Derek Rolando and the Latin Jazz Players

Tribute to Cal Tjader - Grammy Winning Jazz Legend
With Jesse Parker, Alex Murzyn, Lisa Lopez, Gordy Johnson, Mark Clark

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Derek Rolando and the Latin Jazz Players Bios
Derek Rolando has worked with many great artists throughout his 30+ year career, such as Pete Escovedo, Ray Obiedo, Lenny Williams, Quicksilver, The Whispers, Sheila E., Regina Carter, Chris Cain, & John Santos. He has also performed with members of Santana, Journey, Tower of Power and Cold Blood. Derek has recorded on children’s video sound tracks (Where in the world is Carmen San Diego) and (Dr. Seuss). Derek Rolando can also be heard on his own CD “One Smooth Ride”. He has been active in the music industry performing, recording and teaching. Derek is currently working on his new solo CD project and performing live and recording with Bay Area guitar greats Ray Obiedo and Mambo Caribe. Derek has been featured in Latin Beat Magazine. He endorses sabian cymbals and Gon bops percussion.
Alex Murzyn has a versatility and musicianship that has made him one of the most in demand saxophonists in New Mexico. Relocating from the San Francisco area, where he played with numerous bands, including Huey Lewis and the News, Dizzie Gillespie, Freddy Hubbard and the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, with a career spanning three decades. He has three CDs under his name, and is working to complete the fourth soon to be released. His music stems from traditional and contemporary jazz, soul, rock, funk and latin. He is equally accomplished on flute and clarinet.
Gordie Johnson is a bass player extraordinaire - fluid, inventive, smart, tasteful. His world tours include Maynard Ferguson, Gene Bertoncini, Roy Buchanan, the Paul Winter Consort, CBS All Stars and Chuck Mangione. He has contributed to over 150 recordings, from jazz (Jimmy Hamilton, Maynard Ferguson, etc.) to blues/R&B (Buchanan, Doug Maynard) to bluegrass (Becky Schlegel) to folk (Greg Brown, Arlo Guthrie). Network television appearances run the gamut from the Merv Griffin Show to Soul Train. He has played with scores of national artists, including Joanne Brackeen, Herb Ellis, Rosemary Clooney, Scott Hamilton, Michael Johnson, Jay McShann, Dewey Redman.
Jesse Joaquin Parker is an in-demand percussionist and music educator based in Santa Fe, NM. Jesse has performed at venues ranging from the Telluride Jazz Festival to DROM in Manhattan to the Nuyorican in San Juan, Puerto Rico and has performed/toured/recorded with Marcos Crego and The Latin Union, John Rangel, Bernard Purdie, Bata Ire, Mike Crotty Jazz Quintet, Taumbu International Ensemble, Chuchito Valdez, Raul Pineda, Carmela y Mas, Ritmo Latino, Cal Harris Jr., New Mexico Philharmonic, Phoenix Symphony, Mesa Symphony and many others. Mr. Parker currently tours and performs with the legendary Latin powerhouse, Nosotros. Mr. Parker earned his Bachelors of Music Education from New Mexico State University and his Masters of Music Performance from Arizona State University.
Mark Clark has been a professional musician since age 12. Hee attended the BERKLEE SCHOOL OF MUSIC, then job opportunities brought Mark to Los Angeles where he worked as a session/club musician while attending the L.A. JAZZ WORKSHOP. Mark played as a percussionist with OTTMAR LIEBERT for nine years. During that time JONO MANSON and members of BLUES TRAVELER formed a touring band called HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER, with Mark as the Drummer. Mark can be heard on the CAT STEVENS CD “The Road Singer”, which features a duet with PAUL McCARTNEY called “Boots and Sand”. Mark currently lives in Albuquerque, and is the drummer with R & B sensation HILLARY SMITH, the Latin rock group MANZANARES, JIMMY STADLER, and continues to record and tour with JONO MANSON. Mark is the Jazz drum instructor at the University of New Mexico, a private instructor at the New Mexico School of Music, Percussion Ensemble Director at United World College and he is a private music instructor.