released 01 November 2011
Originally from Connecticut, CRAIG PILO graduated from the University of North Texas College of Music in 1995 with a Bachelors Degree in Music. In the fall of 1996 he moved to Los Angeles where he resides today. In 1997 Craig did the fall tour with famed trumpeter Maynard Ferguson to promote his One More Trip To Birdland CD. Craig attributes his early success to some of his private teachers, Alan Dawson, Ed Soph, Dave Weckl, and Jeff Hamilton.

From 1998 until 2002 Craig worked around Los Angeles and maintained a regular schedule with Player ("Baby Come Back"), a few local artists, and did sessions for TV, Film, and local artists' CD’s. A partial list of credits from this period includes: Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Sex and the City, CSI Miami, Malcolm in the Middle, Sabrina, The Osbornes, and the movies Basic and Dirty Dancing II: Havana Nights. Some of the artists include: Billy Vera, Malo, Heatwave, Blue Magic, and Deniece Williams.

In the Spring of 2002 Craig began playing regularly with Pat Boone. He did several tours over the next few years and recorded for a few of Pats CD’s. Craig played on the title cut “Under God” for the re-release of Pat’s American Glory CD released in 2002. In 2004 Craig broke away from his regular gigs and began playing with Angela Carole Brown and did a few tours with the Red Elvises. Each project produced a CD that included Craig on the drums. The Red Elvises recorded and released a live CD from one of the concerts in Russia, and Angela Carole Brown recorded and released The Slow Club. In the summer of 2005 Craig rejoined Pat Boone for his tour of Ireland. And in the summer of 2006 Craig played the Playboy Jazz Festival with Angela Carole Brown and The Slow Club Quartet.

In October of 2005, Craig joined "Rock N Roll Hall-of-Fame" singer Frankie Valli for his touring band. Two years later, in 2007, Craig continued touring with Frankie Valli and was also able to tour with Edgar Winter, and Player. In April of 2007 Craig released a solo CD Just Play on Rue De La Harpe Records and it won Craig Jazz Artist of the Year at the Los Angeles Independent Music Award, and the Great American Songwriting Award.

In November of 2008, Craig played on and produced Expressionism for The Slow Club Quartet, and in 2010 he released his second solo CD Unsupervised, on Rue de la Harpe Records. Craig continues touring with Frankie Valli, composing music for film and television, including his most recent for the Larry Crowne movie trailer and for Access Hollywood, recording drums for various projects, and writing a column on www.MusicianWages.com. Keep up with craig at www.CraigPilo.com.


RICK KELLER continues to explore and develop his musical voice. Both , a sought after sideman and an artist composing and pursuing his own projects define the commitment to creative expression so vital to Rick. He has been constantly inspired by music from many countries as a result of concerts and recordings including Ghanaian master drummer Kofi Misiso, tabla master Trilok Gurtu and countless other international
musicians. The beauty of music from exotic lands remains an inspiration for Rick to constantly write new music for a variety of instrumentation and style influences. Rick has a unique personal style to express the emotion created while he performs with his group. 17 years as a young saxophonist living in central Europe resulted in an impressive list of credits both live and recording.

Some of the most notable musicians Rick has performed alongside include: Billy Cobham, Joe Sample, Trilok Gurtu, Zakir Hussain, Benny Bailey, Al Porcino, Claudio Roditi, George Russel, Charlie Mariano, Chaka Kahn, Bill Bruford, Natalie Cole, Steve Ferrone , Jon Lord, Wolfgang Schmid and Barbara Dennerlein. Concert appearances include: Ronnie Scott's London, North Sea Jazz Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, Bratislava Jazz Festival, Burghausen Jazz Festival, Expo 98 Lisbon,Leverkusen Jazz Festival, Breslau Jazz Festival.

As a leader Rick also assembled his groups to perform his personal style of jazz music, some of the venues include: Kiama Jazz Festival Australia, Canary Islands Jazz Festival, LaRochelle jazz festival, The Basement Jazz Club Sydney. Rick's first release "One Take" (currently out of print) defines the way jazz is meant to be documented, live! Celebrated musicians from around the globe Steve McKenna, Doug Bickel, Eugen Apostolidis, Guido May recorded live at the Unterfahrt Jazz Club in Munich Germany.

In 2001 Rick recorded "The Instigator" (i-tunes, amazon) which is a CD that can be best described as colorful, highly emotional progressive jazz. World class trumpeter Bobby Shew wrote the liner notes, and said " Each tune is extremely unique in harmonic and rhythmic structure as well as lyricism. These tunes are all very challenging but the guys in the band really nail everything beautifully. This is a "PLAY MANY TIMES" CD." Info regarding Ricks latest appearances can be found at www.futuresax.com.

In 2002 Rick made his US debut in Los Angeles becoming acquainted with the L.A. jazz scene, and revealed a healthy and deeply established community of some the worlds finest musicians. Recent releases featuring Rick on Alto, Tenor, Soprano sax and flute include: Geoff Stradling Less is Mo Chris Walden "Home of my heart" Origin. John Rangel Morning Pages, Steve Huffsteter Live at the Café 322. Los Angeles is the home of several world renown big bands which is also a part of Rick's itinerary. He is currently the lead alto saxophonist with Bill Holman, Rick has been privileged to play with the big bands of Bobby Shew, Steve Huffsteter, Chris Walden and Johnny Mandel as well and can be heard on some recordings of these great
bands.

The past 7 years have been truly inspiring as the variety of music Rick has played both live and recorded includes the following jazz greats: Steve Huffsteter, Bennie Maupin, Buddy Childers, Carl Saunders, Bob McChessney, Art Davis, Al Mckibbon, Joe La Barbera, Lanny Morgan, Pete Christlieb, Herman Riley, David Benoit, Wayne Bergeron, Ric Fierabraci, John Rangel, Nick Manson, David Hughes and Bill Fulton 2009 saw Rick touring South America with Christopher Cross. The new acoustic quartet Christopher has been performing with for 2 years now provides an excellent vehicle for Rick to share his passion for lyrical pop style saxophone playing. Among some of the most notable pop/house recordings featuring Ricks inspired saxophone and flute playing are on Morehouse records with the Groove Junkies.

Rick is a dedicated educator and frequently teaches master classes at summer camps and schools along with individual instruction in the language of jazz. Passing valuable information and techniques to help the American jazz art form to thrive. Having completed his performance degree at the famed University of Miami as well as some masters studies at New England conservatory of music his teachers include Ron Miller, Gary Cambell, George Garzone and Vince Maggio.