Our band, Smooth Jazz FHG, consisting of seasoned and experienced musicians from the Inland Empire of Southern California, formed in 2013. We are just a bunch of guys who love to play smooth jazz exercising the musical gifts that God gave us.
Our repertoire of songs consists of several songs of our own composition plus other smooth jazz standards. These songs are all performed in an upbeat Contemporary Smooth Jazz style.
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Mike Licari (Keyboardist)
Michael Licari is a four time national EMMY award winning music composer and producer for television. He has been nominated for 13 EMMY awards for his work on “Guiding Light”, “As the World Turns”, “Another World”, and “Sunset Beach” as well as outstanding original song in 1994. He also contributed to two EMMY awards for the show “Santa Barbara” and has many other industry awards including two BMI Awards.
Other television composer credits include the shows “Delivery Me”, “Raising Sextuplets” as well as many songs placed on “Oprah”, “America’s Most Wanted”, “Entertainment Tonight”, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”, “16 Kids and Moving In”, “Babies 911” any many others. He also has music placed in feature films such as “The Long Kiss Goodnight”, “W.” and “Charlie Bartlett”
In recent years Mike has concentrated on music for commercials. Some of his clients include “Sears”, “Bare Minerals”, “Top Flite”, “Bissell”, “Post It”, “3M”, “Jenny Craig”, “Nutrisystem”, “Lexus”, “KitchenAid”, “Roto Zip”, “Cold-Eeze”, “Toyota”, “Wen”, Keurig”, “Scotch Brite”, “George Forman Grill”, “Stanley”, “Black & Decker”, “Good Feet”, “Audible” and “Oreck” to name a few.
In addition, he has produced four smooth Jazz solo albums “Daydreaming”, “Whale Songs”, “Loon Spirit”, and “Sax By The Sea” He has also produced many albums for Firstcom, Killer Tracks, and Bruton music libraries.
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Aaron Harris (Saxophonist)
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Wayne Marshall (Lead Guitarist)
Wayne was born in Montreal Canada and moved to the United States as a child. At around 10 years old he discovered his love for the guitar, music and sound. (He continues with a passion for excellence.) His interest in jazz sparked with the fusion heroes of the 70’s but later he turned down the volume with the “smoother" styles of Jazz, Pop and Rock.
Wayne acquired a degree in music and later after meeting his wife (and singer) Londie formed a duo called WindyNites. They played together for hundreds of hours at all sorts of venues from coffee houses to popular night spots and occasionally he took the opportunity to play as a soloist.
Along the way Wayne was persuaded by the strong evidence of the gospel and became a believer and follower of Jesus of Nazareth, turning his music toward the glory and praise of His Name. Recognizing that his talents are a gift and blessing he now focuses his given talent and the love of the Jazz/Fusion style to play Smooth Jazz FHG.
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James Brewster (Bass)
James Brewster started playing bass in 1969 after watching a fifth grade talent show. He knew he could play music like the people on the stage and a bass guitar with amplifier was the instrument his father could afford after much convincing. He formed a band in middle school and did gigs with other young kids from his school, playing current top 40 songs of the day. After graduation from high school he became serious about music and began laying the foundation for his bass skills by studying with bass teachers, taking junior college music courses, and attending the Bass Institute of Technology in Hollywood for a time. Playing upright and electric bass, he would continue playing in many interesting studio and entertainment venues in the Southern California area until he felt led by the Spirit to settle down with his family.
James became a Christian in 1994 and began playing for the music ministry at Carson Christian Outreach Community Church in Carson, California where he would remain until 2004 when he moved to Riverside, California and has been playing bass in the Praise and Worship Team for Bethesda Revival Center Church in Riverside, California since 2006. Christian music is the soul’s expression of love to God in worship and praise. Christian music comes in many forms, some traditional, some contemporary and every genre in between. James enjoys exalting and lifting up Christ in song and music, whether it is in the congregation on Sundays or on the beach at sunset with SmoothJazzforHisGlory. “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.” (Psalms 144:9).
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Ed Escobedo (Percussionist).
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, in a small town called Glassell Park, when I first heard the Santana Band in 1970, I was blown away by it's percussive attack, I knew in my heart, what I wanted to do, but play percussion. Percussion resonates in my soul.
After many years of jamming around town, My wife and I moved to Chino Hills, there at Saint Paul The Apostle Catholic Church, My wife and I joined the Music Ministry, with a band called Pure Heart, where we sang the praises of God and I continue my ever evolving spiritual path. That has led me to play and sit in with several bands around time, and currently playing for the Spyrol band. Whether it be Latin Rock, Jazz, Soul, Pop or Classic Rock/ Blues, music is in my Soul.
My percussion set up is two sets of LP Congas Matador and Performer series also two sets of Bongos, LP Timbales, Percussion Rack with a wide assortment of percussion
toys.
One final thought, words are by Carlos Santana,
The most valuable possession you can own is an OPEN HEART
The most powerful weapon you can be, is an instrument of PEACE
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Reggie Brewster (Drummer)
