L.A. Sax Artists

Tom Scott is a renowned composer, arranger, producer, musical director and saxophonist. He has twenty-five solo recordings to his credit and for these efforts has earned twelve Grammy nominations and two Grammy Awards. His career achievements include composing film scores, among them Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Uptown Saturday Night, Stir Crazy, Hanky Panky, The Sure Thing, Just One Of The Guys, Soul Man, and Shakes the Clown. His television composing and conducting credits include the themes for "Family Ties", "Starsky & Hutch", "Square Pegs", the "Academy Awards", the "Emmy Awards", the "People’s Choice Awards", "Comic Relief", the "Carol Burnett Show", the "Pat Sajak Show", and background scores for "Baretta," "Cannon", "Barnaby Jones," "Streets Of San Francisco," "National Geographic Explorer," numerous T.V. Specials and Network Movies. He has served as Musical Director for Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Olivia Newton-John, the GRP All-Star Big Band and has toured five continents as leader of his own group.

Tom’s career as a special guest artist spans more than 500 recordings--by such diverse artists as Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Thelonius Monk, Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Elton John. He has received much acclaim for his contributions as a player and arranger-on Joni Mitchell’s Court And Spark , Steely Dan’s Aja; hit singles like Carole King’s Jazzman, Paul McCartney’s Listen To What The Man Said, Rod Stewart’s Do You Think I’m Sexy, Blondie’s Rapture, Captain & Tenille’s Do That To Me One More Time, Whitney Houston’s Saving All My Love For You; and on movie soundtracks such as Taxi Driver, Bladerunner, Heaven Can Wait, Sea Of Love, All Of Me, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? , Small Soldiers, and Toy Story 2.

Scott's early professional career included straight ahead jazz dates with Don Ellis' big band and pianist Roger Kellaway's quartet, and he made his recording debut with both units in 1966. The next year, while playing in Los Angeles with Oliver Nelson's big band, Scott was discovered by Impulse! Records producer Bob Thiele, who signed the young sax talent and released Honeysuckle Breeze in 1967 and Rural Still Life. One of his most popular endeavors was the Los Angeles based mid-70s jazz funk band LA Express, which featured Joe Sample and Larry Carlton. This first incarnation released two albums in 1974-75, Tom Scott and the LA Express and Tom Cat. Over two decades later, in 1996, Scott reformed the band, with blues guitarist Robben Ford for the well received Bluestreak. His 24th solo album "New Found Freedom" was released on October 22, 2002.

Tom is currently involved in numerous projects including the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra and recently produced and penned numerous arrangements for the second Daniel Rodriguez CD "From My Heart" for EMI. You can also catch Tom on DVD in "Standing In the Shadows of Motown" and "Concert for George".

The L.A. Sax Company is proud to include Jay Beckenstein, founder/leader of the legendary Spyro Gyra as a member of our musical family.

Jay recently said, “We’ve had over 100 shows this year and usually, by this time, my saxophones are falling apart from wear and tear. I am happy to report that the L.A. Sax is not only still sounding great, but its held up like a ‘Hum Vee’. It has not need one repair all summer. I am very impressed with it... It’s pretty heavy duty.”

Jay Beckenstein is available for clinics and masterclasses through the L.A. Sax Artist Clinic program. For information, contact L.A. Sax Company, 325 Nolan Street, San Antonio, TX 78202 (210) 637-0414 or Fax (210) 637-0232.

The photo on the right shows Jay playing his new Burnished Brass Tenor in Dallas, TX in May 2003.

www.jaybeckenstein.com www.spyrogyra.com www.beartracks.com

In 1989, after years of club work, Kim Waters turned to a full-time career in music. He landed a record deal and made “Sweet and Saxy” which , remarkably for a debut album, sold into six figures. The recording had found favor with the awakening interest among record buyers and radio stations for smooth jazz. His follow-up albums also did well and soon Waters was an unstoppable force in the smooth jazz genre. Although his technical mastery, especially on soprano saxophone, allows him to play in a more forceful jazz-oriented mode, Waters’ chosen milieu has earned him great commercial success, especially in recent years. Kim Waters is the landmark performer of the L.A. Sax Soprano Saxophones, from straight, curved, Saxello and even our Sopranino.

www.kimwaters.net

Jim Nelson A.K.A. "The Alabama Wild Man," has recorded on numerous Gold and Platinum Albums and CD's by the group Alabama, and is currently involved in a new project with Jeff Cook when the Alabama Farewell Tour is over. Jim plays a Custom Red, White and Blue L.A. Sax Artist Signature Series Tenor Saxophone he calls "Lady Liberty!" It has his name and Logo on the front of the bell beside the L.A. Sax Logo.

Jim has ALWAYS been a proud AMERICAN long before it was fashionable. He laughs about the days of performing early in his career when the stars he worked for used to try to convince him that his patriotic stage presence was a bit corny. Of course Jim has the last laugh as his SAX will never go out of style. During performances these days he always turns a crowd on while holding "Lady Liberty" high in the air as he reminds the crowd these colors never run. In addition to the obvious salute to the troops, it is most important to Jim that the crowds realize we would not be here today if it were not for Veterans and proud Americans of the past. The L.A. Sax Freedom Series Saxophones keep this spirit alive and strong!

As for Jim's ability, he has done shows or recorded with performers like Percy Sledge, The Drifters, The Platters, The Coasters, Alabama, Tim Watson, Terri Gibbs, Boots Randolph, and too many more to mention. If it's music, he has worked with the "Big Dogs" in the business. Producers especially love Jim's amazing ability to NAIL a song in one take in the studio.

He plays notes above the range of an ordinary saxophone, an ability that has taken years to develop. The fact that all his teachers growing up were trumpet players with an unlimited range didn't hurt either. The combination of such a unique Sax combined with his amazing technique is lethal whether in the studio, or onstage in front of thousands. The Freedom Series Saxophones gives the extra boost he's needed to grab the audience and not let them loose until he is through.

Jim's favorite past time is conducting clinics when on tour for serious college & high school students. Although trained in the Classics. Favorites of Jim are Classic Rock, Pop, Rock, Country, Soul, Blues, Bluegrass and Gospel. He Plays it ALL!

Scott Grimaldi from Woodbridge Township, New Jersey is a multi saxophonist who doubles on various flutes and clarinets, and is also recognized as a producer, arranger, transcriber and copyist.

Scott has performed with a number of stage acts including Ray Charles, The Manhattan Transfer, Vanessa Williams, Frank Sinatra Jr., Rosemary Clooney, Linda Eder, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Temptations, Little Anthony & The Imperials and Etta James, just to name a few. He has also subbed on a number of N.Y. Broadway musicals including “Steel Pier”, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and “Me and My Girl”.

In the field of recording, Scott has worked for Grammy award winning record and jingle producers Tony Camillo, Jimmy Wisner and Bill Giant as a woodwinds player, arranger and copyist. His performances can be heard on various music projects including the soundtrack for the movie “Sprung”, the TV. show “Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous”, and various Venture Music Group/T.C. Records recording artists Freda Payne, The Dramatics and The 5th Dimension, just to name a few. Recent CDs that Scott can be heard on include “Voices from My Heart” by pop vocalist Julian (WPLJ New York Idol finalist) and “Mixed Grill” by jazz vocalist Sandy Sasso, in which Scott produced, performed all woodwinds, arranged, composed and conducted the Nelson Riddle Studio Orchestra.

Besides performing and writing, Scott has worked on numerous music copyright infringement cases for Music Research Consultants, as a music transcriber. Janet Jackson, R. Kelly, Billy Joel, Madonna and Aerosmith are just a few of the artists he was assigned to transcribe their music to be used during litigation. Scott also has a number of book credits through Abkco Music Inc. for his transcriptions and role as Transcription Coordinator in the song books “The Rolling Stones Singles Collection”,” Phil Spector, Back To Mono” and “Sam Cooke’s Night Beat”.

For the past ten years, Scott has been an L.A. Sax artist/clinician and has demonstrated various L.A. Saxophones at both the New York and New Jersey M.E.N.C. conventions. In addition to appearing on two L.A. Sax promotional CDs and posters, his “Artist Transcriptions” column in the L.A. Sax Times featured his transcriptions of various L.A. Sax artists’ improvised solos. Scott plays an L.A. Alto with copper neck/bow and black cherry body, an L.A. Soprano with a high “G” key and custom swirl colors and a straight L.A. Sopranino Sax.

www.grimaldimusic.com

Jonno is a passionate and spirited musician, worship leader, and songwriter who was born and reared in San Francisco, California. A love affair with music that began at the age of five produced a twelve-year-old Jonno who amazed audiences with his ability to play the piano, clarinet, and sing. But it wasn’t until he took up Soprano Saxophone at the age of twenty-two that he recognized his purpose in life was the ministry of music. In May of 1992, he released his debut solo project entitled “Our Time”.

Jonno’s talents have paved the way for him to work on projects with other artist such as Varetta Heidelberg, Kirk Williams, Ernest Dayce, Rosalin Pugh, Eddie Zepeda, Kenny Martin , Cheq One, Kirk Boville, Upper Room Productions, and Time Out Productions. Jonno has also joined on stage many Gospel artists including Fred Hammond and RFC, Angelo and Veronica, Kim Rutherford, David Ivey, Maura Gale, Kim Stratton, and has played with Michael & Regina Winans, Daniel Winans, Nathan David, and Fletch Wiley. His musical abilities have allowed him to travel from New York to Atlanta, Chicago, to Nashville, to Mexico, and all over California including Los Angeles, Sacramento, Stockton, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Jonno is currently in pre-production of his bold, smooth, and jazzy sophomore project “Without Words“, slated for release in January of 2004. Working with producers Tim Strickling and Joel Griffin, this project is set to be a dynamic blend of faith in God, love for his family, devotion to great music, and his life experiences. Jonno’s playing welcomes healing and deliverance, and creates an atmosphere for the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Jonno and his wife, Tonya, are the parents of four outrageously adorable daughters. His plans are to write and produce a Praise & Worship CD/DVD, a Christmas CD, and start a band under the name “Heir-Time”. This is a ministry you want to watch skyrocket into heavenly places.

"Just to bathe in Your presence and to shower in Your Love. Holy Spirit, You are welcome Here." Jonno