Peter Sweetzir - Keyboards
My musical education started in 1959, with piano lessons at the age of six.
My music 'career' started in 1968, as a 14 year old playing piano/organ/ left hand bass, in the rockband 'Shametree", in Edmonton Alberta.
In 1977, I joined a recording act led by Jim Foster the band "Fosterchild", I did three albums, from1977- 1980, with them.
I move, from Alberta to Vancouver in 1979, playing casual gigs for ten years, before joining The Long John Baldry Band in 1990, while I was a Baldry ketboardist, I also recorded two CD's with Gaye Delorme 1993 and 1997, more recently I have performed with "Incognito, a blues based band in Vancouver.
Over a forty year pediod, I have grown to love Blues, Soul, R&B and Funk. I love to play and live for the opportunity to do so. I was Country Music's "Aaron Pritchett keyboardist, from 1995 to 2000 and played on Amber Nicholson's debut CD in 2007 I love all kinds of music, but my main influences are Ray Charles, Floyd Cramer, and Otis Spann.
Billy Dixon's
Soul Train Express
Michael Burt - Drums
Born and raised in Washington,D.C. and coming from a musical family mainly in Gospel, Latin, Soul / R & B, and Dance Michael fell right in step with the rest of his families roots. his very first instrument was slide trombone but didn't last no longer than a year or so but around age 9 began taking an interest in drums. his first band was the Mixed Breed, that was very short lived because there were 2 drummers at the time. a little while afterwards coming home from work Michael went to see
Washington,D.C's legend Chuck Brown of the famous Soul Searchers Band. he asked him if he knew anyone who would be interested in a drummer. Chuck responded quickly with the answer yes and turned him on to his old band the Los Latinos but changed their name to the Dealers but with his partner Tommy Smith now running the band. also in this band was the famous Apple Brothers John and Ronald Williams, John on guitar and Ronald on bass along with Mike Davis on hammond organ. this band was already working the circut so Michael was thrown right into the lion's den. he learned everything on stage. this was something new playing on a professional level. the band toured and worked around the Washington,D.C area, Maryland, Virginia, the Carolina's, Penn., Delaware, New Jersey, and all through out the state of New York. after 1 year the band members were upset because they found out that Tommy Smith was ripping off the band so the boys put together a new band the Aggression Band And Show. from the very beginning the band changed it's format, image, hired a 3 peice horn section, a second keyboard player Terry Scott from Diana Ross, Gap Band Eddie Hazel fame, and a front man Donny Williams. it took about 2 years working full time picking up a manager along the way. they also landed a deal with Casablanca Records along with
the group Cameo. the aggression became an opening act for artist such as Parliament Funkadelic, Kool and the Gang, Ohio Players, Rufus with Chaka Khan, Eddie Kendricks and the Young Senators, Gladys knight and the Pips, Ike and Tina Turner Revue, Wild Magnolias, Sly and the Family Stone, Betty Davis, Graham Central Station, Mandrill, Mango Di Bango, Osibisa, Isaac hayes, Luther Ingram, Percy Sledge, Millie Jackson, and later on the backup band for Wilson Pickett. a situation surfaced with Casablanca Records and the result was Cameo got the budget increase which left the band with no money and were later dropped. internal problems were next for the band so Michael took off and was hired by another d.c. act on Atlantic Records ''Black Heat''. michael was asked to tour the south pacific for 6 months doing the USO tours. what an impact it put on me he later said in an interview. after coming home from the tour there was nothing left for Michael so he took off to Los Angeles and was hired by the black rock group Dragonfly. Michael spent the next 7 years with the band living on the road going from Los Angeles to Japan, Hayward, California, Spokane, Washington ending up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where he lives today. since leaving the group he became an independent drummer and has worked with Little Richard, Tom Jones, Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band, Millie Jackson, Ronald Isley, and many, many more but it was with Billy Preston that really did a number on him. Billy Preston and Buddy Miles were Michael's mentors and touring and recording with Preston taught him many things. Michael was on Billy's last tour before he passed away. today Michael still travels to the U.S., Asia as well as the Europe. he also works the Vancouver circut. he has said that he's so lucky to be able to just be at the right place at the right time. Michael also says that he's not the best drummer but he has the feel and playing very simple gave him the chance to work with many different styles. '' keep it simple is my motto''. what a wonderful ride it has been. i've been truly blessed with the support of my family and god.
Brock Miller - Sax
Brock has shared the stage with acts ranging from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band to Jeff Healy and many others, and continues to move audiences with his red hot and evocative sax solos. Brock established his career with a long successful stretch in the very popular and celebrated Rubber Soul; a Vancouver Island R&B, funk band based out of Nanaimo which toured extensively throughout western Canada in the 90's.
Brock’s passion is the tenor saxophone and has performed both locally and internationally. His talent grows and evolves as he thrives on collaborating with original artists along with playing in cover or show bands in festivals, major hotels, on cruise ships, in nightclubs, theatres, restaurants, pubs and dance halls. Brock also works extensively as a freelance session musician but cannot deny the luring vibe of performing on stage, entertaining audiences.
Langston Raymond - Trumpet
Langston is a local musician based in Vancouver born in Kingston Jamaica. His musical journey began in Bella Coola, where he picked up the trumpet in elementary school and played in the jazz and concert bands throughout high-school. Upon graduation, Langston travelled across Europe with the Canadian National Honour Band which helped gel his passion for music. After studying at the University of Michigan, Langston started focussing more on trumpet and guitar, studying with local and international musicians and attending the University of Stanford and Port Townsend Jazz programs.
As a multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger, Langston keeps busy with many local musicians and artists recording and playing vario samba, reggae, jazz, classical, hip-hop and RnB.
Recently Langston has release an album titled “Doc Ramone and Corduroy Kid present Dirty Bottom”. Langston plays trumpet, guitar, bass and sings with the album’s “live” band. The band has produced two western Canadian tours, supported a film soundtrack and played numerous festivals.
Olaf de Shield - Guitar
Olaf de Shield is an established musician residing in Vancouver B.C., Canada. His main musical bags are Soul, Ryhthm & Blues, Jazz, and Pop. He is an accomplished guitarist, vocalist, and arranger, and has played and recorded with a host of local and international artists over the years
He currently performs with many of Vancouver's top local artists and bands including The Night Train Revue, Mike Henry, Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, Soultrax, Sibel Thrasher, and Jayleen Stonehouse - playing in venues such as The Yale, River Rock Casino, Chateau Whistler, Boulevard Casino, Rossini's, and so on.
He also works in several other formats - in his Jazz duo, as a Single act (playing Pop, Motown, Blues, and Jazz), and in a collaborative Rock/Funk Power Trio; "This, That, & The Other"...next page
Brian Scott- Bass
I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1953. Moved to Canada in 1956,
And have been playing bass guitar since 1966.
I currently live in the Vancouver area and have toured Canada and the United States with such artists as:
: Long John Baldry
: Dutch Mason
: Jack de Keyzer
: Doucette.
