Rooftop Reveries by The Eric Plaks Five

Born and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, Eric has split his adult life between playing jazz and teaching elementary school students in Harlem, and, recently, the South Bronx, where he helped to found Bronx Charter School for the Arts.

RIAN WILKINSON - trumpet. Hailing from Peoria, Illinois, Rian moved to Harlem to study the trumpet at City College. An accomplished classical, jazz, and electronic music performer, Rian has appeared in performances throughout New York City. Rian is also a jazz educator, leading the jazz and band programs at Heritage High School in East Harlem.

DAVID WALKER - guitar. Born and raised in Atlanta, David likes to say that he "grew into" jazz through the blues and rock-saturated musical environment of his hometown. David moved to Harlem to study jazz at City College, where he won an ASCAP Composer's Prize for his tune "Fog" (on Rooftop Reveries). When not composing or performing, David spends his time as an architect.

MOTOKI MIHARA - bass. From Osaka, Japan, Motoki has played jazz his whole life. He moved to Harlem to study at City College, and since graduating has performed with several noted jazz combos. He brings a strong rhythmic feel and amazing communication skills to the Quintet.

JON PANNIKAR - drums. Jon is from Fort Smith, Arkansas, a city of slightly less than 100,000 with a surprisingly rich and varied music scene. Cutting his teeth on everything from supper club jazz to punk, Jon was already a seasoned performer when he arrived in Harlem at age 18 to study the drums at City College. Now, seven years later, he has matured into a powerful jazz drummer with a uniquely personal sound.

Also heard with Eric Plaks:

KOBI SALOMON - alto sax. Born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, Kobi has been a resident of Brooklyn for the last ten years. He brings his happy sound and leaping phrases to every gig or recording session that is fortunate enough to feature his horn.

LECO REIS - bass. A native of Porto Allegre, Brazil, Leco moved to the United States thirteen years ago in order to attend the Berklee School of Music in Boston. He has been avidly studying the bass ever since, receiving his Masters Degree in Bass Performance from Queens College this year. Leco is frequently heard around town playing Brazilian music, and has gigged in a jazz context with Graham Haynes and Billy Newman.

PACO MAHONE - bass. Paco is another in a long line of excellent jazz musicians who claim Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as their home town. He moved to Harlem six years ago to study the bass at City College with Ron Carter. Paco tours with the jam band Schleigho when not playing jazz in New York City.

JODI WALKER - vocals. Born and raised along with her eight musical siblings in Westhampton Beach, Long Island, Jodi has been singing her whole life. She met David at a blues club in Atlanta ten years ago, they married, and have been performing together ever since.

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