An exceptional talent in a league all his own, he lays claim to a profound musical career spanning nearly 40 years.

An exceptional talent in a league all his own, he lays claim to a profound musical career spanning nearly 40 years.

Born in Los Angeles, California on February 24th, to Curtis and Ocie McDonald, Clarence showed an early interest in music.

Clarence McDonald started playing music at a very young age. McDonald's first instrument was the soprano saxophone followed by the trombone, euphonium, sousaphone and piano. He chose the piano as his primary instrument because he found it to be the most challenging. Both his parents encouraged his early instincts.

Alma Julia Hightower, a prominent music teacher at the time taught Clarence to play the piano, The combination of early exposure and unconditional support launched the young man on his journey to becoming a great musician, song-writer and producer. By the age of 12, Clarence was playing the piano for Angeles Funeral Home, then located on Jefferson Boulevard and Central Avenue.

By the age of 16 McDonald was playing at the local nightclub, Memory Lane, accompanying American jazz & gospel singer Lorez Alexandria. On the weekends, he played with the Chico Hamilton Quintet through an invitation from the Musical Director and jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd. McDonald understood the guitar voicing's required for the quartet and was able to play them on the piano. He often worked till dawn, before heading straight to school on Monday mornings.

Upon graduation from Dorsey High School, he attended Cal State, Los Angeles. He completed his college schooling, graduating with honors in 1964. After college, Clarence was introduced to the art and business of session recording, immediately contributing to some of music's all-time favorite pop tunes, still played today.

In the early 1960s McDonald began working with the Los Angeles based vocal group called the Hi-Fi's, He replaced Rex Middleton as the Musical Director. They changed their name to The Vocals and began working with American soul singer Lonnie Sattin. The Vocals, changed their name to "The 5th Dimension" around 1964. Clarence lent his own special groove to classics like "Up Up and Away". While touring, they were contacted to be the opening act for Ray Charles and traveled with Charles in 1964-65.

In 1966, when his ascent in the music world appeared to anticipate no limit, he was drafted into the United States Army and sent to Vietnam, where he served for two years. His division was sent home on January 7, 1968, the day before the North Vietnamese overran and destroyed their base camp in a takeover known as the infamous "TET offensive". McDonald received an Honorable Discharge and was awarded a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

McDonald returned to the music business contributing to thousands of songs as session player. Some of his first sessions were for Motown (Los Angeles) recording with Diana Ross, Gladys Knight & The Pips and The Jackson Five. With commitment, intelligence, generosity and humility, Clarence McDonald's artistry has graced us with some of the most memorable songs of our time.

 

Claude Salmiéri is one of our most talented and famous French drummers unusual course.

Claude Salmiéri is one of our most talented and famous French drummers unusual course.

Born in Tunis, in a family of "ritals" musicians, his father, a professional drummer, installed him behind his first drums at the age of 5. At the age of 8, he entered the Saint Maur Conservatory in a percussion class and began studying music theory, and at the same time began studying the piano.

In 1974, at the age of 15, he was admitted to the National Conservatory of Paris, where he won the first prize for percussion. He also left the saint Maur conservatory with a classical piano prize.

In 1976, he began his career by accompanying Yves Simon, David Rose Group, Robert Charlebois.

From 1978 to 1980, it was Magma's experience that allowed him, alongside Christian Vander, to draw extra energy. Very quickly, he participated in many albums for artists as different as Ray Charles, F. Gall, M. Berger, Renaud, Don Cherry, Marvin Gaye... and accompanies on stage artists such as Lalo Schiffrin, F. Cabrel, V. Sanson, Vladimir Cosma with whom he collaborates on film scores.

In 1988, he played with Paga, a band, his first album "Self portrait" was recorded in 1991.

In 1996, he founded with Jannick top and Eric Seva the band "STS", and recorded an album "Solar System". Claude Salmiéri has also participated in various musicals such as Starmania, Tycoon, and Notre Dame de Paris...

In 2005, he founded his own Jazz trio, and the same year released his album, "Light Night". In the same year, he created his brand of drums and microphones in collaboration with Prodipe. Batteries and microphones are distributed around the world.

In November 2006, he joined the "Around the Blues" team. He accompanied Larry Carlton and Robben Ford to the New Morning. Today, he presents his new quintet which is accompanied by an album "Projections Jazz Series". It covers the biggest themes of TV series and films, such as Mannix, The Streets of San Francisco, Mission Impossible, Bullit...

 

Guitarist, musician, composer, arranger, this jazz enthusiast founded the trio Sweet Swing Trio with which he regularly performs throughout France.

Guitarist, musician, composer, arranger, this jazz enthusiast founded the trio Sweet Swing Trio with which he regularly performs throughout France.

Before you've even had the opportunity to listen to his music, you may be lucky enough to meet a young Clément Garcin, and it may be just a chance meeting, but the occasion will not be forgettable. If anything, it will be unforgettable. You could almost write or say about your time with Clément Garcin that it was "like recalling the past". But what and who, exactly, it's hard to tell.

One thing for sure though is that when you are with him, and no doubt at an unconscious level, there comes a vague sense of reminiscence, carried along by that common factor, that inexplicable something that makes us act a certain way when we are in front of a person of greatness.

So you want to find out more. And then all of a sudden it dawns on you.

The person standing there is none other than Gérard Philipe's grandson, the same Gérard Philipe who was an iconic French actor in the 1940s/1950s. It is not difficult to see the physical resemblance, but it's more the intelligence of the performer and a mutual respect for art that have given grandson and grandfather a common destiny.

They share the same modesty, so that even if we imagine them blessed by God at birth, they don't actually notice. They doubt their talents; they work hard; they search for direction. And Clément has chosen music.

Boasting a diploma with honours from the Music Académie International (MAI) at Nancy, Clément Garcin returned to Paris to pursue his studies with renowned teachers such as Emil Spanyi, Misja F. Michel, Serge Krief and Boulou Ferré. Being both a lover of the guitar and a lover of jazz, he founded 'Sweet Swing Trio', a group with whom he regularly tours France. He has also played in 'Edith, Marilyn, Simone and Montand', Hélène Arden's musical show, and has accompanied numerous stars from a whole range of musical backgrounds, such as Frédéric Belinsky, Thierry Cojan, Sarah Lancman, Gérard Holtz, Claude Salmiéri and Boulou Ferre.

Alongside this he has co-composed and recorded the likes of the score for 'Communication moderne', a short film, and has produced and recorded for other musicians, for example, on 'A deux faces', the album by Joshua Lawrence. Clément Garcin's passion for music has naturally brought him to Prodipe, the least expensive of the leading brands, and the brand that has pushed for more reasonable prices over the years in a bid to support musicians everywhere. If the one has 'made it', the other is on the 'right track'. To be continued.

 

Clément PETIT is, first and foremost, an avid cellist hungry for now sounds and artistic encounters. He is eager for collaborations and new musical contexts, and enjoys mixing things up to throw the listener off-guard with his eclectic creations.

Clement PETIT is, first and foremost, an avid cellist hungry for now sounds and artistic encounters. He is eager for collaborations and new musical contexts, and enjoys mixing things up to throw the listener off-guard with his eclectic creations.

He is one of those musicians constantly seeking to reinvent their instruments by developing techniques, using new musical languages and rewriting the rules.

Raised in a diverse and community-based Parisian banlieu, he would be immersed in a world of Afro-American, Caribbean and electronic music, before throwing himself into contemporary and improvised music.

Petit’s vision of music is very large, he would claim these influences as his own and as such he has his own highly personal sound: he knocks down the walls of genre and allows the many different sounds to mingle and interact freely.

Whether it be as a cellist or as a composer/arranger/producer, it’s within this optic that he undertakes his projects, diversifying formats and experimenting with all sonic aesthetics without discrimination.

 

Career:
After starting a classical musical education with cellist Roger Loewenguth at the age of five, Clément PETIT would orient towards singing and musical improvisation. Passionate about Afro-American and Carribean song, he would lead his projects, up until 2002, primarily as a singer and composer. Alongside his personal projects he would first enrole at the American School of Modern Music, then transfer to the jazz department of the Conservatoire National De Région (CNR) of Aubervilliers-La Courneuve. He received awards in both institutions respectively in 2004 and 2007.

He underwent a personal adventure in adapting his instrument to music « with a pulse », beginning with jazz and then moving on to the many other genres he loves: funk, afro, afro-cuban, latino, rock, punk and more.

Petit actively seeks collaboration and while the following list is by no means exhaustive, he has in the past worked with artists from all over the musical spectrum, including: Pierre Blanchard, Romane, Richard Bona, Coax, Pierrejean Gaucher, Xavier Phillips and artists from the world of popular music: Aloe Blacc, Ala.ni, Ben l’Oncle Soul, Blick Bassy, Olle Nymann, Blundetto, Nicolas Jules, Blackjoy, Lisa Papineau…

Influences:
Donny Hattaway, Nina Simone, S.Wonder, Gil Scott-Heron, Roy Ayers, J.L.Hooker, D.Gordon, C.Mingus, Coltrane, A.Ayler, O.Coleman, Dave Douglas, Tim Berne, Zorn, D.Holland, Kartet, S.Coleman, Ligeti, Maessian, Dutilleux, S.Reich, Schubert, Pink Floyd, the Velvet, the Clash, Bowie, Talk Talk, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, the Kinks, E.Costello, James Blake, Bon iver, Jazzanova, Danny Krivit, G.Peterson, MAW, Fania (…), Baden Powell, Chico Buarque, Jorge Ben, Fela, A.F.Toure, Bonga, LKJ, Third World, Culture, K.Boothe, B.Marley, Ijahman, d’Angelo, N.e.r.d …

 

At the same time sound engineer, producer and drummer, Damon Sawyer multiplies the collaborations.

At the same time sound engineer, producer and drummer, Damon Sawyer multiplies the collaborations.

Most recently Damon had the pleasure of working with legendary Blues producer Mike Vernon (Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, John Mayall and Level 42), creating two albums for German crossover Blues label Ruf Records. The first for Oli Brown recently announced as the 2010 British Blues Awards 'Male Vocalist of the Year' and 'Young Artist of the Year' on his current album 'Heads I Win, Tails You Lose' and the second album 'Shine' by Dani Wilde recorded and mixed by Damon Sawyer. Both of which are currently receiving rave reviews.

As well as being the Head Engineer/Producer at Platform Studio, Damon is a professional drummer who has toured and recorded throughout Europe, Brazil and Canada. Some of the artists he has had the pleasure of working with include Paul Rogers, Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings, Ben E King, Pee Wee Ellis, Paul Jones, Sam Moore, Albert Lee, Sandy Newman, Bernie Marsden, Sonny Black, Chip Hawkes, Graham Lyle and Chicago Blues artists Dave Spector, Deitra Farr, Jimmy Dawkins and Mojo Buford.

Damon has also recorded numerous BBC sessions for Radio 2 at Maida Vale for the Paul Jones Blues Show.

 

Teacher and guitarist, Dani Vargas has just released a new acoustic record, in collaboration with the talented violinist Jenna Colombet.

Teacher and guitarist, Dani Vargas has just released a new acoustic record, in collaboration with the talented violinist Jenna Colombet.

Dani Vargas was born and raised in Santiago, Chile by artistic and musical parents.  Influenced and inspired by the art and music present at home, Dani began playing the guitar at the age of 16.  He embraced the guitar with passion and decided to move to the U.S. to further pursue his musical endeavors. 

After relocating to Houston, TX, Dani began teaching private lessons at several schools and guitar shops.  While teaching and refining his tone and technique, he recorded and toured with the progressive metal band ‘Magistral‘. 

In 2009 Dani began to explore acoustic finger style music  that would later result into the acoustic project ‘Aerial Visions‘. 

In 2011 he embarked upon a solo career with the instrumental trio ‘The Dani Vargas Group‘ and released two EP’s, followed by the full length album ‘Sound On Canvas’.  With the desire to expand creatively, Dani began singing and writing riff inspired rock songs for the project ‘Thou Shall Doubt‘.  Today Dani lives in Los Angeles, CA where he continues performing, recording as a solo acoustic player as well as an electric instrumentalist.

In January 2018 Dani released his first solo acoustic fingerstyle album entitled 'Love',  and he is currently getting ready to release by April 2019  a new acoustic record, in collaboration with multi-talented Violinist Jenna Colombet, as well an electric rock Ep with his band in March 2019.

 

A giant of american music! Composer, arranger and producer of the greatest stars.

A giant of american music! Composer, arranger and producer of the greatest stars.

He grew up in Los Angeles, studying music in college and privately. He had numerous performances of his classical compositions for orchestra, string quartet, chamber groups, and brass/wind ensembles, but made his living in TV and film music and in the back room at record labels. He did everything from shorts, animated features, commercials and CD-Roms to feature films and gold records.

He began his arranging career at Clarence Paul's Venture Records; then Hal Davis at Motown began using him, and over eleven years there were 14 gold albums, including their first three Jackson Five albums, where his first chart-topper was Michael Jackson's album Got To Be There '72, and another was Dinah Ross's single 'Love Hangover' '76. At Motown he worked with Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, the Miracles, Jermaine Jackson, Leon Ware, the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye, as well as working for other labels during the same period.

He worked with Quincy Jones on Body Heat '74 including 'Everything Must Change', and did orchestrations on several of Jones's films. In 1979 he was the arranger on Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive', a no. 1 hit that became an anthem. Other artists he worked with included Nat and Cannonball Adderly, Wayne Shorter, Milt Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Melissa Manchester, Tim Buckley, Nils Lofgrin, Neil Young, Spirit, Bobby Womack, Patti LaBelle, James Brown, Johnny Mathis, Eric Clapton, Natalie Cole, Gene Page, Joe Sample, Frankie Valli, David Byrne, Cameo, Peabo Bryson, Johnny Nash, Anita Baker, Tina Turner, Patti Austin, Jerry Butler, Syreeta, Jimmy Smith, Andy Williams, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Dakota Staton, and many others.

In film, Blumberg did orchestrations or arranging for Herbie Hancock on four films, including Round Midnight, which won an Oscar for its music in 1987. He also worked on films with Elmer Bernstein, Bob Alcivar, Neil Young, Fred Karlin, and Frank Stalone.

In more recent years he arranged for David Benoit including American Landscape, three albums with Maxwell for Sony including This Woman's Work (soul singer-songwriter Gerald Maxwell Rivera, b 23 May 1973), Ellis Hall's Straight Ahead, orchestration for Robbie Buchanan for Barbra Streisand's Movie album, and orchestration for Jorge Calandrelli for the Norwegian singer Sissel's self-titled album, as well as three tracks on Ray Charles's duets album Genius Loves Company, and an album for Stevie Wonder.

He had been working as an arranger on the American Idol TV show for four years.

After studying for many years with Spud Murphy, he was teaching Murphy's Equal Interval System to private students as a composition tool.

 

Davide Tosches has been influenced by many people in his life, both music and non-music people: Bruce Cockburn, Jim White, Grieg, Joe Henry, Piero Ciampi, Edward Hopper, Dino Buzzati, Eugène Delacroix, Martin Luther King, Frank Sinatra, Gesù Cristo, Smog, Lenny Bruce, Andrea G. Pinketts, Megadeth, and Duke Ellington.

Davide Tosches has been influenced by many people in his life, both music and non-music people: Bruce Cockburn, Jim White, Grieg, Joe Henry, Piero Ciampi, Edward Hopper, Dino Buzzati, Eugène Delacroix, Martin Luther King, Frank Sinatra, Gesù Cristo, Smog, Lenny Bruce, Andrea G. Pinketts, Megadeth, and Duke Ellington.

Davide Tosches was born in Turin in 1974. A multi-talented instrumentalist and innovator, he recorded autoprodotto Stressmog! (2006), then Dove l'erba è alta (2009), Il lento disgelo (2012), and Luci della città distante (2014).

He has worked with numerous performers from the Italian music scene and abroad, either as a musician, illustrator, photographer or graphic designer. His songs often make reference to nature, but the lyrics steer clear of the type of clichés found in other environmental songs.

He also founded Contro Records in 2009. The label only publishes instrumental tracks or tracks sung in Italian.

In 2013 he opened "Confine del Bosco", his recording studio, at Cavagnolo. Here he has recorded Giancarlo Onorato, Hugo Race and Catherine Graindorge, Dead Cat in a Bag, and Mariano Deidda, amongst others.