Our Musicians

Geoff Achison Guitarist Geoff Achison, a native Austrailian, has a reputation as a guitarist’s guitarist. Equally adept at acoustic or electric styles, either choice can be beautifully intricate or feature high energy explosiveness. As a vocalist, Geoff possesses a soulful voice that evokes favourable comparisons to Joe Cocker or Warren Haynes.  He has toured regularly around the globe and won honors on three continents. Years of touring, recording and performing has seen him share stages with such high caliber artists as Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady (Hot Tuna) Tommy Emmanuel, Levon Helm (The Band) Chris Smither and John Mayer plus US blues legends like Hubert Sumlin, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and John Mayall. Growing up in rural Australia, Geoff developed a passion for American blues music and taught himself to play on his mother’s beat up acoustic guitar. Geoff started his worldwide explorations back in 1995 with his first trip to the US. He represented Melbourne at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and won the coveted Albert King Award for his guitar skills. He went on to accept an endorsement deal with the Gibson guitar company’s acoustic division.  Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna) has invited him each year since 1998 as a guest instructor at his Fur Peace Ranch guitar camp in Ohio.  His tours have extended throughout Australia, the UK and USA playing either his Solo Acoustic shows or hiring the best musicians available to form a band he calls The Souldiggers as he tours. He has won a swag of awards over the years for writing, performing and recording.  In 2007 Geoff & The Souldiggers picked up the Chain Blues Music Award in Australia for “Group Of The Year.” In early 2007 Geoff accepted an offer to relocate to Atlanta, where he now resides. Paul Fallat Drums Originally from Auburn , NY , Paul graduated from the University of Miami, FL and has 30 years of continuing education as a professional musician. Based in Atlanta since the early '80's, he is a versatile player who in the course of one month might rock out in nightclubs, play jazz in restaurants and hotels, perform in the pit orchestra for a musical theater production, work at private functions, or be part of worship music services in churches. Additionally, he does freelance sound design and audio engineering for corporate meetings, theater, trade shows, concerts and special events. Paul has credits as drummer and/or for drum programming on numerous CD's ranging in style from Jazz to Country to Rock to R&B. He's also written and recorded corporate theme music, jingles and modern dance soundtracks. He's been in the opening acts sharing the stage with artists such as Herbie Hancock, John Scofield, Ronnie Laws, Eric Johnson, Glen Campbell, and Spyro Gyra at festivals and concert venues. National touring experience includes gigs in NYC, LA, Chicago, Miami , Dallas , Washington , DC, Philadelphia , Boston and dozens of smaller towns. Andrew Fazackerley MUSIC DIRECTOR Born in England just to the East of the Beatles’ Liverpool . Andrew Fazackerley took his first music lesson on the piano at the age of seven under the direction of his grandfather.  By the time he was twelve, Andrew could sight read music while playing musical accompaniments at a dance school.  Andrew discovered jazz when he was fourteen and was forever transformed in his appreciation of music.  From pubs in Dublin , Ireland to clubs in London , Philadelphia , Atlantic City and New York City , Andrew’s skill has catapulted him into the company of some of the greatest names in musical history including jazz legend Lionel Hampton, Grammy winner Nestor Torres, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Butler and “Master” Henry Gibson, the world’s most recorded percussionist. In 1992, Andrew and his family arrived in Atlanta where he expanded his musical repertoire into new musical genres including country and western, blues, swing and rock.  Andrew currently performs with a number of ensembles including  “Tommie Macon and the Gentle Men of Jazz”, and “The Les Still Big Band” in addition to accompanying various Atlanta-based orchestras.  Andrew is also a composer, arranger and producer of his own music and is hired by other musicians for similar services.  It’s “all about the music” for Andrew and he is thrilled at the opportunity to serve as musical director of “Singularity” as it features some of the region’s top high school vocalists and accomplished professional musicians. Ken Gregory Trumpet, trombone & guitar Ken Gregory is an Atlanta-based trumpet and guitar player, studio owner and composer, playing professionally since 1968. Ken leads a seven-piece band called Solid State , that plays all original compositions written by members of the group.  Solid State has recorded three CD’s and their music is often heard on The Weather Channel and around the Southeast.  Ken also performs in   concerts and private functions with a number of groups ranging from duos to 18-piece big bands, playing and singing popular music of the last hundred years. In his studio, Ken composes, arranges, records and edits music for various international companies and local talents.  His clients include Warner Brothers, CNN, The Weather Channel and various national advertising and industrial companies.  Ken’s varied music skills enable him to create complete music arrangements in his studio for song writers who don’t otherwise have music accompaniment. Bill Hatcher Bass Nick Longo Alto and baritone sax Nick has been playing professionally since 1980, holds a degree in Jazz Studies from Georgia State University , and works consistently playing all genres of music. He has worked on stage as well as recorded with such well-knowns as Don Henley, Ray Charles, Greg Allman, Al Kooper, Charlie Daniels, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Francine Reed, The Coasters, The Shirelles, as well as many local Atlanta bands. Nick has also worked with jazz greats such as Nick Brignola, Randy Brecker and most recently with Earl Klugh opening for Chaka Khan. You can hear his work on commercials for companies such as Delta Airline, Kroger, Eureka , Hud Homes, BellSouth, as well as on the CBS program "Nightman," the Cartoon Network and CNN. Arthur Turner Piano, keyboards Arthur D. Turner works in and around the Atlanta area as the requested pianist, music director and arranger for Atlanta stalwarts like Clayborne Trinklein, Gwen Hughes, Melanie Massell, Octavia Jones, Dejie Johnson, Jennifer Perry, Johnnie Eason and Karen Knewell. His rock band, Blackperl is currently working on the next album and was repeatedly invited to play in New York City at Paul Colby’s The Bitter End. Born in Pittsburgh but currently living in Atlanta, Mr. Turner has earned music degrees from Carnegie Mellon University (BMus, classical composition) and the New England Conservatory (MMus, jazz composition). His 25-year professional experience is vast, having worked in dixieland bands (most notably, the Ruby Reds Band), classical voice recitals (Ron Gattis, in Boston), big bands (University of Pittsburgh, George Gee’s Make-Believe Ballroom, and most recently, piano sub for Del Baroni’s On-the-Air Big Band), ballet/modern/tap dance classes (Pittsburgh: Point Park College, CMU; Pennsylvania: Penn State University/ Harrisburg; Boston: Northeastern, Emerson, NEC) and various church choirs and services (Atlanta: Henry M. White UMC, Kinnette UMC; Pittsburgh: Metropolitan Baptist Church, Institutional Baptist Church, Warren UMC). His first love, surprisingly enough, is music theater and in the 80s to the early 90s has worked extensively with Onstage Atlanta (Little House of Horrors, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Aesop’s Fallables), CMU Drama Department (various revues and class recitals), Jude Pohl productions (which mounted the first Pittsburgh production of Ain’t Misbehavin’) and CMU’s Scotch N Soda, where he wrote or cowrote their 1980, 1981, 1983 and 1985 spring musicals. Currently Arthur is helping a SNS colleague prepare the 1985 musical (Zelda) for a pre-broadway tryout. Since relocating to Atlanta, he has accompanied singers and instrumentalists at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Music Midtown, Montreux Music-Atlanta, Sweet Auburn Festival, Star Spangled Night at Lenox Mall and the Oyster Festival. As a side man, Arthur performed at Sambuca Jazz Café, Carbos, Churchill Grounds, Dailey’s Downstairs, Café 290, Beluga, Chicago’s and other night clubs. As a solo artist, Mr. Turner has been seen at Ottley’s (J.W. Marriott), the Shiloh Inn (Pittsburgh), the Four Seasons Hotel and the Rainwater Café. Though his many freelances, Mr. Turner has performed in corporate dances and networking parties, weddings (services and receptions), recording sessions and charity benefits.