ORCHESTRA CONTRACTOR: JULES CHAIKEN
MUSIC PREPARATION: KRISTINE SCOLES
(PIANO) JIM COX
(BASS) KENNY WILD
(DRUMS) RAY BRINKER
(GUITAR) MITCH HOLDER
(TRUMPETS) GARY GRANT, RICK BAPTIST, PETE DE SIENA , RON KING
(TROMBONES) ANDY MARTIN, BOB McCHESNEY, ARTURO VELASCO, RICH BULLOCK
(SAX) JEFF DRISKILL, KIM RICHMOND, RICK KELLER, ROB LOCKART, TOM PETERSON
(VIOLINS) BRUCE DUKOV, CAROLINE CAMPBELL, DARIUS CAMPO, PIP CLARKE, JOEL DEROUIN, ARMEN GARABEDIAN, NICOLE GARCIA,
PETER KENT, SONGA LEE-KITTO, CALABRIA MCCHESNEY, ANATOLY ROSINSKY, SHARI ZIPPERT
(VIOLAS) EVAN WILSON, DEBYSE BUFFUN, JORGE MORAGA
(CELLOS) LARRY CORBETT, MATTHEW COOKER, STEPHEN ERDODY, VANESSA FREEBAIRN-SMITH
RICK KELLER, TENOR SAX SOLO ON “CHARADE”
RICK BAPTIST, TRUMPET SOLO ON “AND I LOVE HIM”
CHRIS WALDEN, FLUGELHORN SOLO ON “PERFIDIA”
CHRIS WALDEN, TRUMPET SOLO ON “ONE FOR MY BABY”
ROB LOCKART, TENOR SAX SOLO ON “WE ARE IN LOVE”
BOB McCHESNEY, TROMBONE SOLO AND RON KING, TRUMPET SOLO ON “HE’S A TRAMP”
JEFF DRISKILL, ALTO SAX SOLO ON “THEY ALL LAUGHED”
JIM COX, PIANO SOLO ON “PERFECT”
NYC dates...
Aaron Kotler (piano), Scott Hornick (bass), Chris Michael (drums), Chris Bergson/Mike Macallister (Guitar), Dan Cords (Tenor Sax/Flute), Jacob Garchik (Trombone), Kyle Newmaster (Trumpet)
Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Harry Connick Jr., Miles Davis, Bobby Darin, Peggy Lee, Keely Smith, The Beatles, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Connie Francis, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Janis Joplin, Judy Garland, Luciano Pavarotti, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Rosemary Clooney, Bette Midler, Tony Bennett...and the list goes on.
Tamela D'Amico was born in New York and spent her childhood between there and the Gulf Coast of Florida. This young phenom is what she likes to call a "multi-hyphenate artist" (singer/actress/filmmaker ), currently living in bothLos Angeles and New York City. Her native East Coast roots and love of the jazz age have instilled in her a love of theatrical performance, which has crossed over to many mediums.
Tamela studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute run by David Lee Strasberg who also is credited as one of the Executive Producers on her film "Volare". In addition, she has studied privately in Allan Miller's Master's Class (former students: Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman) and is a former student and teacher's assistant for Larry Gold's Master Class in Los Angeles. She was one of 16 students accepted to the competetive and internationally renowned Film School at Florida State University and received a BFA in Film with minors in Music, Theater, Psychology, and Religion.
Although mostly spending her time performing in front of an audience, Tamela first made strides behind the camera. As a much coveted Independent Producer of several Award winning short films, Tamela is no stranger to the festival circuit. Her film "Volare", of which she wrote, produced, directed, and appears briefly was the winner of the Los Angeles Italian Film Award's Best Screenplay Award. Tamela raised independent funds to create "Volare" starring Federico Castelluccio (The Sopranos), which has swept the top prizes ( Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography ) at several film festivals, and most notably, in January 2006 at The American Film Renaissance Film Festival held at the legendary Graumanns Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
The American Film Renaissance Film Festival bestowed the film with a Best Short Film award and screened it in front of The Anthony Hopkins release "The World's Fastest Indian" at the legendary Graumann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA. Critics praised this film by bestowing other awards at many other festivals (see blog for an up to date list). This film has become a vehicle to launch her as a fresh female filmmaker to watch in Hollywood, as she was chosen as one of top 24 semi-finalist selected from all over the World (12,000 submissions) by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett for FOX series "On the Lot", which landed her first look deal with Dreamworks SKG. Tamela will soon be seen and heard singing in the film, “West of Brooklyn” with Joe Mantegna. She recently wrapped a starring role in the thriller, “On A Dark and Stormy Night” in which she can also be heard on the soundtrack with the song "Don't Die>" This fall she is set to star in the feature, “The Arrangement” in between developing a musical and two feature films, most notably, “Chick Flick” which she will be producing and directing. Written by Tristan Carrasco, the comedy tells the hilarious tale of two Hollywood wannabes who accidentally cause their lives to turn into an action adventure movie. It’s described as “Pulp Fiction” with girls.
Highly sought after winning countless awards for both producing and directing many shorts, Tamela produced a twenty-two-part Web series based on Susan Arnout Smith’s novel, “The Timer Game” and has just recently finished helming a television pilot called, “Sex Ed:The Series” starring Joanna Cassidy. Visit http://www.sexedtheseries.com
Early on, director Frank Capra's biography taught her, "Films are like propaganda, you have to be careful about what you are saying." Believing that phrase translates to all art, Tamela states that presentation and perspective are important to all things. Her favorite films are "It's A Wonderful Life," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and "Life Is Beautiful." Story is very important to her as well as character. She is a storyteller in her acting, in her music, and in her directing. Frank Capra, Giuseppe Tornatore, and Chris Columbus are inspirations as directors who are true storytellers, championing the little man and really diving in to tell his story.
Federico Castelluccio, Ronnie Marmo, and Ryan Fox in a bakery scene from "Volare." photo by Alex Abercrombie
In addition to her filmmaking endeavors, Tamela can be heard across the land. Radio Distributors, ClearChannel Entertainment and RadioDeluxe, have championed her as a bright new artist to watch. Like Michael Buble, Harry Connick, Jr., and Jane Monheit, she is in short, a throw back to another era. Her debut, Got A Little Story is Executive Produced by Actor/Producer Peter Krause (Six Feet Under, Dirty Sexy Money), Produced by Jimmy Hoyson (GRAMMY Winner) and Arranged and Conducted by Chris Walden (GRAMMY nominee).
Why this style of music? There is an old saying..."One doesn't choose to sing jazz, it chooses you." Her first musical influence was Judy Garland - as a child, Tamela loved watching Garland's vintage television specials on "NY's Nostalgia Network." Other influences for Tamela's love of blues and jazz include Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Keeley Smith, Stevie Wonder, Sarah Vaughan and Bobby Darin. Her debut album "Got A Little Story" distributed by LML Music/Allegro will be released worldwide in April 2009!
The Symphony of Life~A new day begins to function in harmony Smoothly guiding the melody of events that reaches its crescendo! Leaving a palette of effervescent colors as residue. Have a Lovely rest of the week! XX~
A new day begins with the rising of the sun, As its bright rays shine forth In vibrant bursts of light And illuminate over the world.
As the world begins to wake, Everything begins to function in harmony, With a steady rhythm and even pitch Smoothly guiding the melody of events That makes a symphony of life.
As the day progresses, This symphony takes on new dimensions and tones, And is thereby infused with new meaning.
At some point the tune reaches its crescendo, Playing loudly and vivaciously for all to take part In the melodious song.
The day ends with the setting of the sun, As it sinks in to the horizon, Leaving a palette of effervescent colors as residue.
All the while the melody begins to die down, Sinking its tone to a quiet stillness which Ultimately leads way to the song of the very next day.
HeLLo hEllo HelLo!! I love your page, its quirky like miniature peanuts and apple strawberrys! I'm just letting you know you can now enter our 'Jimmy' Competition...Just film yourself (and maybe your dog) singing and dancing to our Jimmy Track, and post the result upto YouTube, then let us know!! Lovely. all the best now, speak v.soon. Jp & Friends.
Check out Fridays Company - http://www.myspace.com/fridayscompany Let us know what you think of our music! we are recording new arrangements of our music and they will be online soon! keep your eyes out!
Just dropping by to show you some love and let you know my album "Apis Mellifera" is out now and available for FREE downloads! Go ahead and have a listen, there's something on it for everybody... besides, did I mention it's FREE..? So if you don't like it you can always delete it or send it to a friend who may enjoy it... :) Anyway, thanks for your time, for being a friend and for letting me post this on your page! Shalom! - Brent
Just wanted to let you know that I will be fighting in the “war for the cure” a local MMA tournament on Sunday August 30th. Check out my new pics, taken as part of the promo for the fight. Leave me a photo comment . Wish me luck, gotta get back to training now!