THE PEAK EXPERIENCE JAZZ ENSEMBLE
The Peak Experience Jazz Ensemble is a popular and dynamic group that plays “STRAIGHT AHEAD JAZZ”. Its audience consists of those discerning people who love and appreciate this music and recognize it as America’s own indigenous art form and gift to the world. The ensemble led by bassist, composer and arranger, Mike Peak, features Ron Kobayashi on Piano, Kendall Kay on drums, Ann Patterson on alto, tenor, soprano saxes, oboe & flute, Rickey Woodard on Tenor Sax and Andrea Miller on vocals.
“Collectively, these musicians have performed with everyone from Ray Charles, BB King, Lou Rawles, Gladys Knight, Michael Buble, Diana Kral, Paul Anka, Gladys Knight, Barbara Morrison, Joe Pass, Alan Broadbent as well as many other major artists.”
Meet the Musicians:
MIKE PEAK – Bass & Leader, Composer, Arranger, Record Producer and Educator. Advisory Board Member of the Vail Jazz Foundation. Executive Board Member of the Orange County Musicians Association, Local 7 AFM. Advisory Board Member of the California Jazz Foundation. Performed with Joe Pass, John Chiodini, Doug Webb, Llew Matthews, Gerald Clayton, Paul Kreibich, Dee Dee McNeil, Dick Weller, Sal Cracchiolo, Barbara Morrison, Yve Evans, Peggy Duquesnel, Carol Chaikin, Staci Rowles and many others.
RICKEY WOODARD – Tenor Sax, Concord Recording Artist, Composer and Arranger. Rickey has performed, toured and recorded with The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Diana Kral, Gladys Knight, Michael Buble`, Paul Anka, Ray Charles, BB, King, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Kenny Burrell and many other major artists.
ANN PATTERSON – Alto, Tenor, Soprano Saxes, Oboe & Flute, Composer, Arranger, Recording Artist and Educator. Recipient of the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s prestigious Jazz Educator Award. Leader of the all female 17 piece big band, Maiden Voyage for over 25 years. Has recorded and/or toured with many famous artists such as Ray Charles, Etta James, Sheena Easton, Lou Rawles, Melissa Manchester, The Temptations & Neil Sedaka.
RON KOBAYASHI – Piano
Performer/Recording Artist, Independent Record Label Owner and Educator. Ron has performed with Mel Torme, Margaret Whiting, Peter Frampton, Kenny Burrell and other major artists. He performed for President Bill Clinton in 1992 and has been the music director of the Hollywood Diversity Awards for many years. Faculty Member at the Orange County High School of the Arts and Biola University.
KENDALL KAY – Drums
Recording Artist on many high profile Jazz, R & B and Pop productions. First call drummer for such major artists as Kenny Burrell, Alan Broadbent, Phil Upchurch, Kyle Eastwood, Ron Eschete, Cecilia Coleman, Jack Jones, Lamont Johnson, Melanie Jackson, Kiki Ebsen, Rickie Lee Jones and others.
ANDREA MILLER – Vocals
Composer & Recording Artist. Performs with Llew Matthews, Luther Hughes, Paul Kreibich, Mark Massey, The Swing Machine Disneyland Big Band and others. Performs at such notable venues as the Bayside Restaurant Newport Beach, Paris Hotel Las Vegas, Pelican Hill Newport Coast, Langham Hotel Pasadena, Four Seasons, Regent Beverly Wilshire, the Knitting Factory and others. In addition to her own albums, Andrea has recorded with David Foster, Quincy Jones, Alan & Marilyn Bergman and as a session singer at Disney/Pixar, Paramount Pictures, NBC, ABC, EMI, Samsung, Warner Brothers and many others.