Benefit performance leads to open auditions with Warren Hill, July 12 and 13.

June 29, 2007

This past April, students in Berklee’s Tower of Power Ensemble performed at a benefit for legendary Tower of Power bassist Rocco Prestia. Members of the renowned group attended the show at Ryles Jazz Club. Founder and leader of Tower of Power, Emilio Castillo, said of the students, “I was genuinely impressed by the way they performed our music.”

Prestia underwent liver transplant surgery in 2002 and open heart surgery in 2006. Berklee’s major gifts coordinator, Barbara Thomas, produced the Ryles event to help defray Prestia’s medical bills.

Thomas received a call after the event from Rocco’s manager Jack Forchette, president of Air Tight Management, who said that the Tower of Power Ensemble so impressed him that he told another of his clients, alto saxophonist and Berklee alumnus Warren Hill. Hill will now be holding auditions for his rhythm section at Berklee July 12 and 13. “This is a permanent gig and Warren is very excited about coming back to Berklee to seek out some of Berklee’s recent graduates for this opportunity,” said Thomas. Those interested in more information about the auditions should contact Thomas at 617 774-3118.

The Berklee Tower of Power Ensemble was created in 2000 by Berklee faculty member Wayne Naus. Since its inception, the ensemble has grown from 10 members to 18. The students who make it through the auditions have to work hard to earn their position to stay in the ensemble. But Naus says students aren’t just joining an ensemble, they’re joining a family—one whose reach stretches across the music industry.

At the Ryles show.     Rocco Prestia (center) with Berklee faculty Joe Santerre (left) and Wayne Naus (right).   Barbara Thomas and Jack Forchette.