Brian Davidson
Nashville, Tennessee

A guitar enthusiastic since age 8, this British native grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and now lives and makes music in Nashville as a live performer and studio freelancer.  Brian Davidson’s style menu (ranging from country to rock, jazz and classical) is as eclectic as the venues he and his guitar have frequented.  He’s played with various bands (including an early-career stint with his two brothers) in Cleveland-area clubs.  He’s also performed at the State Theater (with the Cleveland Orchestra, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, the Cleveland Opera and the Cleveland Ballet).  Among numerous kudos, Davidson’s group was a semi-finalist for Musician magazine’s “Best Unsigned Band” competition in 1997. In addition, he was one of 12 first-place honorees (winning the Country category) in Guitar Player magazine’s 1992 “Ultimate Guitar” competition.

“A nice balance of styles to keep your ear in tune to each piece.  He is one to keep an eye on,” a reviewer for the fusion website Proggnosis said of Rogério Maudonnet. This multicultural guitarist/composer naturally blends rock and jazz with music from his native Brazil.  His 2005 debut album features 11 instrumental tracks, several featured on Australian radio’s Fretnet.  In addition to performing with his Brazilian band, Maudonnet has composed soundtracks for major television commercials advertising Quiksilver, Sprite, Gatorade and Greenpeace.  Maudonnet received a scholarship to attend a Summer Program at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.  His song “Brazil” placed second in the Souza Lima-Berklee Composition Festival (Sao Paulo, Brazil).  In addition, Spain’s Guitarra Total magazine selected his tune, “Formula One,” for a 2004 CD.

His rollicking “surfabilly” trio, The West Side Winders, gets rave reviews in the Chicago area and has recorded two albums, “Come and Get It” and “Snaken Not Stirred.”  The group Dan Peters founded blends all the styles he loves to play (rockabilly, surf, jazz, blues, swing, country, and hard rock).  His work is also heard on the current version of Incredible Technology’s video golf game, Golden Tee.  Peters’ first taste of success came as a member of The Big Swing in 1997.  With this popular Chicago swing band, he toured Europe and appeared on ABC-TV’s Cupid.  Peters also appeared on a music special for the BBC with legendary British keyboardist Jools Holland.   He credits his training at Hollywood’s Guitar Institute of Technology with exposing him to “a lifetime worth of ... knowledge and skills.”

“Jamie Robinson’s music is alive in a way many artists strive for but few accomplish,” says A&R Select, Hollywood’s top independent artist and repertoire firm.  This devoted, 17-year-old Canadian rocker works daily on songwriting, performing, recording and building a portfolio, and has been known to practice 8 to 11 hours a day for months at a time.  His distinctive, original flavor shines in infectious tunes inspired by a pure passion for music.  His goal, he says, is to write evocative music that is “fully expressive and totally honest” — music that leaves both artist and listener happy.  He describes his style as a “hot hybrid crafted from the finest rock, jazz and electronic elements.”  “Music,” Robinson says, “is a mystic thing that allows the listener to peek in on the state of mind and heart of the artist.”

A 2006 graduate of the Modern Art University of Moscow, Anton Tsygankov started making music at age 4, and has studied piano and voice in addition to guitar.  He’s performed with various rock and pop bands, including live on Russia’s nationally televised “Saturday Evening” program.  With his band ANTI, he performed for more than 15,000 at an anti-terror festival.  He recently released his first CD, “ANTI” Anton Tsygankov Project, in both Russian and English.  In addition, he is participating in Moscow’s production of the ABBA-inspired Mama Mia musical.  Tsygankov has succeeded in numerous competitions, capturing first place in the All-Russian “Russian Hendrix” competition in 2004.  He returns to Western New York after placing third in 2005’s North American Rock Guitar Competition.

Rodney VerBrugge says he’s been playing guitar “religiously” for nearly a quarter century.  In the late 80s and early 90s, he led a handful of San Francisco area bands.  His eclectic music incorporates variations of rock (neo-classical, progressive instrumental, pop) and blues. His goal when he plays guitar, he says, "is to strive for technical perfection, while also incorporating a more melodic and less rigorous soulful form of expression." In 2006, VerBrugge was chosen as one of 10 finalists in Guitar Player Magazine’s “Guitar Hero” competition.  He emerged as the first runner up. Inspired to write and record, VerBrugge recently completed a new CD featuring progressive instrumental rock songs.