Free Clinic Features Streetlife with Warren Wiegratz at Cascio Interstate Music

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Cascio Interstate Music, 13819 West National Ave. in New Berlin, will present a FREE Live Performance Clinic featuring Streetlife with Warren Wiegratz, the Milwaukee Bucks’ House Band, on Saturday, March 14 from 12 noon until 3pm. This FREE event is open to the public with an interactive, individual and full band live performance clinic, prize giveaways, and more. Doors open at 10:00 am. Please call (262) 789-7600 for further information.

Streetlife with Warren Wiegratz performs a unique blend of R&B, Smooth Jazz, and Contemporary styles, combining superb musicianship and vocals with an exciting stage presence. They have been honored with many nominations and awards at the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards (WAMI), including "Best Adult Contemporary Group" and "Best Contemporary Jazz Group" in Wisconsin. Their first release "Both Sides of the Street" received outstanding airplay nationwide.

The house band for the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, Streetlife also plays throughout the year at many regional and national music festivals, including Milwaukee's Summerfest and Rainbow Summer, while regularly conducting numerous music clinics and concerts at high schools and colleges throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Numerous helpful playing and performance tips will be demonstrated at this clinc, including: Knowing Your Instrument, Playing Different Styles, Reading Ability, Preparing for Performances, Chord Progressions, Memorization, On-stage Communication, plus much, much more.

Streetlife's leader and featured artist, Warren Wiegratz, has received the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Award (WAMI) for Reed/Brass Instrumentalist of the Year an unprecedented eleven times. Warren recorded four highly successful albums with Jazz/Fusion group Sweetbottom, and later formed the popular contemporary jazz group Oceans that recorded two nationally-released albums. As a composer, Warren has scored two motion pictures, Dreamweaver and Lady Mary. Warren is resident composer/arranger for BeatHouse Music, writing music extensively for commercials and audio/visual projects.

Streetlife drummer and co-leader Ryan Schiedermayer is a skillful drummer, percussionist, and songwriter who masters rhythmic nuances to create a soulful, dynamic sound. He is particularly well-versed in Latin, Jazz and R&B music. Ryan teaches drum set and Latin percussion to students at Cascio Interstate Music. He is also a member of the academic staff of UW-Milwaukee and works as an instructional accompanist for the Peck School of the Arts. His first solo album, "Sentido" is scheduled for release in early 2009.

Guitarist Peter Mac’s past projects include The Converters, an all-original trio, plus the Peter Mac Trio, as well as three solo albums with a fourth one on the way. An established studio musician and solo artist, Peter has opened for a wide variety of renowned national and international artists, and has recorded national commercials and more than one hundred fifty radio station ID's. Peter teaches over sixty guitar students per week at the Waukesha Conservatory of Music.

Bassist Leonard Adams has vast experience playing with a range of musicians both locally and while touring the world. He is accomplished in a wide variety of musical styles, and has played on several different world tours for the U.S. Department of Defense and USO.

Lead vocalist Joe Jordan is now in his tenth season as the lead vocalist of Streetlife. Jordan also sings The National Anthem at many major professional sporting events. Jordan has toured with his group SOULTRIO and other local groups, and has opened up for many national acts. Jordan teaches 1st & 2nd grade at Starms Elementary School in Milwaukee. He is currently working on his seventh CD project scheduled for release this summer.

Vocalist Rhonda Begos is full of soul, spirit, and meaningful expression. Rhonda attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. She has performed with the Eddie Butts Band, Body Language, Jon Paris, Cold Sweat, Hot Sauce, the North Coast Orchestra, and her own band, Midnight Groove. Rhonda also sang backup with Susan Tedeschi on the Conan O’Brien show in 2005. Rhonda performs the National Anthem for the Milwaukee Brewers, Bucks, Admirals, Wave, and at other patriotic events throughout Wisconsin.

Read more about Streetlife with Warren Wiegratz at www.streetlifejazz.com.

Cascio Interstate Music is among the nation’s top independent musical instrument retailers, ranking 14th in the United States. Cascio has been operating for over 60 years, headquartered in the suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin marketplace, which houses its retail Superstore, Call Center, Web Center and corporate offices. Its Distribution Center in Waukesha, WI handles over 40,000 items. More information on the Company is available at www.interstatemusic.com.