Jerry Watts, Jr., has an extensive list of recording credits, having appeared on hundreds of CDs, numerous film & TV soundtracks, as well as commercials, film trailers, and instructional DVDs. Jerry has a wealth of international touring experience, representing a broad spectrum of artists at the highest levels of rock, pop, jazz, and "world" music. Educated at both William Paterson University, New Jersey, and California State University, Northridge, his recording/performance credits include work with: Andy Summers, Andy Timmons, Babaghanoush, Billy Idol, Dave Stewart, Don Grusin, Dori Caymmi, Dr. John, Flora Purim, Gerald Eaton, Herbie Hancock, Jai Uttal, Justo Almario, Keiko Matsui, Keith Emerson, Kevyn Lettau, L. Subramaniam, Mitchel Forman, Mylene Farmer, Pat Leonard, Peter Cetera, Sergio Mendes, Sheryl Crow, Simon Phillips, Steve Vai, worship leader Tommy Walker, and Wishful Thinking.

Originally from Cleveland, OH, Andre moved to LA in 1985 to attend the Los Angeles City College Music Program, where he studied under Doc Simpson and Woody James. After four years of classes, he landed his first big road gig in 1989 with the Busboys. Andre then went on to join A&M Records recording artist Total Eclipse. Since then, he has performed and/or recorded with Dave Koz, George Duke, Warren Hill, Marcus Miller, Danny Jung, Jeffrey Osbourne, Tom Scott and the L.A. Express, Mindi Abair, Dave Benoit, The Brothers Johnson, Rick Braun, Peter White, Jeff Golub, Steve Ferrone, A Tribe Called Quest, Paul Jackson, Jr., and many others. For the latest information, please visit www.andreberry.com.

Steve Billman attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and also graduated from Musician's Institute in 1981. Steve studied with Jeff Berlin and Bob Magnusson while at Musicians Institute. He has worked with some of the world's finest musicians, including Brian Bromberg, Brandon Fields, Rob Mullins, Pat Kelley, Gregg Karukas, Free Flight, Alex Acuna, Tom Brechtlein, Gary Novak, Jeff Richman and most recently, Frank Gambale, to name a few. He was a member of the band "Continuum" for 15 years, and has been a member of the Academy staff since its very earliest days.

Philip Bynoe, originally from Boston, studied at the Berklee College of Music under Wit Browne. He has played on several TV shows, jingles, and soundtracks including The Tonight Show, The O.C., and Las Vegas. In addition to touring with Steve Vai on the G3 tour, he has also toured and/or recorded with Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt, Terry Bozzio, Virgil Donati, Kevin Eubanks, Buddy Miles, Bette Midler, Steve Perry, Mike Mangini, Slash, Derek Sherinian, and many others. He is endorsed by Yamaha Guitars, Carvin Amplifiers, Morley Pedals, and LaBella strings.

Lynne's aggressive, groove-oriented style earned her the title of "LA's Groove Goddess" in Bass Player Magazine (July '99). Lynne began public performance at the age of 7, upon beginning her training as a pianist. After attending the university of Delaware and the Austo-American Institute in Vienna Austria, she began playing the bass guitar, which was destined to become her stock in trade. Since moving to LA in 1992, she has done hundreds of session dates, TV appearances, and performance engagements with such artists as Go West, Colin Hay & The Records. Lynne has been sharing her ideas about music creativity and improvisation through teaching for 15 years, and has been on staff at the LA Music Academy for 7 years. www.lynnedavis.com

Hussain Jiffry is recognized internationally for his in-the-pocket feel and versatility. In 1982, while performing with a local band in Sri Lanka, Hussain was offered to tour Europe with an R&B band, eventually spending six years on the European club circuit. In 1988, he moved to Los Angeles to study music at Musician's Institute in Hollywood, California. He graduated from MI in March 1989, receiving the Vocational Honors Diploma. In the past fifteen years, Hussain has gradually grown busier and more in demand as his reputation has spread as a player, writer, and producer. He currently tours with Sergio Mendes, The LA all stars and the Dave Weckl band. He has also toured and recorded with: Tom Scott, Paul Russo, Kleber Jorge, Jim Messina, Robert Kyle, Dirk Fisher big band, Kenny Kirkland, Pauline Wilson, Robben Ford, David Foster, Michael MacDonald, Whitney Houston, Dione Warwick and Chaka Khan. In the recent past Hussain has been busy writing, recording and producing various artists at his Recording studio in Tarzana. He and his partner Sanjay Divecha wrote the theme song and part of the sound track for the movie "Leela".

David Levray studied at the American School of Modern Music and was a session musician at Piccolo Studio in Paris, France, before moving to the US. In addition to co-writing a song for the Grammy-nominated album Joined at the Hip with Bob James and Kirk Whalum and working with Les McCann for 10 years, he has also performed or toured with Liz McComb, Kirk Whalum, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Luther Allison, Phil Upchurch, Patrice Rushen, Oleta Adams, Ronnie Laws, and many others.

Doug Ross graduated with honors from Musicians Institute in 1988 and the University of Maryland in 1992. For over twenty years, he has performed, recorded and taught bass all over the world, including four years as head of the bass department at Fukuoka School of Music in Japan. A few of the artists that Doug has recorded or performed with include Brett Garsed, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Otmaro Ruiz, Fantasia Musical Circus, Katia Moraes and Sambaguru, Gregg Bissonette, and jazz pianist Ron Kobayashi. Information on Doug's activities and recent solo album can be found on his website at www.dougross.net.

Abraham Laboriel, Sr., has played on over 4,000 recordings and soundtracks. Guitar Player described him as "the most widely used session bassist of our time". Originally a classically trained guitarist, he switched to bass guitar while studying at the Berklee School of Music. Henry Mancini encouraged Laboriel to move to Los Angeles and pursue a recording career. Since then, he has worked with artists as diverse as Donald Fagen, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Dave Grusin, Andy Pratt, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Al Jarreau, Billy Cobham, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Ray Charles, Madonna, Paul Simon, Keith Green, Alvaro Lopez and Res-Q Band, Lisa Loeb, Quincy Jones, Russ Taff, Engelbert Humperdinck, Umberto Tozzi, Ron Kenoly, Rabito, Mylène Farmer, Crystal Lewis, Chris Isaak, Paul Jackson Jr. and Michael Jackson.

Lee Sklar has been a prominent figure among LA-session bassists dating back to the 1970's. Lee has more than 2,500 albums to his credit (and still counting) and is considered to be one of the "A" players in the highly selective LA music community. His very recognizable bass playing style has been heard on hits by Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Hall & Oates, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, Billy Cobham, and George Strait, to name just a few.

Jimmy Haslip grew up in a rich, musical environment which had Latin and salsa music around the house. Being mostly self-taught, Jimmy's bass playing skills were refined by Ron Smith from New York and the legendary Jaco Pastorious. His many credits include Rod Stewart, Al Jerreau, John Scofield, Chaka Khan, Kenny Loggins, Rickie Lee Jones, Pat Metheny, Michael Sembello, Joe Cocker, and Bonnie Raitt among many others. He also helped found the widely popular jazz-fusion group the Yellowjackets.

Jonathan Herrera is the Senior Editor of Bass Player Magazine and has played/recorded with Cyrus Chestnut, Oz Noy, Atma Anur, Will Kennedy, Alex Acuna, Jerry Goodman, Derek Sherinian, Zigaboo Modeliste, Steve Turre, Kai Eckhardt, Jon Fishman, Russ Ferrante, and many more.

Dave Pozzi has been a Los Angeles based free-lance artist since 1979, recording and playing with artists like: Henry Mancini, Mel Torme, Celine Dion, David Foster, Johnny Mathis, Jeff Hamilton, Rich Little, Charlie Shoemake, Mellissa Manchester, Marvin Stamm, Bobby Shew, Pete Christlieb, Don Menza, Roy McCurdy, Bob Cooper, Jeff Berlin, Diana Krall, Billy Childs, and others. Big band credits include Ray Anthony, Bob Crosby, Bill Watrous, Louie Bellson, Bob Florence, and Doc Severinsen. Dave is featured as a soloist on recordings with John Patitucci, Nick Brignola, Dick Berk, Bob Magnusson, Ray Pizzi, and Milcho Leviev. Other recording work includes radio and TV commercials, TV shows like The Osbournes, and numerous demos and record dates.

After receiving a master's degree from the Eastman School of Music, Howie moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a musician/composer/arranger. He soon took a slight detour to go on the road where he played lead trumpet with the Woody Herman Orchestra. After two years, he moved back to LA, and has since performed on countless TV and movie soundtracks, commercials, Broadway shows and recordings. Howie has performed with Tony Bennett, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Natalie Cole, Linda Ronstadt, and Mel Torme, to name a few. In addition to performing, Howie has been an active composer/arranger/orchestrator getting his first big break as the musical arranger for the Joan Rivers late night talk show, where he composed for a 16-piece big band 5 nights a week. Howie is currently scoring his fourth movie and, in 2002, received his doctorate in music from the University of Southern California.