Ron Jones – Composer, Piano

For over 37 years, Ron Jones has dedicated himself to the art of craft of composing. Most of his creative work has involved scoring music for TV and Film projects, produced by both major Hollywood studios and independent productions companies. After getting his degree in music composition and music theory, Ron moved directly to Los Angeles, in order to study at the famous Dick Grove School of Music.

What attracted Ron’s attention was that all the teachers were successful professional musicians, arrangers and composers who where actively involved in creating music for recording artist, TV and film and other real world music areas. Prior to graduation from Dick Groves, Ron started working as a composer for an NBC movie of the week and several network animated TV series, produced by Hanna-Barbera. Under the guidance and tutelage of Hanna-Barbera’s music director, Hoyt Curtin (Flintstones, Jetsons and many more), Ron scored hundreds of episodes of Hanna-Barbera’s popular animated series. Soon, Mr. Curtin called on Ron to arrange and eventually compose many of the main title themes, such as the Smurfs, Scooby-Doo, The Snorks and many more.

After five years, Ron was introduced to the very busy composing team of Mike Post and Pete Carpenter. During his time scoring for Post and Carpenter, Ron worked on such popular series as The A-Team, Magnum P.I., Hardcastle and McCormick, Riptide, Hunter and more. This phase of scoring work involved a wide variety of scoring styles with emphasis on fusing contemporary Rock and Pop elements into the scores, a hallmark of the Post/Carpenter sound. While working with Post/Carpenter, Ron continued scoring many low budget features, which gave him the opportunity to hone and develop his long form skills.

Chris Montan, head of Disney Music, happened to watch a session Ron was doing for an animated project. The score and how Ron crafted the cues impressed Chris. Chris asked what motivated this deeper level in the music. Ron replied, not knowing who Chris Montan was, that the main difference is that he respects the intelligence of the audience. Most composers at the time were playing down to the audience. Ron’s approach took into account that a large percentage of the animated audience is actually adults.

Also, by designing the scores with respect for the intelligence of the audience, the shows themselves took on a broader appeal in that they were not patronizing. Soon after this random encounter, Chris Montan called and asked Ron to score the animated series, Duck Tales for Disney. Ron played the adventures of Huey, Louie, Dewey and Uncle Scrooge as a serious “Raiders of the Lost Ark” action/adventure show. This worked in a wonderful way against the comedy and with of the stories. Duck Tales has been one of the most successful animated series of all time and still plays to a large worldwide audience.

After Duck Tales, Ron worked on the first four seasons of Paramount’s smash hit series, Star Trek: The Next Generation. Scoring Star Trek: The Next Generation offered a perfect opportunity for Ron to use all the skills acquired from the animation, live action series and independent features. Each episode was looked at like a separate feature, rather than a serial with repeated ideas. ST:TNG was really like a Wagneriansuper opera. Each episode had it’s own unique orchestral palette and themes. There were highly organized and compositionally developed themes and motifs, which related to the Star Fleet crew as well as the various life forms they encountered in their exploration of the universe.

Ron further developed the Star Trek music in his scores for the groundbreaking computer games StarFleet Academy and StarFleet Command. These games were the first to use a full studio orchestra for the score. StarFleet Academy won the best score award from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.

Ron continued his animation scoring by doing several animation shorts for upcoming creative Producers at Hanna-Barbera and Nickelodeon. Ron’s theme for Butch Hartman’s Fairly Oddparents series won BMI’s TV and Film award for being the most performed theme on Television for an amazing three years in a row (2002-2004). Ron also worked with one of the great young talents, Seth MacFarlane, with whom he had also scored some of his first projects for Hanna-Barbera. Seth took a chance and developed a new series for Fox, called Family Guy. Ron scored the pilot and the series has gone on to become a worldwide hit.

Not only has Family Guy become hugely successful as both a first run and syndicated series, it has topped the charts in home DVD sales, out selling many of the top feature films. Also, Family Guy is one of the most popular iTunes downloads, usually in the top 10 weekly. Ron has been pushed to create nearly every possible musical style and genre of scoring during his years working on Family Guy. From Broadway parodies, jazz, pop, contemporary grooves and songs to serious orchestral underscore, which rival anything on TV and surpasses many feature scores. Ron also scored another of MacFarlane’s series, American Dad, which is also on Fox.

Currently, Ron has expanded his musical exploration by forming the Influence Jazz Orchestra. The group is made up of the most elite session and jazz players in Los Angeles. This ensemble was formed out of a desire to share with live audiences the incredible and amazing studio musicians Ron calls to record his TV scores. Influence has performed at many of the top Jazz Clubs and concert venues to sold out audiences. The band performs new works by Ron, as well as the best charts written for Jazz Ensemble. Many performances feature Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy, singing his favorite classic Sinatra songs as arranged by Nelson Riddle, Billy May and more. Influence is involved in concerts of film and TV music as well as cutting edge Jazz.

Ron Jones has taught and guest lectured in the US and Europe at colleges, University’s and Conferences. Ron is very interested in teaching and sharing his professional insights with the new generation of composers.

Ron is driven to learn and grow, both with his music and in his life. He is proud of his accomplishments and the over 40,000 compositions he has created so far. He looks forward to the next level of creative challenges with excitement and eagerness.

Ron owes everything to his wife, Laree, for all of her wonderful support and love. Ron is very proud of their son, Nathan, and look forward to all he will be and do in his life.

When not scoring, Ron enjoys hiking in the mountains and landscape photography. Ron composes for orchestras, jazz groups, choirs, electronic, and a wide array of other music groups and styles with the goal of exploring the deeper side of music composition. He conducts all of his orchestral scoring sessions, the Influence Jazz Orchestra and he has guest-conducted orchestras in the U.S. and recentlywas a guest conductor for the Star Trek:The Ultimate Voyage concerts at Royal Albert Hall with the London Philharmonic as well as the west coast part of that concert tour with engagements in San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver with members of the Czech National Orchestra.

Ron is music director and conductor for the L.A. based Influence Jazz
Orchestra, a 22-piece all-star Big Band. On occasion this group expands to a full 75 piece orchestra.

Ron is music director and conductor for the 11-piece group Jazz Forest which is currently in studio finishing its first CD release and rehearsing in Seattle for several performances around the Northwest from Portland to Bellingham.

Carey Frank – Organ

Originally from South Florida, Carey Frank is now living in Los Angeles, CA. He is fortunate to be an active musician, working as a soloist and with various other musicians, genres, and groups. He has worked with the likes of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Hot Tuna, The Wood Brothers, Marty Morell, Ndugu Chancler, Marshall Tucker Band, Eric Marienthal, Jane Monheit, Munyungo Jackson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Larry Goldings, Lenny Picket, T Lavitz, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, Josh Smith, Eric Gales, Drake Bell, and Bob Mintzer. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Carey had a residency with Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando, FL. 

Sinclair Lott – Drums

Sinclair Lott was born in Los Angeles where he currently lives and performs in many different musical genres from commercial studio work to original jazz projects. Some of the musicians he has worked with include Freddie Hubbard, Frank Zappa, Tigran Hamasyan, Dianne Reeves, Mose Allison, Vanessa Williams, Big Joe Turner,Billy Childs, Tierney Sutton, Otis Rush,Eric Gale, and Mike Miller.

Gary Meek – Sax, Keyboards

Gary Meek began his career in the early 1980s playing woodwinds in the big bands of the Los Angeles Jazz Workshop, and keyboards and woodwinds for local club dates, weddings and private parties. In the mid-’80s he toured with Dionne Warwick, playing keyboards.
In 1987, Meek began a two-decade association with Brazilian jazz artists Airto Moreira and Flora Purim. In 1990, joined by Jose Neto, they formed Fourth World. This band toured the U.S., Europe, Asia, South Africa and Eastern Europe for five years, releasing a live album in 1992, “Live at Ronnie Scott’s.” Three years later, Meek joined Herb Alpert’s world tour in support of Alpert’s “Second Wind” album. The following year, Meek toured the U.S. and Europe playing saxes, flute and keyboards for Al Jarreau.

Meek’s first album as a leader and saxophonist, 1991’s “Gary Meek,” comprises 11 songs all written or cowritten by Meek. He has released four other solo projects to date, including “Time One,” “Live at Ronnie Scott’s,” “Good Friends” and “Step 7.”

Through the 1990s and early 2000s, Meek began several enduring collaborations, some with artists who contributed session work for his solo efforts. After keyboardist Jeff Lorber appeared on “Gary Meek,” Meek played for several Lorber albums, including the Billboard Top 5 “West Side Stories” in 1994. Meek’s first studio work for bassist Brian Bromberg, on 1997’s “You Know That Feeling,” led to several tours and albums including “Downright Upright,” nominated for the “Best Contemporary Jazz Album” Grammy in 2007.
In 2000, Meek played saxophone for “Warning,” the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day. “Warning” reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA.

In 2003, Meek played woodwinds for the album “Playful Heart” by guitarist and bossa nova pioneer Oscar Castro-Neves. The release, named one of that year’s best albums by Downbeat, included an arrangement of “Four Brothers” that Castro-Neves wrote to feature Meek on all the woodwind parts. Meek was later featured on Castro-Neves’ 2006 album, “All One.”

In 2002, Meek collaborated for the first time with drummer Dave Weckl for the Dave Weckl Band album, “Live (and Very Plugged In)” and a subsequent world tour. He also played with Weckl for 2005’s “Multiplicity,” and with Weckl and keyboardist Jay Oliver for “Convergence” in 2012.

In 2015, the Dave Weckl Acoustic Band released its debut CD, “Of the Same Mind,” touring behind it in Europe, Asia and the U.S. Acoustic band personnel include Weckl, Meek, keyboardist Makoto Ozone and bassist Tom Kennedy.

In September of 2017 Meek released “Originals” – His first solo release in Fifteen years. The CD features Terri Lyne Carrington – Drums, Brian Bromberg – Acoustic Bass, Mitchel Forman – Piano, Randy Brecker – Trumpet/ Flugelhorn and Bruce Forman – Guitar, on Three songs apiece. Also Michael Lent- Guitar and Airto Moriera – Percussion on ‘Suite for Maureen” Meek has had CD release gigs in both LA and Monterey. Bookings are coming in. Subscribe to the Mailing list on this site for more details.

Rene Camacho – Bass

Rene Camacho is an Acoustic, Electric Bassist and Vocalist originally from Tucson, Arizona, now living in Los Angeles. While trombone was his first instrument, he always had an affinity for the Bass and in his college years, Rene made the switch. Rene received a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies and Composition from The University of Arizona.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 1996, Rene has had the opportunity to explore many musical ventures, both in live performances and studio recordings. Rene began working with many Latin artists, shortly after moving to Los Angeles most notably, a five year stint with the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz and a brief time with the King of Mambo, Tito Puente.

Artists that he has worked with include: Sergio Mendes, Ry Cooder, Michael Bublé, Oscar Castro Neves, Michael McDonald, Poncho Sanchez, Tipica ’73, Robben Ford, Angelique Kidjo, Linda Ronstadt, Draco Rosa, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Raul Malo (The Mavericks), Rickie Lee Jones, Juan Gabriel, The Fifth Dimension, The Pointer Sisters, Ron Blake, Francisco Torres, Oscar Hernandez, Canadian Pianist Carol Welsman, Arnold McCuller, the Disney Channel and Guitarist Dean Brown.

Rene continues to actively record with artists from all over the musical world and currently performs with Draco Rosa, Kevin Eubanks, WAR and many others.

Joey De Leon – Percussion

Joey DeLeon has performed or recorded with artists of almost every genre from jazz, Latin, pop, and contemporary classical. The diverse list of artists is too long to mention but vary as wide as Queen Latifah and Al Jarreau to Juan Gabriel and Jennifer Lopez, to Barry Manilow and Cyndi Lauper, to George Crumb and Tan Dun. He was a member of The Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band from 2006-2018 and Arturo Sandoval from 2012-2014. He currently plays with the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band.  The latter two have garnered him Grammy Awards.

Oscar Hernandez – Keyboards

4X Grammy Award Winner Oscar Hernández has long been considered one of the most gifted and prominent pianist/ arrangers on the contemporary Latin, Latin-jazz and salsa music scene. He has achieved legendary status for his prolific career spanning now over 40 years.

Oscar’s career as a professional began in the 70’s performing and recording with such seminal artists as Ismael Miranda, Ray Barreto, Celia Cruz, Conjunto Libre, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez & Grupo Folklorico. Oscar was responsible for charting the musical course of the Rubén Blades Band. “Seis Del Solar”. Increasingly in demand as a pianist, arranger and producer, the Bronx native has produced such artists as Ruben Blades, Paul Simon, Willie Colón “Carabali”, Daniel Ponce, Rafael Dejesus, Eddie Torres, Phil Hernandez, Steve Kroon, Juan Luis Guerra, etc. and than made a more personal statement with the debut CD’s “Decision” and “Alternate Roots” by his band Seis Del Solar the Rubén Blades Band sans Rubén, and now with his 3X Grammy Award winning band, Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

In addition to being Rubén Blades pianist, arranger and musical director, Oscar Hernández has enjoyed a prolific musical career recording and performing with such world renown artists as Latin music king Tito Puente, Queen of Salsa Music Celia Cruz, Latin Pop Star Julio Iglesias, Juan Luis Guerra, Ray Barreto, Earl Klugh, Dave Valentin, Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Miranda, Pete”Conde” Rodríquez, Oscar De’leon, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, “Libre’ “Grupo Folkorico Experimental”, Willie Colón, Kirsty MacColl, etc. Oscar’s musical exploits include working as Musical Director/Conductor, arranging and producing the music for “The Capeman,” pop-rock icon Paul Simon’s Broadway musical. In addition, Oscar is also the music producer of “The Capeman” cast recording. Oscar was Musical Director/Arranger for the hit shows “Quien Mato A Hector Lavoe” and “La Lupe” at the 47th Street Theatre. He was also, Music Supervisor/Arranger for the show “Four Guys named Jose & Una Mujer named Maria.”

Oscar’s work as a studio session player can also be heard on numerous commercial jingles, some of which he has written and arranged. Among those is the hit show “Sex and the City.”

In addition to leading New York’s Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Oscar also has released 2 CD’s as a solo artist, Oscar Hernández & Alma Libre, titled“ The Art of Latin Jazz” and  “Love The Moment” on Origin Records.

Gregg Karukas – Keyboards

Grammy winning producer/keyboardist/composer Gregg Karukas (www.karukas.com) has many #1 hits from his 12 solo CDs that show his signature piano touch. A prolific, genre-crossing veteran of Smooth Jazz, Brazilian, and R&B/Pop, Gregg was a founding member of The Rippingtons in 1986 and has toured with Boney James, Dave Koz, Larry Carlton, Dori Caymmi, Ricardo Silveira, Sergio Mendes, Peter White, Rick Braun, Shelby Flint, Melissa Manchester, Alphonse Mouzon, Brenda Russell, Jeffrey Osborne and various Allstar groups in recent years.

– Gregg won the Grammy in 2013 for producing, composing, playing all keyboards, arranging….and engineering the Best New Age Album (Echoes of Love).
– helped launch Dave Koz Music Cruises in 2011 as Musical Director
– Gregg’s group was the house band for It’s Garry Shandling’s Show on Showtime.
– Gregg arranged and played the theme songs to Disney’s Ducktales and Chip and Dale’s Rescue Rangers; played keys on Rockwell’s Gold Album “Somebody’s Watching Me”

Trivia: Gregg’s very first LP session at age 18 was for naturalist/author Euell Gibbons, improvising background Moog Synthesizer textures along with Tim Eyermann’s echoing woodwinds for Gibbons’ readings of the work of Henry David Thoreau, a collector’s item that can occasionally be found on eBay.

World famous guitar maker, Paul Reed Smith of PRS Guitars and Gregg grew up together and jammed in Bowie, MD.; the same community that produced icons Eva Cassidy and Kathie Lee Gifford and Space Shuttle astronaut Ricky Arnold.

Michael O’Neill – Guitar

Michael O’Neill’s services as a guitarist and vocalist have been called upon at the highest levels of the music industry for over 30 years.Starting with his first tour of the U.S. and Europe on the Crusaders “Street Life” tour to his ongoing work with George Benson and Barbra Streisand,Michael has played on hundreds of recordings,worked on dozens of World tours,recorded 5 solo cd’s,made numerous television and video appearances,provided hundreds of titles for background music sources.Working with George Benson since 1981,Michael has appeared on “The Best of Benson Live”,George Benson and Al Jarreau cd “Givin it Up”,Benson’s “Absolute Live”and “Live in Montreux 1986″ dvd’s and served as an Associate Producer on Benson’s most recent cd,”Songs and Stories”.Michael has recently entered the arena of television composers as his music can be heard on ” The Real Housewives of Miami”,”The Real Husbands of Hollywood”,”Pregnant in Heels”,”Miss Advised”,”Million Dollar Listing”,”Brooklyn Big Style”,”Wicked Tuna”,Food Paradise” and a growing list of new productions.With his extensive and varied experiences at the top level of the music industry Michael has a huge pallette of styles and colors to draw from which result in a unique compositional voice.

Artists Worked With: Barbra Streisand George Benson Stevie Wonder Al Jarreau Natalie Cole The Crusaders Rickie Lee Jones Aretha Franklin Michael McDonald Kenny Loggins John Legend Joe Sample Hubert Laws Ronnie Laws KD Lang John Anderson Dr John Earth Wind and Fire Vince Gill Brad Paisley Al Green Ruben Studdard Gato Barbieri Sadao Watanabe Jason Mraz Michael Buble Phil Perry Kirk Whalum Rick Braun Boney James Sheila E. Marcus Miller Chaka Khan Dave Koz Carl Anderson John Lee Hooker Earl Klugh Eddie Murphy Manhattan Transfer Randy Crawford Bobby Caldwell Buddy Guy Ivan Lins Tonhinho Horta Donny Osmond Jaime Cullum Nancy Wilson Kenny Lattimore Roberta Flack Patti Austin Robert Mitchum Richard Elliot Jonathan Butler Wayman Tisdale Gregg Karukas Freddie Ravel Arturo Sandoval The Fowler Brothers Heather Headley Wayne Brady Freda Payne Robert Randolph Sarah McLachlan Arthur Blythe

Michael Paulo – Sax

One of the most versatile and cosmopolitan saxophonists in pop, soul and contemporary jazz for nearly 35 years, Michael Paulo has added his distinct saxpertise to a virtual who’s who of artists, including Al Jarreau (Paulo’s longest term touring association), James Ingram, No. 1 Smooth Jazz Trumpeter and guitarist Rick Braun and Peter White, Oleta Adams, Kenny Loggins, Patti Austin, Jeffrey Osborne, Jeff Lorber, David Benoit, Carl Anderson, Bobby Caldwell, Johnny Mathis and more. Another Milestone in Michael’s Career is his recent appearance on a previously unreleased Miles Davis record that was recorded in 1986 . The unheard tracks were recorded prior to his release TUTU. The record was released Sept 6th 2020 and reached the number 1 status on the billboard jazz charts in its first week.

Paulo grew up in a musical family (his father a pianist, his mother a singer, his siblings all playing instruments) and though he came upon the sax relatively late at age 15, he quickly became first horn player in his high school band and was playing professional gigs around the islands within a few years. Rather than accept a scholarship to North Texas State, he chose a more adventurous road by joining Hawaiian pop/rock band Kalapana, which had some success on the mainland but was most popular in Japan. After playing regularly and recording on all four of Kalapana’s albums from 1975 through 1979, Paulo recorded a solo album for Japanese release on Trio records. In addition to exposing him to the Japanese jazz audience, Tats in the Rainbow gave him the opportunity to work with legendary pianist Herbie Hancock.

Paulo moved to Los Angeles in 1981 and quickly established himself by playing with percussionist Ray Armondo and a local R&B outfit featuring members of Rufus. Two years later, he caught his big break when Al Jarreau hired him for his touring band. The young saxman became an integral part of the Jarreau experience while touring the world for the next decade. Paulo also gained international recognition as a result of his work on Jarreau’s famed “Live in London” release.

In 1988 paulo recorded his first Major solo release One Passion on MCA records

which was critically accliamed as one of the most influential recordings in contemporary Jazz. He has since released nine solo projects with the latest entitled “Songs” a compilation of his compositions over the years and featuring two new tracks.

Michael Paulo’s reputation as the no. 1 Asian American Jazz artist continues with each new year. He has also toured extensively in the Far East performing for the Sultan of Brunei and the Royal Family of Thailand. Michael is also popular in Japan where he has performed with numerous well known Japanese artists over the years such as: Namie Amuro, Eikichi Yazawa, Anrie, Mari Ijima, Globe,Atsushi from Exile and more! A dynamic live performer Michael has constantly left his audiences wanting more. His emotive playing and endearing style has never failed to capture the hearts of his fans all over the world..Michael Paulo is has continued to build his status as one of the most dynamic saxophonist in the world..

Michael spent eight years as an artist in residence at one of the largest Music Festivals in the world The Java Jazz Festival . Michael also produced two festivals, the Temecula Wine and Music Festival and Pacific Rim Jazz Festival in Hawaii. His company Apaulo Productions is also involved in producing numerous Jazz concerts events in California and Hawaii. Michael has just completed his 11th solo project titled a Beautiful Day. With the help of his music friends such as Peter White , Paul Brown , David Benoit, Paul Jackson Jr, Freddie Washington ,Ray ParkerJr. and more , Michael has assembled a mix of popular covers and original songs. It’s been ten years since his last studio release and he’s back in true form and ready to highlight another phase of his career an artist. As he says, “Music is always going to evolve, and it’s up to the artist to respond gracefully to the changes. We don’t know what the music will sound like years from now, but no matter what, it will be based on what the people in the audience feel.”