PRINCIPAL ARTISTS

The two principal singers are Patty Linski and Dennis Parnell. Patty Linski is the celebrated Cantor at Temple Ahavat Shalom and a versatile and sought-after studio musician. Dennis Parnell is Cantor at the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue. Former teacher of the faculty at CalArts, his eclectic career includes composing, conducting, teaching, and performing.

Bass player Daniel Shulman has a band in L.A. called Double D Nose and he is currently touring with a band called Garbage. Daniel has recorded with such artists as Run DMC and Warren G.

In addition to being a fine drum set player, Kevin O'Sullivan went to Africa on a Fulbright Scholarship while in the Master's program in African Music at CalArts. He has developed a method of transcription and performance techniques for playing West African drum ensemble pieces on the drumset.

Tardu Yegin played keyboards, saxophone and percussion. His involvement with African music informs everything he does. Tardu also plays jazz, Irish music with the Finnians, as well as music from his native Turkey.

Guitarist Dustin Boyer does extensive live and studio work around Los Angeles. Reggae aficionados have all remarked about the consistent brilliance of his playing.

Kobla Ladzekpo has been a pioneer in the performance and instruction of African music around the world. For generations his family from the Volta region of Ghana has been highly regarded for its musicians, poet/composers, and dancers. In addition to his many musical accomplishments, he holds a Master's degree in Anthropology.

Agbi Ladzekpo is the son of the late Husunu Adonu, perhaps the greatest of Ladzekpo drummers in living memory. Agbi is Musical Director of Zadonu, a traditional African music and dance ensemble based in Los Angeles.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Francis Awe, the featured dun-dun drummer on Daiyenu (Bobobo) and Go Down Moses is completing graduate work at UCLA. He is widely recognized as one of the finest dun-dun drummers in the world.

Ras Michael arranged and performed all of the percussion parts on Ma Nishtana. An internationally renowned reggae band leader, songwriter and musician with an extensive discography to his credit, he is currently founding the Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus Cultural Center in Kingston, Jamaica.

Lorna Eder arranged and performed the vocals on Ma Nishtana and was the co-lead voice in Eliyahu. She loves Judaism and the producer.

Alan Eder, the arranger/composer and producer of Reggae Passover, has been a songwriter all his life and for the past twenty years has played reggae and traditional West African music. He earned a Bachelor's degree from UCLA in Ethnomusicology, a Master of Fine Arts degree from California Intitute of the Arts in African Music Perfomance, and a Fulbright Scholarship to Nigeria for studies and research in traditional musics.

The Reggae Band is:

Dustin Boyer, electric guitar
Mario Gonzales, trumpet
Kevin O'Sullivan, drum set
Scott Ray, trombone
Daniel Shulman, electric bass
Tardu Yegin, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hammond organ and saxophones