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The Rhyme |
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Yvaes'
Diirell |
Yvaes’, (pronounced Yah-vah-say) originally from Flint, MI started singing at the age of two in the doctor’s office and even attracted the attention of Berry Gordy when he was in elementary school. Before moving to Seattle in ’88 he sang briefly with mid-west groups including Great Lakes Music Box who toured with the likes of Maurice Day, Natalie Cole, Enchantment, Peabo Bryson and Teena Marie. Yvaes’ only started singing routinely in public at Antioch church in Kirkland in 1995. He lists among his musical influences, Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross and Gospel artist Daryl Coley. |
 Julie Hill Vocalist |
Julie, from Riverton, New Jersey, is a newcomer to the music scene, but is the anchor of the Type A! vocal section. A registered nurse by profession, Julie has always been encouraged by friends and family to sing professionally. Her uncanny natural ability to harmonize with perfect pitch made her the perfect choice to provide background vocals for Type A!. The only true soprano in the group, her voice adds that needed sparkle to the band's vocal presentation.
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 La Tanya Horace Vocalist |
La Tanya, AKA "Sistaluv" hails from the south and by the age of three was singing in church choir. She moved to the Seattle area in the early eighties and sang in the Total Experience Gospel choir. In the mid-nineties La Tanya toured Japanj, sang in a Motown review and met and played with the Drifters and Stevie Wonder's band. In 2002 La Tanya began playing with Hit Explosion, a Northwest disco band. Since that time she has played in, written for and collaborated with several local bands and artists before bringing her considerable talents to Type A!. |
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Romalice Hillard |
Romalice, originally from New Orleans started singing and playing drums in church. At Seattle’s Franklin High he played drums in the jazz band with sax player Kenny G and sang in the jazz choir taught by the one and only Pat Wright of Total Experience. After high school, he began to tour US and Canada with Contents Under Pressure, followed by Kool Breeze and others until he landed in Las Vegas touring with the Fabulous Platters.
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The Rhythm |
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Osama has the skill, chops, and a titanium spine to succeed in both the LA and Seattle music scenes. For the past 20 years Osama has brought his formidable bass playing and arranging to artists seeking "that certain something" to their music. He decided to leave the gritty LA scene and settle in Seattle in order to spend more time with his growing family. In addition to touring with Yanni and Johnny Depp's wife Vanessa Paradis, he has worked with a myriad of artists including Grammy-nominated jazz vocalists Kurt Elling and Nnenna Freelon, The 5th Dimension, The Cadillac's, jazz saxophonist Gary Herbig, singer Debbie Boone, former Miles Davis keyboardist Kei Akagi, Doors drummer John Densmore, and now, Type A! - all the while maintaining a full student roster. His education includes studies at the Dick Grove School of Music. He has also studied with Jeff Berlin and Gary Willis. |
Johnny Conga Percussion |
Johnny, from New York City by way of Los Angeles and Miami, is the son of a Cuban father who was an avid collector of Latin music. At age six, young Johnny took his first bongo lessons from an uncle and by age 17 was playing drums professionally. He learned and studied congas under George "Sabu" Caldwell, a percussionist for Dizzy Gillespie. Johnny Conga has, on his own, and with his bands, appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, on Harry Belafonte's PBS series, Routes of Rhythm, and with international stars such as Paquito de Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Nestor Torres, Sergio Mendes, Gloria Gaynor, Maynard Ferguson and others. |
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Mark Cardenas |
Mark, born and raised in Los Angeles, began playing piano at age 4. After ten years of study he moved on to guitar and 5 years later returned to the piano and electric keyboards. While finishing his college studies in music he took a full time gig in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Five years of on the road and gigging on the East Coast Mark settled in Minneapolis where he was hired by Prince to play keyboards for The Time and went on to appear in the cult classic motion picture Purple Rain. Tours with R&B artist Jesse Johnson followed as did recording tracks on Janet Jackson’s first multi-platinum record Control . Mark moved to the Seattle area in 1987 to raise his family and settle down where he taught public school, records soundtracks for video production, teaches private lessons, and performs in several bands and tours on occasion in addition to gracing the stage with Type A!. |
Andy Bryant Guitar / Vocals Band Leader |
Andy, from Philadelphia, had his first musical influences playing classical flute in elementary school. He picked up the guitar a few years ago and was a founding member of the popular Seattle area band 8 Feet Standing until leaving in May of 2003 to form Type A! He lists a myriad of musical influences, including Steely Dan, Earth Wind and Fire, Tower of Power, Santana, Bob Marley, Lyle Love, and Stevie Wonder. However, his first love of music is old school funk and R&B. By seeking out and associating himself with a group of some of the finest musicians in the Northwest, Andy has put together the group in which he and his fellow band mates have always dreamed of playing. |
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Garey Williams |
Garey, who holds a Master's degree in Percussion Performance and Jazz Studies from Central Washington University, has been a fixture in the Northwest scene, having performed with such musicians as Diana Krall, Kristin Korb, Bud Shank, Barney McClure, Howard Roberts, Joe Williams, Bobby Shew, Jay Thomas, Clay Jenkins, Milt Jackson, Cedar Walton, Ray Brown, Eddie Daniels and Dizzy Gillespie. In 2001 he re-formed Ecstasy In Numbers with guitarist Mike Mattingly and bassist Rick White. The band became a hit on the underground scene and for three years have toured and performed in Seattle and the Northwest to standing-room-only crowds. The bands progressive-jazz/rock sound has been gaining the attention of clubs and promoters, as well as the ears of a small but growing European fan base.
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The Brass |
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John Sakura Trumpet / Flugelhorn / Percussion |
John, who graduated from Rainier Beach High School in Seattle and the University of Washington, began his musical career with the popular Latin-Funk band Tamaraw in the early 70's. Before the age of 16 his credits included opening for Tower of Power, playing with Johnny "Hammond" Smith and a two week stint with Blues legend Albert Collins. After studying music at Western Washington State College, he "hit the road". With a warm recommendation from Jimi Hendrix's father Al, he toured with Hot Ice from Oakland, CA. John went on to perform with Ann Wilson of Heart at the Experience Music Project Grand Opening, sharing the stage with Sir Mix A Lot, the Presidents and No Doubt. His recordings include Tony Gable and 206's "Seven Hills" and Roger Rogers' "Good Times". |
Ted Bowden Lead Trumpet |
Ted, a Washington native, has been a lead trumpet player in the Seattle area since 1983, playing all styles of music including rock, pop, big band, Latin/salsa and classical. Performing with the Magnolia Big Band, The Jazz Police, The New Blues Brothers Revue, and Orquesta Nueva Era among others, Ted is also a founding member of Latin Expression, a band that is proud to be celebrating its 20th year. In addition to playing local shows with Linda Ronstadt, The Mills Brothers, The O'Jays and Lalo Rodriguez, Ted has toured extensively with artists such as Buddy Greco, vibraphonist Terry Gibbs and stars of the Lawrence Welk Show, playing lead trumpet and road managing. In addition to recording TV and radio commercials for numerous clients including Primera Blue Cross and Taco Time, Ted also served as road manager and stage director for comedian Steve Allen.
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Dan
Marcus |
Dan, early on, was a member of the Big Bands of Ray Charles and Woody Herman, and had performed in upwards of 100 countries by his early 20's. Dan comes from a musical family in the San Francisco Bay Area, and attended Cal State Northridge. Since moving to the Northwest in 1990, Dan has enjoyed being first-call for many shows and with many musical groups, both as musician and arranger, and also does quite a bit of studio work. Each year he performs at the Port Townsend Jazz Festival, and throughout his career has worked with many "names", including Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Stan Kenton's Jazz Orchestra, Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Bobby Caldwell, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners; need we say more? He spent several years with the very popular Teatro Zinzanni circus band, making bizarre noises of all kinds. |
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Rich, a nationally acclaimed talent, is among the most in-demand musicians in the Pacific Northwest. Beside work with such greats as Randy Brecker, Dave Holland, Adam Nussbaum, Julian Priester and John Fedchock, he has toured with New Orleans icon, Dr. John, fusion star Dan Siegel, performed with r&b legends Gladys Knight, The Temptations, The Spinners and The Four Tops while also composing and performing his own music. Richard cites numerous influences including the seminal jazz performances of John Coltrane and Joe Henderson. He studied music at Western Washington University and taught woodwinds, ensembles and improvisation at the prestigious Cornish School of Music in Seattle, Washington. Richard’s latest album Shade, features modern jazz giant Randy Brecker. |
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Dan Wickham |
Dan, a graduate of the UW School of Music and the University of Puget Sound, has studied with William O. Smith, Don Lanphere, Michael Brockman, and is one of the premier clarinet/saxophone performers and teachers in the Seattle area. Since 1999, Dan has worked as a music teacher in the Highline School District. He has played with such luminaries as The Temptations, Clint Holmes, and Frank Sinatra Jr. and locally, with the Seattle Symphony, The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Fred Radke, the Harry James Orchestra, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, and the Od Yishama Orchestra, as well as his own group, Swing City.
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Production |
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Randy, "The Great Baldini”, is a 30-year industry veteran who has worked as a musician, broadcaster, studio and live sound engineer, clinician, author and industry-recognized expert in audio and music technology. As a producer, studio and live sound engineer, he has worked with some of the most noted names in music, including Michael Bolton, Colin Raye, The Goo Goo Dolls, Debbie Gibson, David Archuletta, Chris Botti, Chaka Khan, The Osmond Family, The Brunson Brothers and many others. As a product and brand manager, audio consultant and technology specialist, he has been involved in the development of groundbreaking, award-winning and innovative professional audio products over the last decade from Lexicon, dbx, Mackie, Alesis, Groove Tubes, Gibson and others. |
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Copyright © 2005 Type A Band, All Rights Reserved |
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