Andy Aledort (Musical Director) A renowned master of the guitar who has performed with the critically acclaimed Jimi Hendrix Experience concert tour and is currently a co-guitarist with the Dickey Betts & The Greater Southern, has spent a lifetime giving lessons to some of the music industry's greatest guitarists. As testament to Andy's teaching skills, he has sold over one million instructional DVDs, and continues to produce new DVDs for Guitar World and Truefire.
The Uptown Horns (Arno Hecht, Crispin Cioe, Bob Funk and recent recruit Larry Etkin) are Ray-Ban wearing, horn carrying professionals whose credits read like a who's who of music. Their signature horn riffs can be heard on the turntables of America on chart toppers including Grammy-award winning James Brown's "Living in America," the B-52's "Love Shack," Buster Poindexter's "Hot Hot Hot," Joe Cocker's "Unchain My Heart," Tom Waits' "Rain Dogs" LP, and Billy Joel's "River of Dreams" LP, among numerous others. Hundreds of additional recordings and touring credits include names such as the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, REM and the B-52's, to name a few.
Franklin Vanderbilt In 2002, when legendary R&B/funk diva Chaka Khan came to Las Vegas to perform, she selected Franklin to hold the drum seat with her and her band for the next 2 1/2 years. When he was not working with Chaka he toured, worked and recorded with fusion jazz pioneer Stanley Clarke, rock guitarist Richie Kotzen and Billy Sheehan.
In 2005, Franklin had the honor of working with 22 time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder. In 2007, Royalprince Franklin firmly established himself as a professional percussionist when he received a call from 4 time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz to become a member of his band. Franklin has been touring worldwide and making TV appearances with Lenny Kravitz for the past seven years.
Dennis Espantman (bass, vocals) Our low register expert had his first brush with international stardom some time ago working for the Danish superstar Kim Larsen and touring Europe as the opening act for the Rolling Stones. Returning to the US in a slightly surrealistic, psychedelicized, sexualized, star-studded haze, he quickly went back to work in the NYC scene playing for the likes of Chuck Berry, Ronnie Spector, Darlene Love, Eddie Brigati of Young Rascals fame, Al Kooper, Jimmy Vivino, Brazilian Power Samba Band Pe De Boi, The Leader Of The Pack (off Broadway and Broadway productions) and countless others. Soon he realized that the wild rock and roll lifestyle, as stimulating and lucrative as it might be, was not going to be enough to furnish him with all the accoutrements a man of his highly refined tastes would require. He found other fish to fry, while continuing to play low notes and to write music in a discriminating way for the last 25+ years with Steely Dan guitarist Jon Herington and, as fate and fortune would have it, has lately decided to return to the world stage and unleash his charm, taste, talents, and sartorial splendor.
JP Patrick from Asbury Park's new sound ambassadors, Slim Chance & The Gamblers. JP’s put a lotta miles down singing, playing and acting on stage, in films and commercials infusing each with his infectious energy and enthusiasm. This powerhouse of prime musical talent will also feature vocalist and harp player.
Mike Dimeo Originally known as a singer, Mike DiMeo, first came onto the scene in 1992 with legendary New York hard rock outfit Riot. He went on to record six studio albums with the band and one live album recorded live in Tokyo before departing to tour with retro rockers The Lizards… During his time working with The Lizards, Dimeo found himself increasingly more in demand as a session and touring keyboard / Hammond organ player for several artists. He has done several tours with Bonnie Tyler (Total eclipse of the heart) Tommy James and the Shondells (Mony Mony, Crimson and Clover) Vinnie Moore (UFO). Dimeo had the honor of being the keyboard player on the legendary guitar player Johnny Winters' last two releases, Roots, and Step Back. The records feature guest performances from some of the worlds greatest guitar players and musicians: Vince Gill, Derek Trucks, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Joe Bonamassa, Leslie West (Mountain) and many others….Step Back went on to win “Best Blues Album” at the 57th annual Grammy Awards year 2014.
The Uptown Horns (Arno Hecht, Crispin Cioe, Bob Funk and recent recruit Larry Etkin) are Ray-Ban wearing, horn carrying professionals whose credits read like a who's who of music. Their signature horn riffs can be heard on the turntables of America on chart toppers including Grammy-award winning James Brown's "Living in America," the B-52's "Love Shack," Buster Poindexter's "Hot Hot Hot," Joe Cocker's "Unchain My Heart," Tom Waits' "Rain Dogs" LP, and Billy Joel's "River of Dreams" LP, among numerous others. Hundreds of additional recordings and touring credits include names such as the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, REM and the B-52's, to name a few.
Franklin Vanderbilt In 2002, when legendary R&B/funk diva Chaka Khan came to Las Vegas to perform, she selected Franklin to hold the drum seat with her and her band for the next 2 1/2 years. When he was not working with Chaka he toured, worked and recorded with fusion jazz pioneer Stanley Clarke, rock guitarist Richie Kotzen and Billy Sheehan.
In 2005, Franklin had the honor of working with 22 time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder. In 2007, Royalprince Franklin firmly established himself as a professional percussionist when he received a call from 4 time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz to become a member of his band. Franklin has been touring worldwide and making TV appearances with Lenny Kravitz for the past seven years.
Dennis Espantman (bass, vocals) Our low register expert had his first brush with international stardom some time ago working for the Danish superstar Kim Larsen and touring Europe as the opening act for the Rolling Stones. Returning to the US in a slightly surrealistic, psychedelicized, sexualized, star-studded haze, he quickly went back to work in the NYC scene playing for the likes of Chuck Berry, Ronnie Spector, Darlene Love, Eddie Brigati of Young Rascals fame, Al Kooper, Jimmy Vivino, Brazilian Power Samba Band Pe De Boi, The Leader Of The Pack (off Broadway and Broadway productions) and countless others. Soon he realized that the wild rock and roll lifestyle, as stimulating and lucrative as it might be, was not going to be enough to furnish him with all the accoutrements a man of his highly refined tastes would require. He found other fish to fry, while continuing to play low notes and to write music in a discriminating way for the last 25+ years with Steely Dan guitarist Jon Herington and, as fate and fortune would have it, has lately decided to return to the world stage and unleash his charm, taste, talents, and sartorial splendor.
JP Patrick from Asbury Park's new sound ambassadors, Slim Chance & The Gamblers. JP’s put a lotta miles down singing, playing and acting on stage, in films and commercials infusing each with his infectious energy and enthusiasm. This powerhouse of prime musical talent will also feature vocalist and harp player.
Mike Dimeo Originally known as a singer, Mike DiMeo, first came onto the scene in 1992 with legendary New York hard rock outfit Riot. He went on to record six studio albums with the band and one live album recorded live in Tokyo before departing to tour with retro rockers The Lizards… During his time working with The Lizards, Dimeo found himself increasingly more in demand as a session and touring keyboard / Hammond organ player for several artists. He has done several tours with Bonnie Tyler (Total eclipse of the heart) Tommy James and the Shondells (Mony Mony, Crimson and Clover) Vinnie Moore (UFO). Dimeo had the honor of being the keyboard player on the legendary guitar player Johnny Winters' last two releases, Roots, and Step Back. The records feature guest performances from some of the worlds greatest guitar players and musicians: Vince Gill, Derek Trucks, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Joe Bonamassa, Leslie West (Mountain) and many others….Step Back went on to win “Best Blues Album” at the 57th annual Grammy Awards year 2014.