Bios
Brenna Gethers (lead vocals)
Mike Raskin (tenor)
Brad Mason (trumpet)
Ian McHugh (guitar)
Damon Grant (percussion)
Glenn Robertson (drums)
Dan Grennes (bass guitar)
Darby Wolf (keyboardist)
Elliott Mason (trombonist)
With new star vocalist, set to deliver their own brand of funk-rock: Sophistafunk
American Music Award winning funk-rock act, Bomb Squad, have announced their new front person as Brenna Gethers. The 25 year-old Mount Vernon, NY, resident enjoyed her own national success recently as a finalist on American Idol.
Gethers will join the group full time after her own tour, in which she will be supporting Ruben Studdard from October 3rd through October 10th. The Bomb Squad plans to write and rehearse during the fall and return with a tour introducing the new lineup prior to the holidays.
About Bomb Squad:
Bomb Squad was embraced by a large group of dedicated supporters in 2002 after a series of live shows and the release of their debut independent CD, Sophistafunk, which sold a stunning 1,000 copies in its first 2 weeks.
The band enjoyed their first taste of commercial success when hand selected by music industry icon Dick Clark to perform at the 31st Annual American Music Awards. Bomb Squad played their hit song, Ready to Ride, in front of millions of television viewers throughout the U.S. and abroad, while sharing the stage with pop stars such as Britney Spears, Outkast and Metallica.
Shortly after their world premiere on the American Music Awards, the Squad released their second studio album, Bomb Squad II, produced by legendary pop producer Jimmy Bralower.
The band's latest release, a DVD entitled, Rip it Up, highlights 90 minutes of live Bomb Squad filmed at Boston's Paradise Rock Club. Bonus features include a short movie about the band documenting its rise from sold out bar shows to the American Music Awards to playing for over 25,000 people at the 2005 Montreal Jazz Festival.
Hailing from Las Vegas, Mike Raskin has a taste for the fast life. As a young man he attended a juvenile hall high school where he became street smart and hustle savy. It is rumored that he was constantly running card games for cash on the Vegas strip as a teen. Soon enough he picked up the tenor sax and everything changed. He got in to Jazz and Funk, and decided to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
During Berklee Mike met guitarist Q and the two hit it off, and they actually wrote the music for a commercial for an insurance company that aired on many major networks. Mike toured around the Northeast with funk band The Bus, and spent his time performing with jazz groups in NYC and Boston.
After college, Mike kept in touch with Q. Together they formed the Bomb Squad. Mike handles much of the "on the road, day to day business" for the band. In other words, he "collects". He has a nasty right hook, and loves the Red Sox. He is not to be messed with.
Brad Mason was born on the 24th of July 1973. He began trumpet lessons with his father at age 5. At 9, he took up a second instrument, the piano, and began playing them both at school and in public. By 14, he was performing 3-4 times a week in dance halls, theaters, clubs and pubs, covering all styles of music, but concentrating mainly on jazz and improvisation. In 1991 at 17 he won the national "Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Soloist" Award and was featured at John Dankworths Wavendon Jazz School.
Two months later Brad left England to study at the world famous "Berklee College of Music" on a full tuition scholarship. While there he met and studied with Hal Crook, Phil Wilson and many others. During this time he would also travel back and forth to the U.K. to perform and record with the "National Youth Jazz Orchestra" (NYJO).
In 1993 he won his second "Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Soloist" under 25 Award (the same year his younger brother Elliot won the under 21 category), and was playing constantly as the featured soloist with Phil Wilson's "Rainbow Band" and the Berklee Buddy Rich Ensemble. Brad was fortunate to represent Berklee on many occasions all over the country- Florida, Minneapolis, Pennsylvania being a few and at the prestigious Dave Liebmans annual I.A.S.J. conference in Israel.
After receiving the "Clark Terry Award" in recognition of outstanding performance abilities from Berklee College of Music in 1994 and 1995, he graduated and moved to New York City where he quickly became in demand as a trumpet player and a 'EVI' player (Electronic Valve Instrument), of which he is considered a virtuoso. He presently works in all types of musical situations, including jazz quintets, big bands, Broadway shows and funk bands, and has performed with Natalie Cole, Gary Burton, Joe Zawinul, Claudio Roditi, Lenny White and many others.
For more info, check out masonbrothersband.com
At 6 years old, Ian McHugh, a.k.a. "Q", learned his first rock beat on his uncle John's drum set. From that day forward, music was to become the focal point of his life. In a sense, it was more than a choice; it was his destiny.
Throughout his school career, Ian played the drums for all the bands marching, jazz, concert. However, when he decided to form his first rock band in 6 th grade, Silent Treatment , he realized no one could play the guitar. That's when Q picked up the stringed instrument and taught himself to play by listening to Led Zeppelin records.
At 14, he began lessons with Fairfield guitar teacher, David Coe, who introduced him to classical, jazz and more traditional playing. Concurrently, Ian played bass for a band, Nightfall , who were gigging the Connecticut bar scene. While it's most parents' nightmare to have a son with long hair banging his head to heavy metal records, let alone playing in a band. Ian's parents, both musicians, were totally supportive. Because of Q's age, they would actually accompany him to the seedy dives in South Norwalk and Bridgeport that Nightfall was booked in! While his father, a banjo player in a string band and his mother, an acoustic guitarist, were both are a far cry from the genre Ian was into at the time, it demonstrates the range of influences going on during Q's early years, cultivating for him a love and respect for music in its entirety
After high school, Q went to Berklee College of Music in Boston , MA., where he was exposed to all kinds of music and studied with legendary jazz educators, such as John Wilkins, Larry Baione, and Walter Beasley. While jazz became his love, he did stick with his rock and roll roots and started a new band called Chapter Eleven. They were a groove-oriented rock with hints of funk and jazz thrown in and Q booked gigs throughout the Boston club scene. In 1997, Chapter Eleven recorded a full length CD with the hopes to shop it around to labels. Tragically, however, the drummer, Chris Yeoman, was killed in car accident in January 1998. Chris was one of Q's closest friends at Berklee, one of the most amazing musicians he'd ever known and will continue to be one of his greatest influences in life.
Ian's first big break happened at Berklee. He was asked to write the music for an insurance company to be aired in all the major networks, which he played with tenor sax player, Mike Raskin. Little did he know at the time that it was also to be the beginning of a significant friendship, one that would turn into the framework of the Bomb Squad.
At the end of his Berklee career, Q toured Cyprus , Greece , with pop sensation, Narkissa's Voice. He also ventured out to the Midwest with Hypnotic Clambake, a jam based zydeco funk band, where he played to a grass roots following, opening for acts such Phish. Playing with such successful bands inspired Q to get things moving for himself when he moved to New York City in 1999.
There, Ian played in a variety of musical groups in the city, ranging from hip-hop to jazz, while interning at several major record labels and studying with world-renowned jazz educator, Charles Banacos.
While a New Yorker, Q formed EMCQ, an original funk/soul group with long-time Connecticut friend, Javier (now Capitol recording artist) on vocals, and some guys he knew from Berklee days, including Mike Raskin. They played gigs throughout Northeast and developed a dedicated following. In 2000, Javier left EMCQ to join Allman Brothers' guitarist Derek Trucks. Simultaneously, Jen Durkin left the funk outfit, Deep Banana Blackout, and played a couple of gigs here and there with EMCQ. Soon thereafter, during a gig at Irving Plaza , the band realized that they had their new front person,Jen Durkin. And that is when the Bomb Squad was born.
In February 2002, the Bomb Squad released their first CD, Sophistafunk, with the winnings from a "Battle of the Bands" contest at the Skybox in Fairfield , CT. And Q's Bomb Squad is no stranger to winning contests. Amongst well over a thousand entries, the Bomb Squad were chosen by music industry icon Dick Clark as America's Best Unsigned Musical Act and received the 2003 American Music Awards Presents the Coca-Cola New Music Award. This victory landed them on ABC television, playing the same stage as music icons Metallica and Britney Spears. This has broadened their dedicated following across the states, from Louisiana to Los Angeles , and across the waters, from Europe to Australia.
To date, Q is busy with the Bomb Squad in the studio, recording their new album, Big Hot Money Spot, to be released early spring, 2004.
Answers to FAQ's on Q:
Q.
Who were Q's musical influences?
A.
While Hendrix and Led Zeppelin got me going and into heavy guitar, traditionalists such as Wes Montgomery and Gray Sargent had a huge impact.
And as cliche as it may sound, I'm into such a wide variety of music,from Iron Maiden to Frank Sinatra, from Stephen Kellogg to Stevie Wonder.
Q.
When he's not playing guitar, what'll you find Q doing?
A.
Catching a Yankee game during the season
Watching an episode of the Sopranos on DVD
Hustling a game of pool
Working on beats in his home music production studio
Writing music or film plot
Damon Grant performs original and traditional jazz compositions on vibraphone, marimba and a variety of other percussion instruments with Afro-Caribbean flair in his own group, The Damon Grant Project. He and his group have been recognized for their work in "Modern Drummer" and "Latin Beat" Magazines. Damon has also been recognized as a performer with the University of Massachusetts Jazz Ensembles by "Downbeat Magazine", and has received four awards. Most recently Damon was in "People" magazine twice with the Funk/Rock group, The Bomb Squad.
Damon, a native of Norwalk, Connecticut, has played with many ensembles, including some of the top Salsa, Orchestral, Dance, Jazz, Rock, and Funk groups in the United States. He has performed on stage with many world class musicians, including: Richie Flores, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, John Benitez, Robby Ameen, The Original Parliament Funkadelic, Fred Wesley, George Porter Jr., and Stefon Harris. Damon currently performs with the Funk/Rock group, The Bomb Squad, which won an American Music Award in 2003. Damon was also an original member of the Broadway show, Blast!, which won both a Tony and an Emmy award. He, and the groups he has performed in, have opened for, or shared the bill, with acts such as: John Mayer, Soulive, Martin Sexton, Colbie Caillat, Isaac Hayes, David Sanborn, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and George Clinton. Damon performed as a member of the Cadets Drum Corps for several years, in which he participated in the 1996 Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Damon has performed at numerous venues, including: The Kennedy Center, The Montreal International Jazz Festival, The Rich Forum, The Ottawa Blues Festival, The Palace Theater, The Milford and Norwalk Oyster Festivals, The Berkshire Jazz Festival, The Hammersmith Apollo of London, Harper's Ferry, The Downtown, The Iron Horse Music Hall, Tribeca Rock Club, The Funk Box, The Iridium Jazz Club, The Gathering of the Vibes, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The New Hampshire Funk and Blues Festival, The Percussive Arts Society International Conference, Toad's Place, The Paradise of Boston, The Hammerstein Ballroom and countless other venues.
Damon received a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz performance from the University of Massachusetts in February 2001. He has studied with musical legend Yusef Lateef, as well as master percussionist; Giovanni Hidalgo.
Damon has just as much teaching experience as he has playing experience. He started by teaching at the high school he graduated from, Norwalk High School, in Norwalk, CT. He has taught their award winning marching and jazz ensembles in addition to being a guest performer and clinician. From there he began teaching at Boston College. Damon currently teaches at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with Thom Hannum. He continues to do so today while also teaching privately in Norwalk and Greenwich, CT. Damon has consulted at Stamford High School and the East Coast Jazz Drum Corps, and taught the front ensemble for the 22 time DCI finalist, Crossmen Drum Corps as well as the 9 time DCI World Champion Cadets Drum Corps. Damon not only teaches locally, but also has traveled around the country giving masterclasses and clinics on various percussion instruments and styles of Jazz and Latin music.
Damon Grant uses LP Percussion, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Remo Drumheads, as well as Samson Technologies Audio equipment exclusively.
damongrant.org
myspace.com/damongrantproject
Growing up in rural USA, one's exposure to the arts is pretty limited. However, luckily for Glenn (and for us) his father was a DJ and rock was a part of everyday life in the Robertson household. In fact, it was after watching some of his father's Paul McCartney and Pete Townsend tapes that Glenn realized his passion for the drums.
Glenn went on to hone his craft at UMASS. There, he performed a variety of playing styles such as orchestral, marching, jazz and world music.
In 2000, Glenn received an award from the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) for outstanding musician and also received three Down Beat magazine awards.
In 2004, Vic Firth recognized Glenn's talents as an up-and-coming artist and granted him an endorsement. http://www.vicfirth.com
Glenn's comprehensive musical talent can be heard on his past recordings with The Missing Lance Project (2002), and Spirit House Records recording Artist, Barry Kingston and the Screaming Souls (2004). He has played with Andrew Jones and Spirit House, a number of jazz groups in the Amherst area, and was invited to play at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts with The Damon Grant Project.
Since joining Bomb Squad, Smith Drums has added Glenn to their Artist's Roster, http://www.smithdrums.com
The Beat on Glenn:
* Musical influences: Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Michel Camilo, Horacio "el negro" Hernandez, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Tain Watts, Along with Steve Gadd and hundreds of others. I take something from every musician I hear.
* Favorite movie: Ever since I was little, I couldn't get enough of "Smokey and the Bandit II". Every time it's on TBS I get hooked in just like the first time I saw it!
* Favorite eats: Chicken Parm. Love it, can't get enough.
* When not laying down beats: big into mountain biking, boarding, wake boarding, jet skiing.
Glenn Robertson uses Smith Drums as well as Vic Firth sticks, brushes and mallets exclusively and is a proud member of their education team.
Talk about going to any lengths to get what you want. At the tender age of 17, Dan Grennes wiped out his savings account behind his parents back to buy his first bass and amp. Within two weeks, he was playing in a band and, to this day, has held the same drive and diligence that has contributed to his success.
For over a decade, Dan has been a professional bassist/vocalist and has played to sold out crowds on bass/vocals behind Jim Breuer (Saturday Night Live, the movie "Half Baked"), Dave Chappelle (Jay Leno, the Dave Chappelle Show), and Tracy Morgan (Saturday Night Live, Crank Yankers.) Other entertainers Dan has shared the stage with include Michael Bolton, Gillian Welch, Roger "Hurricane" Wilson, Denis Leary, Jon Stewart, Gilbert Gottfried, David Alan Grier, Colin Quin, Caroline Rhea, and Janeane Garofalo. He has also played in numerous bands and recording sessions in the NYC area and was an original member of "EmCQ", recently returning to what is now the Bomb Squad.
22 year old Darby Wolf is originally from Amherst Massachusetts and grew up studying piano and organ with Mitch Chakour as well as David Berkman. Darby, has gone on to perform with the likes of NBFB, the Chris Piquette band, Barry Kingston and the Screaming Souls, the Susan Angeletti band, the Sam Kininger band, Marco Benevento (the Duo), and Apparatticus. Darby has shared the stage with B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Wilson Picket, Soulive, DJ Logic, Strangefolk, Joshua Redman, The Pharcyde, The Itals, The Wailers, Peter Best, and Shemekia Copeland. Darby is a well-versed player on vintage keyboards (as well as the piano) and they've always made up the majority of his touring rig. His rotating rig includes a Hammond B3, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hohner Clavinet, Nord Electro and a Moog Prodigy.
