APPRENTICE

Apprentice biography
Apprentice was an obscure and short-lived American jazz fusion group from Chicago, consisting of James Pastman (keyboards), Mitch Hayes (guitars), Kenny Nugent (bass), Jerry Leake (percussion) and Frank Stauffer (drums). During its brief lifespan, the band released only one album before disbanding: Rough Draft, recorded in Los Angeles in 1981 or 1982 and released in 1982 by Mainstream Records, a label that is credited with no other releases. The album showcases a complex, virtuosic and fast-paced jazz fusion style with clear influence from Return To Forever and Dixie Dregs. Only two of the band members are known to have continued pursuing their music career after the band's breakup: band leader and lead composer James Pastman, whose keyboards dominated the band's sound, went on to work as a film composer, while percussionist Jerry Leake has released three world jazz albums under his name since 2006.