BIOGRAPHY of MAISHA K. PERKINS January 5, 2009

A self-proclaimed jack of all trades, master of writing, Mai Perkins has always been a part of the cultural arts community thanks to the encouragement of her artistic father and her mother, who is an educator. As a youth, she studied dance and theatre, participating in essay-writing and oratorical contests during middle and high school. In 1996, Mai enrolled at Howard University where she studied visual arts in the Experimental Art program, comprised of both art history and studio art courses. Graduating with honors in 2000, she became immersed in the Los Angeles artistic community by volunteering and working at museums such as the J. Paul Getty and the California African American Museum. She eventually accepted a client coordinator position with guerilla marketing agency, GTM…It Means A Lot, which was the beginning of her career in marketing and advertising.

During the summer of 2003, Mai participated in the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) Summer Writer’s Workshop in San Francisco, where she later became Workshop Coordinator. This intensive, nurturing week-long program was the direct link to her graduate study of Creative Writing at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, earning a Master’s Degree in 2006. Since relocating to New York City, Mai has continued to hone her craft as a writer, photographer and artist, having forged a relevant connection to the live music community as a photo-documentarian and biographer of local musicians. With freelance gigs as an events producer, publicist and occasional background vocalist, Mai spends the majority of her time providing the service of writing, editing and photography through her business Mai.Lyfe.Image. She is currently ghostwriting a memoir and self-help project for a major client, has been the copy editor for Inner City Industry Non-Profit Organization since 2001, and occasionally shoots events for the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Mai is also completing her first children’s book manuscript, Ella Phantz-Gerald: The Jazz Singing Elephant, and is working on a first collection of poetry.

While in New York, Mai has had the opportunity to work for two marketing and advertising agencies, Spring, LLC and UniWorld Group, the nation’s longest-standing multicultural marketing agency. While working at the two agencies, Mai gained significant experience in copywriting, public relations, and branded entertainment, and worked with prominent clients such as: BMW, Time Warner Cable, and T.D. Jakes ministry, The Potter’s House. At UniWorld, Mai had the responsibility of writing content for their revamped website, which is currently under construction being redesigned. In addition to working in the marketing and advertising sector, Mai has worked in arts education for many years, frequently teaching workshops at the Amistad Center for Arts and Culture, which is housed at the Wadsworth Antheneum Museum in Hartford, CT. Her teaching experience ranges from working with kindergarten and first graders to teaching young adults beginning their college careers.

As a mantra, Mai often reflects, “Words are my craft, music is my passion.” As a poet she’s performed in numerous cities throughout the US and abroad including the Calabash International Literary Festival in Treasure Beach, Jamaica to perform her award-winning poem, “Old Fashion Girl”. She has published a number of poems, essays and short stories throughout her career, and looks forward to incorporating of all her different crafts into projects that shape the world. Mai currently resides in a remarkably charming neighborhood in Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn. In the next five years she hopes to tour five of the other six continents, sky dive, wind surf, take a flying trapeze class, and when the time is right, get married and have a couple of babies! She believes that potential is a beautiful thing when you realize it, and makes a point to laugh out loud every single day of her life.

Lee Hogans, Trumpeter December 20, 2007

Trumpeter and composer, W. Lee Hogans finds truth in the words of the charismatic Louis Armstrong, “What we play is life!” Maintaining an aggressive path of professional achievement in his own right, Lee’s journey as a musician has been guided far beyond his native of Atlanta, where he began studying music at the age of ten. Now, several years later, Lee’s diligence has paid off as he continues to fashion a style of music distinctly his own.

Quickly gaining notoriety by working with giants in the entertainment industry, Lee’s experience covers the gamut. He is a band member of legendary pop icon, Prince and played with him at the 2008 Academy Awards/Oscars Party. They’ve also played together at the club 02 in London following a performance with him during the 2007 Super Bowl week in Miami and a stint at Club 3121 in Las Vegas. Lee also jumped at the opportunity to tour with media mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’ on the Press Play world tour, where the band made numerous guest television appearances. Lee has also found distinct pleasure in playing with Hidden Beach Recording Artist, Mike Phillips, performing at annual events including the Tom Joyner Cruise, Essence Festival and the BET Jazz Festival.

When not playing with such notables, Lee is persistently cultivating his sound and skill as a trumpeter and composer leading his own band, Pursuance (with bandmates Jesse Fischer, Seth Johnson, Josh David and Jerome Jennings). Encompassing the worlds of Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Soul, Lee’s stylistic influences range from Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard to James Brown and Run DMC. Having completed his debut album with Pursuance, The Vibe Orientation (which has received airplay on The Weather Channel and XM Radio), Lee’s focus as a composer centers on strong catchy grooves with beautiful hypnotic melodies. His brilliant tone, excellent articulation, and dynamic lyricism provide much range to artistically stretch out while Pursuance dazzles audiences at a number of destination venues throughout New York and New Jersey.

Lee’s sense of composition and delivery developed through years of musical study. Under the tutelage of renowned trumpeter Danny Harper, Lee received first-hand instruction on theory, improvisation, composition, and technical style; a foundation which further developed his skill and ability as a trumpeter. While studying with Mr. Harper, Lee attended Georgia State University (GSU), where he gained knowledge of classical music under Mark Hughes, principal trumpeter of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Balancing his formal study with essential on-stage experience, Lee began playing at Atlanta’s premier jazz club, Churchill Grounds until graduating from GSU with Honors.

In 2003, Lee earned a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from Rutgers University under the guidance of renowned jazz educators William Fielder and Clark Terry. Since completing his formal education, Lee has continued to make influential moves in his career as a trumpeter-in-demand, diligently making a name for himself in New York City. When not touring with any number of prominent musicians and performance acts, Lee is in the recording studio lacing tracks with his relevant signature, having recorded with Fantasia, Missy Elliot, Sheila E, and on Prince’s new album, Planet Earth.

David “Deej” DiGiantomasso September 28, 2007

Deej @ Taste The Stage in Brooklyn

Percussionist David “Deej” DiGiantomasso lives in the balance of music and the live musical experience. With a strong belief in its unquestionable power, David’s journey to uncovering his mission as one of New York’s premiere percussionists began with his brother’s trumpet at the age of nine in New Jersey. It wasn’t until age fifteen, however, when he bought his first pair of bongos that the love affair with rhythm and his development as an artist truly began to take form. It was this pair of bongos that remarkably set the wind of determination in motion which carries Deej through a lifetime of creating percussive rhythms, and the optimism to face the world one beat at a time.

As his career began to unfold, sitting in at club dates, David always stayed close to the musical influences of esteemed masters like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Carlos Santana. Clearly understanding the impact of Davis’ groundbreaking fusion, Deej’s style as a musician combines a folkloric jazz taste with eclectic R&B and Hip Hop flavors. This style is ultimately enhanced by the color and effects of his musical auxiliary tools: chimes, triangles, and special instruments—like the Brazilian berimbau—that have been acquired over the course of his worldwide travels. As a producer, live onstage and in the studio, Deej has worked and toured with many R&B and funk luminaries including Shelby Johnson of Prince’s New Power Generation, the Original Parliament, Grammy Award winner John Legend, three time nominee Anthony Hamilton, Martin Luther, and renowned jazz trumpeter, Roy Hargrove. He also played on the Flavio soundtrack, which won a best documentary award at the Woodstock Film Festival.

Growing up David studied with many great artists, which contributed to his own unique sound. Early in his career Deej had the opportunity to play with Zigi and Lion Heart in many SGI Peace Concerts, featuring world class musicians Kenwood Dinard, TM Stevens, Delmare Brown, and Carlos Alumar. Learning from these greats proved to be a valuable springboard for Deej’s career. Coming to New York City at the age of nineteen, Deej honed his craft in percussion, studying with the likes of Frank Colon and Doc Gibbs, among others, combining the value of both street teachers and formal educators. Studying the handcrafting of snare drums with Gladstone under Arnie Lang, Deej learned triple tuning system, working in sales, equipment setups, and with making the drums.

Holding a Liberal Arts degree from Ocean County College with a minor in Music Performance, David has studied at The Boys Harbor Latin Music Conservatory in Harlem and the Drummers Collective. As his passion runs deep David believes as a musician it is his responsibility to play music that adds to the betterment of the world. On a smaller scope, his mission is to uplift the people for whom he plays, leaving the listening audience optimistic about facing the world and encouraging that feeling in their daily lives. David spends his time as a music educator when not touring, working with after school arts programs within the NYC school system and with private students, and in 2002 coordinated and performed with a group of twenty five students at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. With his students Deej is creating a healthy sense of self esteem, self discipline and self confidence, making a substantial in their lives.

Bassist Nate Jones October 22, 2006

The foundation of Nate Jones’ development as a bass player was molded by a Sunday morning Gospel tradition familiar to most, finding his creative inspiration amongst a family of musicians and singers. As a youth in the South Bronx, driven by a desire to master the prolific bass guitar, he began his formal study at one of New York City’s leading community music schools, the Bloomingdale School of Music. An establishment that offers excellent instruction for children and adults, the school serves as a vital performance center for the Upper West Side, presenting concerts of classical and contemporary music from around the world. Nate’s time of study at the Bloomingdale School prepared him for success in high school where he was a member of the jazz band and played for the gospel choir, then eventually led to him receiving a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in Jazz Performance from SUNY Purchase.

Throughout the years, Nate’s musical preparation afforded the opportunity to study and play with legendaries from Wynton Marsalis to Barry Harris, among other well known jazz artists. His educational experiences not only cultivated Nate’s musical proficiency but also encouraged him to teach bass and music theory, and he currently has a number of students in the New York City area. Though he’s been a student of music for most of his life, Nate continues to expand on his knowledge and skill as a bassist participating in musical workshops and private study from other notable bass players whom he admires.  

Currently touring the U.S. with The BMW Pop Jazz Live Tour headlining Mike Phillips, as well as touring for the past year with Columbia recording platinum artist Lyfe Jennings’, Nate has been fortunate enough to perform and share the stage with some of the music industries most notable artists. This list ranges from Grammy Award winning luminaries Stevie Wonder and Donnie McClurkin, to the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire, and television’s Montel Williams, etc. He’s also played with distinguished artists such as The Roots, Doug E. Fresh, and other Hip Hop giants. His noteworthy TV appearances have included 106 & Park, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Bobby Jones Gospel Hour, The Jane Pauly Show, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, etc. With his musical dexterity as a bassist being influenced by popular culture, it isn’t uncommon for Nate to flawlessly blend a Hip Hop, rock, or jazz melody within whatever style of music being played. And though playing throughout the world has been an integral part of his career, performance up to this point has been the mere threshold of Nate’s success as a musician. When not touring, Nate’s band Da’Feel is featured every week at his Soul F’Real Open Mic in Brooklyn, yet the majority of his time is spent working with a number of music producers for studio recordings, and also collaborating on original compositions to be used for television and film scoring.

With his mind focused on attaining all that comes with hard work and diligence, Nate is continuing to make strides in his accomplishments as a bassist. His personal motto declares that— You can’t go to the top without The Bottom— which speaks not only to the essential presence of the Bass element in music, but also illustrates the clever confidence of a distinguished player fashioning his mark within the world of music.

For Contact of Bookings, Please call: 646.245.5695 or email: natejonesbass@yahoo.com

Also visit: www.myspace.com/NateJonesOnBass