2008 Bass Fantasy Camp Staff

Stu Hamm

Bassist Stu Hamm made a name for himself largely due to his work in the ‘80s when he accompanied two of hard rock's leading guitarists: Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.

Born in 1960 and raised in Indiana, Hamm was born into an extremely musically gifted family. His father is a musicologist and has penned music textbooks, while his mother is an opera singer/teacher. His brother teaches classical Northern Indian music.

After relocating to Virginia as a teenager, Hamm picked up the bass, and began studying the complex styles of fusion bands such as Return to Forever and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, along with progressive rock bands like Yes. He also played in his school jazz band.

At 18, Hamm enrolled in Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music, during which time he was surrounded by an impressive list of soon-to-be renowned musicians such as Vai, Steve Smith, Randy Coven, Victor Bailey, Jeff Berlin, and more. Hamm and Vai formed a strong bond, which would result in the bassist following Vai (who by this time was playing with Frank Zappa, and later David Lee Roth) out to California during the early ‘80s, where he supplied bass on Vai's solo debut, Flex Able.

It was through this association that Hamm would meet Joe Satriani, Vai's old friend/guitar teacher. Satriani's profile soared due to such landmark all-instrumental albums as 1986's Not of This Earth and 1987's Surfing with the Alien. Hamm signed on as his touring guitarist and also played on such subsequent releases as 1988's Dreaming (#11) and 1989's Flying in a Blue Dream.

It was during this period that Hamm's bass talents began to be recognized by guitar publications worldwide. This resulted in a trio of technically accomplished, yet commercially ignored, solo releases including: 1988's Radio Free Albemuth, 1989's Kings of Sleep, and 1991's The Urge (Hamm also reunited with his old pal Vai for another landmark guitar release, 1990's Passion and Warfare).

Like most guitar heroes during this period, a certain instrument brand became associated with Hamm: the futuristic-looking Kubicki X Factor.

Hamm returned in full force in the late '90s when he founded the chops-heavy trio GHS, featuring guitarist Frank Gambale and drummer Steve Smith). They produced the albums Show Me What You Can Do (1998), Light Beyond (2000), and GHS 3 (2002).

Hamm also found the time to issue his first solo release in nine years, 2000's Outbound, and to tour/record once more alongside Satriani (1997's G3: Live in Concert, 1998's Crystal Planet, and 2001's Live in San Francisco).

Hamm has also appeared on variety of other recordings over the years, including: guitar virtuoso Richie Kotzen, Adrian Legg, Michael Schenker, Steve Fister, and James Murphy, etc. Additionally, he has partaken in several ‘tribute' albums, including: Peter Green (Peter Green Songbook), Queen (Stone Cold Crazy), Ozzy Osbourne (Bat Head Soup), Rush (Working Man), Aerosmith (Not the Same Old Song and Dance), and Alice Cooper (Humanary Stew).

Tom Kennedy

Tom Kennedy has been a first call bassist on the music scene for more than 25 years.

Tom began playing the acoustic bass at the age of 9. It was only one-year later that he and brother/pianist Ray Kennedy began building a high-profile reputation in and around St. Louis.

By his late teens, Tom had already worked with such jazz veterans as James Moody, Peter Erskine, David Sanborn, Eddie Harris, Nat Adderly, Freddie Hubbard, and Stan Kenton. His interest was primarily mainstream jazz until his introduction to the bass guitar at age 17.

Tom moved to New York in 1984 and became involved in numerous musical projects on both acoustic and electric bass. He appeared on master-guitarist Bill Connors' album Step it, and toured with the legendary jazz group Steps Ahead, bringing immediate recognition. Since then, his credits include performance and recordings with such greats as Al DiMeola, Tania Maria, Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick, and Steve Gadd.

Tom has truly found his home as an original member of the Dave Weckl Band, and is featured on all DWB recordings, including: Rhythm of the Soul, Synergy, Transition, Perpetual Motion, LIVE (and very plugged in), and the latest release, Multiplicity. Tom also appeared on Dave's debut recording, Master Plan, in 1990.

Tom released his debut solo CD Basses Loaded in 1997. His second solo project, Bassics, featured jazz legends Mundell Lowe and Joe LaBarbera. He performed on guitarist Al DiMeola's release The Infinite Desire, A Tribute to Bill Evans, with Dave Grusin, and a new classical/jazz release Two Worlds, with Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin.

Tom also has continued his "Who's Who" list of performance credits, including: Joe Sample, Alan Pasqua, Ernie Watts, Jeff Beal, Vinnie Colaiuta, Clay Jenkins, Virgil Donati, and Simon Phillips.


A third instructor will be added!

Drum Fantasy Camp Staff
These instructors will be teaching drum classes and joining in with their students on "jam nights" with the bass camp!

Steve Smith

In 1974, Steve Smith's professional career began in full, at 19-years-old, with his tenure in the Lin Biviano Big Band, which he toured and recorded with for the next two years. At that same time he also performed with bebopper Buddy DeFranco and was a member of free-jazz group The Fringe featuring George Garzone.

In 1976, Smith began his association with jazz/fusion by joining violinist Jean Luc Ponty, recording the album "Enigmatic Ocean" (Atlantic 1977), which also featured guitarist Allan Holdsworth. While touring with rocker Ronnie Montrose a year later, Smith was asked to join the popular rock band Journey, which brought his playing to the attention of a young rock audience.

With Journey, Smith toured around the world and recorded many successful albums including the immensely popular "Escape" (Columbia 1981) and "Frontiers" (Columbia 1983), both of which garnered the band many Top 40 hits. Smith's inventive timekeeping, stadium sized tom-tom fills, and deep sense of groove enabled him to produce some of the most critically acclaimed rock drumming while at the same time propelling the band to much popular success.

In 1985, Smith left Journey to pursue his original passion, jazz, and to continue developing his career as a session player. Over the past 20+ years, Smith has played on many hits with such diverse artists as: Mariah Carey, Bryan Adams, Zucchero, Claudio Baglioni, Andrea Bocelli, Ray Price, Corrado Rustici, and Savage Garden.

Smith began leading his own fusion band, Steve Smith and Vital Information, in 1983 while still a member of Journey. Vital Information currently features Tom Coster on keys, Baron Browne on bass and Vinny Valentino on guitar. Vital Information's release, Where We Come From, was voted Best Contemporary Jazz Recording Of 1998 by the Association For Independent Music.

Steve is also the bandleader of Steve Smith’s Jazz Legacy, a group carrying on the tradition of many of the great drummer-led jazz bands: communicating with music lovers of all generations, striving for excellence and playing non-compromising, burning, straight-ahead jazz. Jazz Legacy features Andy Fusco on alto sax, Walt Weiskopf on tenor and soprano saxes, Mark Soskin on piano, and Baron Browne on bass.

Smith has also maintained an extensive touring and recording career, appearing with many jazz luminaries such as Mike Mainieri's group Steps Ahead. This band, which included virtuosos such as Michael Brecker, Richard Bona and Mike Stern, was one of the most successful of the '80s electric jazz groups and Smith contributed greatly to their tight, energetic sound for seven years (1986-1993 and again in 2005).

Other high profile jazz touring and/or recording gigs that have filled the drummer's schedule include such artists as: Ahmad Jamal, Michael Manring, Stanley Clarke, Randy Brecker, Zakir Hussain, George Brooks’ Summit, and the Buddy Rich Big Band, with whom he has performed in many tribute concerts to the late drumming idol. He also rejoined Journey in 1996 to record the reunion album "Trial By Fire" (Columbia 1996). Smith's calendar often includes many drum clinics in which he is able to display his phenomenal techniques and concepts to drumming students around the world.

In 1998, Smith began producing and playing on a series of driving electric jazz albums for the Tone Center label with a revolving cast of talented players such as Dave Liebman, Frank Gambale, Stu Hamm, Tom Coster, Larry Coryell, Jerry Goodman, Howard Levy, Steve Marcus, Scott Henderson, and Victor Wooten.

Smith’s explosive solos and intricate timekeeping served to gain him much acclaim from sources such as Modern Drummer magazine, whose readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row. In 2001 Modern Drummer magazine named Steve as one of the Top 25 Drummer of All Time.

In 2002, he was voted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame and in 2003, his Hudson Music DVD "Steve Smith Drumset Technique - History of the U.S. Beat" was voted #1 Educational DVD of 2003. Also in 2003, Steve Smith and Buddy's Buddies -- the Buddy Rich alumni quintet -- released two CDs on the Tone Center label that were record live at the famous London jazz club Ronnie Scott's; "Very Live at Ronnie Scott's Set One and Set Two."

In 2004, Vital Information released their tenth recording, "Come On In." That year, Steve also toured with Soulbop, and all-star group featuring Bill Evans, Randy Brecker, David Kikoski, Victor Bailey and Hiram Bullock. In 2005, the group released a live CD entitled "Soulbop Band Live." 2005 saw the release of another all-star project Steve produced and played on for Tone Center Records, "Flashpoint," featuring Steve with Dave Liebman, Aydin Esen, and Anthony Jackson.

Learn more at www.vitalinformation.com or www.myspace.com/stevesmith .

Dave Weckl

For more than 20 years, Dave Weckl has developed and maintained a reputation among fans, peers, and the international music community as one of the great living drummers. For this, he has received numerous accolades and honors; Modern Drummer inducted Dave into their Hall of Fame and named him "one of the 25 best drummers of all time."

But these honors, in addition to many more bestowed by the music community, are the product of Dave's undying commitment to making great compositions. Dave's incredibly dynamic and diverse drumming, which has inspired musicians worldwide, is built on a solid foundation of knowledge and respect for music.

Born in St. Louis Missouri, January 8th, 1960, to a mother who loved music and a father who played the piano as a hobby, Weckl started playing drums at the age of 8.

During his high school years, Weckl received many awards from the NAJE (National Association of Jazz Educators) for outstanding performances in his high school's competition-winning jazz band. He was involved with numerous local groups from a very young age while studying with St. Louis-area teachers Bob Matheny and Joe Buerger.

At age 16, Weckl began to work professionally with local pop and jazz groups. In 1979, he moved to the East coast to study music at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. At just 19 years-of-age, he was getting recognized.

While playing the club scene in New York City with a band called Nite Sprite, Weckl started to receive accolades from established studio musicians such as Steve Kahn, Michael Brecker, and especially drumming great Peter Erskine. It was Erskine who recommended Weckl for his first 'big gig' in town with a group called French Toast, forerunner to the Michel Camilo band, which has been recorded quite extensively over the years.

From this group, legendary bassist Anthony Jackson recommended Weckl for the prestigious Simon and Garfunkel reunion tour in 1983. After this tour, it was not long before he was regularly being called for radio and TV jingles, sound track sessions, and top recording dates with such artists as George Benson, Peabo Bryson, Diana Ross, and Robert Plant, to name a few.

In 1985, Michael Brecker suggested to Chick Corea that he look into Dave's services for his new Elektric Band. That was the beginning of a seven year relationship with both the Elektric and Akoustic Bands, where nine recordings and three videos were produced. The Akoustic Band release earned the group a Grammy.

The Elektric Band showcased Weckl’s cutting-edge drumming and innovative use of electronic and acoustic drums, bringing him world-wide recognition. Though the Elektric Band went on a 10-year hiatus in the early '90s, the band is once again touring from time to time. It released a 17-part conceptual album entitled "To The Stars" in mid-2004.

As a solo artist, Weckl has recorded and produced nine recordings to date, including GRP/MCA solo releases Masterplan, Heads Up, and Hardwired. In 1998, Weckl realized his long-time goal of forming a world-touring band. To date, the Dave Weckl Band has released five studio records, including: Rhythm Of The Soul, Synergy, Transition, Perpetual Motion, and Multiplicity. The band has also released a hot live album, entitled LIVE (and very plugged in), and a compilation that includes songs and instructional videos, entitled The Zone.

The band keeps Weckl very busy, but he still enjoys sideman work. He regularly joins guitarist Mike Stern, and has recently performed live with saxophonist Bill Evans’ Soulgrass band, among others.

When off the road, Weckl keeps busy with session and production work at his home studio in Los Angeles. He also accepts a limited number of private students - and offers classes through the Virtual Drummer School. Additionally, Weckl has many instructional video/DVDs and play-along packages on the market.

A constant student of the art of drumming and music, Weckl gives back every chance he gets through clinics and classes all over the world.

Learn more at www.daveweckl.com or www.myspace.com/daveweckl .

Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez

A 1997 Grammy Award winner and one of the most talented drummers in the world today, international recording artist Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1963, to a family rich with musical heritage deeply rooted in traditional Cuban music and well-versed in American jazz currents.

His own talent became evident early on and at age 12, when he was accepted into the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Arte, where he majored in drums and percussion. There, he studied with the finest Cuban teachers, including Fausta Garcia Rivera, himself a student of Lawrence Atone and Henry Adler, Enrigue Pla, the drummer for the groundbreaking group Irake, and Santiago Reiter, the most influential teacher of modern Cuban drums and percussion.

In 1980, Horacio joined Cuban pianist and composer Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s innovative group Proyecto and played, toured and recorded with the group for ten years. Although he’s continued to work and record with the best Cuban and international musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie’s United National Orchestra, it was with Rubalcaba that Horacio developed his distinct drumming style - the potent mixture of Afro Cuban and Jazz elements that has made him an artist of extraordinary power and musical versatility. This may be heard in full sonic glory on the recently re-issued Live in Havana.

El Negro moved to Rome in 1990 and soon became the energizing force in that city’s Jazz and Latin music circles, working and recording with Pino Danielle, Gary Bartz, Steve Turre, Gary Smulyan and Mike Stern, eventually forming his own band “Tercer Mundo”. During his stay in Rome he also chaired the Latin Drums Department at the Centro di Percussiono Timba and taught at the Universita Della Musica while also conducting many drum clinics throughout Italy.

Hernandez moved to New York in 1993 and immediately began to work with such celebrated musicians as: Paquito D’Rivera, David Valentin, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, the Ed Simon Trio, Kip Hanranhan, Papo Vasquez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Arturo Sandoval and Tito Puente.

Whether playing with jazz legends like McCoy Tyner or Michel Camilo, rock stars like Carlos Santana or Steve Winwood, or as member of renowned Latin ensembles like Tito Puente's Tropi-Jazz All Stars, Horacio has earned a strong reputation as one of the most powerful and versatile players in the current musical scene.

Early in 1997, Hernandez traveled to Orvieto, Italy, to perform at the Umbria Jazz Festival and record with the band “Crisoul”. Led by trumpeter Roy Hargrove, this all-star lineup combined the energies of Hargrove, Hernandez, Gary Bartz, Frank Lacey, David Sanchez, Changuito, Jon Benitez, Anga Diaz, Russel Malone and Chocho Valdes. Their debut record entitled “Habana” earned “Crisoul” a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Record in the “Latin Jazz” category.

During the same period Hernandez recorded the Michel Camilo's release “Thru My Eyes” with Jon Patitucci and Anthony Jackson. On this record, “El Negro’s” true essence is captured on the track “A Night in Tunisia." Also during this time, Hernandez appeared with McCoy Tyner and his band in San Francisco and recorded and toured with Santana for their 1997 world tour.

In 1998, Hernandez set his sights on performing with Latin Crossing, a stellar gathering of artists that featured: Steve Winwood, Arturo Sandoval, and Tito Puente. Latin Crossing toured all of the major jazz festivals throughout Europe that summer.

Hernandez then went on tour with the John Patitucci Band. In 1998 and 1999, Hernandez found himself recording with an eclectic group of artists including: Santana, Gabriella Anders, John Patitucci, Sergio George, Juan Carlos Formell, Joanne Brackeen, Giovanni Hidalgo, and others.

Horacio is a member of the faculties of Drummer’s Collective and the New School in New York, and regularly conducts clinics and workshops at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Palo Alto, as well as for Pearl drums and Ziidjian cymbals.

He has been a participant in several NAMM shows, and was a featured drummer at the Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention in 1996. Early in 1998, Hernandez was voted first runner-up as the 1997 “Drummer of the Year” in Drum magazine’s annual readers poll.

Derico Watson

Born in Muskegon, MI., Derico D. Watson began playing drums and percussion at the age of six. A few short years later he played regularly at his grandmother's church.

Derico remembers, "I always liked to play to my grandmother's records using Quaker Oats boxes, coffee cans, you name it. I was told then that I had a natural talent gift from God."

Derico went on to graduate from Muskegon Public Schools where he developed his skills while performing with the jazz, marching and concert bands. Watson, an accomplished educator and clinician, has performed and or recorded with artists such as: Victor Wooten, Felix Pastorius, Kirk Franklin, Beverly Crawford, Prasanna, and many more.

Currently, Watson plays and tours with the Victor Wooten Band and resides in Nashville, TN, where he plays and records regularly. He's also a clinician for Premier Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, and Aquarian Drum Heads.

He plans on continuing to teach, perform, record and tour throughout the world promoting music education through his powerful drum/percussion ministry!

Jamey Haddad

Born in Cleveland Ohio, percussionist/drummer Jamey Haddad holds a unique position in the world of jazz and contemporary music. Since 1991, he has performed in the working bands of Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Alan Farnham, The Paul Winter Consort, Carly Simon and Betty Buckley. Performing with the great oud players/composers, Rabih Abou Khalil and Simon Shaheen in the Mid East.

Haddad's musical voice transcends styles and trends, and the universal quality of his playing has attracted many international collaborations.

Most recently, Haddad performed with longtime musical associate saxophonist Joe Lovano for a duet concert in New York city, followed by a trip to the Mideast with oud and violinist Simon Shaheen. For more than ten years, fellow percussionist / composer Steve Shehan has invited Haddad to collaborate on numerous projects most recently to Paris and Caracas with the great Touareg musician Baly Othmani.

In 1992, Haddad was invited by composer Richard Horowitz and the Moroccan Government to help develop and perform compositions with 10 different Berber and Ganawan groups for a Crown Performance at the 1992 Worlds Fair in Seville, Spain. Haddad was also one of two Americans to perform in "World Drums" at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Canada, and again at the 1988 Worlds Fair in Brisbane Australia, over 250 Percussionist from 25 Countries were invited. Other recent performances include touring Austria with bassist Peter Herbert.

Haddad is the Recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship to South India, four National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, two in Jazz Performance and two in International Music Studies/Collaborations. The Ohio and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts also awarded Haddad jazz performance grants.

Internationally in demand for his seminars, master classes, and written essays on music, Haddad chooses to talk about the more eternal and universal qualities of a musical life. He has developed two extremely popular courses in "World Music" and teaches at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the New School in New York City.

Recent seminar / performances include the 1996 - 97 and 98 Percussive Arts Society Conventions, performing with hand drumming virtuoso, Glen Velez; The Berklee Percussion Seminar, performing with South Indian Master Drummer Trichy Sankaran and most recently returned from a performance and seminar at a World Percussion Conference in Mexico City.

Haddad has been the co-creator of many musical instruments and playing techniques that are finding their way into the hands of percussionists worldwide. The are the Hadgini, the Hadjira, the Hadjenga, and the Kohabata Drums.

In the jazz and contemporary music scene, Haddad has appeared on over 75 recordings in addition to hundreds of performance credits as a leader and sideman worldwide.

Haddad has recently completed a book and supporting video on the subject of internalizing one's personal rhythm. The observations and lessons found in "Global Standard Time" are addressed to any musician looking to strengthen their perceptions of levels of time and rhythms, and the grooves they dance in.

Steven Orkin - Camp Director

Steven Orkin is the owner and executive director of Drum Fantasy Camp. He also runs Orkin Marketing Consultants, LLC, a marketing communications firm in Cleveland, Ohio.

Orkin started his working career in 1993 behind the news desk of television stations in Cincinnati and Cleveland. He wrote and co-produced hundreds of stories for broadcast news programs.

After nearly two years in television, Orkin accepted a marketing position at MBNA Corporation, then the world's largest independent issuer of credit cards. It was at MBNA where Orkin gained expertise in direct response and customer relationship marketing.

After four years with MBNA, Orkin wanted to expand his knowledge of marketing and accepted an account management position at Wyse Advertising, in Cleveland. He spent the next five years in the ad agency world before starting his own marketing communications firm.

Orkin met Dave Weckl and his longtime collaborator Jay Oliver at the NAMM show in 2004. Since then, he has added several world-class clients including drummers Steve Smith and Horacio Hernandez, violinist Christian Howes, guitarist Peter Mayer, and many more.

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