6.14.12 Schnelle, Sears, Philpot + Synowiec [Richard Sears + Dan Schenelle + Rufus Philpot + Brady Cohan]

“A new quartet playing original music from all four band members…

Collectively, the group’s members have played/recorded with: Allan Holdsworth, Randy Brecker, Scott Kinsey, Joshua Redman, Dave Binney, Robben Ford, Larry Koonse, Josh Nelson, Aimee Mann, Bob Mintzer and Scott Henderson”

“Richard Sears is a highly inventive pianist, possessing a bold and lyrical approach to improvisation and composition. Whether leading performances of his own music or acting as an accompanist in a more traditional jazz context, Sears performs with a captivating sense of grace and adventure. Certainly someone to keep and ear on!” -Drew Tewksbury, NPR

“Richard Sears is a fierce young pianist – exploding with technique, energy, and art” - Brick Wahl, LA Weekly

Pianist and composer Richard Sears grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains of Northern California.  An eager improviser from an early age, he immersed himself in the Bay Area’s vibrant music scene, and was composing and performing professionally by his junior year of high school.  In 2005, Richard received a scholarship to attend the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where he studied with Shelly Berg, John Clayton, and Alan Pasqua.

Today, Richard is at the forefront of a growing community of creative young musicians in Los Angeles.  He has played concerts in New York and Peru, and recorded and performed with a diverse array of artists including Joshua Redman, Robben Ford, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Azar Lawrence.  In winter of 2010, Richard released his first CD, RICK; featuring his compositions for a quartet that combines influences from rock and free jazz.

Richard Sears website

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“Some drummers bang their drums, but Schnelle held to the background, making himself known but not overwhelming the rest of the group, playing with a sensitivity that supported the others while keeping impeccable time.” – Bill Leikam, All About Jazz

 ”Schnelle is an up-an-comer himself, a serious player no matter the setting – and a lot of fun to watch too.” - Brick Wahl, LA Weekly

Dan Schnelle is one of the most talented, in-demand drummers in the Los Angeles area. Known for an intuitive ability to do precisely what is necessary for each performance, Schnelle understands how to make other musicians comfortable, while bringing enough of the unexpected to his playing to keep it consistently exciting. Unsatisfied with the idea that the drum set is merely a time-keeping device, Schnelle is thoughtful about how this unique instrument, with its nearly limitless variety of sounds, can be tastefully and effectively deployed in a wide variety of musical situations. Years spent collaborating with some of the best musicians in Los Angeles (and beyond) have earned him a reputation as a hard-working, professional, and creative team player; one who is, above all, committed to musical excellence.

Schnelle began learning to play the drums in his hometown of Merrick, New York, at the age of ten. He progressed quickly, and by high school, was studying with two important and widely respected teachers, Al Miller and Dom Famularo. Together these men opened Schnelle’s ears to the music of Buddy Rich, Max Roach, and Steve Gadd. Later, he would attend USC’s Thornton School of Music, where he was exposed to a much broader perspective on jazz (and music as a whole), thanks in part to close interaction with such masters as Terri Lyne Carrington, Peter Erskine, Ndugu Chancler, Aaron Serfaty, John Clayton, Alan Pasqua, and many others. In his final years at USC, Schnelle was named a Louie Bellson Scholar, an honor bestowed on only one drummer each year. And after earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies, Schnelle was selected to attend the Henry Mancini Institute, where he performed and studied with Vince Mendoza, Billy Childs, Dave Leibman, Harold Jones, and Doc Severinsen.

Even as a student in Los Angeles, Schnelle was already working regularly around town. He has since toured throughout the US and abroad, in all kinds of performance situations, including major jazz festivals. Notable collaborators have included Josh Nelson, Dayna Stephens, Walter Smith III, Perry Smith, Nick Mancini, Mahesh Balasooriya, Tom Luer, Matt Zebley, Gary Fukushima, Andy Langham, Anthony Wilson, Ben Wendel, Larry Koonse, the Industrial Jazz Group, and many others.

Nowadays Schnelle maintains a busy playing schedule while simultaneously working as a dedicated music educator; he understands that effective pedagogy is a way of not only giving back to the art form but also continuing to expand his own playing. As such, he has been an instructor at the Henry Mancini Institute, the South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz (where, in addition to drum instruction, he has led student big bands and combos). Schnelle also has an extensive roster of private students.

Dan Schnelle website

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Ten years ago, bassist Rufus Philpot moved from his native land of London, England to the United States to pursue his musical vision. His first port of call was New York City. Whilst there, he rapidly became a much sought after bassist, with a reputation for his complete versatility, musicality and total command of the instrument, whether on fretted, fretless, four, five or six string..

Rufus was also invited to join the faculty of the world renowned Drummers / Bass Collective. In addition to teaching advanced classes with Tania Maria drummer Kim Plainfield, he performed regular seminar concerts with his own trio, JVR-featuring Spyro Gyra & Michel Camilo drummer Joel Rosenblatt.

In 2004, Rufus moved to Los Angeles, touring the U.S. with British Acid Jazz group Down to the Bone (acting as Musical Director), playing in a trio with Kirk Civington;s CPT Kirk, touring with Lao Tizer-and playing locally with such virtuosi as Scott Henderson, Steve Weingart, Tony Macalpine, Brandon Fields, Joel Taylor, and Mitch Forman.

In 2006, Rufus and Virgil Donati were asked to headline the International Bass N Drum Day in Stockholm, Sweden here they closed the entire weekend, and other notable performers included Meshuggah and Etienne M’Bappe of the Zawinul Syndicate.

2007 saw Rufus touring with his own Band, K.P.H. featuring Greg Howe on guitar and Will kennedy on the drums. September of 2007 saw Bass Player publishing the Jaco Pastorius Memorial Issue-and inside was a two page Masterclass feature with Rufus! Rufus was also featured in Bass Player Magazine’s June 2005 Issue and also the August edition (full page Ibanez feature) in both Bass Player and Bass Guitar magazine. Plus shows in Los Angeles with Scott Henderson, Scott Kinsey, Mitch Forman, Will Kennedy, Kirk Covington and continuing Masterclass work at M.I. and L.A.M.A.

Most recently he has been featured in the September and October 2008 issues of Bass Player. Rufus continues to perform Masterclasses at Los Angeles Music Academy, Musician’s Institute, L.A. and recently recorded tracks for Derek Sherinian’s (Dream Theater, Billy Idol) solo c.d. alongside Allan Holdsworth and Simon Phillips.

2009 saw Rufus performing at the Bass Player Live event in Hollywood, where he was a featured Masterclass Clinician & featured Rufus giving performances with the CPT Kirk Trio, feat. Kirk Covington from Tribal Tech.. He also performs with a new trio with Scott Henderson and drummer Andy Sinise.

2010 finds Rufus as Musical Director/Band Leader for acid jazz group Down to the Bone, and continuing to play with Kirk Covington trio, Scott Henderson, Tizer (feat. Karen Briggs & Chieli Minucci) and many more!

Rufus has performed /recorded with such artists as: Allan Holdsworth, Tony MacAlpine, Scott Henderson, Jeff Golub, Greg Howe, Mitch Forman, Steve Weingart,Jeff Babko, Gary Husband, Joel Rosenblatt, Chad Wackerman, Virgil Donati, Simon Phillips, Gary Novak, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans, Al Di Meola, Scott Kinsey, Kirk Covington, Bill Evans, Chieli Minucci, Jerry Goodman and David Gilmore, Down to the Bone.

He is a full endorsing Artist w/ Ibanez basses, Gallien Krueger Amplification, La Bella strings, And Seymour Duncan Pick ups.

Rufus Philpot website

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Brady Cohan is a guitarist, composer, and arranger based in Los Angeles, CA. Originally from the Bay Area, Cohan moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to study music at the University of Southern California. While attending school, he helped found New West, a jazz chamber group which toured all over Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States. Through this group he had the chance to perform and work with the likes of Pat Metheny, Diana Krall, William Kanengiser (of the GRAMMY-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet), GRAMMY-winning vocalist Gretchen Parlato, and Larry Koonse. During his time at USC, Cohan also worked for the Music Department at 20th Century FOX researching song/artist potential for specific movie projects. Upon graduating in 2007, he went to work for the EMMY Award-winning composer Trevor Morris at the renowned Remote Control Productions (Hans Zimmer’s production facility). Cohan worked on various projects during his time there, including the hit Showtime series “The Tudors”, as well as “The Incredible Hulk” movie starring Ed Norton and Liv Tyler. Since leaving Remote Control, Cohan has gone on to write, arrange, and play guitar on numerous movies and TV shows such as “Good Vibes” (an animated series scheduled to premier on MTV this fall), “Camp Rock 2”, “Aliens in the Attic”, and “The Loop”. Cohan has also scored and written songs for a variety of independent films including “K Citizen” (accepted into the Cannes Film Festival), “Mac & Cheese, A Romantic Story” (directed by Noam Bleiweiss, featured director in the “New Filmmakers Los Angeles” series), and “Guilt” (also directed by Bleiweiss).

In addition to his work as a film composer, Cohan works extensively as a touring and studio guitarist. He is currently the house guitarist on the hit television show “American Idol”. This summer, he will be joining the Stewart Copeland and Stanley Clarke band on a European tour. Prior to that, he was on and off the road with nine-time GRAMMY-winning singer, Natalie Cole. Cohan has also just completed work on his debut solo EP featuring songs that he wrote, arranged, and performed. It is entitled “Don’t Miss A Thing”, and can be found on iTunes and CDBaby. His rock band, Knee High, has also just begun work on their EP. It is scheduled for release this spring.

Brady Cohan website