PCC Jazz Faculty

Andrea Baker Wilkerson (Email)

Director of Jazz Studies (BME Tulsa University; MM Pittsburg State University, Kansas) is a critically acclaimed jazz singer and multi-instrumentalist, (piano, bass, guitar, composer and arranger) Her CD’s have garnered rave reviews from such critics as Leonard Feather, and Don Heckman (LA Times), Chuck Berg (Downbeat) and John Barrett (Jazz Improv.)She has sung with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the Billy May Orchestra, the Ray Anthony Orchestra and with guitar legend, Barney Kessel. In addition Andrea leads her own jazz group and appears frequently in the LA area as well as nationally.

Andrea directs the Studio Jazz Ensemble, the Jazz/Rock Big Band, jazz improvisation, jazz history and voice. She started the studio jazz voice program at PCC which has continued to grow every semester.

The Studio Jazz Ensemble’s CD’s have received heavy airplay on jazz stations such as KJZZ. She produced the DVD, The Art of Jazz Saxophone which is sold through Hal Leonard Publications and is featured on the newly released DVD, Live and In Session. Other CD’s she has produced have been featured in Downbeat and Jazz Journal International.

In 2005 Andrea was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

For more information visit: Andrea's Personal Page.

Dave Arnay

Jazz Piano, Rhythm Section Techniques (BA Cal State LA; MM USC) is an active and highly regarded pianist, composer, music teacher and consultant in the Los Angeles area. A member of the Jazz Studies faculty at USC Thornton School, PCC and Cal State LA, Dave has performed with such jazz giants as Benny Maupin, Phil Upchurch and Bob Sheppard.

Francis Awe (Email)

African drums (BFA Degree, World Arts and Cultures, University of California, Los Angeles, including 2 years at California Institute of the Arts. MFA Degree, African Studies, University of California, LA Certificate of Theatre Arts, African Traditional Music, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Oyo State, Nigeria.)

A Nigerian prince, Awe has traveled the world entertaining with his “talking drum.” His wife, dancer, Omowale is his musical partner. Awe has composed music for stage, for films and television. A recording artist for Bindu Records, his “talking drum” is being manufactured by Remo drums.

For more information visit: Mr. Awe's Personal Page.

Ron Berman

Jazz guitar (MM New England Conservatory)has played with many great musicians, including Jaki Byard, Larry Young and Jimmy Guiffre and performed in the U.S. debut of George Russell¹s Concerto for Two Guitars. Lived in Paris for two years, collaborating with many European musicians. Published works include, "Concepts for the Classical and Jazz Guitar" illustrating advanced techniques for guitarists, an original composition entitled "Esther and Frank" and arrangements and solos of jazz standards through Warner Brothers and Mel Bay Publications. Performs actively in LA as artist, clinician and currently teaches at Pasadena City College as well as Occidental.

Bobby Bradford (Email)

Jazz Combo (BM Huston-Tillotson College) world renowned trumpeter, cornetist and composer having performed with Ornette Colman, Eric Dolphy, Arthur Blythe, Charlie Haden, Billy Higgins, Dewey Redman, etc. Bradford maintains an active touring schedule in addition to his teaching duties at PCC and other institutions; was a recipient of the Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship in Italy and is a participant in the Oral History Project on Jazz in Los Angeles for UCLA.

Ray Briggs

African Studies (PHD and MA UCLA; MM University of Redlands; BM University of Memphis) Acclaimed saxophonist, has worked with Jeff Clayton, Benny Green, and Rufus Reid. Also Assistant Director of Jazz Studies at CSU Long Beach, Vice-President of the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz, and coordinator of the Instrumental and Vocal Jazz Workshop supported through CSU Summer Arts.

Steve Brooks (Email)

Jazz drums, Rhythm Section Techniques (BA University of New Hampshire, MM USC) studied with Alan Dawson, Bob Gullotti, Steve Houghton and Ndugu Chancler. He also received USC’s “Jazz Studies Departmental Award. Steve has performed with such jazz greats as Eugene Wright, Clark Terry, Sheila Jordon and Milt Hinton and maintains an active performing and recording schedule.

Dan Cole

Music in Multi-media; Intro. to Music Recording and Production, Jazz/Pop theory, Musicianship (BA University of Southern Maine; MM Indian University; DMA USC) maintains an active performing schedule (guitar) has written for feature films, commercials; engineered Emmy nominated shows, and critically acclaimed CD’s.

Mary Durst (Email)

Jazz voice (Spring Arbor College-Michigan, Huntington College-Indiana, Azusa Pacific University-Ca and Cal Poly Pomona-Ca; master studies with Nancy Wilson and Lennie Moore.) is an active singer/pianist in the LA area, has opened for Earth, Wind and Fire (Las Vegas) and co-leads 2AZZ1 with saxophonist/husband, Craig Durst. Her in-demand band has played for the Playboy Jazz festival and is heard on LA’s 94.7, the WAVE.

For more information visit: Ms. Durst's Personal Page.

Greg Jasperse

Vocal Jazz Ensemble (BA Western Michigan University; MA University of Miami) has guest conducted all state honors vocal jazz choirs for Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, and British Columbia, as well as many district and regional festival choirs. Compositions and arrangements are published by: Augsburg-Fortress, Shawnee Press, Mark Foster and Carl Fischer. Has written for: the Chicago Children’s Choir, Vybe at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center and Kokopelli in Edmonton, Canada. Teaches at: Rocky Mountain vocal Jazz camp, Steve Zegree Vocal Jazz Camp, Showchoir Camps of America, and the University of Manitoba Jazz Camp. Maintains active schedule as vocalist/pianist/clinician throughout the world.

For more information visit: Greg's Personal Page.

David Joyce

Pop singing, voice (MM USC) is an in-demand studio singer. His credits include the films: X-men2, the Simpsons Movie, Superman Returns, King Kong, Matrix 1 and 2, Behind Enemy Lines, Sixth Sense, There’s Something About Mary. He has performed with Burt Bacharach, U2, Neil Young, Natalie Cole, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, and many other notables. David has taught at USC and the Verdi School in Florence, Italy. In 1986, David was a Grammy Award winner in the category of Best Jazz Vocal Group 1986 with Clare Fischer's "2 + 2 Plus".

Dennis Kaye (Email)

Swing Band (BA New York University, MBA, City University, NY) has played professionally (saxophonist) in many venues from jazz and rock to musical theater. He also has vast experience in music management and musical contracting. Dennis and his bands have played venues all over the greater Los Angeles area including high profile musical theater and charity events.

Kyle Luck (Email)

Director of bands; jazz combo, rock history (BA CSU, Northridge; MM USC) As a professional drummer/percussionist, Mr. Luck has shared the stage with such notable musicians as Bill Watrous, Ernie Watts, James Moody, Bob Mintzer, and Phil Wilson. He also has performed at the Music Center Spotlight Awards and with the Debut Symphony at the 1998 Artist''s Rights Awards, where he had the pleasure of performing under the baton of the great film composer, John Williams. Currently, Mr. Luck performs regularly with the Equinox Ensemble, a 10-piece jazz ensemble based in the Ventura area as well as The Lane 29 Jazz Orchestra.

For more information visit: www.pccband.com

Zac Matthews

Jazz and Classical Bass, Rhythm Section Techniques, FINALE (BM Washington State University; MM USC) maintains an active playing schedule including work with: Don Menza, Pete Christlieb, Bill Watrous, Henry Mancini, Bobby Shew, Marvin Stamm, Bud Shank, Rob McConnell, Branford, Wynton and Ellis Marsalis, etc.; has taught across the US and Europe, and has been honored in Downbeat, Jazziz, Cadence, Victory Review and as USC’s Outstanding Jazz Studies Grad Student. Studiers with: John Clayton, Ray Brown, Christopher von Bayer, etc.

For more information visit: Zac's Personal Page.

Michael Mitacek (Email)

Equal Interval Keyboard Studies; Equal Interval Harmony; Equal Interval Orchestration (BM University of Kansas with Highest Distinction; MM USC.) Chair of music theory and composition at PCC; composer of numerous musicals works, and currently working on a harmony text entitled Linear Harmony.

Bobby Rodriguez

Latin Jazz Ensemble (BA Cal State Long Beach; MA Cal State LA; DMA USC) Has performed with: Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Lalo Schifrin, Christina Aguilera, Arturo Sandoval, Kenny Burrell, Tito Puente, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Kahn, Poncho Sanchez, the Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra. Publications: ABC’s of Latin Jazz; Trumpet Talk.

For more information visit: Bobby's Personal Page.

Riner Scivally (Email)

Jazz Guitar, Jazz Improvisation, Rhythm Section Techniques (BA Occidental College; MM USC) studied jazz improvisation with Gary Foster, Dave Koonse and Joe Diorio. Riner has recorded with Alan Broadbent, Larance Marable and Clay Jenkins and has produced three critically acclaimed CD’s under his own name. He maintains an active playing and recording schedule.

David Sills

Jazz saxophone, and flute (BA Cal State Long Beach; MM Manhattan School of Music) is a Vandoren performing artist. Dave travels extensively in addition to his busy teaching schedule. He performs with the Acoustic Jazz Quartet and Liam Sillery Quintet, and has produced several critically acclaimed CD’s.

Ray Yslas (Email)

Latin percussion and Music Business. Has performed with world class artists including: Christina Aquilera, Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle, Patti Austin and the Rippingtons. He has toured every country in the world, performed on the title song for Sex and the City and has appeared on Saturday Night Live, the Tonight show, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Good Morning America, and the Today Show. He was also nominated for Best Percussionist of the year. Ray's Personal Page.