Bassist Chris Stefanetti Official Web Site

09/03/06--> GRS Trio Rocks Rosalie & Alva.s with Latin Smooth

In a blur of sticks and brushes, Walfredo Reyes Jr. punished drums, timbales and a collection of Latin percussion instruments with his GRS Trio at Rosalie & Alva.s Performance Gallery on Saturday night, September 30th. GRS stands for Graf, Reyes and Stefanetti. The trio being rounded out by Haakon Graf playing keyboards and 5-string electric bass of Chris Stefanetti, they performed their own brand of high-energy Latin/Funk jazz. Although their sound is Smooth Jazz, it is some of the most exciting in this genre. Graf, who composes most of the material for the trio, is an amazing keyboard technician with a scope of jazz ideas far beyond the typical .Smooth. vocabulary. Graf has previously performed in the bands of Airto Moreira and Flora Purim as well as his own group Grafitti. Bassist Stefanetti comes from a strong .pop. background of working with Queen Ida and Rodney Franklin. Reyes is a brilliant percussionist who has been heard with the Latin Pop band Santana and the Latin Jazz Ensembles of Clare Fischer including Fischer.s Salsa Picante. Listening to Reyes it.s hard to believe that one man is creating all the music. He plays timbales right along with the rest of his drum kit never missing a beat on either set of drums. And he makes it seem far too easy! Through every tune Reyes is beaming with the joy of his creating, his facial expression like a happy puppy pleasing his master. The most enjoyable number of the evening was a cha-cha on which Reyes devoted himself to the timbales while special guest Airto Moreira sat in on drums, each man complimenting the other with their percussive efforts. Also most enjoyable was a solo Haakon Graf played on the concert grand piano as a prelude to their song Fat Freddy.s Cat. The GRS Trio is a regular attraction at Rosalie & Alva.s Performance Gallery and will return soon for another performance. Stay tuned to CliqueHear.com for details of GRS Trio.s next visit, as well as much more amazing jazz from all around Southern California.

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Introducing "The GRS Trio" Graf, Reyes and Stefanetti are ready with a new high energy trio that combines the intricate and explosive rythmns of Cuba with the artistry and brilliance of jazzfunk.

The GRS Trio Haakon Graf keyboards Walfredo Reyes Jr drums & Percussion Chris Stefanetti bass

A new lineup that combines the fire of cuban rythmns and the brilliance of worldclass jazzfunk.

Original compositions by Graf who has been touring USA,the former Sovietunion, Japan, Brasil, Cuba and Europe with different projects since the late 70's. Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, Michael Urbaniak, Hawk On Flight, Grafitti, Frank Gambale, Paul Jackson & Mike Clarke, John Blackwell, Airto & Flora, Calixto Oviedo and now also asked to join The Miracles, Smokey Robinsons original group from Motowns early Detroit days. Walfredo Reyes Jr has played with Santana for many years, Steve Winwood, the cuban superdiva Celia Cruz, the brasilian pianist & singer Tania Maria and many many more.

Chris Stefanetti attended Berklee School of Music in the early 80's and has played with some of the most serious artists in the Bay area:Rodney Franklin + +

www.myspace.com/hgraf www.walfredoreyesjr.com www.chrisstefanetti.com

The GRS Trio is appearing :

The Baked Potato aug 10
Valencia Wine Festival aug 19th
Rosalie & Alvas Performance Gallery sept 30

The GRS Trio will record a CD and DVD very soon

07-01-06 This summer of 2006 looks to be shaping up nicely. I've got several projects going on and have been collaborating and working with some great musicians one of whom is Haakon Graf, the great Norwegian Jazz fusion keyboardist and composer. Haakons work with Dennis Chambers and Gary Grainger in the band "Graffiti" is hands down some of the best fusion music out there. It's great to be performing with Haakon and creating some intense jazz/latin fusion.

01-18-06
Happy New Year everyone! This winter I'm in Vail, Colorado at the Ritz Carlton for a Winter gig. Click this for an article about us in the local paper.. It is an amazing place, with lots of snow and skiing for all. I'll be here most of the winter playing with Chris Smith of the Hammer Smith Band. While here in Vail, I'm still working on my CD and updating the web site. Please visit my myspace web site too for more updates and info.
Chris Stefanetti Myspace.

7-10-05

Hello again and thanks for visiting my web site everyone! News as of late.

The music page of the site has been updated. Added are some more music files to that section. One which is Green Dolphin St. Performed by myself on bass, Bernie Galane on Drums and Cal Bezemer on piano. Recorded in Pasadena at Roland Shaheeds studio, and mixed here at Another Class music. Got a good take on this one and a good example of my bass playing on a standard latin tune.

Also to report, the JP Cervoni and Belinda Skinner CD "Blues and Beyond" is complete and headed for the stores. A couple samples from that CD have been added to the music section here at chrisstefanetti.com.

More news, I am making headway on putting the finishing touches on my new smooth jazz CD. I am hoping for a late summer release. This will be my first CD. So far it is shaping up to be very competitive and ready for the 94.7 the Wave, Southern Californias smooth jazz station. Check back again for more updates and thanks for visiting!

6/4/05

Again, good news to report from Los Angeles, CA. Work is coming in for me as freelance bassist and I have been playing alot of gigs in and around the greater LA area. Some of the great musicians that have been on the dates are players like keyboardist/producer Mark LeVang who plays with countless name acts such as, Kenny G, Yanni and is also very busy session musician. Also on the gig lately has been Bernie Dresel who is drummer with The Brian Setzers Orchestra and is considered a real heavy wieght player... I can understand why, he really "lays it down!!" I have also had the pleasure of working with members of the great vocal group M-Pact. If you haven't checked these guys out you need to hear them. Primarliy an accapella group they also work on some corporate dates and they are awesome at whatever they sing! Well, off the the gig. More news to come and next and update on my Smooth Jazz CD which is almost ready for the final Studio Production! Check back soon please!

Chr s

4/4/05:

I'm very happy to report that things are really picking up for me here in LA. I have met many very talented musicians. One of whom is Bernard Galane a fantastic and versatile young drummer from Austria. We just finished a trio recording which is shaping up nicely with Alex Machacek on guitar. Alex is a very talented guitarist, also originally from Austria, who will be playing at The Baked Potato with Terry Bozzio coming up May 6 & 7, if your in town don't miss it!

Another very bright highlight this spring is working with JP Cervoni on his Solo record featuring Belinda Skinner (who is on tour with Scott Henderson this week) JP is a joy to work with and a very creative and knowledgeable producer as well as a killer guitarist! So far I have recorded one awesome tune with Vinnie Colaiuta (he takes an amazing solo at the end), and another tune with Scott Henderson and Bernard Galane which is super funky. I will be doing another tune which will feature Kirk Covington on drums in the next couple of weeks.

On the jazz side of things I'm putting together more recordings for my Trio project, please visit again for more info later! So far the Trio has done two nights at the Vintage Cafe in Pasadena. Sandro Albert played one of the dates and he was awesome, if you don't know about Sandro check out his web site. www.sandroalbert.com

Finally some great news about an old friend and awesome guitarist. David Fields and I will be reuniting after what? 15 years? In May we'lll go down to San Diego for a corporate show along with Tom Brechtlein on drums (Chick Coreas Touchstone band). Dave and I have known each other since our school days at Berklee College of music and it's going to be a blast having him visit town! Over to the Baked Potato we go and the rehearsal studios for jamming. Do I see a fusion/rock/jazz recording session brewing here? Stay tuned for more later and thanks for visiting ChrisStefanetti.com