Terry Trotter on piano
Early in his career, Trotter gained a wide variety of valuable musical experiences. “I worked at the Lighthouse with Art Pepper for a year and a half, toured with Les Brown and played with Chet Baker and Joe Pass off and on for a couple of years. When I came back to Los Angeles after a tour with Lena Horne, Victor Feldman recommended me for the job with Miles Davis’ group. Miles wanted me to come up to San Francisco to play with his group and see how it felt, but I had been through some negative experiences living the jazz life and I didn’t want to travel anymore. Instead I decided to become a studio musician, a decision that changed my life because I spent the next 20 years in the studio. I loved getting a chance to play with the greatest musicians in the world even if I did not care for the constant pressure; you had to always be perfect and of course a lot of the music was not that rewarding.”
Chuck Berghofer on bass
One of LA’s finest bass players, Chuck Berghofer enjoys a varied career as a jazz musician and studio artist. From his early days with Skinnay Ennis and Bobby Troup, Chuck went on to work with jazz legends such as Herb Ellis, Shelly Manne, Howard Roberts, Jimmy Rowles and Zoot Sims. Always in demand by vocalists,he has recorded with Rosemary Clooney,Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan and more recently with Christine Aguilera, Michael Feinstein, Steve Tyrell, Patti Austin, Michael Buble and Barry Manilow. Two of his biggest ‘hits’ were his bass solo on Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’ and the ‘Barney Miller’ TV theme. Chuck has performed on hundreds of movie soundtracks including the classics Blazing Saddles, Jurassic Park, Rocky I & II and On Golden Pond. Playing with a small jazz group he was featured on Jim Carrey’s movie ‘Majestic’, Clint Eastwood’s ‘Bird’ and ‘True Crime’.He has played on numerous successful TV shows including Charlie’s Angels, The Carol Burnett Show, Mash, The Simpsons, Star Trek, Enterprise, Family Guy, the Tonight Show as well as many Grammy and Oscar Award ceremonies. In the mid-eighties Chuck received the NARAS award as the most valuable bass player for four consecutive years, nominated by his fellow studio musicians. In 1991,he joined the rhythm section to work with Frank Sinatra, touring worldwide and recording the classic Duets 1 and II albums. In the late 90′s he recorded and toured with Joni Mitchell and performed on Barbra Streisands Farewell Tour in Australia and the US. In recent years he has appeared on the concert platform with the Three Tenors, Seth MacFarlane, Natalie Cole, toured with Kevin Spacey, and performed at the Tanglewood Festival with John Williams. He continues to be a featured artist at Jazz Festivals across the country and has represented West Coast Jazz at European venues.In 2010 he formed ‘The Trio’ with Terry Trotter and Peter Erskine. His fine, big-toned sound, solid time keeping, extensive experience and passionate attitude contribute to his recognition as one of the most sought after bass players on the West Coast today.
Peter Erskine on drums
Peter Erskine began playing the drums at the age of four and has been at the forefront of world-class jazz ensembles for more than 35 years.His first major professional work was with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, which he joined in 1972. After a three year stint with Kenton and a two year stay with Maynard Ferguson, Erskine joined Weather Report in 1978. The excellence of the partnership between Erskine and bassist Jaco Pastorius was an integral part of that group’s success. Following his four years in Weather Report (having recorded five albums with them – including the Grammy Award winning “8:30?), he began to play with Mike Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Don Grolnick and Eddie Gomez in the group Steps Ahead. Erskine’s other touring and recording credits (500 albums & film scores) include Steely Dan, Diana Krall, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Gary Burton & Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell, Kurt Elling, Sadao Watanabe, Eliane Elias, Mike Stern, Kate Bush, Miroslav Vitous and Jan Garbarek; the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Ensemble Modern, the ASKO, Avanti, Remix & Absolute Ensembles, Bass Desires (with John Scofield, Bill Frisell, and Marc Johnson), the John Abercrombie Trio, the Kenny Wheeler Quintet & Big Band, the Yellowjackets and the Bob Mintzer Big Band. He has also recorded with his own groups, including trios with John Taylor, Palle Danielsson, Rita Marcotulli, and his current bands with guitarist Nguyen Le and bassist Michel Benita (“Trio E_L_B”), as well as a trio he shares with pianist Alan Pasqua.
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