Chuck Redd, noted for his tasteful playing on both drums and vibes, was born in 1958 in Takoma Park, MD, where he lives today. He joined the Charlie Byrd Trio in 1980 at the age of 21. He has played on tour many times in Europe and Japan. From 1991 to 1996, he played vibes with the Mel Torme All-Star Jazz Quintet. He has toured and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Tommy Flanagan, Marian McPartland, Scott Hamilton, Bucky Pizzarelli and many other jazz greats.
Born in Pasadena in 1955, Dan switched from piano to trombone in the fifth grade. He performs at festivals worldwide and is on many recordings. He has led his own bands and has arranged and composed for others. He was featured in Benny Goodman's last band, and has played in many movies, including Cotton Club and Brighton Beach Memoirs. He lives in Costa Mesa, CA.
It was 1964 in upstate New York when Danny Coots began playing drums at the tender age of 6 years old. Since then, he has studied with Nick Baffaro, Rich Holly, Alan Koffman and Jim Petercsak in percussion. Danny attended The Crane School of Music and St. Lawrence University. He eventually served as adjunct faculty at St. Lawrence University, Clarkson University and Potsdam State University from the 1970s into the 1990s.He continued traveling and performing with David Amram, Ray Shiner, Daniel Pinkham, Herb Ellis, Will Alger, Jack Mayhue, Speigle Wilcox, Mimi Hines, Phil Ford, Bob Darch, Pearl Kaufman and Arthur Duncan. In 1996 Danny moved to Nashville, Tennessee and has lived there ever since. Danny has recorded extensively in Nashville, New York and L.A. and has appeared in over 100 countries. He has played on over 100 recordings, one of which won a Grammy in 2005.
Duke Heitger, one of the best classic jazz trumpet players today, is known worldwide for his warm sound, virtuosity, and unwavering devotion to early jazz styles. While in demand as an international soloist and recording artist, he reigns as one of the longest tenured bandleaders in New Orleans performing regularly on the Steamboat Natchez. Michael Steinman (Jazz Lives, NYC) says “Duke Heitger-playing or singing-makes special music, lyrical and hot.” Curt Beard (Jazz Soundings, Seattle) stated “A rare combination of musical characteristics. He plays hot... he plays sweet...he plays the blues as though there is a touch of pathos dripping from every note…”
Well known among jazz enthusiasts through many recordings, Heitger cemented his prominence as a specialist in classic jazz styles but with the versatility to be featured on recordings by artists such as John Cleary and Maria Muldaur. His trumpet-playing and arranging is a highlight of the million selling Squirrel Nut Zippers recording Hot, earning him both gold and platinum records.
Evan Arntzen is a saxophonist, clarinetist and vocalist from Vancouver, British Colombia. From the age of seven, Evan studied New Orleans jazz under the instruction of his grandfather, Lloyd Arntzen. After earning his B.A. in Saxophone Performance, Evan performed extensively with many of Canada's most prominent musicians. Since moving to New York City in 2014, Evan has taken part in the city's vibrant traditional jazz scene, performing with such groups as Vince Giodano's Nighthawks, Terry Waldo's Gotham City Band and Jon-Erik Kellso's Earregulars. Evan has received several awards for his music and has played in jazz festivals all over the world.
Harry was born in Washington D.C. in 1966, and was raised in Los Angeles, CA and Burrillville, RI. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1988 from Rutgers University in New Jersey, and currently resides in New York City.Harry has performed at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide, frequently touring the United States, Europe and Asia. He has performed with Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, Hank Jones, Frank Wess, Flip Phillips, Scott Hamilton, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Gus Johnson, Jeff Hamilton, Terry Gibbs, Warren Vache, and has recorded with Tony Bennett, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown, Tommy Flanagan, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Barron, Dave McKenna, Dori Caymmi, Larry Goldings, George Mraz, Jake Hanna, and Al Foster, among others.Harry is featured on many of John Pizzarelli's recordings including the soundtrack and an on-screen cameo in the feature film The Out of Towners starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. He has also done a series of commercials for ESPN starring Robert Goulet.
Houston has recorded over 75 albums under his own name, and has also appeared on recordings with Etta Jones, Lena Horne, Lou Rawls, Dakota Staton and Horace Silver. He is a recipient of the Eubie Blake Jazz Award. Two recent recordings on the HighNote label are "Dialogues" with bassist Ron Carter and "Sentimental Journey." He has played at Lincoln Center and at many festivals here and in Europe. Born in 1934, Houston grew up in Florence, SC., and lives in Nyack, NY. Houston was recognized in 2012 as a SDJP Legend.
Jason was born in 1978 in Sacramento, and began playing and taking piano lessons at age 6. Later, he played classical music and ragtime, adding jazz in his teens. Johnny Varro took him under his wing at a music camp. Since then he has played with trade bands at the Sun Valley Swing and Dixie Jamboree, at Mammoth Lakes with the Sister Swing band, and at numerous festivals. He now makes his home in San Diego.
John Allred hails from a musical family. His grandfather played jazz piano and banjo on Mississippi River boats; his father is well-known trombonist, Bill Allred. John plays traditional jazz, swing and bebop. He has played in the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Woody Herman band, Toshiko Akioshi's Big Band, Vince Giordano's Nighthawks and Harry Connick Jr.'s band. He plays in festivals here and abroad. He has new CD releases with Harry Allen and Warren Vach and has recorded with Wycliffe Gordon. He lives in the New York City area.
Born in Detroit in 1964, Jon began early, playing in a big band at age 11, in the International Youth Symphony at age 13, and in concert alongside Wild Bill Davidson at 17. He also played with the J.C. Heard Orchestra. After moving to New York in 1989 to join Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, he has played with Ralph Sutton, Dan Barrett, Howard Alden, Milt Hinton, Dick Hyman and many others. He plays in festivals and concerts and with bands around the globe, and he is on the soundtracks of several movies. He lives in New York.
Josh Collazo is a Los Angeles based drummer who specializes in playing 1930's/40's jazz and swing with various groups across the nation. In addition to drumming, Josh has been writing and arranging original jazz compositions for his own group - the Candy Jacket Jazz Band. Outside of his jazz drumming career, Josh has also been a member of Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros since 2007. The group accepted their first Grammy in 2013 for the long-form video documentary- Big Easy Express - winning alongside their friends, Mumford & Sons and Old Crow Medicine Show. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros' 2009 hit single, "Home", is certified platinum, selling over 1 million copies, and the debut album, "Up From Below", was recently certified gold.In addition to touring the world extensively over the last 20+ years, he has also performed on the Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Yo Gabba Gabba, The Bachelor, and Austin City Limits. Josh proudly endorses Paiste Cymbals and Vic Firth drumsticks.
"When you grow up in Cleveland, Ohio, playing in a Polish polka band, you learn to think fast on your feet", says Ken Peplowski, who played his first pro engagement when he was still in elementary school. From my first time performing in public, I knew I wanted to play music for a living. By the time Ken was in his early teens, he was experimenting with jazz by playing in the school stage bands, and also by jamming with many of the local jazz musicians. By the time I hit high school, I was teaching at the local music store, playing in our family band, and playing jazz gigs around town while still getting up early every day for school. In 1980, Ken moved to New York City,and was soon playing in all kinds of settings, from Dixieland to avant-garde jazz. Everything's a learning experience in jazz music there's always an element of the unpredictable. In 1984, Benny Goodman came out of retirement and put together a new band, hiring Ken on tenor saxophone.Peplowski signed with Concord Records, under the tutelage of Carl Jefferson, the founder and president, and recorded close to 20 albums as a leader, including "The Natural Touch" in 1992 which won Best Jazz Record of the Year by the Prises Deutschen Schallplatten Kritiken, and "The Other Portrait", recorded in Sophia Bulgaria with the symphony orchestra and highlighting Ken's classical side. He also recorded two records on the Nagel Heyer label, "Lost In The Stars" and "Easy To Remember", the latter of which features Bobby Short on his last recording. "I loved Bobby Short's approach to the American songbook, and we'd talked about doing a record together for a while". I'm glad we got this one in the can. Peplowski also does many workshops for students of all ages- "My goal is to get the students to learn how to teach themselves, and to learn how to bring out their own best qualities; after all, jazz is about individuality-first you learn the rules, then you break them. I would like to think of myself as a lifelong student!" Ken Peplowski is a Buffet-Crampon artist, and plays the R-13 clarinet,with a Portnoy mouthpiece and Van Doren German-cut reeds. He also plays a Yamaha tenor sax and a Berg Larsen mouthpiece.
Lia Booth is quickly establishing herself as one of Southern California’s most talked about young jazz vocalists. She has been making a strong impression and building a solid fan base with her fun, dynamic and heartfelt performances. Her daring yet effortless musical style is rooted deeply in the past but with a contemporary sensibility that breathes new life into classic jazz standards night after night.
Lizzy’s unique voice features killer vocals channeling the electrifying swagger of ‘20s and ‘30s big band.
Perhaps the most recorded bassist of his generation, Peter Washington has a discography of more than 500 recordings. Born in Los Angeles, he played classical bass as a teen and majored in English literature at UC Berkeley, where he became interested in jazz. In 1986, he was invited by Art Blakey to join the Jazz Messengers in New York. From there, he became part of two of the most celebrated trios in jazz: The Tommy Flanagan Trio (10 years) and, for the past 19 years, the Bill Charlap Trio. Mr. Washington’s work roster includes Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Burrell, Hank Jones, Bobby Hutcherson, Don Grolnick, The Brecker Brothers, Tony Bennet, Freddie Cole, and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. In 2009 he was part of The Blue Note 7, a septet formed in honor of the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records.
Born in the Midwest, Richard and his grandfather’s violin won a seat in the Kansas City Youth Symphony. In high school he put music on hold, earned an MA in English, and secured an English teaching position in Los Angeles in 1977. He ‘discovered’ jazz and, in his words, ‘eloped with a bass’ at age 30 and has not looked back. Not only is Richard an accomplished bassist, but also makes a great emcee, with his total grasp of the English language.
A widely acclaimed talent, Rossano graduated from the Italian Conservatory and began his musical career at the age of 18. He was born in 1974 and lives in New York. In 2002 and 2003, he played at the Ascona Festival in Switzerland with Dan Barrett's International Swing Party band. He has been a pupil of Barry Harris, and his piano hero is the late Ralph Sutton. Rossano has performed at New York's Town Hall and Lincoln Center and at the United Nations. He has played with a host of jazz notables, including Harry Allen, Scott Hamilton, Becky Kilgore, Warren Vach, Howard Alden and Joe Wilder. He has recorded solo piano albums for the Blue Swing and Arbors labels.
Samuel D. Rocha was born in Brownsville, Texas in 1982. He grew up in a lay Catholic missionary family, moving across the US states of Texas, Utah, Ohio and also living in Reynosa, Mexico. He began playing guitar at the age of five and played at home, church, and prayer meetings. Rocha has played music and/or lectured in halls and auditoriums, classrooms, church basements and sanctuaries, streets, monasteries, restaurants, bars and clubs, and living rooms all over the world including, The Old Town School of Folk Music (Chicago), Sheen Center for Thought and Culture (New York), Teachers College at Columbia University (New York), New York University (New York), Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at University of Toronto (Toronto), The Empire Arts Center (Grand Forks, ND), University of Manitoba (Winnipeg), Saint Thomas University (Fredericton), Depauw University (Greencastle, IN), Seattle Pacific Art Center (Seattle), University of Bergen (Norway), University of Wisconsin-Madison, and many more. He performs regularly at The Wolf and Hound in Kitsilano with his trio.
Virtuoso guitarist Vinny Raniolo has built a widespread global fan base, thanks to his engaging approach to early jazz, his regular appearances on PBS specials, and his collaborations with six-string giants including Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola and Tommy Emmanuel. The Nassau County guitarist got interested in jazz at age 16 after a teacher introduced him to to records by masters of jazz guitar such as Joe Pass, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Herb Ellis and others. Vinny fell in love with the music immediately and realized, "That's what I want to do." He began gigging as a teen, and his career really took off when he paired up with fellow guitarist Frank Vignola at age 22.
There is an intangible quality in Evans music that gives it a life of its own; life that reaches out and touches the souls of the people that hear it. Evans was educated in the United States, Japan and Europe. Evans was mentored by internationally renowned choral conductor Jester Harriston and attended the University of Califorina, Irvine, School of Fine Arts where she studied Opera and Theater. Evans the singer, cites some of some of the finest vocalist in the world as her main influences - Sarah Vaughn, Ernie Andrews, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, June Christie, Della Reese, Bobby Darin and Rosemary Clooney.
