Raymond Pounds has been a professional drummer for over 35 years. Born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Ray knew from a very early age he wanted to be a professional musician. Relocating with his family to California in the early 60's, Raymond attended Locke High where his interest in music grew. He studied drums under Clarence Johnston for many years and attended Los Angeles City College before becoming a professional musician in his late teens.

RaymondÕs first major professional position was drummer for Stevie Wonder where he went on to record "Songs in the Key of Life." with Stevie. In addition to touring and recording with Stevie Wonder as part of the famed ÒWonderlove BandÓ, Raymond has also toured with Barry White, Deneice Williams, Lou Rawls, The Temptations and others.

Raymond Pounds has recorded with many major artists like, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Ronnie Laws, Ice Cube, and Sergio Mendes just to name a few. His TV and film credits include The Tonight Show, Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Name That Tune, (Drummer for 2 seasons), VH-1 Classic Albums: "Songs in the Key of Life", Soul Train, American Bandstand, Hard To Kill (movie), The Jackson's (mini-series), The Young and the Restless and many more. His theatre credits include "Blues In The Night", "Play On!" and "Dinah Was."

Raymond is also a song write and has written songs for Jeffery Osborne, Cheryl Lynn, and A Taste Of Honey.

LIVE PERFORMANCES / RECORDING CREDITS

Raymond Pounds is now using the Vater Recording model and misc. brushes

"I play all kinds of music, sometimes very loud and sometimes very soft. The Vater Recording stick works perfectly for every musical situation I encounter." - Raymond Pounds

www.raymondpounds.com

Charli Persip's forty-plus year musical mission includes distinguished residencies with the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra and for the late, great, legendary Billy Eckstine during his the prominent years of 1966-1973. CharliÕs credits also include gigs and record dates with Tadd Dameron, Frank Foster, Eric Dolphy, Roland Kirk, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp and Sam Rivers, among many others. Persip was the drummer on the legendary, "Eternal Triangle" recording, featuring Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt.

Charli has also kept busy leading his own big band, Supersound, for 25 years. The band instills the power of a big band with a small group loose feel. As drummer and leader, Persip is able to redefine the big band tradition away from the rhythmically stiff. He reshapes the compositions to work with the concept of Supersound - without reducing the original idea of the composer. Charli and Supersound will be releasing their latest cd, Intrinsic Evolution, in Spring of 2008.

Concurrent with his performing activities, Charli has earned a reputation as a superb educator. He is currently Associate Professor at the New School of Music in Manhattan, New York as well as fifteen years as drum and music instructor for Jazzmobile Inc. and has a highly successful private practice.

Recently, Charli released his first educational book,"How Not to Play Drums-Not for Drummers Only", through Hal Leonard Publishing. This unique, insightful book offers the reader a special understanding of the drummer's role in ensembles- an understanding that can improve relations between drummers, their fellow musicians and their listeners. Other subjects covered in the book include the history of the drum set, the importance of listening, tips on equipment, tuning and practicing, and the art and science of accompaniment.

July 2008 will see Charli in Italy for most of the month hosting lectures, workshops and performances as part of the Venetto Jazz Festival. For more information on Charli and upcoming performance dates, please visit: www.myspace.com/charlipersip

"We are very excited to welcome a talent of Charli Persip's stature to the Vater family." commented Chad Brandolini, Vater's Director of Artist Relations & Marketing. "Charli is a true master of his craft and a fountain of musical knowledge. It's truly an honor that Charli has chosen to play Vater sticks."

"I'm looking forward to a long and productive relationship with the Vater guys. I've been diggin their sticks for a while now and am happy to be part of the family." - Charli Persip

Charli Persip is using the Vater Excel model exclusively.

Jimmy Cobb, born on January 20, 1929, is a superb, mostly self-taught musician, Jimmy is the elder statesman of all of the incredible Miles Davis bands. Jimmy's inspirational work with Miles, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly and Co. spanned 1957 until 1963, and included the masterpiece "Kind of Blue", the most popular jazz recording in history. He also played on "Sketches of Spain", Someday My Prince will Come", "Live at Carnegie Hall, "Live at the Blackhawk", "Porgy and Bess", and many, many other watermark Miles Davis recordings.

The Miles recordings and live performances are not the only high points of Jimmy's quiet, but truly outstanding career. Jimmy did his first recording with Earl Bostic. Known from an early age as a great accompanist, Jimmy played extensively with Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderly, before joining Miles in 1957. Tony Williams took over the Miles drum chair in 1963 when Jimmy left Miles to continue to work with Miles' rhythm section, Winton Kelly and Paul Chambers behind Wes Montgomery. In addition to several Winton Kelly Trio Albums, the three did albums with Kenny Burrell, and J.J. Johnson, among others, before disbanding in the late 60's.

Mr. Cobb then worked with Sarah Vaughn for 9 years. Jimmy then continued to freelance with several great groups throughout the 70's 80's and 90's including, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderly, Ricky Ford, Hank Jones, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Fathead Newman, The Great Jazz Trio, Dave Holland, Warren Bernhardt and many others.

Jimmy has played around the world from Newport to Monte Carlo, from LA to Japan. He has performed for President Carter, the Shah of Iran and many other dignitaries in his storied career and is quoted extensively in "Kind of Blue", the Documentary of those legendary recording sessions.

Currently, Jimmy is not slowing down even a little. He splits any downtime between his New York City "digs" and his home in Woodstock, NY with his two children, Jaime and Serena, and long time partner and collaborator, Eleana Tee. However, he still tours with his own band, "Cobb's Mob" and combines with many incredible artists both old and new. Jimmy has just completed a "Four Generations of Miles" album with guitarist, Mike Stern, Ron Carter (bass), and George Coleman (tenor) for Chesky records.

Jimmy is about to release his newest and long awaited solo album, "Yesterdays", produced by Eleana Tee for Rteesan Productions. It features Michael Brecker on tenor, Marion Meadows on soprano, Roy Hargrove, trumpet and flugelhorn, Jon Faddis, trumpet, Eric Lewis, electric piano, Peter Bernstein, guitar, Jerry Mall, percussion and John Weber on bass. It includes a wide variety of arrangements ranging from a unique interpretation of Jimi Hendrix "Purple Haze" to ballads "Yesterdays" and blues (All Blues, Faddis, Monk) and standards, "Without a Song" and "Love Walked Right In". This major musical statement will include several music videos and a complete television documentary. And as usual with Jimmy Cobb, you won't believe what's up next!

"We are all extremely excited to welcome Jimmy Cobb to the Vater Artist family!" says Chad Brandolini, Vater's Artist Relations Director. "Jimmy is truly a living legend and has been a huge inspiration to musicians around the world for decades. The man played on "Kind of Blue"...enough said!"

Jimmy Cobb and Vater are now in the design process for his soon to be released Vater "Player's Design" model. Please check back for updates.

www.jimmycobb.com