Welcome To The Family.

 

 

Gennaro "Jeep" Capone

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Jeep was born in Rockford, Illinois and was exposed to music and musicians from the very beginning. His mother, Kathryn Capone, owned “Kay’s Records”, a record store specializing in Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, and Gospel music. Artists like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and Gene Krupa would promo their records and upcoming live shows in the area by visiting the record store, signing autographs, and shaking hands with fans. Jeep always knew playing the drums was his destiny. The first time and every time he was asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “I’m a drummer!” was the response. Before he was five years old every pot and pan in the house was completely ruined by his drumsticks.

Jeep Capone's early performing years were spent with Midwest acts and later he backed up such international artists as The Platters and El Coco. His experience includes working with jazz, funk, rock and country acts and he has also appeared on many recordings and television specials. He has been endorsed by Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals and Dean Markley sticks and has appeared in Modern Drummer magazine. After traveling extensively he decided to devote more of his time to composition and arranging, while still performing as a drummer and lead singer. He is currently a principal in the Las Vegas All Stars show at the St. Croix Hotel and Casino in the Minneapolis area. He also has a new project with partner Allen Young. The band, Al/Capone, has recorded a Smooth Jazz music CD entitled “Mr. Smooth”, which will be released on September 1, 2009 on the CC Entertainment label.

Jeep was raised knowing only that he was closely related to Alphonse Capone. He was told many stories and incidents relating to Al and the family, but his exact relationship was kept an extremely guarded family secret. Very recently the oldest surviving members of the family decided that after the passing of many years, they could divulge the secret that Jeep is indeed a grandson of Al Capone.

 

 

Allen Young

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A native of Chicago, Illinois, Allen began performing in Chicago area clubs while a student at Northwestern University. After graduating with a degree in music education, he worked with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Lena Horne Show, and with various artists at the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He also began a long and productive association with drummer Jeep Capone, and together they recorded a great deal of original music and traveled extensively, settling in Las Vegas in 1992.

Allen continued to perform as well as concentrate on the composition of music for films, television commercials, jazz ensembles, and Top 40/R&B/dance bands. In 2003 he and Jeep Capone were contracted by the St. Croix Casino and Hotel in Turtle Lake Wisconsin as principals in the house band at the casino Event center. Allen still performed with the casino show but composing, recording, club dates, concerts and festivals with Al/Capone took up the bulk of his time until his passing in May of 2011.

 

 

Alex Ligertwood

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His voice is recognized literally the world over as the lead vocalist of Santana. For over 16 years with Carlos Santana, Alex Ligertwood provided his unique sound and interpretation on 12 albums. He earned Gold Records for four of those Santana efforts, and scored Top 40 hits with six albums and/or singles.

Alex shares Santana's soulful R & B style, which is clearly evident on the Santana hits "Winning" (Zebop), "All I Ever Wanted" (Marathon), and "Hold On" (Shango). His live rendition of the classics like "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va" scored Gold with Santana's "Sacred Fire: Live In Latin America Album."

There's something deep in the soul of Scotland that produces great blues and R & B singers. Some of music's top vocalists over the years -- from Rod Stewart to Maggie Bell to Alex Ligertwood -- have come out of that musically fertile land.

Alex Ligertwood grew up in the rough and tumble city of Glasgow. For him, it was a place just east of Detroit or Memphis. He loved American music, especially Motown, Rhythm and Blues, and Soul. R & B was raw, electric, and didn't hold anything back. His musical idols included the legendary Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye -- good company for a budding vocalist.

Alex began his musical path by performing with local R & B groups in his native Scotland. In the mid-sixties he was a member of the critically acclaimed R & B group, The Senate. This group included the late drummer Robbie Mcintosh, who would later be known for his work in the Average White Band which toured Europe as the supporting band for Ben E. King.

It didn't take long for others to recognize the Scotsman's natural talents. One of the first to spotlight Alex's big soulful voice was Jeff Beck. He promptly made Alex lead vocalist for the Jeff Beck Band in the early seventies. Next up was a stint with another legendary British band, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express. Over the years, Alex recorded several albums with Auger's jazz-rock unit, singing and co-writing with Auger. During the same period, Alex performed and recorded with fellow Scottish soulmates, the Average White Band.

In the late seventies, Alex served as vocalist/guitarist and co-writer with the Narada Michael Walden Band and the David Sancious & Tone Band before joining Santana in 1979. Alex brings a vocal intensity that feeds the volcanic playing of Carlos Santana. He has recorded and co-written numerous albums for Santana, including: "Marathon", "Zebop!", "Beyond Appearances", "Viva Santana", "Shango", "Spirits Dancing in the Flesh", "Milagro", and "Sacred Fire".

Alex has been musically associated with Santana for more than eighteen years. This clearly exhibits the regard that Carlos Santana holds for Alex's musical talents. A perfect showcase for Alex's vocal power is "Somewhere in Heaven", a ballad from "Milagro", co-written by Alex that brings both sides of Alex and Santana together -- the lyrical and the fiery -- in a passionate, spiritual tour-de-force.
His vocal talents have also been featured on the Spyro Gyra album "Dreams Beyond Control", an honor considering that Spyro Gyra is strictly an "instrumental band". Alex has also recorded on albums with Ben E. King, Didier Lockwood, Carly Simon, The Dixie Dregs, Michelle Colombier, Jeff Lorber, Billy Squier and many others.

Alex currently resides in Southern California. He is currently working on solo projects, as well as performing with his band Metro. He is also working on side projects with various other bands, including live performances with the David Garfield and Friends Band, Billy Cobham and Friends Band, and with Jason Scheff in the bands Painted Rhythm, Al/Capone, and Border Patrol.

 

 

 

Ron Friedman

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Ron Friedman's band started out of a desire to play creative jazz with a contemporary rock feel. The goal is to have the music be challenging and ambitious while feeling good enough to dance to. Ron worked with Frank Sinatra until Frank stopped performing. Robert Irving (producer, arranger, & composer for Flattering Secret) produced, arranged, and wrote for Miles Davis well into the 90's. It is therefore no surprise that Ron and Robert, both living in Chicago, teamed up to form a band of contemporary musicians playing new, fresh music that each show their respective influences.

The music is listenable on a very basic level while at the same time being the kind of music that many find interesting and complex on a harmonic and rhythmic level. Ron Friedman comes from a very musical family in which many of his relatives played instruments or sang professionally. The grayscale image to the right shows Ron's dad, Jack Friedman at the drums.

After graduating from Northwestern University in Chicago with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, Ron went on to Northern Illinois University as a Graduate Assistant where he received a Master's Degree in Musical Performance. After teaching trumpet and jazz at Northern Illinois University for two years he joined New York Mary, a jazz-rock fusion band that made two albums for Arista Records. Ron then joined the Woody Herman Big Band, playing along such jazz greats as saxophonists Joe Lovano and Frank Tiberi.

Ron then worked in Chicago, playing trumpet and flugelhorn on well over 5000 Radio and Television commercials such as; United Airlines, Coca-Cola, Bud-Lite, Coors, Pizza Hut, Bally's Casinos, McDonald's and on and on.......

Ron then joined Frank Sinatra as featured jazz soloist touring for five years. Throughout his career, Ron has played and/or recorded with every big name in jazz and entertainment, including:

 

 

Ace Mack

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Ace began playing music at an early age. Throughout his professional career, he has been an in-demand musician, performing with many of the top acts / artists in the Twin Cities, as well as recording / studio sessions for many projects including music / songs and commercials. Ace has performed and / or recorded with and shared billing with national and international artists such as: Richard Marx, Cameo, Doc Severinsen, Tom Scott, Cheap Trick, Dazz Band, Rose Royce, Dave Mason, Ray Barretto, Silk, Jaguar Wright, and Ann Nesby (Sounds of Blackness).

 

 

 

Darryl Wright

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Darryl was born in Chicago, IL. He started his career in music as a child performing Gospel Music with his father, Ted Wright. They performed in many churches throughout Chicago. Music was in his soul from the very beginning. He still plays in church to this day; it will always be close to his heart. When Darryl became a young man he wanted to explore other styles of music so he ventured out to perform with many touring bands from around the world. Darryl has been endorsed by Gibson Guitars and Dean Markley Strings. His musicianship is legendary throughout the Chicago music community. Some of the artist Darryl has performed with:

• ERIC DAVIS & THE TROUBLE MAKERS
• MAVIS STAPLES
• BILLY PRESTON
• PAUL VOUDOURIS
• CHRIS SPHEERIS
• THE MIRACLES
• BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER
• LIZ MANDEVILLE.
• JAMTRAK
• COLUMBIA COLLEGE RECORDING CLASS (MICHAEL FREEMAN)
• WAITING TO EXHALE (FILM)
• LOVE HONOR & OBEY : THE LAST MAFIA MARRIAGE( TV)
• PARIS DELANE (SONIA DADA)
• FRANCIS BUCKLEY ( ENGINEER)
• TOM TOM 84 (ARRANGER, EARTH WIND & FIRE, PHIL COLLINS)
• ANDREW SALGADO
• THE STORY OF DIONNE WARWICK(THEATER)
• THE LIFE OF NINA SIMONE(THEATER)
• THE OTHER CINDERELLA (THEATER)
• LIL ED(BLUES IMPERIALS)

 

 

Jason Craft

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Jason graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a music degree in 1999. Since then he has been a full time professional piano and organ player, performing as a soloist and with top local and national artists. He has toured the world as the music director and pianist for Sheila Raye Charles (daughter of the legendary Ray Charles). Jason plays a variety of musical styles, including jazz, blues, funk, R&B, and classical. He can be found on a regular basis with all of the best local Twin Cities musicians at many of the local music venues. He has played with Jason Marsalis, Slide Hampton, Michael Brecker, Wycleff Jordan, Carl Allen, Jimi Jameson, Alex Liegertwood, Eric Gales, and several other notable musicians. Jason can be heard on countless recordings, as his musical talents are frequently called upon for studio work.

 

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Mark Colby

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Mark Colby, saxophone, is a popular jazz artist in Chicago. He was music director and featured soloist with Maynard Ferguson for several years and has appeared and recorded with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bob James, Jaco Pastorius, Arturo Sandoval, and Ramsey Lewis, to name a few. He can be heard on the 1999 release Reunion with pianist, Vince Maggio; and over 2000 commercials nationwide. He has performed as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony and the Miami Philharmonic. Under the sponsorship of Selmer and Sugal Mouthpieces, he gives high school and college concerts and clinics throughout the U.S.

 

 

Peter Vircks

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Saxophonist and composer Peter Vircks was born on the bank of the Mississippi river, though this fact may or may not explain his jazz-via-blues bent. He’s performed on and around the river and its tributaries for over 25 years so don’t let his youthful appearance fool you. Close your eyes and he’s ‘old soul’.

Vircks is a founding member of the modern jazz group Moveable Feast and besides working extensively with the Capone Allstars has performed with many international artists including Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday, Erick Kamau Gravatte from the band Weather Report, Cuban piano phenomenon Nachito Herrera, Togolese legend Jimi Hope, Tommy Barbarella from Prince’s New Power Generation, Devon Evans from the Wailers, Dokun Oke from Femi Kuti’s Nigerian group, Bruce A. Henry’s group, and Ethiopian bassist Yohannes Tona and his band.

In 2004 he was accepted to attend the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music where he was mentored by Bill Frizell, Dave Douglas, Mark Turner, Han Bennink, Dr. George Lewis and Clarence Penn. He is also a 2007 American Composers Forum Subito Grant recipient.

Vircks is credited as a sideman on dozens of recorded albums and also has performed music on several national TV commercials and independent films. He teaches privately and is planning a watershed event: the release of his own album of recorded music.

 

 

Ted Godbout

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Ted is currently very active as a pianist and trombonist in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud areas. He has a degree in piano performance from St. John's University and performs in a variety of styles, including jazz, classical, and pop music. He plays piano and keyboard with Jamtrak, the Nova Jazz Orchestra, and the VB-GB-TV Jazz Trio, and trombone with Fred Savage and the Unbeatables. He also performs regulary with Reception Jazz and Pastiche, the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University music faculty ensemble. Ted is active as a free-lance pianist and has performed at many venues in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud, including the Dakota, Jazzmines, the Kitty Kat Club, the Paramount Theater, and the Red Carpet, to name a few.

 

 

Michael Paul

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Born just outside of Gary, Indiana, Michael Paul started playing drums with his father's bands at the age of eight. During his teen years Michael and his family lived in Denver, Colorado where he refined his style of drumming in school marching and jazz programs as well as adding singing, and keyboards to his musicianship. Michael formed his first band in middle school and he and his friends played dances, skating rinks, fairs and festivals, and even the occasional bar when they could get away with it. After high school he and his teen bandmates parted ways and Michael joined Reaction, a funky top 40 cover band which toured nightclubs across the western half of the US. One year later, while looking for a way into the Las Vegas casino industry, Michael joined Jamtrak, a successful Chicago-based group led by drummer Gennaro "Jeep" Capone and trumpet player Allen Young. This alliance proved to be a magical one and the group "Michael Paul &The Capone Allstars" remains a strong force in the casino and event entertainment industry.

 

 

Vinnie Rose

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Vincent K Rose is an accomplished, eclectic guitarist. In 2003, Vincent graduated Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a Bachelors degree in Music Composition. He has been the three time recipient of Down Beat Magazine's 'Best College Big Band Award' while playing in Jazz I at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

His professional engagements have ranged from performing with the legendary soul band, Little Anthony and the Imperials, to the local Big Band sounds of 5 By Design. He has performed with many legendary jazz artists including :Slide Hampton, Ed Calle, Jon Faddis, Lewis Nash, Ingred Jensen, Wyclif Gordon and Christian McBride. He has performed with local musical professionals including: The Power of 10, The Prophets of Soul, Christine Rosholt, Katie Gearty, Nachito Herrera and a list of other free-lance and musical groups.