EARLY SHOW: Abrakadabra

Abrakadabra : Jonathan Coleman Guitar, Marimba Jon, who’s been writing, arranging, performing and producing music since the 1970’s, received a career high achievement when he was named Best Jazz Guitarist at the 2000 Los Angeles Music Awards for his work on Latitudes. His love affair with the guitar began in the sixth grade, and resulted in his taking classical guitar lessons for 15 years developing his signature finger-style technique. But musical creativity might actually be in his genes. His dad, Charles, was a songwriter for Chappel Music, when he wrote songs for the original Broadway musical “Harlem Cavalcade” which featured a young Lena Horne and Harry Belafonte. Jon feels his strong sense of melody is rooted in the standards, show tunes and classical music that was always playing in his home while growing up. Jon studied music and played in the early 70’s while attending Cal Poly University, Pomona, adding marimba and vibraphone to his instrument repertoire, but it wasn’t until the ’80’s that he played steadily with his group, Abrakadabra, in the South Bay area. They eventually became the house band at The Lighthouse, and played the jazz club circuit in Los Angeles to sold out crowds. Forming a new smooth jazz trio in 2000 (Gold Coast) Jon co-produced an instrumental CD, Latitudes, that garnered extensive radio airplay throughout the world. A founding member of Abrakadabra, Jon looks forward to the reincarnation of this Group, known for its driving, propulsive rhythms and mesmerizing vocals. Tony Dellomes Keyboards, Flute, Vocals Inspired by the sounds of Joe South, Tony began playing keyboards when he was 15-years-old. By the time he was 17, he was writing music and lyrics, as well as singing. Growing up in the South Bay, Tony studied music in school and played with a number of local bands before he moved to Hawaii. There he developed an affinity for the island sound, now deeply infused in Abrakadabra’s mellow signature. He and John Pickell became a songwriting team in the ’80’s, creating most of Abrakadabra’s library of tunes, along with Jon Coleman. John Pickell Percussion, Marimba, Vocals John began playing drums when he was 10 years old, a couple of years after seeing the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. This inspired him to pursue music. His love of Latin music and Latin percussion (congas, bongos, timbales, etc.) began after the release of the first Santana album back in 1969 which led to his seeking out and discovering artists such as Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Willie Bobo, Ray Barretto and Mongo Santamaria…all were big influences on his musical direction. John is well versed in many different styles and genres of music. In the 80s, he played Brazilian /Jazz music as a member of acclaimed Brazilian trombone master Raul de Souza’s band and also backed crooner Andy Russell, a big international star back in the 40s and 50s and the original singer of classics such as Besame Mucho and What A Difference A Day Makes. During this era John also wrote, sang and played original Latin/Jazz/Pop music as a founding member of the band Abrakadabra, and also played Latin Jazz with the group Sound Wave. The early 90s found John playing African music in a band called Orchestra Shegamo (the house band at a wild European-style nightclub in Hollywood called Club Pu-Na-Na) and also with Bateke Beat. “Bateke taught me everything I know about how to play African music,” John recalls. “I had to un-learn how I played and approach it from a different angle”. The 90s also saw John playing Jazz/Rock/Funk fusion with the Michael Grange Band and Turnaround, and fronting his own band The Primal Rhythm Project. It was also during this time that John began his tenure backing actress/singer/writer Michele Greene, an association that continues to the present day and has resulted in 2 great CDs, countless hours of live performances and the occasional television appearance as a member of her band Los Tios. In the new millennium, John has kept busy recording and releasing the critically acclaimed Gold Coast CD Latitudes, and continues performing and recording with Michele Greene. John also found time to front his own Latin Jazz band JP and Combo Mambo. In November of 2005, the principal members of John’s old band Abrakadabra got back together for a one-time reunion show and things went so well musically that they decided to start performing together again. “It’s been a lot of fun getting back together with the guys and re-visiting our past material”, John said recently,“I’ve always felt these songs were some of our best work, collectively and individually, and that our sound was distinctive and our own. While we have been influenced by bands like Malo, War, El Chicano and, of course Santana, we still add enough of our own jazzy melodies and pop harmonies to create our own musical identity. It has also been fun updating the material —changing arrangements, fine-tuning the sound and just taking a new look at each of these songs.” John’s recording career began with the release of the first Michael Grange album in 1993, and he’s found himself active in the studio since then, appearing on several different CDs ranging from Rock ‘n’ Roll to Bossa Nova to Jazz Fusion and Latin Jazz…even a Neil Diamond Tribute Album in 2005! John also performs live with various bands around the Los Angeles area. Currently, he performs with singer/actress Michele Greene’s band (Los Tios) as well as occasionally fronting his own bands, JP and Combo Mambo, a traditional Latin Jazz band, and The Primal Rhythm Project, an electrified fusion of Jazz, Latin, African polyrhythms and Funk music. John’s drum mastery can also be heard on the soundtrack of the movie, Freeway starring Keifer Sutherland and Reese Witherspoon, and on the theme music for the USA Network TV show Reel Wild Cinema starring Sandra Bernhard. George Ines Rossi Percussion, Ukulele, Vocals George Rossi has recorded and/or toured with Hiroshima, Kalapana, Cecilio & Kapono, Marco Mendoza, Banzai, Jeff Kashiwa, Edwin Star, Yutaka Yokokura, Libre, Windfield Summit, and numerous other Latin, funk, jazz and gospel groups. He has toured across the US, Canada, and Mexico. George is a co-founder of Agape Beat, a percussion ensemble including Ronnie Ciago, David Owens, Michael Bissonette and Tim Jones, which is endorsed by Remo Drum Co. He served as Associate Musical Director for Isuda ti Emuna, a Filipino theater group. George has also worked with Nathan Wong, television and movie score composer, on a musical piece for an ABC Children’s After School Special. George studied music at Dick Grove’s School of Music and under Kevin Ricard. He now teaches drums and percussion, sings, writes and composes music. Though not a founding member of Abrakadabra, George joined the band after hearing the group play one night in a club in the early 1980’s. John Rodgers Acoustic & Electric Bass A native of Orange County (OC), CA, John Rodgers started playing bass when he was 12-years-old. During his high school years, he played with various garage bands. After graduation, he moved to Hawaii and took up the acoustic guitar. In the late 70’s through early 80’s, John settled back in southern CA, and played bass in Cylinders, a local OC band whose EP was featured on KROQ. John still finds himself involved in many studio projects as a session player, and has been involved with University of CA Irvine Performance Art groups. In 1998, he expanded his musical base by playing and recording with various Christian churches in Orange County. Still eager and determined to perfect his craft, he has extensively studied jazz theory. John currently resides in Orange County. Vince Brooks Drums, Percussion, Marimba On a trip to Mexico when he was 18-years-old, Vince’s purchase of a set of bongos began his long-lasting love of percussion instruments. Inspired by the soul and energy in Santana’s music, Vince studied music at college and performed with the number one jazz ensembles at both Orange Coast College and Cal State University Long Beach. He currently resides in Littlerock, CA, and performs regularly with Hollywood Rockers, Blue Jewels Band, and with Robert Ortiz at various venues in Orange County.