JIM GIFFORD
Jim has been drumming for 33 years and has been leading JG3, a Chicago based jazz-fusion trio, since 1996. He has also done extensive live and studio work with singer-songrwriters, rock, soul, jazz, latin, funk and avant garde projects and produced live music for countless modern dance concerts as well as numerous recordings with producer Brian Deck. In addition to JG3, Jim currently plays with bassist Jauqo III-X and he recently contributed live music to “Electric Miles”, a modern dance tribute to Miles Davis’ electric fusion period that received a DanceBridge grant though the City of Chicago. In August 2009 Jim performed with uber-guitarist Guthrie Govan doing originals from his latest recording “Erotic Cakes”.
In 2003 Jim co-founded CPE Sound, Chicago’s premier hourly rehearsal studios. CPE Sound survived a catastrophic fire in 2007 and has thrived since moving to its permanent home in Music Garage Chicago in October 2008, where Jim teaches privately as well. In October 2009 Jim was named Manager of Music Garage Chicago where he continues to help musicians get where they want to go with their music.
PAUL NORMAN
Paul Norman has 14 years of tour experience with an impressive roster of performers. During this time he has worked in various capacities including stage manager, lighting and video director and backline technician. He is now settled down at the Music Garage Chicago where he manages the Pro Space and is our in-house production consultant.
With his vast knowledge of everything that goes into creating a successful show, his extensive array of music industry contacts both in Chicago and throughout the country, Paul is available to help you. Your stay at the music garage is a dream experience from locating that impossible to find last minute piece of gear to finding the right restaurant for a crew party.
Paul has toured with the following acts Metallica, Backstreet Boys, Vanessa Williams, Erik Bennet, Patti Labelle, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Disturbed, Alien Ant Farm, New Edition, Jamie Fox, Blue Man Group, Mudvayne, Fantasia, Jaheim, Disco Bisquits and many other acts. He has also served as local production for R Kelly, Sting, James Brown, Mary J Blige, The Whispers and more. His TV experience includes work with Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, Conan O’Brien and MTV.
Paul is available to answer any production questions you may have.
DAVE FUNK
Dave Funk is a legendary amp builder, author, and electronics designer.
For five years in the early 90’s Dave wrote monthly articles for Vintage Guitar Magazine which was compiled in to “Dave Funk’s Tube Amp Workbook”, the standard reference book for amp collectors, builders and technicians all over the world.
Dave gained notoriety in the late 1990’s when Ken Fischer, builder of Trainwreck guitar amps–considered my many to be among the best guitar amps ever made–designated Dave to be the only official Trainwreck Service Center. Dave finished the last two Trainwreck amps for Ken and is considered the leading authority on Ken’s masterpieces.
Dave’s current offering, the Thunderfunk TFB750-A bass amp, is thought to be the best bass amplifier ever made by some of the best bass players in the world, and Dave has built custom amps for The Allman Brothers, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Marty Stuart, Patty Loveless, Vince Gill and many others.
In addition, Dave has designed everything from Lowrey Organs to detector plates at Fermilab, hearing aids, a military communication satellite, oscilloscopes, cell phones, pinball games, the optical encoder computer for the Hubble Space Telescope, MRI’s, the inertial navigation system for the Boeing 747, and the computers used in the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter planes.
