forthcoming CD of his original material. He also has composed music for documentary films and a modern dance work, and will earn his master's degree in music therapy from New York University next year.

Vocalist Luciana Souza of New York City recently performed a series of concerts with conductor Roberto Minczuk and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra singing Manuel de Falla's El Amor Brujo Suite.

Eric Tew was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for his work on Sheryl Crow's C'mon, C'mon CD. Tew also has worked with George Benson, the Dixie Chicks, Super Furry Animals, and others.

1991
Guitarist/singer Marty Eisenstein of Athens, Greece, organized a benefit concert with and led a band behind Israeli singer Chaim Israel at the Athens College Theatre. Funds raised went to teenagers whose family members were victims of violence in Israel.

Sara Wheeler

Singer/songwriter Sara Wheeler of Boston, MA, held a February CD release party at Club Passim in Cambridge for her latest effort, Summer. Wheeler has been touring in Europe to promote the disc.

Bassist Jesse Williams of Arlington, MA, is a member of Duke Robillard's band and has backed such artists as Johnnie Johnson, John Hammond, Maria Muldaur, and others. He freelances with the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and the Jazz Composers' Alliance. He also teaches full time.

1992
Guitarist Yoichi Arakawa of Torrance, CA, has published two more instruction books. Jazz Guitar Chords and Accompaniment and Blues Guitar Chords and Accompaniment are available at www.sixstringsmusicpub.com.

Robert Cord

Guitarist Michael Bell of Los Angeles, CA, and his wife, Tina, welcomed twin daughters Audrey and Malena into their home. The babies were born on March 17.

Robert Cord of Dighton, MA, has been named vice president of operations for Perspective Communica-tions Group of Middletown, RI. The company provides leading corporations with business communications services.

Saxophonist Dave Ellis of Hercules, CA, has released a CD titled State of Mind, featuring pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassists Peter Washington and Christian McBride, drummers Carl Allen and Lewis Nash, and alto saxophonist Vincent Herring. Orrin Keepnews produced the disc for the Milestone label.

Dave Ellis

1993
Peter Keereman of Zedelgem-Veldegem, Belgium, works at his own commercial recording studio as a producer, engineer, arranger, and songwriter. He has produced several hit records and the Adrivalan Orchestra, for which he is the music director, pianist, and arranger, was recently signed by Sony Music Entertainment International.

Trumpeter Frank Vardaros of Boston, MA, led the Ryles Jazz Orchestra in concerts featuring fellow trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and trombonist Slide Hampton at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge this spring.

1994
Guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak of North Arlington, NJ, completed a tour of Japan with Halford and is completing a CD with his band Pain Museum. Digitech has released guitar effects with Metal Mike presets. Visit www.painmuseum.com for more information.

Alison Keslow

Bassist/composer Alison Keslow of Sudbury, MA, released her debut CD, Between Earth and Sky. Players include faculty members Dino Govoni '83 (saxophone), Jon Hazilla (drums), Dave Limina '91 (keyboards), and Peter Wiernik '94 (guitar). For more information, visit www.alisonkeslow.com.

Bassist Richard Hammond of Brooklyn, NY, has been working with Angelique Kidjo, Jonatha Brooke, the Steve Kimock Band, and Melissa Errico.

Drummer Shinya Miyamoto of Astoria, NY, is playing with the Harlem Gospel Choir. The choir played in Argentina and Chile in April and and later this year will tour Europe and Japan. Miyamoto is also a freelance engineer at Sterling Sound.

1995
Singer/songwriter Ciarra Civello of New York City, recorded her debut album, which Russ Titelman produced, in February for Verve Records. Civello cowrote a song with Burt Bacharach for the disc.

Composer Antonio Carlos DeFeo of Pelham Mannor, NY, scored the movie All American Boy. The film was screened in Boston at Emerson College on February 12.

Drummer Leobadis Gonz‡lez of San Juan, PR, has released the CD La Siega with his group NISI. The band features saxophonist Miguel Zen—n '98, vocalist Jessica Vega, guitarist Ermesc Gonzalez Rodr’guez, and bassist Gabriel Rodr’guez. Visit www.nisimusic.com for more information.

Orna

Vocalist Orna Shifren of Santa Monica, CA, released Orna: The Very Thought of You on the A440 Music Group imprint. Bassist Brian Bromberg produced the disc. For more on the CD visit www.a440musicgroup.com.

1996
Composer Peter Bufano of Somerville, MA, composed the score for the one-hour feature film Act Your Age. Bufano enlisted Dan Bowden '80 (guitar, mandolin), Allison Weitzman '00 (flute), Scott C. Martin '97 (mix engineer), and current Berklee student Marissa Knaub (harp) to record it. Listen to MP3s at www.peterbufano.com.

Singer/songwriter Michael Castaldo of New York City has released Gioia 2, a double CD featuring 120 minutes of vocal and instrumental music by Castaldo's group Lives of a Cell, featuring Argentinean flamenco guitarist Hernan Romero. Visit www.livesofacell.com for more information.

Martin Degener of MŸnster, Germany, won a German idea competition called Usable. The Kšrber Foundation, located in Germany, sponsors the competition to bring good ideas from America to Germany.

Songwriter Katherine Farnham of Hallandale, FL, was named songwriter of the year in South Florida's Big Time Talent Show.

Drummer Steve Hass of Astoria, NY, released his own CD titled Traveler featuring Janis Siegel, Ravi Coltrane, Donny McCaslin, John Benitez, James Genus, Ben Butler, Jon Dryden, Yaron Gershovsky, and others.

Producer/drummer/DJ Raul Ramirez of Miami Beach, FL, has released the CD The Chillout Sessions on his own ecomusica label. He also has played with the Latin rock band Sofia. Visit www.ecomusica.com to learn more.

Drummer Joe Schleicher of Placentia, CA, performed with Kenny Burrell for All-Star Guitar Night at the 2003 NAMM Show. He also plays around Los Angeles with the Duane Allen trio and vocalist Kim Kline.

1997
Guitarist Justin Ballard of Dorchester, MA, and his band Debris are playing in the Boston area and have completed an EP and video for their single "More Like Me."

Brian Donovan of Sherman Oaks, CA, did engineering for the Barry Manilow CDs Here at the Mayflower and A Christmas Gift of Love. He also has released his own CD titled Solo Moon. Visit www.briandonovan.com for more information.

Composer Jorge Farall of San Miguel de Tucum‡n, Argentina, has had his piano suite Moods performed in Brazil and the United States. The piece has been added to the holdings at the Conservatorio Municipal Manuel de Falla in Buenos Aires.

Saxophonist Adam Niewood of New York City has released the CD Former Miss Sunshine with his group Sons, Brothers, and Wrestlers for the Native Language label. The president of Native Language is Joe Sherbanee '96, Niewood's former Berklee roommate.

Pancho Tomaselli of Hollywood, CA, has been playing bass with the band War and with his own band Salsa Soup. He has recorded with Carlos Santana, War, Ricky Martin, Nelly Furtado, Chaka Khan, and many others.

Chihiro Yamanaka

1998
Pianist Chihiro Yamanaka of Brooklyn, NY, produced a four-song demo titled When October Goes with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard.

1999
Bassist Dana Decker of Studio City, CA, plays with the Dan Band around Los Angeles and appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.

Drummer Joe Dunne of Santa Monica, CA, has been touring with Ben Taylor. The band played on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in February and will tour through the fall. Saxophonist Courtney Fadlin of Worcester, MA, released his fourth CD, The Journey, on Acquire Records. Fadlin has toured the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean in his Christian music ministry.

Vibist Laura Friedman (a.k.a. Lalo) of Brooklyn, NY, has released a new CD titled Lalo for Blue Note Records. The disc features bassist Kermit Driscoll '78, drummer Todd Isler '80, and special guests Kyler England '98, and Judson Crane '00.

Makeba Riddick has signed publishing deal with Bad Boy/EMI as a singer/songwriter. She is credited on songs by Jennifer Lopez ("All I Have"), 3LW ("Ghetto Love and Heartbreak," and "Put Em Up"), and AZ's "A-1 Performance."

Songwriter Amanda Williams of Nashville, TN, has signed a songwriting contract with Sony/ATV Tree, the largest publisher of country music. Williams cowrote the Garth Brooks/George Jones hit "Beer Run," and is the daughter of hit songwriter Kim Williams.

2000
Composer Pierre AndrŽ of Santa Monica, CA, recently orchestrated music for John Ottman on Twentieth Century Fox Movie X2 (2003).

Pianist Wydell Croom of Gaithersburg, MD, has released a CD of instrumental gospel music titled Seasons. Visit his website at www.anointedhandsproductions.com.

Pianist Rubens Peixinho Sao Paulo, Brazil, has released an album of world music titled Mundo. Percussionist Luiz Claudio Farias and Peixinho explore rhythms of India, Africa, the Amazon, and American jazz. Visit www.rpxmusic.com.

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds of Astoria, NY, has completed a CD titled Live at the Jazz Corner with his quartet. To hear tracks, go to http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/147/bob_reynolds_quartet.html.

Composer/guitarist Julio Santill‡n of Boston, MA, released a CD with his septet titled Anit Negra. The disc features bassist Fernando Huergo '92, drummer Franco Pinna '00, vocalist Marta G—mez '01, flutist Fernando Brandao '99, accordionist Evan Harlan, clarinetist Carlos Richelini, and vocalist R‡ul Carnota. Visit www.juliosantillan.com.

Drummer George Shepherd of Newport Beach, CA, is marketing director of MI Media LLC, publisher of Fingerstyle Guitar and Basics magazines. His publishing company CDI has released drum instruction books by Shepherd, Robert Keding '00, and Gregg Martin. Visit www.cdipublications.com.

Gregg Stein

Gregg Stein of Quincy, MA, has been appointed product manager of sheet cymbals at the Avedis Zildjian Company. Also a busy drummer, Stein performs and records with the band Room 314 featuring guitarist Shaun Dougherty '91, vocalist Patrick Proctor, and bassist Ian Cariolo.

2001
Saxophonist Chris Carbajal of Loma Linda, CA, has joined the band Save Ferris led by singer Monique Powell. The group has been featured in movies and in the television series Roswell.

Singer/songwriter Ava Schlink of Providence, RI, and her brother Bob Schlink '98 were finalists in the 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the r&b category for their song "Breezy." Ava is presently completing her debut CD.

Guitarist/composer Vladimir Vasileski of Boston, MA, has been writing, arranging, and playing guitar for projects in Boston and in his native Macedonia. A song he recorded and coproduced became a hit with Macedonian television, radio, and magazines.

Guitarist Josh Brill of Chicago, IL, served as a faculty member at Triton College this year. He toured Europe with the Jan James Group in April and May. Visit his website at www.joshbrill.com for more details.

2002
Bassist Marco Panascia of New York City has recorded a trio CD with Lewis Nash for the Japanese What's New label. He has performed with Benny Green, Russell Malone, Wallace Roney, and Jane Monheit and was featured on Billy Taylor's cable show Jazz and the New Generation. Panascia is a master's degree candidate at Manhattan School of Music. Visit www.marcopanascia.com for more information.

Liz Pappademas of Mill Valley, CA, was named top female singer/songwriter in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards for 2002. She also took third place in the best contemporary album category. Visit www.justplainfolks.org for more information.

Mark Petrie

Mark Petrie of Boston, MA, composed the score to the independent film Minimal Knowledge after receiving his film scoring degree. The film was screened at festivals in America and Mexico to critical acclaim.

Pianist Oli Rockberger of Boston, MA, will perform with bassist Tony Grey '01 and drummer Chris Farr '02 at the Brecon Jazz Festival in Brecon, Wales, in August. The Brecon festival is one of Europe's premier jazz events.