Laura Cortese's Trio

Zack Hickman, Upright Bass: Zachariah Hickman was raised by two lovely parents in Lynchburg, Virginia. An average piano student as a child, he was of above-average height, and was switched to the tuba at the tender age of 12. Frequent bouts with marching bands followed. He became aware of the bass as an instrument in the fourth grade when picked to act as Guns and Roses' bassist Duff McKagan in a talent show lip-sync to "Patience." He would acquire an electric bass years later, five months after committing himself as the bassist in his first band, Mahogany Firewood. They were terrible. During his high school years, Zack put out records he recorded on his Fostex four-track for his own Ceramic Lady Music label, and started to play other instruments, mainly guitar and harmonica. At some point he discovered the acoustic bass, studying with local guru Ed Mikenas, and cutting his teeth for years at awkward jazz summer camps. He is the only graduate from the now defunct Virginia School of the Arts jazz program.

These studies eventually lead him to the Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, where in 2001 he graduated with a BM in Jazz Double Bass performance and a BA in English literature. There he studied with bassist Peter Dominguez, and met and performed with a number of incredible musicians and teachers. Zack and his friend Josh Ritter made their first recording during Zack's freshman year, and play together to this day. During his college years Zack made records with lots of student bands and local artists, lived abroad in Dublin for a semester, made a Moby Dick hat, and produced a full-length circus.

Immediately after college Zack performed as part of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass festival, run by bassist Christian McBride. He then relocated to the Boston area, where he currently resides. Zack spends his time as a bassist and multi-instrumentalist for local and national acts of all sorts, playing rock and roll, bluegrass, jazz, and most anything that comes his way. He is on tour for most of the year. In his spare time, Zack enjoys growing handlebar mustaches and sneaking into movies. He is forever indebted to the great friends and musicians in his life, most of whom are both.

Edward O'Day, Guitar: Edward was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He started playing guitar around the age of 13, and has been part of the local music scene for as long as he can remember. He cut his teeth playing clubs while in high school. He graduated from Belmont University with a double major in Music Performance and Communications. After Belmont, Edward toured for four years in an acoustic group called Daybreak. They played festivals and theatres all over North America. During that period he was featured in Flatpicking guitar magazine. He has spent the last year playing electric and acoustic guitar with various artists in Nashville. When he's not playing guitar, you will find him in the local dog park with his border collie Gillespie and Brittany spaniel Annie.

Neil Cleary, Drums: Neil Cleary has toured as a drummer with Annie Hayden, The Essex Green, Erin McKeown, Jim Roll, and literary satirist Neal Pollack, as well as on his own as a singer/songwriter in the US & UK.

Visit Laura's web site at www.lauracortese.com.