Jazz Planet founder Peter Donald studied composition at Boston's Berklee College of Music while playing drums in the local Boston clubs with many jazz greats, including Al Cohn-Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Joe Henderson, Sam Rivers, Charlie Mariano, Paul Bley and John Abercrombie. Peter has lived in Los Angeles since 1971, and has worked and recorded with such pop acts as Helen Reddy, Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen. He has done a variety of television and film work as a player, producer and musical contractor and was executive producer of Dick Halligan & Associates, an L.A. based commercial and film music house.
While in Los Angeles, Peter has recorded and toured with the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band, winner of Downbeat’s Critics and Readers Poll, and singer Carmen McRae. He was a member of the John Abercrombie Quartet, a cooperative group which he co-founded. The quartet toured extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan and played major jazz festivals including Newport-New York, Monterey, North Seas and Antibes.
From 1988 to 1992, Peter was director of the Percussion Program at the Grove School of Music in L.A., while continuing to work in commercial production and record with various groups including the Denny Zeitlin Trio
and the prestigious L.A. based Bob Florence Limited Edition. From 1992 through 2000, Peter brought his varied professional experience to his position as a partner and music supervisor for the internationally known advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather. He then formed 2beat productions, a music consulting and production company for commercials. 2beat has since morphed into Jazz Planet, a music licensing website that supplies media production companies with original jazz tracks.
Peter also currently co-leads a trio called “3prime”, with pianist Tom Rainier and bassist Abraham Laboriel Sr.
For more information visit: http:/www.3primeonline.com
Jazz Planet Web Designer Dave Hooper started as the voice of "The Little Green Sprout" from the Jolly Green Giant Commercials.
He used to go to work with his dad, who writes music for TV commercials. When his voice changed and he realized he couldn't sing, Dave decided he had to take up an instrument. Drums seemed like the right instrument to torment his parents with.
Dave attended North Texas State University for two years, and eventually realized that college was for sissies. Not really. He studied with Peter Erskine, Gregg Bissonette, Steve Houghton, Joe Porcaro, David Garibaldi, Tom Brechtlein, and spent many hours jamming in his garage with roommate, Gary Novak.
Dave's Dad couldn't wait to use him as a drummer on his commercials, so at the age of 17, Dave began his studio drumming career.
Some of his career's highlights have been working with Herbie Hancock, Sheryl Crow, Lee Ritenour, The Rippingtons, David Byrne, Warren Hill, Joe Sample, The Manhattan Transfer, Chaka Kahn, Jeff Kashiwa,
and James Ingram.
For the past 10 years, Dave has developed a successful Internet solutions company, HOOPER.COM, creating websites for many online record labels, solo artists as well as million dollar ecommerce companies. His clientele include VITAMINS.COM, APPLE.COM, INTELLIGENTMEDIA.COM, WARRENHILLCRUISE.COM, ALLENHINDS.COM, GORDONGOODWIN.COM, POPJAZZ.COM and many others.
For more information visit: http://www.hooper.com
Jazz Planet Database Engineer is Larry Hennessee. President of Cliff Houser
& Associates Advertising Corporation, Larry Hennessee manages all of the agency's activities. Mr. Hennessee is ultimately responsible for the planning, implementation and control of agency objectives. Larry has been actively and gainfully employed in advertising and sales management for over 20 years. His passion about the business is matched only by his self proclaimed "I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up!" Therefore, Larry has become a "Jack of All Trades" and a master of many. His talents are a unique combination of computers, music, recording technology, and communcations skills...along with the ability to understand the "inside" of business and write marketing plans that affect the way millions of people purchase products and services.
Larry has a diverse background in writing and composing original music, audio production, 3-D computer animation and computer programming. He is in charge of specialty production, including jingles with original music for sound tracks for both radio and television, audio sweetening and digital editing. His background includes working for several major radio stations for over a decade, writing software and managing Internet servers.
He is high energy and is considered by most to be a "computer guru" - an attribute that makes a real impact in 21st Century advertising. He is client-oriented and works well in a one-to-one basis or in group presentation situations. Larry has the commitment and passion needed to deliver the consistency and timeliness required by our clients.
For more information visit: http://www.hennesseecorp.com
Chief Scientist, Theresa Tscheschke, is in charge of generally keeping Jazz Planet organized which includes but is not restricted to formatting audio for the Internet, maintaining our databases and riding herd on anything else that pops up.
Theresa grew up in Denver, Colorado, filling the house with her various musical interests in piano, clarinet, oboe and, of course, singing. Before deciding to go to music school she also tried her luck at many career paths, including nursery school teacher, auto insurance assistant, Internet provider customer service, and of course retail customer service.
In 1998 Theresa decided she just couldn’t live without music as a major part of her life. She willingly departed with her parents and her hard earned money to go to Berklee College of Music. It was at Berklee that her passion for audio production grew. Besides just meeting the demands of one major she decided she would do two; a work study job creating the Music Production & Engineering (MP&E) department website, be a member of the choir and try to complete all this in three years. Her efforts were realized when she graduated in 2002 with a degree in Music Business and MP&E.
After school, Theresa moved to Los Angeles, despite her parents’ constant worry and despite living the life of a struggling artist for her first two years, she is now able to put her many talents to use. Besides working with Jazz Planet she spends her time teaching elementary school keyboard and private vocal lessons, as well as working on her various music production projects and developing her eventual music production business.
For more information visit: http://www.tsquaredproductions.com
