Created, arranged and produced by
Chip Davis

The Fresh Aire Music of Mannheim Steamroller was designed exclusively by Chip Davis to tour in the spring of 2008. The show includes the famed Mannheim Steamroller multi-media images, synchronized lighting, special effects and, of course, the world-renowned music of Mannheim Steamroller.

The musical performers are 15 in number, performing the driving Steamroller rhythms
and electronic wizardry, accompanied by orchestral instrumentation.

Chuck Penington--Conductor
For many years, Mannheim Steamroller has relied on conductor Chuck Penington for stage performances, recording sessions and publicity appearances around the world. While studying to become a Minister of Music at Southern Methodist University, Chuck discovered the mesmerizing world of jazz and big band, and eventually gave up church music in favor of popular music. In his own right, Chuck is a pianist of national note, as well as conductor, arranger and composer. He has created original music for film, musical theater, dance, and recently achieved a New York production of his rock musical Lucifer.

Ron Cooley-- Bass Guitar and Fretted Instruments
Ron has been with Mannheim Steamroller since . . . well, no one remembers exactly. Featured on Mannheim Steamroller's multi-platinum albums, Ron showcases the melodic, finger-style guitar techniques that have become his trademark. In his 40 years as a professional musician, Ron has earned renown on his own in the worlds of contemporary jazz and instrumental music, and has performed a solo concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Ron is also a music educator, teaching guitar at Creighton University, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Iowa Western College. Ron's albums can be found on the American Gramaphone label and Nebraska Sky Records.

Jonathan Swoboda--Keyboards
Jonathan is a product of the Midwest, which gave him access to the very best musical training-with Jackson Berkey, legendary keyboardist with Mannheim Steamroller. Jonathan's permanent gig is Resident Music Director at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and he has acted as music director for more than 75 productions with numerous theater and touring companies. Jonathan graduated with High Distinction from the University of Michigan and holds a Masters Degree from the University of Nebraska. Most recently, Jonathan performed as featured keyboardist in Branson, Missouri with The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller.

Logan Penington-Drums
Logan Penington started drumming at age 6, and playing professionally at age 12. Since then he has performed with the incomparable Quincy Jones, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, and regularly performs on albums for international acts. The son of conductor Chuck Penington, Logan grew up haunting around backstage at Mannheim Steamroller shows, and is a truly fine musician. Good enough, in fact, to join us on stage. This is Logan's fourth tour with the band, having debuted on The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller tour in 2006.

Jeff Yang--Violin
Jeff is appearing for the second year with the band for The Fresh Aire Music of Mannheim Steamroller tour. We think of Jeff as a collector: He's collected three bachelor degrees (Arts, Music and, of course, Industrial Engineering), one masters degree (Music), and a post-masters in performance. He plays four instruments that we know of (viola, cello, bass guitar and electric violin) in six distinct genres (classical, blues, folk, rock, jazz and world music). When he's not with us, you can catch Jeff as concertmaster for the New Millennium Orchestra in Chicago, and as first violin of Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues.

Back in the '70's, Chip Davis was a classically-trained musician working in the advertising world. In his spare time, he was busy inventing a new style of music. When approached, the big record labels were intrigued, but confused by this new style: it wasn't exactly jazz, it wasn't really rock, it wasn't precisely classical. So, in 1975 Chip founded his own company, and American Gramaphone quickly grew to be the largest independent record label in the country. In order to increase exposure to his music, Chip started a new band he called Mannheim Steamroller and started touring the world.

Fast forward 30 years, and you'll find the same dynamics at work at American Gramaphone. Today, Mannheim Steamroller is a group of the most talented and versatile musicians, still touring the world. The band is an ever-changing consortium of musicians, technicians and engineers using state-of-the-art equipment to create Mannheim Steamroller's signature sound. The group can vary in size from one player, to a small ensemble, to an entire symphony.

Mannheim Steamroller is one of the top selling bands of all time, outselling such artists as Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Sting and Bruce Springsteen.

Chip Davis: Creator, Arranger, Producer

Chip Davis is the genius behind Mannheim Steamroller and the driving force of American Gramaphone. His now-classic Fresh Aire series and the multi-platinum Christmas albums have brought him international renown.

Chip combines the dynamics of musical mastery and technical wizardry to create a style often described as "18th Century Rock-n-Roll." He named the band Mannheim Steamroller for the 18th Century musical technique that we know today as the crescendo.

Tonight's show is a celebration of more than 30 remarkable years of groundbreaking music. The first album Fresh Aire was released in 1974, and the series' final component was released recently to great acclaim. Each of the eight Fresh Aire albums explore topics; the first four Fresh Aire albums were inspired by the magnificence and distinctiveness of the four seasons, while Fresh Aire V through Fresh Aire 8 deal with man's curiosities about the world in which we live. Chip's most recent album, Christmas Song, earned platinum status within two weeks of its release.

Grammy award-winning Chip Davis lives outside Omaha with his wife Trisha and three children.