Jay Smith
Jay Smith has performed with dozens of groups all over the US and Europe in a wide range of music from bebop and jazz fusion to latin rock and funk. He has worked with groups and musicians as Marcos Reyes (War), Carl Saunders, Clayton Cameron (Tony Bennet), Kelulu, Mento Buru, The Fresno Philharmonic, David Baron Stevens, Andre Bush, Mike Dana, Velorio, Zambra, and Patrick Contreras to name a few.
He has been on several radio stations and TV stations including Bakersfield's Channels 17, 23, 29/58, The Michael Nayt Show,
Brighthouse Networks, and 107.1 FM KRAB, Fresno's 90.7 KSFR where he currently has his own Radio Show.
Two of his bands (Jay Smith Trio/Group and Kelulu) are selected as Featured Artists on the Global Level on Reverbnation.com. He
was the lead instructor at the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop for first four years.
His latest album, Unashamed Portrayal, (available now on iTunes and 30 other retailers) features Grammy Nominated Guitarist Andre Bush,
Jay Jay Hicks, Saxophonist Chris Nguyen, trombonist Joe Vazquez, trumpeter Mark Manda, Fernando Montoya on acoustic and electric bass, Jonathan Weinmann on drums, and Jorge Nunzio Urbina on percussion. It's been featured on ALL ABOUT JAZZ as their download of the day.
Jonathan Weinmann
http://jonathanweinmann.com/
While attending Los Angeles Music Academy, Jonathan studied drums and percussion under and with: Joe Porcaro, Mike Shapiro (Sergio Mendes), Aaron Serfaty, Tony Inzalaco, Michael Packer, Dave Beyer, and the late Sherman Ferguson, attending workshops with the likes of Clayton Cameron, Peter Erskine and Vinnie Colauita. At only 25, Jonathan has studied and played with some of the greatest musicians to date, from the highly technical Ralph Humphrey of Frank Zappa’s Band to playing with Jazz masters such as Russell Ferrante of the Yellow Jackets and funk artist Al McKay of Earth Wind and Fire and the Al McKay All Stars.
Ever-evolving is just what Jonathan is. His natural ability, cumulative knowledge, education, and experience in music and the arts make his sound distinctive. His unique ability to excel in virtually any musical setting or genre set him apart as a brilliant individual and musician. Jonathan’s energetic performances, organic sound, solid feel, responsiveness, professionalism and determination demonstrate his passion for the percussive arts and will continue to keep this young musician moving forward.
Fernando Montoya
Fernando Montoya was born in Anaheim and lived in the Orange County area before moving to Bakersfield in 2002. He began playing flute and trumpet in elementary school and continued on trumpet at Highland High School before switching to the trombone. Outside of school, he started playing electric bass and eventually switched to double bass in the orchestra and jazz band at Highland. Montoya continued playing electric and acoustic bass in the orchestra and jazz band at Bakersfield College and now his love of music has led him to working on his Bachelor's Degree in music education at CSUB. Blues, Rock and Roll and Jazz are some of his favorite musical styles and they all influence his playing and composing. In addition to Rickety Ship, he currently performs with the CSUB BIg Band and chamber music ensembles, local rock band Trading Company, The Jay Smith Group and he sits in with various other groups from time to time.
