Stratus Phear

Jack Hayes - Lead Guitar / Vocals
After taking lessons for just a couple of years as a young child, Jack developed as a self taught rock and blues guitarist. His benchmark for his distinctive style of guitar playing reaches back to the innovative blues and rock solo's of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix during the late 60's. Other inspirations for him were the Beatles, the Byrds, the Yardbirds, the Moody Blues, and Jethro Tull. Driven by these inspirations, he played in several bands as a teenager, but quit playing at the age of 19 to pursue other interests.

In the late 90's, after putting together an impromptu band for his high school reunion, Jack decided that he had more playing (on a live performance level) left in his blood, and shortly thereafter formed the band Stratus Phear. In the years that things came together with Stratus Phear, Jack has developed his unique blend of rhythmic, soulful, and bluesy manner of playing to culminate in a style totally suited to the music that Stratus Phear plays today.

Lori Ayala - Lead Vocals / Percussion

Lori grew up listening to her dad play guitar and loved the sounds of the music he played by Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire, Chaka Khan, and other Motown Favorites. She saw his dedication and commitment to his passion in music, and that inspired her.
She started taking piano lessons and singing around the house as a child. As she grew into adulthood, life took her into the field of education and she had spent years getting her degrees and working as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal and now principal. During these years, she sang in the choir, took more piano and voice lessons and started her own variety band in Texas. She’s back in Albuquerque now with all of her family and she’s singing in the choir again. She was fortunate to have the opportunity to sing with Stratus Phear and she’s been having a great time.

Casey Cook - Bass/Lead & Rhythm Guitar/Vocals

Casey started playing guitar in junior high school and quickly fell in love with the instrument. With friends, he formed several acoustic duos and trios and played small venues throughout high school and college and into his 20's. Eventually, however, the demands of family and career required him to set music aside except the occasional jam in the living room.

Once his two daughters were old enough to start playing music, they asked him to teach them chords and picking patterns on the guitar. As they improved as musicians, he started to perform duets and record songs with them. When his youngest daughter asked that he add a bass line to one of her recordings, his musical passion was rekindled, this time for the deep tones and rhythm of the bass guitar. After a couple of years of intensive practice and on-line lessons, he was fortunate enough to fall in with Stratus Phear as a substitute bassist to cover gigs when their primary bassist (Morse) was unavailable. Now, with Morse stepping into the role of keyboard player, Casey is taking the reins as bass player and also contributing to the vocals. He is excited to be sharing the stage with such a fantastic group of musicians!

Ben Harrison - Keyboards / Violin / Vocals

Ben "Zuda" Harrison, has had a varied musical career. After graduating from UTEP with a BA in music in Viola Performance and 4 years in the El Paso Symphony he quit and ran away to join the Rock and Roll Circus.
Over the years he played with such bands as Citizen X, Tangled Bank, and Piggy Bank in the El Paso/Southern New Mexico area. He toured Europe for 6 weeks with the Gary Floyd Band playing to sold out audiences. In the Albuquerque area he has played with The Heaters, Reality Funk and Soul Revue, Back Pages, and The David Kurtz Band.
Ben's influences include Classical, Jazz and Progressive Rock as well as good old Classic Rock. Ben has a particular affinity for Gentle Giant and XTC as well as the usual suspects (Yes, ELP, Genesis etc...) After a 12 year hiatus from the stage Ben now brings his dubious talents to Stratus Phear.

Leonard Castillo - Drums / Vocals

Percussionist Leonard Castillo (AKA MR. STEEL) has toured with performing musical road shows throughout Canada and the United States. He has studied with percussionist Les DeMerle out of Hollywood, participated and judged for the Stan Kenton Clinics at the University of Redlands and played for session work at 'The Village' studios in Santa Monica. Leonard also performs regularly at Steamers' Jazz club in Fullerton, Ca with other top improvisational jazz artists such as 'The Vern Nelson Project'.