music-CD
music-CD
music-CD
in the News
OUR next
Performances:
"They're So much Fun. Its impossible not to have A great Time!" - LA, Talent, OR
OUR next
Performances:
"They're So much Fun. Its impossible not to have A great Time!" - LA, Talent, OR
MUSICIAN BIOS
DAVID BOLEN - DRUMS/PERCUSSION/Producer
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Mr. Bolen is the brainchild behind Tobago Breeze. He was born in Washington D.C. and as a son of a diplomat, he lived in Germany (FDR & GDR), Ghana, Botswana. and Serbia. He holds a degree in International Affairs and having been a scholarship athlete in basketball he possesses a team spirit in all his endeavors. He is an internationally twice published Award-Winning author, speaker and former corporate business consultant. His unique background allows him to approach his instrument with the ear of not only a drummer but also a composer, songwriter and record producer. As a result, he has performed at notable venues in Las Vegas and at the Monterey Blues Festival to name just a few. He performs with some of the world's finest musicians across multiple genres. David has had the pleasure of playing with:
Gene Black (Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart)-Guitar
Craig Chaquico (Jefferson Starship) - Grammy nominated - Guitar
Dr. Joel Clift - World-renown & Award-Winning Keyboardist
Dandara (Brazilian Singer & Pop Star - Montreaux Jazz Festival)
Nokie Edwards (The Ventures) - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Brandon Fields (Tower of Power, Rippingtons) Grammy-Award winning saxist.
Don Harriss (Billboard Charting Artist, Ronnie Hawkins, Pat Travers Band ) - Keyboards
Jack Johnson ( Singer-Songwriter) Grammy nominated.
Kenny Mazur (Robert Palmer, The O'Jays) - Award-winning musician and producer.
Jeff Pevar (David Foster, Ray Charles, David Crosby, Kenny Loggins and many more)
Jon Woodhead (Dave Koz, Leon Russell, Ace, Maria Muldaur and others)
Sandy Stein (John Legend, Gloria Estefan, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick & more)
Dr. Kriby Shaw (Award-winning and Top selling Choral Arranger)
John Taylor (Rick Astley, DeBarge, Cirque Du Soleil) - Musical Director & keyboardist.
As an opener, David has also shared the stage with:
Earth,Wind & Fire, Michael McDonald, Maceo Parker, Rick Springfield & Peter Frampton.
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Donnie Yance - Bass Guitar
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Originally from New York city, Donnie started playing the bass and studying privately at age 14. While being internationally recognized for developing a unique approach to health and healing, Donnie’s longstanding interest is his music. Donnie Yance contributes flavors from a jazz tradition. Donnie describes his playing as, "...a melding of styles which encompass funk, R & B, soul, jazz and classical." He has studied the greats and especially continues to be inspired by close friends; Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist Stanley Clark and Award-winning singer/songwriter/producer, Gino Vinnelli.
He is honored to have toured with many popular bands on the East Coast, including Moment’s Notice, Suspect, Touchdown, Funkestra, Encore, and two Gospel bands, His Own, and First Love. He has played and composed original music with Tobago Breeze and also with, Infusion USA. The group opened for Earth, Wind, and Fire. Presently, he is the bassist in the bands, Jeff K and Overtones. His newest (2021) solo CD entitled, Heaven Awaits, features members of Tobago Breeze plus other notable musicians like Grammy-Nominated Artist Gino Vannelli who wrote and produced a song for the CD.
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Furthermore, Donnie's extraordinary talents as a master herbalist and healer have landed him multiple appearances on nationally televised shows such as, Martha Stewart.
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Jared Rountree - Steel Pan
Origninally from California, Jared actually grew up in Klamath Falls, OR. There he fell in love with the drums. He was recognized early for his natural talent. As such, he was recruited into his high school band program but not only for his drumming skills. He is also a trained musician who learned to play the steel pan and other latin and afro-cuban percussive instruments. As a formality and part of a responsible life strategy, he is actively advancing his musical studies at Southern Oregon University. While only twenty years old, he is considered and "Old Soul" due to his ability to focus and manifest anything he sets his mind to.
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Mary Ann Dye - LEAD VOCALIST & Percussion
Ms. Dye is a seasoned professional vocal sensation. She spent years as a touring musican both nationally and internationally. She is multi-talented and commands the stage as a vocalist and master percussionist. She covers both hand and drum instruments with flare and precision. She is originally from Southern Oregon. After spending years wowing audiences around the world, she returned to Oregon to raise a family. Being a driven and charming personality, she has been able to balance her love for music and performance with a keen sense of business acumen, spiritual grounding and family responsibility. She is truly a model of female empowerment and contemporary success!
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Al Dinardi - Guitar
Originally from Northern California, Mr. Dinardi began playing guitar in his early teens in bands throughout the Bay area. As a college music major, Al discovered a love for jazz, and performed in numerous college bands, combos, and stage bands. His interest in jazz guitar styles included workshop study with legendary jazz guitarist Howard Roberts. Al became an instructor – opening his first music studio and retail space in Southern California. After moving to Oregon, he nurtured his passion and harnessed his business acumen resulting in him becoming a co-founder/owner and President of the country's largest direct-response retailer of musical instruments, Musician's Friend. His company merged with retail giant and competitor, Guitar Center in 1999.
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Al has played in numerous Jazz, R&B, Smooth Jazz, Blues, Fusion groups in Southern Oregon, and performed in various productions at the Camelot Theater's musical "Spotlight Series" focusing on The Mills Brothers, Nat King Cole, Willie Nelson, and Neil Diamond. As a prolific songwriter, Al enjoys recording, as well as playing at his church on Sundays. He serves on the board of Use Your Gift foundation, and enjoys mentoring aspiring young musicians whenever the opportunity arises. He is the creator and host of musictheoryforum.com – and invites anyone interested in music theory to join the conversation! He brings an uplifting Spirit to the Tobago Breeze shows.
JOEL CLIFFT - KEYBOARD
Joel Clifft earned his doctoral degree from the University of Southern California. He was chosen as the “Most Outstanding Graduate” at both the Master’s and Doctoral levels and in addition, was a recipient of the Gwendolyn Koldofsky scholarship.
As an active collaborative pianist, Dr. Joel Clifft has performed in concert with many world-class musicians, including violinist Midori, erhu player, Ma Xiao Hui and clarinetist, Ken Grant. He has extensive international performance experience, appearing in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Brazil, Korea, China and Singapore. He also performed a solo and collaborative program at the United Nations in New York.
Dr. Clifft is Director of Keyboard Studies at Azusa Pacific University, where he teaches piano, music theory, accompanying and ear training courses. He is also an adjunct faculty member at USC where he teaches collaborative piano. In addition, he has served as a judge for many competitions, including MTAC and MTNA, local, regional and state competitions.
As a software developer, Dr. Clifft created Music Theory Pro, an iPhone app for music education. The app teaches Music Theory and Ear Training using cutting-edge technology. To date, the app has received more than 120,000 downloads. In 2013 Music Theory Pro was expanded to mac computers and iPads and a second app, Jazz Chords Pro, was released during the same year. A third app, Music Theory Professor, is expected to release later this year.
Lace walker - Guitar/Flute/vocals
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Lace Walker has performed professionally as a Solo and in various groups . Though focused primarily on guitar, Lace is also an accomplished flutist/saxophonist and vocalist. His versatility extends into many styles and genres, both acoustic and electric. From intimate Clubs, Wneries and Casinos, to Concert Stages in over 26 different countries, and as a featured Musician /Entertainer on several Cruise Ship lines where he consistently received outstanding passenger reviews. Broad eclectic diverse influences include rock, blues, jazz and folk artists. In his early years he worked as a guitarist and electric bassist for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. He also performed on electric guitar with the Denver Symphony Orchestra for a Pop Concert series.
Awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for Jazz and Ethnic Music study, afforded Lace the opportunity to relocate to Los Angeles and study with George Shearing's guitarist, Ron Anthony, and later to continue his studies with Jamie Faunt (renowned educator and sideman with Chick Corea and others).
On his original projects, he has released a CD that is featured on his own Pandora Radio channel. His latest CD, "Acoustic Sketches," further extends his range of offerings with this all original, all acoustic compilation of richly textured and technically satisfying compositions.
Lace has worked consistently in rock, blues, funk/world, light jazz and R&B groups in the greater LA area and the western US. He has toured extensively abroad, including an extended engagement in Istanbul, Turkey with his band "Foreign Exchange." Other extended engagements took him to Bangkok, Thailand; Jakarta, Indonesia; Hong Kong, China, and Manila, Philippines. Lace continues his creative ride with his musical muse in his next project, an all electric Melodic Rock Album …
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Chris Pearson - woodwinds
Mr.​ Pearson is a seasoned multi dimensional music professional. He has masters degrees in music and performance. He has worked as an educator, band leader, recording artist and entrepreneur. Originally from Southern California, he has toured the globe with various acts. Here are a few highlights from his illustrious career:
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​Member of "Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack"
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​Recorded "Hawaiin Swing" for Concord Jazz
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Recorded With Rosemary Clooney and Rosie O'Donnell
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Performed with Rosemary Clooney, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, DeDe Bridgewater, Indigo Swing, Michael Feinstein
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Performed in Hawaii, Stugart, Germany, SF Bay Area, East Coast
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