 |
Queen Esther (vocals) has performed as a vocalist with jazz guitar icon James “Blood” Ulmer, and with her own group, on the album “Talkin’ Fishbowl Blues.” Queen Esther’s distinctive style earned her acclaim as lead actress in George C. Wolfe’s production of the musical “Harlem Song,” at the Apollo Theater, as well as in her self-penned one-woman show, “Queen Esther Unemployed Superstar.” She worked with Vernon Reid (Living Color) on the much-praised Hyena Records release, “No Escape From the Blues,” and with guitarist Elliot Sharp in their group Hoosegow. |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
Lewis “Flip” Barnes (trumpet, vocals) has lent his trumpet, vocal and electric bass styling to the NYC based ensemble Burnt Sugar, bassist William Parker, saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly, and The Holmes Brothers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Vincent Chancey (French horn) has built a solid reputation as an accomplished player dedicated to the French horn, as a member of the Sun Ra Arkestra and Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy. He has performed with Chick Corea, Cassandra Wilson, Shirley Horn, and the Mingus Orchestra. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Claire Daly (baritone saxophone) Combining lyrical and be-bop phrasing with an all-out tone, Claire walks in the footsteps of role models Sonny Rollins and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Claire’s 1999 recording Swing Low is in the permanent collection of the Clinton Library, as a CD that was personally significant to the former President while in office. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Liberty Ellman (guitar) has developed what The Village Voice called “one of the contemporary scene's most singular approaches to the modern guitar lingo" through his work in musical and theater productions, with saxophonists Henry Threadgill and Greg Osby, and with his own hardworking trio. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Cleave Guyton (alto saxophone, clarinet) plays with a rare blend of bold intricacy and grace. He has performed with artists such as Ray Charles, Joe Henderson, Stanley Terrentine, Nat Adderley, Lionel Hampton, Abbey Lincoln, Tito Puente, Ronny Jordan, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
J. Walter Hawkes (arranger, trombone) is an instrumentalist, arranger and composer. He composes for film and television (“Blues Clues”, Disney’s “Go Baby”) and has performed and recorded with Slide Hampton, Jon Hendricks, Ray Charles, Bob Hope, Beth Orton, Macy Gray, and the Temptations. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
Patience Higgins (tenor saxophone) performs regularly with legend Bobby Short and celebrated tap dancer Savion Glover, has worked with the Count Basie and Lionel Hampton bands, with jazz singer Jimmy Scott, and on Broad¬way in Dream Girls, The Wiz, and Chicago. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Sunny Jain (drums) has performed with such artists as Kiran Ahluwalia, Kenny Baron, Seamus Blake, Lonnie Plaxico, Norah Jones, and Martha Wainwright. His own group, Sunny Jain Collective has received international acclaim for their blend of jazz, Indian Music, and modern effects. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Chuck “Numbers” MacKinnon (arranger, trumpet) has performed with many of the top names in jazz including the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, Joe Henderson, and James Moody; as well as with crossover groups including Norah Jones, Isaac Mizrahi, and Charlie Hunter. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Catherine Popper (double bass) has played jazz with Eddie Henderson and Chris Potter, bluegrass with banjoist Tom Harway, klezmer with the all-female Mikveh, folk-rock with the acclaimed group Hem, and currently performs with alt-country singer-songwriter Ryan Adams. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Warren Smith (vibraphone) Tasteful and disciplined, Warren has a long history pitching in on various masterworks, from Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin to Miles Davis and Charles Mingus, and is a former member of M’Boom, the all-star percussion ensemble founded by Max Roach. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
James Zollar (trumpet) stands out in a wide range of musical settings, from working with The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, to playing with tap artist Savion Glover, to touring with his own quintet. This Kansas City native was featured in Robert Altman’s film “ Kansas City,” as well as Malcolm Lee’s film “The Best Man,” and Madonna’s music video, “My Baby’s Got a Secret.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
