FAQs news contact us sitemap site credits
home programs bass instrcuctors
INSTRUCTORS
Jerry Watts, Jr. — Department Chair

Jerry Watts, Jr. has an extensive list of recording credits, having appeared on hundreds of CDs, numerous film & TV soundtracks, as well as commercials, film trailers, and instructional DVDs. Watts has a wealth of international touring experience, representing a broad spectrum of artists at the highest levels of rock, pop, jazz, and "world" music. Educated at both William Paterson University, New Jersey, and California State University, Northridge, his recording/performance credits include work with: Andy Summers, Simon Phillips, Dave Stewart, Pat Leonard, Don Grusin, Mylene Farmer, Keiko Matsui, Jai Uttal, Toni Childs, Sergio Mendes, Billy Idol, Wishful Thinking, Herbie Hancock, Jarvis Church, Kevyn Lettau, Dori Caymmi, Peter Cetera, Flora Purim, Keith Emerson, Mitchel Forman, L. Subramaniam, Justo Almario, Steve Vai, Babaghanoush, and Dr. John. In addition, Jerry is very active in the contemporary Praise and Worship movement, appearing at conferences as a clinician/speaker. He has toured and recorded extensively with worship leader Tommy Walker, as well as performing w/ Tommy Coomes, Paul Baloche, Darlene Zschech, and Brian Doerkson.



Steve Billman

Steve Billman attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and also graduated from Musician's Institute in 1981. Steve studied with Jeff Berlin and Bob Magnusson while at Musicians Institute. He has worked with some of the world's finest musicians, including Brian Bromberg, Brandon Fields, Rob Mullins, Pat Kelley, Gregg Karukas, Free Flight, Alex Acuna, Tom Brechtlein, Gary Novak, Jeff Richman and most recently, Frank Gambale, to name a few. He was a member of the band "Continuum" for 15 years, and has been a member of the Academy staff since its very earliest days.



Lynne Davis

Lynne's aggressive, groove-oriented style earned her the title of "LA's Groove Goddess" in Bass Player Magazine (July '99). Lynne began public performance at the age of 7, upon beginning her training as a pianist. After attending the university of Delaware and the Austo-American Institute in Vienna Austria, she began playing the bass guitar, which was destined to become her stock in trade. Since moving to LA in 1992, she has done hundreds of session dates, TV appearances, and performance engagements with such artists as Go West, Colin Hay & The Records. Lynne has been sharing her ideas about music creativity and improvisation through teaching for 15 years, and has been on staff at the LA Music Academy for 7 years. www.lynnedavis.com



Hussain Jiffry

Hussain Jiffry is recognized internationally for his in-the-pocket feel and versatility. In 1982, while performing with a local band in Sri Lanka, Hussain was offered to tour Europe with an R&B band, eventually spending six years on the European club circuit. In 1988, he moved to Los Angeles to study music at Musician's Institute in Hollywood, California. He graduated from MI in March 1989, receiving the Vocational Honors Diploma. In the past fifteen years, Hussain has gradually grown busier and more in demand as his reputation has spread as a player, writer, and producer. He currently tours with Sergio Mendes, The LA all stars and the Dave Weckl band. He has also toured and recorded with: Tom Scott, Paul Russo, Kleber Jorge, Jim Messina, Robert Kyle, Dirk Fisher big band, Kenny Kirkland, Pauline Wilson, Robben Ford, David Foster, Michael MacDonald, Whitney Houston, Dione Warwick and Chaka Khan. In the recent past Hussain has been busy writing, recording and producing various artists at his Recording studio in Tarzana. He and his partner Sanjay Divecha wrote the theme song and part of the sound track for the movie "Leela".



David Levray

David Levray studied at the American School of Modern Music and was a session musician at Piccolo Studio in Paris, France, before moving to the US. In addition to co-writing a song for the Grammy-nominated album Joined at the Hip with Bob James and Kirk Whalum and working with Les McCann for 10 years, he has also performed or toured with Liz McComb, Kirk Whalum, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Luther Allison, Phil Upchurch, Patrice Rushen, Oleta Adams, Ronnie Laws, and many others.



Philip Bynoe

Philip Bynoe, originally from Boston, studied at the Berklee College of Music under Wit Browne. He has played on several TV shows, jingles, and soundtracks including The Tonight Show, The O.C., and Las Vegas. In addition to touring with Steve Vai on the G3 tour, he has also toured and/or recorded with Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt, Terry Bozzio, Virgil Donati, Kevin Eubanks, Buddy Miles, Bette Midler, Steve Perry, Mike Mangini, Slash, Derek Sherinian, and many others. He is endorsed by Yamaha Guitars, Carvin Amplifiers, Morley Pedals, and LaBella strings.



All School Instructors

Dave Pozzi - Harmony & Theory, & Three Horn Band Ensemble Instructor

Dave Pozzi has been a Los Angeles based free-lance artist since 1979, recording and playing with artists like: Henry Mancini, Mel Torme, Celine Dion, David Foster, Johnny Mathis, Jeff Hamilton, Rich Little, Charlie Shoemake, Mellissa Manchester, Marvin Stamm, Bobby Shew, Pete Christlieb, Don Menza, Roy McCurdy, Bob Cooper, Jeff Berlin, Diana Krall, Billy Childs, and others. Big band credits include Ray Anthony, Bob Crosby, Bill Watrous, Louie Bellson, Bob Florence, and Doc Severinsen. Dave is featured as a soloist on recordings with John Patitucci, Nick Brignola, Dick Berk, Bob Magnusson, Ray Pizzi, and Milcho Leviev. Other recording work includes radio and TV commercials, TV shows like The Osbournes, and numerous demos and record dates.



Howie Shear

After receiving a master's degree from the Eastman School of Music, Howie moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a musician/composer/arranger. He soon took a slight detour to go on the road where he played lead trumpet with the Woody Herman Orchestra. After two years, he moved back to LA, and has since performed on countless TV and movie soundtracks, commercials, Broadway shows and recordings. Howie has performed with Tony Bennett, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Natalie Cole, Linda Ronstadt, and Mel Torme, to name a few. In addition to performing, Howie has been an active composer/arranger/orchestrator getting his first big break as the musical arranger for the Joan Rivers late night talk show, where he composed for a 16-piece big band 5 nights a week. Howie is currently scoring his fourth movie and, in 2002, received his doctorate in music from the University of Southern California.



   
home :: careers :: programs :: about the academy :: apply :: request info :: site map
© Copyright 2005 Los Angeles Music Academy :: All rights reserved
lamusicacademy.com :: lamusicacademy.edu
LA Music Academy | 370 South Fair Oaks Ave. | Pasadena, California 91105 USA
Voice: +1 (626) 568-8850 or 1-800-960-4715 (US only)