The "Dream Crushers"

Calgary Stampede Youth Talent Search Band

Once again, the Calgary Stampede has come and gone! Here is a picture of the back up band, affectionately known as "Rockin' Al and the Dream Crushers" for 2006! It was a great year for talent, and we all had a great time working the the young performers. This has been the 26th consecutive year for the Calgary Stampede Youth Talent Search!

Eric Friedenberg, Bobby Cairns, Miles Jackson, Kai Poscente, Al Muirhead, and Steve Foster.

Al Muirhead has been leading the band and helping the contestants do the best they can since the show opened in 1971! Al's one of the hardest working musicians in the business today and is first call trumpet for most things that go on in Alberta.

Here are the rest of the guys!

Bobby Cairns is a fabulous jazz guitarist, as well as having been the head of the guitar department at Grant MacEwan college in Edmonton for over 30 years! Bobby brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the band.

Eric Friedenberg has been one of Calgary's busiest musicians for decades! His exceptional sax and flute playing add a lot of to the show! Eric also doubles on keyboard strings and organ.

Kai Poscente has been holding down the bottom end and keeping the groove happening for several years now. Kai is also very involved with big band jazz, and stays busy in the clubs around town.

Steve Foster is an exceptional drummer who came to us from Jolly Olde England several years ago. He's one of the most experienced show drummers around, and can play every style convincingly, from country to jazz, reggae, rock, ballads... you name it! Along with Kai on the bass, you can't find a more versatile rhythm section.

Yours truly, Miles Jackson on piano. This has been my 16th season working with the Youth Talent show, and with Al as leader, the show and the band seems to get better each year. It's a great opportunity for these young performers to experience the thrill of working with a good professional back up band, and I'm happy that so many of them take advantage of the situation and have us play their tunes!

Congratulations to Tara Tennant who is our 2006 Talent Search winner, seen here receiving her check for $4000.00! She sang a killer bluesy version of "Sunday Kind of Love" to clinch the first place spot! Way to go, Tara!

Back to Ma-Me-O Music Home Page