Biography

D and M Records, the sister company of D and M Music, is the nation's premier indie label. Because we are very selective and carry only the best of the best new artists on our label, we proudly recommend the music of each and every one for radio airplay.

ABOUT KATHRYN TAUBERT
Kathryn’s jazz career began in her native Texas when she began performing as the featured vocalist for her university's 27 piece dance band.

Subsequently signing with the Johnny Garcia and Steve Wayne Trios, Kathryn’s soft, easy style lent itself well to the resort hotel and dinner club venues reminiscent of 40’s and early 50’s. Also performing periodically with several swing-era dance bands, Kathryn eventually moved to the greater New York area to pursue other interests, occasionally performing in Manhattan and Connecticut jazz clubs.

Relocating to Southwest Florida two years ago, Kathryn was encouraged by Naples, Florida's own "Mr. Music", Claude Rhea, to resume her jazz career. Now working regularly with some of Florida's finest jazz musicians, including Rhea, the "Big City" exodus of recording artists and studio musicians to warmer climes, along with a resurgent interest in the timeless jazz, blues, and swing-era standards has brought her out of retirement to once again perform the songs that "say it all."

ABOUT BERNIE KENERSON
Innovator and multi-instrumentalist, Bernie Kenerson says it’s time to bring the Akai EWI 4000s out to the forefront and give it some r-e-s-p-e-c-t! With his talent and ability, he will do just that. He’s a producer, composer and arranger who plays many different electric wind instruments, saxophones, flutes, clarinets and keyboards. He was born to musical parents and began playing clarinet at age 7, sax at age 10 and flute at age 13. He started his professional career at age 16 in his hometown of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He joined the U. S. Army at age 17 and has fourteen years experience as an instrumentalist and arranger in Army Bands. His musical studies include a Two Year Professional Diploma from Berklee College of Music and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Appalachian State University where he formed the Neo-jazz band, ‘Slipstream’, and the group’s self produced album ‘Afterglow’ received Downbeat magazine’s 1982 DeeBee award for best college group and Bernie received an Outstanding Soloist award on Lyricon. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Bernie lived in Brussels, Belgium where he performed in a variety of groups at concerts and festivals throughout Western Europe, Scandinavia and Morocco. Bernie moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in May 1995 and has been busy performing and recording; highlighted by three years in the house band at the Jasmine Supper Club (a 7 night-a-week jazz venue) where he performed nightly and shared the stage with jazz artists’ Gato Barbieri, Kim Waters, The Yellowjackets, Joe Beck, Bob James, and the legendary Jimmy Smith. Bernie can be heard on many Beach Music CDs, including 11 that made the Beach Music top 100 and has received three Cammy Awards. He’s recently performing with Painted Man, Dedicated Magic, his own band Slipstream and working on solo CD projects. Bernie began performing on electric wind instruments in April 1978 with the Lyricon. He currently plays the new Akai EWI 4000s as his main instrument and displays a wealth of expression and artistry on this unique electric horn.

ABOUT RICK HOWARD
"FORTY FIVE YEARS ON A PAGE"
Rick Howard's forty five years of guitar playing and vocalizing have put him into every situation and every musical genre. At age fourteen Rick was performing at local functions and by seventeen playing parties and weddings. By nineteen he was getting his Jazz legs playing nightclubs while teaching guitar in a Brooklyn music school.
Rick first attended college in his twenties. The local 802 program for professional musicians at Kingsborough College gave him a chance to hone his arranging, composing and orchestration skills. The late seventies saw Rick form a group called "Whapp." This Zappa influenced ensemble mixed intricate music with a humorous theatrical approach. In the Eighties, Rick applied his talents to doing session work, playing guitar on movie scores and jingles. He contributed to recordings by King Sunny Ade, Betty Wright, Bob Marley, and Shania Twain to name a few.
Rick toured extensively with artists such as the Drifters and Chuck Berry, and he has shared the stage with Keith Emerson, Birelli Legrene, Jeff Baxter, John Entwhistle and others. Rick was heavily involved in the jazz and blues scene, performing with his group "The Wolfpack." Rick recorded two albums with his Latin Jazz group IGUAZU...the first self
titled "Iguazu" in 1998, and the second, "All You Need" in 2003. "All You Need" featured guests Paquito D'Rivera, Slide Hampton and Antonio Hart. Iguazu played at many Jazz festivals sharing the bill with Acoustic Alchemy, Alex Bugnon and David Valentin, to name a few.
Rick Howard is known by his peers to be one of the most diversified and eclectic guitarists on the scene. He plays every musical style with authenticity and taste. Rick considers his style to be the culmination of all his musical experience and influences. These influences include Kenny Burrell, Larry Carlton, Carlos Santana, Frank Zappa, Herb Ellis,Tal Farlow, David Gilmour, Alvin Lee, Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix and Joe Pass.
Rick now resides in Southwest Florida, enjoying the tropical climate and playing and singing as much Jazz and Blues as humanly possible! Rick's main guitars are his Gibson custom "Wes" L-5, Gibson ES-336, two SG's,1974 Fender Stratocaster, Heritage custom H-500, Gretsch 6120 Junior, and his Yamaha APX-6n. He uses Evans amps, Boss effects, and D'addario strings.

Kathryn Taubert, Bernie Kenerson, and Ricky Howard will be releasing their next CD's on the D and M Records Label in 2008.

Check out all our artists and great music at www.dandmrecords.com