F - J

Anton was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and started playing the drums at age four. He moved to Boston in the USA when he was 17 and studied both jazz and classical music at the New England Conservatory, graduating in 1975. The following year he moved to New York and began making his name as a freelance musician. He soon met Letterman show MD Paul Shaffer on a session for Joan Armatrading, but it was almost ten years before he got the chance to join Shaffer on the Letterman show. 

Hailed as the Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar, Antonio Forcione has a charismatic stage personality with the instinct of a musician determined to brush aside artificial barriers, creating an amazing fusion of emotional expression and formidable technique. 

“Before switching to a new instrument I like to research all the possible options. I found that the MOTIFES ticks all the right boxes and is a cut above the rest in terms of the quality of sound it delivers – I just love it all.” 

Adam Frey has quickly established himself as one of the best euphonium soloists in the world by bringing his sharp intellect, mature musicianship, and charismatic stage presence to audiences all over the world. 

David Friedman, internationally renowned vibraphonist, marimbist, composer and jazz educator, has his own musical message, born of fascinatingly diverse musical influences. Few jazz musicians can claim as broad a spectrum of performing and recording experience, with such varied musical personalities as Leonard Bernstein, Luciano Berio, Bobby McFerrin, Wayne Shorter and Yoko Ono. The list doesn`t stop there. Friedman has been heard either live or on recordings with, among others, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Johnny Griffin, Jane Ira Bloom, Ron Carter and John Scofield. His compositions are featured on Chet Baker`s award winning Enja release, Peace, with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Joe Chambers. Friedman is also the featured soloist on this recording. 

Drawing influence from the funky bass lines and bass-heavy electro and hip-hop of the 1980s, Nick’s future was clearly one with a groove. 

Steve Gadd is the most acclaimed drummer’s drummer of the past quarter century. From the early 1970s he forged a new era in studio craft with his phenomenal technique and emotionally intense playing. Whatever the music, be it jazz, pop, RnB or fusion, Gadd was simply the best. 

Australian-born Frank Gambale is a man dedicated to the guitar, not only as a fine player and composer, but as a teacher of the instrument, whether face to face or through his instructional books and videos. Many are the players who have progressed through his guidance and inspiration. 

Emerging from the vibrant late-1960s San Francisco East Bay music scene, the mighty Tower of Power eleven-piece soul-funk machine featured the famous Tower of Power horns and the devastating rhythm team of Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia on bass and David Garibaldi, purveyor of some of the slickest funk beats ever heard. 

Russell has been a professional soloist for the last 15 years, establishing himself as one of the worlds leading exponents in the art of cornet playing. Russell keeps a busy diary of engagements including Gala performances, Recitals, Masterclasses, and educational workshops. This regularily takes him to most European countries, America, Japan, and Australia.

He has released five solo recordings, all recieving high critical acclaim. The latest being a collection of Jean Baptist Arban solo's on an original 1870's Arban Courtois Cornet. More Solo recordings are being planned in the near future.

Russell's other "passion" is conducting. In the last few years, he has become one of the most successful brass band conductors on the scene, being awarded the coveted title of "4barsrest.com conductor of the year" in 2002.