EEMCD, Inc. Clinicians Roster

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Wally Gator Watson - Founder/CEO/Clinician

Performance credits include: The Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Chaka Kahn, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, The Count Basie Orchestra, Whitney Houston, Ashford & Simpson, Wilson Pickett, The Spokane Symphony, The Fort Wayne Symphony, Dream Girls, The Wiz, Bob Fosse's Dancin', Chess, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Ben E. King, and Dee Dee Bridgewater to name a few.

Christopher Calloway-Brooks (The Prince of Hi De Ho)

Brooks obtained his first guitar at age 7 won his first musical awards at age 9 from the Guild Institute of Music and went on to become a graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, the first major Conservatory in the US  to offer a degree in Jazz Music.

During his years in Boston, Brooks studied with such luminaries as Charles Banacos,  Jaki Byard,  Robert Cogan, Jaki Byard, Hankus Netsky, Mick Goodrick, and Macarthur Award winner Ran Blake.  He also credits the many years of experience with his grandfather Cab Calloway as “a cornerstone” of his musical education.

Chris Calloway-Brooks and the entire Cab Calloway Orchestra are available for Big Band clinics.

Lewis Nash Drummer/Clinician

Drummer Lewis Nash rapidly joined the ranks of first-call players after his move to New York City in 1981 from college life in Arizona. He got his start with Betty Carter and has continued touring and recording since that time with a wide range of jazz players, particularly veteran performers.

Nash was born in Phoenix on Dec. 30, 1958, played drums in school orchestras starting at the age of 8, graduated in the top 10 percent of his high school class and received an academic scholarship to Arizona State. He went to New York City in mid 1979 to study with Freddie Waits, who recommended Nash to Carter.

In addition to recording with Carter, Nash has made albums or worked with Jimmy Heath, J.J. Johnson, Tommy Flanagan, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Ron Carter, Don Pullen, Cyrus Chestnut, Don Friedman, Kenny Drew Jr., Roland Hanna, Steve Turre, Kenny Burrell, Russell Malone, Oscar Peterson, Bud Shank, Scott Hamilton, McCoy Tyner, Jackie McLean, Horace Silver and Bette Midler. He has appeared on nearly 200 albums in his relatively short career, and he leads his own working sextet. The only recording under his name is Rhythm Is My Business on Evidence.

Charles Carrington - Keyboards/Writer/Producer

A native of New York City, Charles was born to the Rev. Charles and Muriel Carrington and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York. He grew up in the church of which he continues his membership today. As the only child of his parents, Charles was a member of his church’s youth choirs. He learned to play the piano during his elementary school years. He began studying the clarinet when he attended junior high (middle) school. Charles was blessed with a well-rounded musical experience as he grew up. He played the clarinet in the junior high and high school bands as well as his college marching band.

Charles attended Ithaca College in upstate New York, and received a B.A. in Sociology. During his college years he began to pursue a musical career as a keyboardist. He first played in a local Rock-N- Roll band. From there he moved on to some local Soul bands until he joined an R&B vocal group called the Del Royals. The Del Royals were the opening act at concerts throughout upstate New York for groups that included the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, Earth Wind and Fire, Donny Hathaway and the Buddy Miles Express. After leaving Ithaca, Charles moved to Niagara Falls, New York City, and Boston, Massachusetts, over the next three years. During this time he began to study and play jazz. Upon moving back to New York City, he played with several local groups. He formed his first jazz quintet NuQ-Leus, (pronounced nucleus) in the early 1980’s

Charles has performed throughout the United States as well as in Japan, Italy, Sicily, Aruba and Canada. A partial list of musicians, groups and dancers which have called upon his talents include: Christian comedienne/author- Pat G'Orge-Walker, Arlene Smith and the Chantels, The Toys, The Marvelettes, The Drifters, The Intruders, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, The Persuasions, Maxine Brown, Lenny Welch, Ollie Woodson, The Toru Oki Blues Band, Bob Cunningham, Rashid Ali, Montego Joe, Mark Whitfield, Najee, Pepsi Bethel and Honi Coles, and drummer Wally Gator Watson.

Charles has appeared on  television shows as a solo artist as well as with his group  in both New York City and Tokyo, Japan.

Charles is currently working for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), as a Music Consultant for the Performing Arts Unit.

Charles plays keyboards for his church,  the Brooks Memorial United Methodist Church, in Jamaica, N.Y. and is the Director of the Brooks Memorial Praise and Worship Team.

Charles has recorded and produced three of his own jazz CD’s:

Christian Fabian - Bass/Clinician/ Assistant Arts Coordinator

 Christian Fabian was born in Sweden and raised in Germany. He studied for four years at the Maastricht Conservatory in the Netherlands. During this time, he performed with such artists as Charlie Mariano, Jacques Pelzer, and Garrison Fewell. After receiving a scholarship from the Berklee College of Music, Christian decided to continue his successful career in the United States. Christian has received numerous awards and was nominated for the All-American Scholars Allegiance awards from the United States Achievement Academy. A former artist in residence at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, Christian has toured the world performing and teaching. He has performed with such notables as Gary Burton, John La Porta, Richard Evans, Joe Hunt, Bob Mintzer, and Jane Jarvis. Christian now lives in New York City where he can be found performing with the Lionel Hampton Big Band.

  GENE TORRES Bass/Clinician

From performances with Ben E. King to recording sessions on the "Public
Enemy - He Got Game" soundtrack, from productions with the Big Apple Circus
to workshops with the Brooklyn Conservatory and Jazz Mobile, Gene's musical
background is a rich and eclectic tapestry. He has participated in all
aspects of the music industry including performance, recording sessions,
live productions, radio programs, festivals, clinics, workshops, and more.

In addition to those listed above, some of his credits include LaBamba and
the Hubcaps, The Chiffons at the Apollo Theater, jam sessions at the Blue
Note in NYC with George Benson and Roy Hargrove; recording sessions with
Bobby McFerrin, Greg Koss (formerly of Blood, Sweat and Tears), Smif &
Wesson for Rawkus Records on "Luv is Luv;" live productions with the
National Black Theater Company in New York, "Mama I Want to Sing" with
Hecksler Theater; and radio performances with the Joey Adams Talk Show with
Tina Fabric, and James Brown's program on WGBO-FM with John Purcell.

In addition to being a prolific entertainer and musician, Gene also lends
his skill and expertise to arranging, producing, midi programming, digital
recording, editing, and mixing. Gene truly is a well-rounded musician with a
great deal to offer to EEMCD.
 

ADAM BRENNER Saxophone/Clinician

Adam Brenner has enjoyed a distinguished career. He received his B.A. in
Music from Rutgers in 1982, and in 1989 was the recipient of a study grant
from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Adam has performed with some of the industry's most elite artists such as
Mel Torme, Harry "Sweets" Edison, and Benny Golson. Some of his recording
credits include audio credits such as "The Great American Songbook" with Mel
Torme on Telarc Records, "Live in Dresden" with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra
on WW Records, "Danger - High Voltage" with the George Coleman Octet on 2
and 4 Records, as well as video credits on "Music in Monk Time" with Dizzy
Gillespie/Paul Jeffrey Big Band, and "Big Bands from Disneyland" with the
Lionel Hampton Orchestra..

Since 1996 he has been based in the New York City area and is in demand as a
free-lance artist.



DAKOTA MacLEOD  Vocalist/Clinician
Dakota MacLeod is a regular on the New York City club scene. She has
performed at the Lenox Lounge, Chicago Blues, the Blue Water Grill, the Jazz
Standard, B. Smiths, Birdland, and many more.

In addition to her work in some very well known clubs, Dakota's career has
included work in films, television, radio, commercials, and recordings. A
very versatile vocalist, she has lent her talents in the broadcast arena to
"The Joey Adams Radio Show" on WEAVB-NY, "Chuck Berry in Concert with Johnny
Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge Miss New York State Pageant Orchestra." She
can also be heard on a number of recordings such as, "Bob Marley 全oul
Almighty, the Formative Years Vol #1'," Billy Ellis on Arista, "Los Amigos
Del Amor," and many more.

As the vocalist for the Nytehawks, Dakota combines her musical talents with
two more of EEMCD's clinicians, Ray Naccari, and Duke Lee. Truly an
exceptional talent.


  KUNI MIKAMI Piano/Clinician

Kuni Mikami was born and raised in Japan. He studied classical piano from
the age of 6 to 15. He was still a high school student when he heard jazz
musician Dave Brubeck's rendition of "Take Five," and was inspired to become
a jazz pianist. He joined a 9-piece band and started working as a
professional pianist at the New World Club in Asakusa, Tokyo, when he was 17
years old.

In 1975, Kuni came to New York to pursue a jazz career and attended jam
sessions and enrolled in the Jazz Mobile Workshop. For the next few years he
studied with pianists Norman Simmons and Barry Harris. In 1991 he joined
jazz-legend Lionel Hampton's band. Since that time, he has traveled and
played mainstream jazz all over the United States and Europe with this band.
He has also been performing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra since 1996.

Kuni has written two jazz piano instructional books in Japanese: "Jazz Piano
New York Style," Volumes I and II from Zen-on Publications. He also wrote a
book of music and essays, "A Spoonful of New York."

RAY NACARI - Keys & Midi Production/Clinician

Ray Naccari is an accomplished arranger, producer, and musician with a long
list of accomplishments. Not only does his bio list an impressive
compilation of recordings with artists such as Jennifer Holiday, Bob Marley, Kool and the
Gang, and Sesame Street, to name just a few, but his technical expertise has
been enlisted on restoration and re-mastering projects for artists such as
Pavarotti, Willy Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles, Johnny Nash, and many
more.
Ray also has worked extensively in commercials, film and video, and theater.
Some of his accomplishments in those areas include commercials for Toyota,
the Trump Casino Hotel, and Eastern Airlines, film and video projects for
Fun and Games Video with Ben Vereen, Physicians Television Network, As the
World Turns, BET Jazz Central, and theater productions such as "Will Roger's
Folly," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Cyrano". Truly an artist who bridges
the gap between technical artistry and performance artistry, Ray Naccari
adds his unique blend of artistry to the clinics that EEMCD offers.







STEVEN BROWN Guitar/Clinician

As an educator, and a highly respected musician, Steve Brown brings a unique
element to EEMCD. Entering the music business at the young age of 13, Steve
has performed with such musical notables as Sandra Reaves, Ryo Kawasaki,
Lionel Hampton, Wally Gator Watson, and many more. He developed a music
instruction curriculum that is adaptable to all students of all instruments
and all levels of proficiency that helps the student to gain an
understanding of music as a universal language.

Steve's career has touched on many aspects - as a performer, a producer, an
educator, and a clinician. He has performed in venues from the famed Lincoln
Center, to the Nassau Coliseum, to the Princes Stadium in Marrakesh,
Morrocco.

Steve received his B.A. in Musicology from Allegheny College in 1986. That
has enabled him to combine his love for music and children into a fulfilling
and respected career as an educator in the New York City School District. He
sees his talent as a blessing that returns full circle when he is able to
pass that blessing on to others.