Bio:

Mitch Stein - Guitar: Mitch Stein has become one of the most sought-after guitarists in guitar-rich New York City. He has lent his talents to such artists as David Sanborn, Tania Maria, Mino Cinelu and many others. The son of a classical pianist and a jazz trumpet player, Mitch Stein was born in Akron, Ohio. At age 3, the family moved to NYC, the birthplace of Mitch's father. Mitch's love of music first took hold after being introduced to the music of The Beatles at the age of 4. Though the drums were his first instrument, Mitch soon took to the guitar and by the age of 12 was studying with NYC studio great, Allen Hanlon, who instilled in him the discipline of the guitar and showed him the many directions in which the guitar can lead you. While in college, he studied classical guitar and spent one summer studying at the Aspen Music Festival with Oscar Ghiglia and Eliot Fisk. Upon returning to NYC after 2 years at college, Mitch decided to concentrate his energy full-time on jazz. He spent the next year studying with Rich Boukas who provided a great jazz foundation for him. In 1982, while back in school, legendary jazz organist Brother Jack McDuff, who has nurtured many great guitar players such as George Benson, Grant Green and Pat Martino, took Mitch under his wing. Spending 1 year plus with McDuff taught Mitch much about music and life in the music business. During the next few years, Mitch started working on a style that incorporated all the musical influences in his life. In order to really find a voice, you have to use all the colors available on your palette, not just select ones. Jim Hall, Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery to Johnny Winter, Carlos Santana and Jimi Hendrix. The music of Weather Report and The Mahavishnu Orchestra as well as the music of James Brown, Sly Stone and Led Zeppelin were important musical role models.

During the next few years, Mitch met Tania Maria, who believed in him and nurtured him to follow his musical path. For 8 years, they worked together and recorded several records. Being a brazialian musician, Tania never asked Mitch to play "brazilian " style guitar. Just be yourself, she said. It was also around this time that Mitch met the drummer, Rodney Holmes. This proved to be an important meeting of like minds and this relationship developed into the band, The Hermanators, which is still on-going. Other bands that Mitch is involved with include Adam Holzman and Brave New World, the Mino Cinelu band and the Bill Evans band. For the last year and a half Mitch has been playing with the Steve Kimock Band, where he joins Hermanators bandmate Rodney Holmes and Steve in creating an open musical adventure that's still evolving. In 1999, The Hermanators released their debut CD called "Twisted" and are in the process of working on the next one, with a 2003 projected release.

(continued from right) Holmes stayed with Santana through the end of the 1993 tour and credits the experience with giving him greater perspective on performing in rock venues to larger audiences. However, he had some other offers and other areas in jazz that he wanted to pursue. So, he joined the Brecker Brothers (performing on their 1994 Grammy winning album, Out of the Loop, and the song, "African Skies"). From that point, Holmes toured extensivley with the Brecker Brothers for two years. Holmes also went on to perform/recorded with Steps Ahead, the incredible Wayne Shorter, Larry and Julian Coryell, Victor Bailey, Leni Stern, and New York guitartist, David Gilmore. Rodney Also went on to tour and record with Santana from 1997 to June of 2000. Playing on the mega hit single "Smooth" with Rob Thomas of Match Box 20, Rodney is now a multi Grammy winner. Now Rodney is persuing new musical and artistic goals with his own music, as well as with other amazing artists.

Inspired by a home life filled with music, Rodney took up the drums upon joining the junior band in the 4th grade. By the time he reached high school in Westchester, New York, he'd already decided to become a professional musician. When he graduated, although he'd earned a music scholarship to Long Island University he chose to go out on his own. And influenced by the likes of such great jazz drummers as Max Roach, Art Blakey, kenny Clark, and Tony Williams, as well as drummers like Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd, and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Holmes began getting jazz gigs and recording sessions. Although he was not part of the inner circle in the New York music scene, Holmes' talent soon caught the attention of keyboardist, composer and musical visionary, Clyde Criner, who taught at LIU as well as at the New England Conservatory. Dr. Cryner took Rodney under his wing and put together a group featuring the young drummer. It was as if Rodney just fell out of the sky. The group recorded two albums, [Clyde Cryner-Behind the Sun] and [The Color of Dark] on RCA/Novus before Criner passed away. Dr. Clyde Criner left an incredible impression on Rodney that was both musical as well as personal. Rodney wanted to keep Criner's progressive and innovative spirit alive. After his stint with Criner, Holmes met and worked with Jean Paul Bourelly and Victor Bailey, and then joined the group, Special EFX, for two years. With his own taste in jazz evolving toward more open music, Holmes then became a part of the Zawinul Syndicate with Keyboardist Joe Zawinul. It was also around this time that he was introduced to a Guitar player named Mitch Stein. This meeting would later turn into the foundation of a very unique electric trio called the Hermanators. It was while on tour with Zawinul that Holmes ran into Carlos Santana in a Hotel. Santana had known about Holmes through Criner and the two decided that they'd play together at some point. And it wasn't long before Rodney received an invitation to join the Santana Band for the 1993 tour with Bob Dylan.

Kip Reed - Bass: Kip Reed has toured extensively with several bands, most notably Tania Maria and Liquid Hips. His love of brazilian and world-beat music combined with his background in rock, funk, and jazz make him one of the most in-demand bass players in New York. Performance highlights include Tania Maria, Liquid Hips, Joe Lovano, Mulgrew Miller, Leni Andrade, the Gil Evans Orchestra, Paolo Jobin, Donna Summer, James Moody, Kenny Werner and Hank Crawford.

Booking Info. Mitch Stein e-Mail: Rodney Holmes Kip Reed Web Site Links: Mitch Stein - www.AdamHolzman.com www.StoneAlliance.com Rodney Holmes www.RodneyHolmes.com www.MonsterIsland.com/sleestack