Here's my list of some not so well known artists who should be!!

Vital Information
Bryan Savage
Gerald Veasley
Bobby Lyle
Peter Horvath
Ed Calle
Mezzoforte
Alain Caron
Tom Kennedy
Turning Point
Sam Riney
Patrice Rushen
Dotsero
Vail Johnson
Shakatak
JK
Ray Obiedo
This is a partial list as I wll have more to come.

David,
Tom Kennedy?...I thought he was a game show host?
Interesting thread...how about Ozzie Ahlers, Hiroshima, Evan Marks, Dave Valentin,Third Force, Jonathon Cain, Ron Cooley...this is tough considering I'm not in front of my CD library.

A group seldom mentioned is "5 After 4." It's the group lead by drummer Vito Rezza and could be classed among those groups continuing to play "fusion" jazz.

There are two releases and the first, "Notorious," features the fabulous jazz-rock fusion guitarist, Scott Henderson. A real blast if you enjoy fusion. You can look them up at the All-Music Guide web-site.

I've also been looking for stuff by the European (I think) group, UZEB, that features two of the guys David mentioned on his list here, Alaine Caron and Michael Cusson. Anyone ever heard them? However, I'm thinking the group is history.

Yes, Tom Kennedy is a not so well known bassist. He plays with the Dave Weckl Band and Tania Maria. I have that 5 after 4 cd. Great pick and fusion it is. And I think UZEB is dead. Alain Caron mainly plays with LeBand. Here are some more for you!

Trammel Starks
Wayman Tisdale (yes, the basketball player)
Alfonzo Blackwell
Common Ground
Farzin
L.A.Jazz Syndicate
Neil Larson
Sergio Salvatore
Doky Brothers
Ed Hamilton
Bill Evans (Sax)
Freddie Ravel
Akira Jimbo (Japanese Drummer)
Tom Coster
Flim & the BB's (I wish they would get back together)
I think that's enough for now!!

d_w

We in Pacerland have followed Wayman since his young Pacer days. Check out David Sanborn's "Slam" on "Closeup". Guess who is right in there with "gang vocals"?

Hey let's here it for Waymond Tisdale, I bought his first two because I was a big Pacer fan, but I bought the third one because it is just plain good. There is also a yong sax player from here in South Bend by the name of Danny Lerman, check out "Danny's Island" I also cast my vote for Gerald Veasly, a fine bass player and his lable mate Kenny Blake, has a number of cd's but I have never heard hem played on the radio, and how about Richard Smith, played far to long in the shadow of Richard Elliot, I mean this guy can play.

Ditto on Flim and the BB's. They were one of the first to record using digital technology at DMP if I recall.

What releases do you think are their best? The stuff is still available.

Hey Phil, I have all of them except 'Tricycle' and those special 24k gold cd's they put with the same titles.

'New Pants'
'Neon'
'The Further Adventures'
'Vintage BB's'
'Tunnel'
'Tricycle' (don't have) I may have missed some but I do have the first 5 listed. As a bassist, I am full aware of Jimmy 'Flim' Johnson's talent. I do have him making guest appearances on many of my cd's so that meets my 'Flim' needs!! I think all of them are great. I can't pick just one that I think is better than the other!

d_w

[This message has been edited by david_walmsley (edited 10-10-99).]

Rob Mullins--to let you know just how great his chops are, he's about the only keyboardist who might be able to handle Tom Schumans duties, if God forbid, Schuu ever left Spyro Gyra.

Wishful Thinking--Now defunct, they released 4 original records, and one best of. Imagine Spyro Gyra, but without a saxaphone player. Chops aplenty

Skywalk--Canadian band, also defunct. Released four records, the best of which were the first two. Tunes titled "First Snow", and "Jessie James" garnered alot of airplay during KTWV's(the original smooth jazz station)formative years.

Peace!
Paul