Welcome to Mila Art

About Us

Mila Art Agency is a personal assistant agency focusing on jazz music. Our main aim is to provide artists with the help that they need concerning any form of administrative work, negotiations, promotion, booking and much more. Being musicians themselves, our founders know the everyday struggles of this profession. Next to the work concerning their music, they also work at universities and have many tasks that keep them away from the thing they love most: creating music.

Why choose Mila?

You should choose Mila Art Agency because we are committed to our artists, passionate about music and handle every task with the utmost care and dedication. We will make sure that all your needs are met. Our team is meticulous and observant, leading to extensive and personalized research for each of your performances and projects. Here at Mila Art Agency we are a family and we treat our artists as such. We are consistent in our quality and affordable in our rates.

What are the benefits of having a personal assistant?

With a personal assistant you can have more time to focus on creating art without having to worry about administrative, promotional, and booking tasks which, however tedious, must be done. Our personal assistants get to know your music and needs so that after some time of working alongside each other, the assistant knows what you need even without you asking. More venues can be contacted by our personal assistant than any single person could do themselves.

Mila Artists

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Barabás Lőrinc - photo_ Kristóf Galgóczi Németh

Mike Younger

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Mike Younger left home at the age of 17 and cut his teeth as a fledgling street performer in Toronto and Vancouver. At the age of 20, he headed to New York City to seek out the 60’s folk renaissance remnants. It was years later, while performing live on WWOZ in New Orleans, that he caught his first break with a music publisher who heard the broadcast. Soon after, Mike traveled to Nashville to record demos, and his recordings reached the ear of Rodney Crowell. When Mike signed his first record deal, Crowell stepped in as producer, and together they turned out Somethin’ In The Air in 1999.

In 2001, Jim Dickinson started producing Mike’s second album, which never saw the light of day, as the record label collapsed before the record was completed. The original Memphis sessions featured rock legends Levon Helm on drums, Spooner Oldham on keyboard and organ, David Hood on bass, Jim Dickinson on piano, and his son Luther Dickinson on electric guitar. The tapes from that session fell into legal limbo and were lost for almost two decades. Now recovered, Burning The Bigtop Down was released August 27th 2021.

After the loss of the Memphis sessions and his record deal, Mike left Tennessee, returning to New York City to assemble a band and subsequently release 2005’s Every Stone You Throw, his first independent effort, which carried some of the songs from the lost record. From 2003-2007, he worked the NYC club scene with his band and as a solo performer. In 2007, he returned to Nashville and began laying the groundwork for 2009’s Hustled By Squares, followed by U.S. touring in the midwest, mid-Atlantic, mid-South, and northeast regions, where his radio supporters and fans encouraged him to keep the hope alive…

During the next few years, he developed a friendship with neighbor and guitar legend Bob Britt (Leon Russell, Delbert McClinton, John Fogerty, Bob Dylan). Bob would end up producing 2016’s Little Folks Like You And Me. Mike jumped back into regional touring to promote his work and to support various environmental causes, including the NODAPL standoff at Standing Rock, the Flint Water Crisis, and his own community, all of which were facing environmental degradation by irresponsible corporate actors and their enablers in public office. Little Folks Like You And Me featured the song “Poisoned Rivers“ which became a rallying cry for local community resistance to unwanted fossil fuel development in Middle Tennessee. The community’s position was strengthened by the 2015 Field Study Of Gas Pipeline Safety In Tennessee, which included Mike’s extensive photo-documentation of corroded and poorly maintained interstate gas pipeline infrastructure and haphazard operating conditions across Tennessee.

In 2017, Mike was able to reclaim the recordings he made in Memphis in 2001 and began the long process of completing the production of Burning The Bigtop Down and cleaning up unresolved issues surrounding the record.

Having developed exceptional skills as a mechanic over the years, Mike was able to spend significant time during the pandemic restoring and building out a school bus conversion to run on recycled fryer oil in preparation for future touring.

With the August 2021 release of Burning The Bigtop Down , Mike Younger’s long journey to recover his lost work has come full circle.

Since the release of the album, Mike Younger has been touring extensively in the US, bringing his music directly to his fans, delivering a packed itinerary of solo and band performances in the northeast, southeast, Midwest, and California. He is also preparing to record an album of new songs in 2023.

Biography

Luca Dell’Anna

Italian pianist and composer Luca Dell’Anna was born on October 10, 1975 in Ferrara, a historical city with strong ties to jazz. He grew up listening to his father’s extensive record collection. Especially Ray Charles and Nat King Cole impressed him: “While I was listening to them singing, their licks and piano styles entered my
memory forever.”

His father also had a classical collection and Dell’Anna quickly fell in love with the music of J.S. Bach. As he approached the piano for the very first time, he quickly began improvising melodies in the style of Bach. Another important influence was Dell’Anna’s grandfather, who played the accordion and stressed the importance of
traditional Italian folk music.

In 1999, Dell’Anna moved to Milano to become a part of the vibrant music scene. He soon got in touch with the Cuban Latin jazz community and became a companion of great Cuban musicians such as Dany Martinez, who initiated him into the concepts and theories of Cuban and African music. As a musician in demand, he played many gigs in various genres but started to focus on jazz and in 2005 he released the album Brian Had a Little Plate with Rootless Ensemble. In 2012, as a result of his brief experience with avant-garde Improvvisatore Involontario Art Collective, he released the acclaimed album The Fourth Door with the trio Tan T’Ien. In 2013, it was chosen as the third best album of the year by the prestigious Japanese jazz magazine, Jazz Critiques. Tracks from The Fourth Door and his first album as a leader, Mana (2013), were included on Japanese samplers of the best of jazz chosen by the critic Yasukuni Terashima. Jazz Critiques also included his second album as a leader, Symbiont, among the best jazz of 2015, surpassing albums by pianists Fred Hersch and Vijay Iyer.Dell’Anna’s third album as a leader, Human See, Human Do (2018), digresses from the trio language by including the Italian saxophonist Massimiliano Milesi. The album was included among the Greatest Jazz Albums of 2018 by JAZZIT Magazine.

From he was 10 to 19 years old, he studied classical piano and attended the Conservatory G. Frescobaldi of Ferrara.At 16, he started playing in a funk-fusion band that played the repertoire of Tower of Power, Chick Corea, Billy
Cobham and other fusion heroes from his youth. The discovery of jazz language resulted in Dell’Anna taking lessons with notable Italian pianist Bruno Cesselli and he would later attend the renowned L’Università della Musica
(The Music University) in Rome under the tutelage of the great bop pianist Andrea Beneventano. To this day, the teachings of Beneventano still provide the foundation of the lessons Dell’Anna gives to his own students. At the
heart of Dell’Anna’s sound lies a complex understanding of rhythm that goes beyond
the generic sound of modern lyrical jazz piano.

Part of the reason for this is his discovery of Cuban music and Latin rhythms. He has also explored other formats playing Hammond Organ in the great Italian drummer Walter Calloni’s group and in a duo with worldwide acclaimed trumpeter Adam Rapa that is still touring actively. Rapa also commissioned him to write a composition for his musical Evolution, which was performed live at Nagoya Century Hall, Japan in 2012. The Italian Pianist Michele Francesconi has asked him to compose music for his “Seasons” project. As a sideman, Dell’Anna has collaborated with Steven Bernstein, Yturvides, Michael Mondesir, Dave Douglas, with singers Sheila Jordan and Chris Bennett and the acclaimed drummer Israel Varela, who is also a part of his “Mana” trio with bassist Ivo Barbieri. Dell’Anna’s musical versatility has secured appearances on albums by such stylistically different artists as the alternative soul collective The Black Beat Movement and the Nordic singer Elisabeth Breines Vik.

He toured in Ethiopia, Japan, China, Canada, Belarus, Poland, Denmark, Ukraine, Slovakia, Ireland, Spain. In 2018, he embarked on a big tour of China with fellow pianist Tazio Forte, and his Canadian trio project with bassist Rich Brown and drummer Marito Marques is a result of an invitation by the Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto to celebrate International Jazz Day 2019. He also toured in 2018 and 2019 in the Canary Islands and Ireland with Adam Rapa. During the lockdown in 2020 his work didn’t stop, collaborating with many great musicians, coming back to his original “Mana” trio, again invited by the Toronto Italian Culture Institute.

He participated as a member of “URKestra” collective at the recording of an album for collecting funds for Italian hospitals, featuring Dave Douglas and Steven Bernstein on trupet. For the International Jazz Day 2020 he was an ambassador for the Italian Ministry of Education, bringing Jazz to 1st and 2nd grade Schools with the project “Il Jazz va a Scuola” (jazz goes to School). He also collaborates with the International School of Comics as a Soundtrack composer.

Biography

Lemonade Jones

Tanya Reed’s diverse and acclaimed career has its origins rooted in her early childhood. Born into a family of
singers, Tanya’s mother molded her and her sisters into a vocal jazz trio, The Reed Sisters. Favored by fortune she
learned under the tutelage of jazz greats such as organist Melvin Rhyne and Grammy Award winning vocalist Dr.
Betty Carter. Having natural talent in her blood, coming from a culture of music at her dinner table, and unfettered
access to instruction by Jazz legends, Tanya Reed was put on a trajectory that lands her right where she is now—one
of the most versatile and creative artists and songwriters of our generation.

This sought after creative has graced venues such as The Apollo Theater, Blue Note (NYC), Jazz Showcase (Chicago), The House of Blues (Chicago), 651 Brooklyn Academy of Music Theater, The John F. Kennedy Center (D.C.),
SOB’s (NYC), Joe’s Pub (NYC) and The Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy. You also may have had the chance
to see her perform on CBS Sunday Morning, as well as BET Jazz. She has collaborated with the likes of George
Benson, Karriem Riggins, Geri Allen, Jacky Terrasson, Melvin Rhyne, Jack Dejohnette, Ari Brown, Nate Smith,
Terisa Griffin, Musiq Soulchild, The Twilite Tone, Casey Benjamin, Eric Harland, The BoneCrusher and more.
She’s brought the house down on some of the most influential stages across the country like the main stage at The
Taste of Chicago, The Jazz Ahead Program at The Kennedy Center, and the Green Dolphin Jazz Club.

These performances and collaborations have led to her being heavily written about in Jazz and news periodicals
including The New York Times Magazine as well as The Washington Post and Down Beat.
Her solo projects “Tanya Reed Live in Chicago-The Debut” and “A Taste…Tanya Reed,” both garnering independent success are must haves for anyone who appreciates crisp vocals and an eclectic jazz based listening experience.
In addition to doing large and small intimate live music shows, she is also performing and presenting “Memoirs of
Song and Soul,” a collection of autobiographical inspired monologues with a musical soundtrack. Tanya covers a
musical repertoire that spans over a century with the versatility of her voice. Tanya laces some of her favorite music
selections and original compositions in and out of a stream of consciousness through storytelling and monologue.
In her work, you will hear the disciplined history and instruction of jazz vocals along with a creative look balance of
soul that comes from a diverse appreciation, upper echelon ear for sound, and an agile vocal range. To see all of this
put together in a show, on top of her wit, engaging personality, sophisticated energy, and esteemed professionalism
is a treat for any music fan both jazz enthusiasts and novices alike.

Biography

Gwen Sampé

Gwen Sampé is a jazz singer for whom the art of improvising is an integral and indispensable part of her musical soundscape. Born into a family of singers in Houston, Texas her approach to jazz singing is rooted in the past yet unapologetically modern.

Nurtured on John Coltrane and Betty Carter, she brings surprise and daring to her performances. Her artistic background is rich and diverse. As well performing on the jazz circuit, she has also performed in, and directed, contemporary jazz inflected mixed media theatre pieces, including a self-produced one woman show, “From the Fields to the Concert Hall,” first performed in Italy.

Gwen studied dance with Yolande Burke and Bill Louther in London, and with Elsa Wolliaston in Paris. Upon receiving her AGSM from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, Gwen immediately started performing in jazz venues in and around London. She also directed and composed the music for Turnings, a theatre piece based on Wole Soyinka’s A Shuttle in the Crypt. In 1990 she took the role of God in Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde, the first woman to play the part. In 1994 she joined Ariya opera-company and played the part of ‘Spirit’ in Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas. Yet through all of these wonderfully diverse experiences she continued to concentrate on her main musical interest, jazz, performing in clubs and festivals in England, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, and Germany, releasing her first album, Water Gazing, in 2002, a mixture of her own compositions as well as songs from the standard repertoire.

Gwen has worked with many musicians and artists over the years, from pianists to kora players, flutist to cellists, dancers and plastique artists, such as John Betsch, Peter Giron, Bobby Few, Jobic Le Masson, Harry Swift, John Stevens, Dudu Pukwana, Bheki Mseleku, Aldridge Hansberry and Mehdi Farajpour among others. Her duo project with pianist Jobic Le Masson resulted in an album the Conversions, released the fall of 2014. The album, a mix of compositions and standards “revisited,” is a reflection of the improvisational work they do together, a reflection in her belief in the ephemeral nature of sound and its transformative powers. While continuing her work with Jobic, she is also involved with other projects — a duo with the bassist Harry Swift, “Flowers for Strayhorn,” the songs of Billy Strayhorn, the African Jazz Quartet with José Pendje and the eponymously named Gwen Sampé Quartet

Biography

Guerzon Cellos

The band is extremely rare if not unique in the world, both as instruments and repertoire.
The range performed by Guerzon Cellos is vast and reaches from baroque to jazz and rock, peppered with their own compositions. Outstanding energy meets virtuosity making their concerts an unique experience.

The Bologna based duo consists of Tiziano and Enrico Guerzoni, son and father, who
do not only play the cello in a way seldomly heard before, but they celebrate their instrument as an incredibly eclectic tool of musical expression.

Furious interpretations of baroque classics as well as creative re-arrangements of
modern jazz and rock songs render their concerts into a highly sophisticated performance. Tough the peak of their technical and creative skills is found in their own compositions when Tiziano and Enrico mix musical inuences since the 17 th century including psychedelic, jazz, improvisations and traditional folk elements.
An irresistible combination!

GuerzonCellos have performed in Europe and in China and produced two CDs, the rst
“GuerzonCellos” in 2015 and the second in 2021, out for Da Vinci Publishing, Osaka (Japan).

Tiziano Guerzoni studied cello at the Conservatory of Bologna, at the Accademia Santa Cecilia in Rome and at the
Pôle supérieur de Paris. Tiziano has worked with various international orchestras such as Teatro Comunale di Bologna (Italie), Festspielhaus Erl (Austria), the Conservatory Orchestra Leipzig. He played as Cello Soloist in many Youth Orchestras such as Arké Orchestra, Orchestra SenzaSpine and the Conservatory Orchestra of Bologna. He is the Principal Cello in Orchestra SenzaSpine. With Giovanni Solima he performed at the Cello Biennale in Amsterdam, the L’Auditori theatre in Barcelona and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He performed in Japan, China, Cuba, Morocco, France and many others prestigious places. Enrico Guerzoni studied cello and applied music at the Conservatories of Bologna and Ferrara and is today one of Italy’s most experienced and chameleonic musicians. During his career as cellist and composer he did high level collaborations worldwide in every eld and genre, mainly Jazz, Pop and chamber music , often also as 1rst cello in orchestra and/or soloist. Enrico worked with Italian and international artists like B. McFerrin, Solisti Veneti, L. Pavarotti, R.Muti, M.Nyman, Trilok Gurtu, Zucchero, Arkè String Quartet, P. Fresu, A. Ruggiero, F. Battiato, A. Bocelli and many more.

Biography

Srdjan Vukasinovic

For an incredibly interesting and refreshing performace of Srdjan Vukasinovic can be said that it has strenghtened him among the leading performers on accordion in the world today. His fresh and innovative approach to music provided him an excellent reputation as a great concert master, who can always satisfy the needs of different kinds of audience. He is always bringing new ideas and methods in his performace, based on improvisation and mixing of different musical genres with a lots of influence of jazz and world music sound. On the other hand, he is an established performer of classical and contemporary classical music. This is evidenced by numerous cooperations with a lots of contemporary composers of classical music.

On the other hand, he is an established performer of classical and contemporary classical music. Starting from his early years when he was singled out in one of the most important competitions for accordionists, he took the first prize in the World-Trophy competition for accordion in Spain in 1999. From then on Srdjan has participated in many successful performances, appearing as a soloist and as part of various ensembles, such as Arte Diversa, Chaarts Chamber Artists, Klassik Nuevo Orchestra, Zürcher Kammerorchester and many more. In recent years we have seen Srdjan successfully performing with leading musicians worldwide, such as the legendary violinist Gilles Apap, pianist Fazil Say, and flamenco and jazz bassist Carles Benavent. He has formed an exciting and unusual duo with Taylan Arikan on baglama (anatolian lute) called Meduoteran, which
specialises in World Music.
Upcoming performances include his performance in various festivals in Switzerland and abroad, such as Klassik Nuevo Festival, Lucerne Festival, Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Cully Jazz Festival, along with SoNoRo Festival Romania, Kronberg Academy Festival Germany, I Suoni delle Dolomiti Italy, Akkordeonfestival Wien Austria, and Witten Days for New Chamber Music Germany. You can see performances on our page concerts. Srdjan’s explosive energy and his original approach to classical music, alongside the breadth of jazz influences and improvisation skills make him stand out as one of the top players in the world. His virtuosity, power and charm has captivated audiences around the world and justifies the win of ‘best accordionist in the world’, a title he won in his youth. Srdjan is an alumnus of Zuricher Hochschule der Kunste, Switzerland from 2001, where he got his master degrees in Music Pedagogy and Concert Performance in 2005. Since then he has also been teaching Balkanmusic at the Zuricher Hochschule der Kunste Music Department.

Srdjan has invented the first quarter tone accordion in the world. With this multituning accordion it is possible to play 24 tones in one octave. Also, there is a possibility to combine many different tunings at the same time (for baroque, modern, oriental music etc.). One more of Srdjan’s innovations is his new accordion brand ’’Carboneon.“ This innovative instrument is the first one made from carbon fiber, which renders Carboneon the lightest accordion in the world.

Biography

Nina Michelle

Nina Michelle comes from Vancouver, Canada. She began studying classical piano at an early age of 5. After graduating with honours, she was granted a scholarship to continue her music studies. She successfully absolved the music and vocal program at Capillano University in North Vancouver. In addition to music, Nina also studied fine arts at Langara College and Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

Thanks to her father, a professional jazz pianist and trumpet player born in Czechoslovakia, Nina grew up with sounds of bebop and swing. Dizzy Gillespie, her father´s long time friend, was often a guest at their family home in Vancouver. He made a particularly strong impression on Nina and motivated her to persue her love for jazz. While studying, Nina started working as a jazz singer in local jazz clubs and piano bars together with her father. She recorded her first CD “Nina Michelle Live” in Vancouver´s Jazz Cellar in 1996.

Shorty after that, Nina got involved in a German recording production which took her to Europe. She broke into the local jazz scene and started working in clubs and bars, making Munich her second home. She quickly got noticed and started working regularly with prominent bands like Max Greger Jr, Charly Antolini, Hugo Strasser, and Pete York. This has given Nina valuable experience and solid foundation as a performing artist, and she is forever grateful to the legendary gentlemen of swing for allowing her to take a place next to them.

Nina has been touring Europe for over 20 years. She recorded several CDs, singing in 5 languages – English, German, French, Portuguese, and Slovak. One of her most memorable performances was the concert at Munich Philharmonic with the Max Greger SWR Big Band, together with featured soloist Benny Bailey.

Nina is at home on stages big and small – Prinzregententheather, The Munich Residenz, Meistersinghalle Nuremberg, Wiener Konzerthaus, BIX Stuttgart, Birdland Neuburg, etc. She has performed at music festivals world-wide (Ascona Jazz festival, Bahamas Music festival, Jazz an der Donau, Lenker Jazz Tage, Shake the Lake, Vancouver Jazz Festival, etc.)

Nina´s not camera shy either, she appeared in Oliver Storz 1998 television production “Gegen Ende der Nacht”, for which she also recorded the soundtrack. And she made a guest appearance including several recordings for the Bavarian tv series “Sturm der Liebe”.

In recent years Nina has concentrated on her own compositions. Inspired greatly by film scores, especially the music of Michel Legrand, she has been writing songs to reflect her experiences and impressions. Her newest album “Love Confessions”, featuring predominantly Nina´s own compositions, was released in 2018.

Biography

Beledo

Beledo gained guitar-hero status in his teens, playing every theatre in his hometown of Montevideo, and captivating audiences in Uruguay and Argentina.

After a brief tenure with Uruguayan rock and blues super-group, Dias de Blues, Beledo pioneered the jazz-rock band, Maytreya, and later on, the mythical Siddhartha, inspired by the burgeoning jazz-fusion movement (Chick Corea, Weather Report, Soft Machine & etc.). His fusion efforts of the early 80’s in South America, during which he appeared at top venues and recorded with Pedro Aznar (formerly with Pat Metheny Group), Ruben Rada, and the legendary band, Opa, attracted media attention in the U.S., where he gained recognition as an upcoming talent in GUITAR PLAYER and JAZZIZ magazines.

Formal music studies continued throughout his college career. He performed classical music recitals on National Public Radio and in numerous theaters. While attending the University School of Music in Uruguay, he was a founding member of The University Conservatory Jazz Quartet, the university’s first jazz ensemble, sponsored by the school in an effort to integrate jazz into the traditional curriculum.

Beledo is the guitar player on the album, FORWARD MOTION, by the South African Jazz band, Ojoyo, featuring saxophonist and band leader, Morris Goldberg; drummer, Anton Fig and bassist Bakithi Kumalo. In 1996 Beledo toured Europe and the Caribbean with the TROPICAL TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, featuring Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Tito Nieves, Cheo Feliciano, and an all-star line up of Latin artists.

In 2007, Beledo released MONTEVIDEO JAZZ DREAMS (Gudari Records), featuring Stefon Harris, Randy Brecker, Manolo Badrena, Mark Walker, Andy Middleton, David Finck, Jorge Camiruaga and Chris Komer.

In 2012 he released, ON A MISSION, with his band, The Avengers, won critical acclaim on tour in South America through Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, gaining excellent reviews and strong CD sales in Japan, the U.K., France, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Australia and more. The Avengers are Beledo on guitar, Adam Holzman on keyboards, Lincoln Goines on bass, and Kim Plainfield on drums. The band toured Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay and played in Racife Porto Alegre, Montevideo Jazz Festival, Buenos Aires Jazz Festival, Cordoba Jazz Festival, Neuquén. They finished with an unforgettable concert at the Teatro Lavalleja in Minas, Uruguay, Beledo’s hometown.

Beledo signed with Moonjune Records – NYC in 2013, and traveled to Canada to record with Romanian keyboardist, Gia Ionesco, alongside drummer Virgil Donatti and bassist Anthony Crawford. A subsequent Ionesco session was scheduled in New York, which included Mauro Pagani on violin, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Asaf Sirkis on drums, Johnny Johnson on sax, and Mino Cinelu on percussion.

In 2016 Beledo’s first CD on Moonjune Records was released, featuring Gary Husband on drums and Lincoln Goines on bass. Also with collaborations of Dewa Budjana and other musicians from Indonesia. These album features Beledo’s multi-instrumentalist talents, on guitars, piano, keyboards, violin, accordion and vocals.

Additional outstanding Moonjune Records collaborations included work with the extraordinary Indonesian World Jazz Fusion band, Simak Dialog, with pianist Riza Arshad and guitarist Tohpati at Orion Studio, Baltimore, MD (09/07/13). Beledo also performed in a duo with Indonesian superstar guitarist, Dewa Budjana in Princeton and Burlington in a Southern New Jersey mini-tour on Dewa’s last visit to the States, and recorded with Indonesia’s premiere pianist, composer/ arranger/ conductor/ producer, Dwiki Dharmawan with whom he toured twice in Indonesia.

Beledo toured in the North-East of the USA opening for the legendary guitarist Allan Holdsworth in 2013, and later on with the legendary English Jazz Rock band Soft Machine, featuring John Etheridge, John, Marshall and Roy Babbington, a tour that included Toronto, Canada.

In 2018 Beledo Toured in China with his trio featuring Chinese bas player Zhang Ling.

Versed in classical theory, composition and technique, adept in the traditional styles of his birthplace, drawing inspiration from vast and diverse modern musical forms, Beledo has earned his place among the most sophisticated, versatile, and gifted artists of our time.

Biography

Matthew Alec

Matthew Alec is a jazz and popular music saxophonist, founder and Executive Producer at Cleveland Time Records, and bandleader for the high-energy jazz fusion group Matthew Alec and The Soul Electric.

Nominated as “Cleveland’s Best Horn Player” by Cleveland Scene Magazine in 2009, Matthew has performed for over 20 years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Kent State University. He has toured nationally and has opened for a number of A-list acts including Earth, Wind, and Fire, Incubus, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Keane, Average White Band, Lupe Fiasco, OAR, Ozomatli, Bret Michaels, Rusted Root, and others. He has performed with former Saturday Night Live Musical Director, CBS Orchestra member, and Blues Brothers bandsman Tom “Bones” Malone, internationally-acclaimed bassist Victor Wooten and his brother Roy “Futureman” Wooten, Saturday Night Live trombonist Steve Turre, Kenny G bassist Vail Johnson, Grammy-winning Ohio Players alumni Billy Beck, and Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Ben Powers, Jr. He has recorded with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Parliament-Funkadelic and Talking Heads member Bernie Worrell and aforementioned Tom “Bones”Malone.

His debut album as a leader Cleveland Time (which features Malone) was released in 2021 and charted for several weeks on the NACC Jazz Radio Chart, peaking at #13, and received international press from Jazziz Magazine, All About Jazz, JazzMonthly.com, SoulTracks.com, Broadway World, WBSS Media (UK), Glide Magazine, Cleveland.com, and many others. The hard bop blues “Blues for McCoy” (written by Matthew) off the album was a Semi-Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition for 2021 as well as one of All About Jazz’s most “Popular Jazz Songs” of 2021.

At Kent State, he studied both 20th century classical music and jazz with Grammy-nominated saxophonist Greg Banaszak and longtime Cleveland Jazz Orchestra trombonist and composer Chas Baker. He is also a two-time attendee of the highly exclusive Inside / Outside Retreat for professional saxophonists held at Wooten Woods just south of Nashville, Tennessee. There he studied music, nature, and life in general with the “who’s who” of world-renowned jazz virtuosos, including saxophonists Bob Reynolds, Bob Franceschini, Joshua Redman, Jeff Coffin, Kirk Whalum, and Steve Wilson, pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Victor Wooten, and drummer Roy “Futureman” Wooten.

Matthew is also a founding member of “Cleveland’s Best Original Band,” Winslow. The original soul and funk outfit earned the moniker from both Cleveland Scene Magazine and Cleveland’s Fox 8 News. For nearly 10 years until the group parted ways he performed in many cities across the United States and recorded two full length albums as a soloist with the group: Crazy Kind of Love (2008) (which featured Bernie Worrell) and Left of the Right Direction (2013), the latter of which he co-produced. Both drew national critical acclaim, features on AOL.com, MSN.com, and Reverbnation.com, and many radio spins across the U.S.

As of 2020, Matthew also founded Cleveland Time Records, a record label that records, distributes, and promotes jazz artists from the city of Cleveland. Cleveland Time was its aptly-titled initial release.

Matthew is proudly sponsored by DeJacques straps and Remic microphones.

group Matthew Alec & The Soul Electric. The five piece ensemble boasts a roster of highly talented and accomplished musicians with very diverse backgrounds. With influences including David Sanborn, Stevie Wonder, The Meters, Steely Dan, The Brecker Brothers, Van Morrison, and many others they combine the technical artistry of jazz with the lively and easy-going nature of popular music.

Biography

Dirk Bleese

Dirk Bleese was born in Hamburg in 1968. He studied jazz piano education at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin under Walter Norris and David Friedman and was one of the participants on the “Popkurs” at the Hamburger Hochschule für Musik und Theater in 1991. In addition to his many years of work as a piano teacher and band coach at the Staatliche Jugendmusikschule Hamburg, he has worked as a jazz soloist, as a musical director for stage plays and musicals, and as a composer/ arranger, as well as initiating numerous festivals and concert series.

In 2021 he signed as a composer with Universal Edition Vienna, who have since published his works “jazz piano volumes 1-5”. Until 2018 he was curator of Halle 424 Hamburg, which won the APPLAUS venue award in 2018. In the same year he released the CD “in zwischen” with the Dirk Bleese Trio (Oliver Potratz – bass, Tilo Weber – drums); prior to that in 2016 he released the CD “in between”, with the same line-up. He has performed with internationally established musicians such as Gary Thomas, Herb Geller, Howard Johnson and Jiggs Whigham, as well as numerous musicians on the German and Hamburg jazz scenes.

Dirk Bleese was the founder and long-term director of the “junge akademie”, a training course at the JMS preparing students for university-level studies. He has been a guest conductor and arranger for the NDR (North German Radio) Big Band, a musical director for “BUDDY HOLLY: The Musical” in Hamburg; and has played keyboards for every one of Hamburg’s musical theaters, as well as being an onstage musician in several stage plays at major theaters in Hamburg.

Dirk Bleese was founder and chairman of the JazzHaus Hamburg e.V. and the Jazzbüro Hamburg e.V., and was responsible for the concept, management and organization of the first 3 iterations of “JazzHausfestival”, as well as the festival “Jazz in Hamburg” and the “Hamburger Big Band Spektakel”. He also founded and managed the Hamburg Jazz Orchestra and advised the Dr. E.A. Langner Foundation on the following topics: Jazz Academy, the Hamburg Jazz Award and Jazz Scholarships.

Biography

Daniel Schnyder

The Swiss American composer Daniel was born 1961 in Zurich, Switzerland and lives in New York City.

Among his credits as a composer are commissions to write new works for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in New York, the Tonkuenstler Orchestra in Vienna, the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Berlin, The Norrlands Operan in Sweden, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Vienna Art Orchestra, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Opera of Bern, the NDR Orchestra in Hannover, the NDR Big Band in Germany, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the New York based new music group “Absolute Ensemble” under the direction of Kristjan Jaervi, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, the American Composers Orchestra, the Postclassical Ensemble in Washington, DC, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia besides many others.

The Album “Absolution” (Enja Nova) featuring Daniel Schnyder’s Trombone Concerto received a Grammy nomination for “Best Classical Small Ensemble Recording” in 2002. He frequently performs with his special chamber music project for saxophone and string quartet, combining composition and improvisation, jazz and traditional chamber music, a format also featured at the Gaia Festival 2015. The extended catalogue of his chamber music works gets performed and recorded all around the globe.

As an arranger/composer he produced albums for jazz artists Abdullah Ibrahim (“African Suite”), Lee Konitz (“Tribute to Billie Holiday”) and Paquito D’Rivera (“Habañera”, Enja Records). He also worked with Simon Shaheen, Peter Herbert, Burhan Öcal, Bassam Saba, Jing Jang, Marcel Kalife and Jamey Haddad on a variety of projects, merging Arab music and Chinese music elements with jazz and classical music.

Daniel Schnyder’s new Opera “Abraham” was premiered in Duesseldorf in November 2014. “Charlie Parker’s Yardbird”, a commission by Opera Philadelphia, will be premiered in June 2015 with Laurence Brownlee as Charlie Parker. The New York premiere of the work will take place at Harlem’s legendary “Apollo Theater” in June 2016 with the New York Philharmonic.

Two concerti for ethnic instruments, his Pipa Concerto and his Alphorn Concerto, were premiered in the 2005/06 season to great acclaim. Daniel Schnyder wrote also a concerto for the Libanese Nay virtuoso Bassam Saba, that became the centerpiece of his special festival program: “Arabian Night”.

His symphonic work “Sundiata Keita” for Large Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and 4 soloists from Mali playing traditional instruments was successfully premiered at the Berlin Philharmony during his stay as composer in residence with the RSO in Berlin.

He also tours with the program “Around the World” featuring the Soloists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Stefan Schulz and worked closely with the the Berlin Philharmonic’s Scharoun Ensemble as composer and chamber musician.

The new album, showing his collaboration with the eminent bass trombonist Stefan Schulz is entitled “Händel in Harlem”, a reinvention of Händels Trio Sonatas. A new album, entitled “Art of the Duo”, will be released in 2015, featuring legendary bass trombone virtuoso David Taylor and Schnyder on saxophone.

Daniel Schnyder won first prize at the 1996 International Trumpet Guild’s Composition Contest. His Trumpet Sonata was selected as one of the official pieces for the Concours Maurice André pour Trompette 2003 (Paris). He won also numerous awards for his chamber music by the International Flute Association, the International Clarinet Association, the City of Zurich, Pro Helvetia, the National Art Council of Switzerland, the American Symphony League and Meet the Composer. He holds master classes in composition, chamber music, improvisation and saxophone at the Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart, the Baltic Youth Philharmonic and the Bruckner University in Linz.

He also works as a consultant with major festivals, promoters and ensembles, trying to bridge the worlds of classical music, jazz and ethnic music in innovative ways.

The new works for the 2014/5 season include, besides the two operas “Charlie Parker’s Yardbird” and “Abraham”, a work for the Artemis String Quartet called “Impetus” (a Concerto for full Orchestra and String Quartet), a Bassoon Concerto for the Dresden Philharmony, a Pipa Concerto for the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, a Double Concerto for Trombone and Saxophone played at the Musikverein in Vienna, and his orchestral work “Drakool”, played at Carnegie Hall in February 2015 by the ACO. In 2014 he also ‘recomposed’ the lost opera “Alceste” by Händel for the Händel Festival 2014 in Halle (Germany) featuring Kristjan Jaervi, the MDR Orchestra, Thomas Dobler on vibes and himself on saxophone.

Daniel Schnyder toured 2014 with the Absolute Ensemble and Sara Chang in Korea, playing his new work “Hn Moo”, based on traditional Chinese folk songs.

Absolute Ensemble released a CD in 2014 on Sony Classical with Daniel Schnyder’s “ToopART Reinventions”, a new work reflecting on Bach’s Two Part Inventions, featuring Simone Dinnerstein on piano and himself on sax.

The opera companies of Atlanta and Phoenix Arizona and Seattle Opera will play Daniel Schnyder’s Opera Charlie Parker’s Yardbird in the 2018/9 season. His Tenor Trombone Concerto is played for the first time in Germany by the eminent young trombonist Frederic Belli in October 2018. His Alphorn Concerto will be played in February 2019 in Nürnberg Germany by Alphorn Virtuoso Arkady Shilkloper. Daniel Schnyder’s ‘Double Concerto for Saxophone and Bass Trombone’ was played for the first time in Switzerland by David Taylor and Daniel Schnyder and the Bern Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mario Venzago in March 2018.

Biography

Gerald Gradwohl

When looking for terms and names to describe the band, the attempt will leave you with a wide spectrum between jazz and fusion music focusing on grooving funk with a strong „Rock ’N’ Roll Attitude“ mixed with Jazz harmony to fierce discharging jazz rock storms.

There is no arbitrariness in this wide array of musical styles and influences, as the band – selected team players from the international jazz/fusion scene – renders the stringent compositions in a committed and playfully individual manner, putting its high-quality inventive signature to the music and derives its uniqueness and independence from a sure, pro-active and listening interaction of experienced musician personalities. Gradwohl can jump into and out off the stylistic changes like a true chameleon. He has ventured further into exploratory fusion on this effort than on any of his previous efforts. Having the support and backing of the great rhythm section has really made this venture for Gradwohl into tribal funk fusion a viable effort of world-class caliber. GG pulls all the stops of his musical skills. “As much composition as necessary and as much improvisation as possible” seems to be the dogma and the point of view of fusion-music of today for this worldwide known and acknowledged composer and performer, living in Wr. Neustadt, Austria. The great variety in composition and playing will not only fascinate Jazz and Fusion lovers – watch out for exciting live gigs!

The album “ABQ” (2003) feat. Bob Berg, Gary Willis and Kirk Covington was a big step in Geralds international career. Several albums and live tours have been the result of his continuous work.
2007 “Tritone Barrier” is released. On this album Scott Henderson contributes a guest solo on the track “Jeff’s Back”.
This album is followed by “Sally Beth Roe” in 2009 which he recorded with his Trio – this is a real guitar trio record! In 2013 Gerald releases “Big Land” feat. Tribal Tech drummer Kirk Covington on drums.
RAW (2016) is a critically acclaimed masterpiece of Jazz and Rock music and is the first release with his current band. The band is touring regularly and releases the new album “Episode 6” in April 2021!

Members:

Gerald Gradwohl – born 15.4.1967 in Wiener Neustadt(Austria) Classical guitar at the J.M.Hauer Musikschule Wiener Neustadt Jazz guitar studies in Vienna 1986 to 1989 – graduated with distinction Active as musician, composer and band leader ever since Touring all over the world with his original projects Head of Jazz Department at the Joseph Haydn Conservatory Eisenstadt.

Thomas Kugi – born 1964 in Villach(A). Living in Vienna since 1984. After his studies at the Vienna Muci conservator he became one of the most versatile and well-booked saxophone players in Austria. He teaches at the Vienna University and JAM- MUSIC LAB.

Playing with international Cats like: Idris Muhammed, Adam Holtzman, Gene Jackson, Kenny Davis, Matthew Garrison, Andy McKhee, Marco Minnemann, Keith Carlock, Hohn Clark, Dave Taylor, Samuel Blaser, Chaka Khan, The Surpremes, The Temptations, Gloria Gaynor, Omara Portuondo, Marianne Faithful, Nina Hagen, etc.

Jojo Lackner born in Neunkirchen, studied Jazz E-Bass at the Josef Matthias Hauer Konservatorium in Wr. Neustadt with Mischa Krausz.

Worked with: The Syndicate, Violetta Parisini, Harry Sokal, Gansch´n Roses, Erik Rico, Leroy Emmanuel, Tony Momrelle, Tue Flow, Adam Pieronczyk, Joseph Malik, Lylit, Alegre Corea, Johannes Enders, Matthieu Michel, Martin Reiter Trio, Chanda Rule & The Oulipians, Gisele Jackson, Cafe Drechsler, Ilse Riedler´s „Strange Ahead, Victor Davis, Nu Random, Teddy Kumpel, Hot Pants Road Club, Gerald Gradwohl Trio, Ana Paula da Silva, Philipp Nykrin´s Common Sense;

Harald Tanschek – born in Graz. After his first steps in School, Rock and Pop Bands he mastered a study at the Jazz university in Graz(A). Went to Berklee/ Boston(USA)in 1997 and lived there as a freelancer til 2003.Back in Vienna/Austria he worked as a clinician and with projects and artists fom USA, Europe, South and Latin America lik Hal Crook, Chico Freeman, Bob Brookmeyer, Lee Konitz, George Garcone, Howard Alden, Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Steve Logan, Doug Johnson Trio, Grace Kelly, Phil Woods, Victor Mendosa, Joachim Mencel’s “El Greco”, Janosh Muniak, Bullhorns, Mario Vavti’s RTS, Hubert Tubbs, Andy Middleton, Gisele Jackson, Kris Jefferson Groove Coalition, Endrina Rosales Group, Jose Ritmo y Cacao, Martin Lubenov Orkestar, Airbass, Richard Oesterreicher, Alegre Correa, Gina Schwarz’s “Jazzista”, Wolfgang Puschnig, Geri Schuller and many more!

Discography:

Gerald Gradwohl “ABQ” feat. Bob Berg, Gary Willis, Kirk Covington 2003
Gerald Gradwohl “Tritone Barrier“ feat. Scott Henderson, Hubert Tubbs (2007)
Gerald Gradwohl Trio „Sally Beth Roe“ (2009)
Gerald Gradwohl Group „ABQ Live & Raw“ (2011) • Gerald Gradwohl – Big Land (2013)
Gerald Gradwohl – RAW (2016)
Gerald Gradwohl Group – Episode 6 (2021)

Biography

Gina Williams

The singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, producer, and film & television actress is an engaging and entertaining performer; who continues to perform nationally and internationally bringing audiences to their feet. Performing mainly as a solo artist, Gina shares compelling stories through her songs – captivating audiences from intimate venues to stadiums.

For over a decade, Gina performs Pop, Rock, R&B/Soul, Jazz, Gospel, Christian, Dance, Caribbean/Latin, and Classical music at numerous festivals and concert stages. She has shared the stage with notable artists including Burton Cummings (The Guess Who), Take 6, and Kardinal Offishall. Over the years, Gina has had extensive media coverage including Radio “Eye” I (Japan), CBC News Story (Canada), and National Ukrainian Radio and Television. From the Twix Cookies and Creme commercial to appearing in Riverdale, her career as an actress has allowed her to work alongside the likes of John Cusack, Jennifer Beals, and director Alex Graves. Her song “You Are Not Alone” was placed in the Russian film, “Love Is The Best Medicine.”

As a composer, Gina has written works from solo piano to orchestra and won the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Call for Scores Competition (2019). As the first Black female Canadian orchestral composer, Gina was commissioned to write “Glory” (1999) the anthem for Grenada’s 25th Anniversary of Independence.

Gina embraces the stage and cultural diversity of audiences worldwide – addressing them in their native language in concert; leaving memorable experiences, heartfelt joy, tears, and glowing reviews. Countries include Canada, the U.S., Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Ukraine and Grenada. To date, she speaks, writes and/or performs in 12 languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Ukrainian, Punjabi, Latin, Italian, Turkish, Japanese, and Mandarin (Chinese).

Perhaps that is the most apparent thing about Gina: everything she does seems effortless. Yet the more you find out about her, the more you start to understand the layers of complexity behind the music and artistry of this “Modern Day Renaissance Woman” – who continues to defy stereotypes while touching hearts.

Biography

Christos Rafalides

Christos was born and raised in Greece, where he completed his studies in classical percussion. After receiving a scholarship from Berklee College of Music, he moved to Boston, attaining a BA in Jazz Vibraphone Performance and later moved to New York, where he graduated from Manhattan School of Music earning his MA in Jazz Vibraphone Performance.

Christos found his personal voice when he established ‘Manhattan Vibes’, a band that has appeared at numerous New York’s cutting edge venues including the Blue Note, the Jazz Standard, Smoke Jazz Club and Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. Highlights of his career include performances with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis, a US tour with the Charles Mingus ‘Epitaph’ Band featuring bassist Christian McBride and conductor Gunther Schuller, a recording with the Harmony Ensemble of NY of Henry Mancini’s ‘Peter Gunn’ featuring Lew Soloff, Ronnie Cuber and Victor Lewis, recordings with vocalist Chaka Khan and a duo performance at Carnegie Hall with pianist Sergio Salvatore.

His collaboration with Greece’s legendary composer Mimis Plessas led to the release of two projects both based on Plessas’ music: the album ‘Ηχώ/Echo: the music of Mimis Plessas’ featuring Evi Siamanda on vocals; and the duo recording ‘We Two’ featuring Mimis Plessas on piano and Christos on vibraphone.

In ‘Point Two’ Christos teams up with bassist Petros Klampanis who he met five years ago in NYC. Point Two is a unique blend of their influences of Middle Eastern, Greek and Latin elements and they include original compositions, standards, and folk songs. In addition to ‘Point Two’ in 2014 Christos’ collaboration with the ‘Chronos Ensemble’ featuring one of Greece’s legendary singer-songwriter Dimitra Galani led to the release of the album ‘Chronos Project”.

Christos’ new works include:

‘Silver Lining’ – a piano/vibraphone duo project with acclaimed pianist Giovanni Mirabassi, released in May 2022
‘Sonic Convergence’ – a duo with bassist Petros Klampanis meeting a string quartet, performing music by renowned composer and educator Christos Hatzis, presented at the Athens Epidaurus Festival, 2022
/S O L O/ – a unique project combining acoustic vibraphone with electronics, featuring Pearl’s MalletStation
‘Home’, a collaborative project that was recorded during Covid lockdown, featuring guests from around the globe, coming out in 2023

For several years, Christos had been a guest faculty member at the ‘Zeltsman Marimba Festival’ which took place every summer in different parts of the world. He also has an Artist Residency at the ‘Music Village’ in Greece.

His original works for mallets are published from Emarel Music and are being played in concerts around the world. Christos is endorsed by Ludwig-Musser Vibraphones, Pearl MalletStation and is playing his signature Vic Firth M37 mallets. He makes his home in New York City.

Biography

Simon-Mary Vincent

Awarded in 2021 an Artist Respond Award by the St. Hugh’s Foundation for the Arts, Arts Council
England support for the 2017 Stations of the Cross Solo Piano Tour and nominated in 2014 for a Paul
Hamlyn Award for Artists, Simon-Mary Vincent is an Anglo-Hungarian performer and composer of
acoustic and electronic music, who has been challenging the boundaries of genre and musical
expression with a highly personal political and spiritual language since the early 1990’s.

“Visionary and expressive”, “rich and surprising”, “incredibly individual”, “masterful compositions”, “an
immersive experience”, Simon-Mary’s music has attracted praise and radio play from critics as varied
as Fran Wilson, Lauren Redhead, Ben Watson, Julian Cowley, Nick Luscombe, Robert Hugill, Massimo
Ricci, and Gilles Peterson, and has been reviewed in publications including The Wire, International
Piano, Jazz Journal, De:Bug, and Avant Music News.

Active for many years in the UK’s improvised and experimental music scene, she was also resident DJ
in the Cookin’ Room at LTJ Bukem’s Progression Sessions, releasing compositions and performances
on Erstwhile Records, EMANEM, L’innomable, Good Looking Records, as well as her own label Vision
of Sound to critical acclaim with trumpeter Tom Arthurs, The Occasional Trio featuring bassist Roland
Fidezius and drummer Kay Lübke, and Ten Trees Conversations with percussionist Tumi Mogorosi,
sound interventionist Robert Machiri and spiritual philosopher Kupawashe Mtata.

She went on to found and direct the EMW Experimental Orchestra at the University of Applied Sciences
in Potsdam, premiering works in Berlin at Club Transmediale, Tresor and the Akademie der Künste and
has lectured in subjects ranging from acousmatic composition, audio installation and interdisciplinary
performance art to urban musical and sonic political/cultural theory (socio-acoustics), afrofuturism,
sound design, feminist performance art, and network and game theory.

Her unique work has led to appearances worldwide at the Tallinn Music Week, TechFestival
Copenhagen, Erased Tapes Sound Gallery, Glastonbury Festival, Akademie der Künste (Berlin), ICA
London, Club Transmediale (Berlin), Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Internationale
Ferienkurse für Neue Musik (Darmstadt), Visiones Sonoras (Mexico City), Q-02 Brussels, as well as on
Resonance FM, BBC Radio 3, and Ministry of Sound Radio among many others.

Having completed a commission from RPO Principal trombonist Matthew Gee for 3 electroacoustic
miniatures, BBC Radio 3 Late Junction’s Nick Luscombe, The Richard Wagner Museum’s ‘Amor Mundi
Festival’, as well as the ‘Bayreuth Blättert’ Literature Festival, she is currently performing and recording
a new album with electro-acoustic trio Nàdair (with Dave Pullin and Chris Dowding) and composing 2
substantials new works for percussion with 4-channel electronics, and piano with 5-channel electronics.

Biography

Ron Jackson

World-renowned, Seven String Jazz Guitarist, composer and arranger, Ron Jackson has performed, recorded, and taught music in over 30 countries. Jackson is likely the only African American seven-string jazz guitarist alive. His goal is to bring awareness to the instrument through education, music, and events.

As a musician, Jackson has mastered the six, seven, and twelve-string guitars and plays other fretted string instruments like the ukulele, banjo, and electric bass. He has been featured as a leader in jazz festivals all over the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, and Winter Jazzfest. Jackson’s influences include George Benson, Pat Metheny, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix. He has studied under the tutelage of Pat Martino, Barry Harris, Melvin Sparks, Mike Stern, and the seven-string master, the late Bucky Pizzarelli.

As a recording artist, Jackson has had a successful recording career, releasing eight albums. Beginning with the chart-topping “Guitar Thing” (1991) and “Flubby Dubby” (2008) which was recorded live with his Hammond Organ trio. His most recent release, the Jazzweek Top 100 album, “Standards And Other Songs” (2019) was his first as a leader on seven-string, incorporating traditional standards and jazz reimagining of radio-friendly pop songs, like Drake’s “Passionfruit”.

As an educator, Jackson provides education and awareness of the seven-string guitar – via Individualized instruction and free/low-cost educational resources comprising workshops and live-streamed micro-lessons across his social media channels. He also teaches six-string guitar classes to elementary students in NYC Public Schools, who would not otherwise have access to jazz.

These days you can find Ron performing for audiences with his band, teaching virtually and in-person, and hosting his popular weekly Instagram show Sunday Evening Jazz. In 2022 Ron was awarded the South Arts Jazzroad grant to support his “Whatever’s Open” Tour in March-April 2022. This coincided with his Top 10 Jazzweek album release, “Standards and My Songs”.

Biography

Andres Jimenez

Formerly known as Marcos Jimenez, Andres Jimenez performs in major international jazz events and jazz clubs around the world. His main projects as a leader, include a quintet, a trio, and a piano solo. Beside his career on stage, Andres is a regular teacher at the Ejma of Lausanne and AMR in Geneva.

Andres Jimenez, Spanish born raised in Geneva, Switzerland, started at the age of 10 by playing everything he heard by ear. Music has been always part of the life of his family that produced several professional musicians: “my parents bought a piano upon their arrival in Geneva, I initiated myself reproducing what I heard on records and from radio, soon I started to improvise my own compositions”. He soon began listening to pop recordings that his brother brought home. He began playing along with those recordings and into his teens started to go on stage with cover bands of the Beatles, the Moody Blues, and others in vogue at that time.

Andres Jimenez studied jazz piano for two years with pianist Michel Bastet. Then, during eight years he attended the course of Sébastien Risler in the Conservatoire Populaire de Genève. where he was deeply immersed in, and fascinated by classical and contemporary music. Additionaly, he attended composition lessons with composer Eric Gaudibert.

Later, he had piano lessons with Franco d’Andrea, Richie Beirach, and most importantly Kenny Werner.

In 1995 he graduated from his classical studies obtaining a certificate with the congratulations of the Jury, and the Special Prize Kneiffel.

He then continued his exploration of jazz as an autodidact, transcribing solos and arrangements, playing with local musicians such as Erik Truffaz, Maurice Magnoni, Mathieu Michel, Christophe Calpini, Patrice Moret, Daniel Schläppi, Dominic egli, Marcel Papaux, to name a few.

He also founded the Andres Jimenez quartet and performed his own compostions with musicians such as Marc Johnson, Bänz Oester and Norbert Pfammatte for a tour in Switzerland and France.

Daniel le Bris in one of his reviews defined Andres as ”a rare, sensitive and inventive artist, subtle melodist that is worth the stop. Unwilling to succumb to the siren charms of the facility, the musician realized that music is about feeling, sensuality. And alone or with his trio, the note is there, that hits the right place. His attraction to the diversity makes him a pianist “atypical” attentive to all types of music”.

Andres Jimenez has accompanied many singers, including Christine Python with whom he won the Sacem prize at the vocal competition of “Festival de Crest” in France, he played with drummer Daniel Humair and worked with french female singer Zizi Jeanmaire and choreographer Roland Petit. He was the pianist and arranger for what should be the final “tour de chant” of Mrs Zizi Jeanmaire. He also composed a song for her, which was recorded on the album “La Liberté est une Fleur”.

Biography

Jason Schneider

Jason Schneider is a popular jazz trumpet player in Germany‘s Rhine-Main metropolitan region, who appears both as a soloist and as a section player. Even before he completed his studies with Axel Schlosser in 2009, he was active in countless formations. He played with Aloe Blacc, Ralf Gustke, Keith Copeland, Ack van Rooyen, Bob Mintzer, Herb Geller, Claudio Roditi and many others. He is a prizewinner at Jugend musiziert, Jugend jazz and Jeunesses Musicales, toured several countries on concert tours (Canada, Russia, Japan, Norway, Israel, Nicaragua, Brazil, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Lithuania, Romania …) and took part both as a guest musician and as initiator on several album productions. With J-Sound he received the Jazz Scholarship of the City of Frankfurt am Main in 2015. At the moment he is working – increasingly as a singer – on his own projects (J-Sound, The Argosonics, Kokonino Kounty), new recordings and works as a sideman in several bands.

J|Sound impresses above all with its clear lines. Whether powerfully propelling, rousing energetic or

colourfully shimmering and atmospherically dreamy each and every one of the multi-faceted, original composition creates an individual atmosphere that hits the mark. ” The Band experiments with shapes, sounds, dynamics and balances. It explores the load-bearing capacity of electrical and electronic components, different aggregate states of melody, volumes and ways of increasing rhythms and they do not look around indecisively but master their material and don’t lack any clarity.” (FR) Due to the high virtuoso versatility of the individual band members all ingredients merge into a dynamic overall sound.

Shortly after it was founded the quartet received the 25th Frankfurt Jazz scholarship, released its debut album on the Swiss Jazz Label Unit Records in 2016 and has since continuously developed its unmistakable group sound. With the second album ‘Loose Tongue’ J|Sound now presents – audibly matured – the fruits of constant collaboration. Since its five years of existence, The J|Sound Project has undergone a metamorphosis from a promising young collective to a working band with a profile and a group sound that has grown together. The deletion of the ‘Project’ from the band name is a consequent step towards more independence and with a ‘loose tongue’ the band exudes a new self-confidence.

“For J-Sound Jason Schneider put together a quartet that doesn’t slip on the dazzling parquet of his compositions. In all of his own compositions, Schneider relies primarily on energy. That works both in a breakneck neobop like the opener ‘Swift To React’ and in the bizarre sound creations that characterize a high-energy number like ‘Third Quarter’. But there are also a few quieter pieces in which the band sounds downright pensive. “ – Jazzthing

“The young man from Frankfurt (Jason Schneider) can do a lot. He plays harmoniously colorful and atmospheric. He is technically good and virtuoso, plays up to the high register and his sound is versatile “ – Jazz’N’More

“The band experiments with shapes, sounds, dynamics and balances. It explores the load-bearing capacity of electrical and electronic components, different aggregate states of melody, volumes and ways of increasing rhythm. And she does not look around indecisively, but masters her material and does not lack any clarity. “ – Frankfurter Rundschau

“Jason Schneider (tr, flh) and Michael Schreiner keep the massive blower going with his tenor saxophone. With a spirited pianist, Yuriy Sych, who also finds the right notes on the Rhodes, Ivan Habernal (b) and Uli Schiffelholz (dr) you create an excellent fusion that is made even more invigorating by rousing solos. “ – CONCERTO magazine

Biography

Vinny Valentino

Vinny Valentino is a Grammy-nominated guitarist and composer, continuing to redefine musical genres and break melody barriers to audiences worldwide. Blending the eternal elements of blues and jazz music since his international debut album (The Distance Between Two Lines), he is consciously expanding on the confines of his instrument and the compositions and recordings that stems from it. The Distance Between Two Lines also rocketed up the charts to number two and held its own on the national charts for fourteen weeks.

Setting himself apart from all others in his lane, Vinny has been playing the guitar since age six. Hailing from the Washington DC area, he began touring as part of a progressive rock band when he was still in high school. It was at age sixteen that Vinny made the conscious decision to pursue a career in Jazz; influenced by the likes of George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Nat King Cole.

Studying Jazz at Howard University, he earned his bachelor’s and soon after released his first solo recording. In present day, Vinny now has twelve recordings with his mark on them and has appeared with his band on BET’s, “Bet on Jazz”; a one-hour feature program that quickly became one of the top five requested programs on BET.

Embracing the fact that he was one of the first musicians to perform live on the internet, Vinny continues to pioneer the digital world by offering online clinics, performance opportunities and lessons at www.vinny.com. A significant part of this journey of innovation into the online space is Vinny’s “Play Along Tunes” initiative (www.playalongtunes.com). With this program and site launch in 2008, Vinny gave aspiring musicians the opportunity to download various tracks that omit the instrument they play; it’s an interactive jam session without coordinating all of the other musicians and space all the while being surrounded by the world top bandmates.

Vinny’s compositions have been recorded by Steve Smith and Vital Information, John Benitez, George Benson, Sunny Sumter and Steve Haas and are featured in the best-selling Jazz book, “All Jazz Real Book.” The National Endowment for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts have recognized Vinny’s talents as composer, arranger, and recording artist with a grant for a series of works entitled “New Music for Three Guitars”. Participating in multiple world tours including tours to Russia, Asia, Central and South America, Vinny has been an integral part of keeping music alive and expanding its reach through every border and barrier.

In addition to his personal accolades as a musician, he’s been producing and editing Greetings from America shows since 2005, honing skills in graphic design and web development and is even a private pilot in whatever free time he has. Vinny Valentino is a one-of-a-kind musician who is always striving to learn. Music never stops evolving, so why should he?

Biography

Susanna Lindeborg

Susanna Lindeborg, piano and keyboard, started her professional musical career at the middle of the 70th. From her classical upbringing she turned into work with jazz and improvisation, which showed to be her right element. The thing you first think of together with Susanna Lindeborg is her work with the mix of acoustic and electronic instruments, which has been known most of all through the group MWENDO DAWA, which she is the leader of together with saxophone player Ove Johansson. Mwendo Dawa has been succesfully touring in 22 countries in Europe, North and South America and China performing at festivals like Montreux, Northsea and Montreal.

The past few years she has been regularly visiting USA and Canada with Mwendo Dawa. Susanna also writes a lot of the repertoire for the group. Besides Mwendo Dawa Susanna Lindeborg toured a great deal with the female jazz group Salamander during the beginning of the 80th. Salamander arouse a lot of attention on the European continent and in USA and Susanna came to tour a lot internationally with these two groups.

Today you can also hear her in the Lindeborg/Johansson Duo and Natural Artefacts. Susanna has been touring with Natural Artefacts and LJDuo with performances both in the world of improvisation music as well as the world of electro acoustic music. She also is doing solo improvisations together with her computers doing electroacoustical backgrounds.

Susanna Lindeborg writes her own music and some of this got profiled when she released her first soloCD 1989. The CD got a lot of attention and gave her some work for instance in Germany with some radio and TV recordings.

Pressvoices:

Susanna with her blonde appearance showed to hide a volcano under the surface. Where can you today hear piano better played than this?

Folket, Sweden
There are few keyboard players that approach the synthesizer with such a power as Susanna Lindeborg.

Nye Takter, Norway
Susanna Lindeborg showed not to be only a superb instrumentalist but she also shows to be a magnificent talent of composing.

Jazz Podium, Germany
It is great that she – a lone woman – can create just that supplement of sounds and harmonics which she thinks the (very beautifully recorded) good old sounds of grand piano shall be accompanied by. It is lovely to receive noble analogue nice sounds together with the machines keeping other colourings in the background, or the opposite.

Anders Kirkegaard, JazzSpecial Denmark
Susanna Lindeborg is a refreshingly original voice that easily holds the listener´s attention for a full-length solo album: not an easy feat.

Steven Loewy, Cadence, USA

Biography

Anders Hagberg

Anders Hagberg – flautist · saxophonist · composer · professor of musical performance

Critically acclaimed and innovative virtuoso Anders Hagberg is a unique soloist on a variety of flutes and soprano saxophone. His musical synthesis combines the improvised freedom of jazz with an archaic Scandinavian lyricism and influences from his longtime collaborations with Oriental musicians. Creative, and with instrumental mastery, these elements are merged into a profound and personal expression.

Improvisation and boundary crossing collaborations are the hallmarks of Anders, and his projects often includes artists from various genres and cultures as well as other art forms such as dance and visual arts.

He has been touring worldwide with his own groups and as a soloist with Yggdrasil, Mynta and New Jungle Orchestra as well as musicians like Marilyn Mazur, John Tchicai, Anders Jormin, Vikku Vinayakram, Shankar Mahadevan to name a few. His international collaborations include artists from India, Middle East, Japan, Brazil, West Africa and the United States.

He has composed music for films and dance performances and made many albums in his own name, which have received Grammy nominations and prizes. He has been artistic director and performer for many openings of events like festivals and art exhibitions where Urkult/Fire Night, Stockholm Millennium and Nordic Watercolor Museum (i.e., Bill Viola, Louise Bourgeois) are worth noting.

As a Professor of Musical Performance, Improvisation at the University of Gothenburg, Academy of Music & Drama Anders is working with teaching, artistic research and as a supervisor.

As an artistic director for Connecting Worlds, Anders has created a series of concerts and a platform for new collaborations between artists from Europe and the Orient.

Anders Hagberg is a Yanagisawa Saxophone Artist and D´Addario reed endorser.
He plays Muramatso alto and C flutes, Kingma bass and contrabass flutes and, uses DPA microphones.

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