Ashia Ackov

Born: August 10

Singer/Songwriter Ashia Ackov is a rising star of the Jazz Genre with her hit "Blame it on Me". She has a unique style that blends traditional jazz elements with modern influences, creating a fresh and original sound. She sings Lounge, Smooth Jazz, Noire-Era, and Bossa Nova. Ashia is a self-proclaimed SoCal girl who enjoys writing poetry comparing love and nature. She credits that as an inspiration when it comes to writing her music. Because she suffers from Vocal Dysphonia, she has a unique, quiet, lush, vocal tone that is very intimate. 

Elaine Dame

Born: September 21, 1962

ARTIST'S BIO

"Dame has risen to the top ranks of Chicago jazz singers, with a musicality that allows her to improvise things most singers shouldn't even try. She possesses everything one could want in a true jazz vocalist: centered intonation, an enviable command of rhythm, and a translucent but powerful instrument.”~ Neil Tesser, Grammy award-winning critic and Author, The Playboy Guide to Jazz

Elaine Dame, jazz vocalist and recording artist, is a "Vocal dynamo...[and] continues to be a gem in the city's vocal jazz scene" according to Time Out Chicago. Since 1997, Dame has headlined venerable venues in Chicago, the Midwest and the nation, collaborating with some of the finest jazz instrumentalists. She has enjoyed residencies at such notable music rooms as the Rainbow Room, Michael Feinstein's 54 Below and the Metropolitan Room in New York City - and in Chicago, Elaine headlined the 2015 Chicago Jazz Festival and appears regularly at Winter's Jazz Club and The Jazz Showcase, to name but a few.

John Alvey

Nashville born drummer John Alvey has been a regular of the Nashville jazz scene for almost two decades. He can be found playing in different musical incarnations in Nashville or on the road. John has worked with Joel Frahm, Rahsaan Barber, Roland Barber, Rod McGaha, Don Aliquo, and he has performed alongside Gregory Tardy, Brian Lynch Jeff Coffin, Bob McChesney, and Jason Marshall.

Outside of jazz, in Nashville’s rich country and roots music scene, John has recorded and/or performed with Taj Mahal, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull, Shannon Labrie, and Vince Gill, having worked in musical fields as diverse as recording drums with string quartets, to playing shows in both historic and modern rooms: The Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry, The Bluebird Cafe, The Station Inn, Rudy's Jazz Room, and The Nashville Jazz Workshop

Matthew Fries

Born: September 24, 1968

Matthew Fries is a joyful voice on the piano with a unique and recognizable style that is authentically rooted in the tradition of the classic jazz pianists, while still looking forward to the future of the music and the instrument.

As a composer and leader he has performed his own music extensively, recording ten albums of mostly original compositions. His music has been described as playful and hopeful, introspective, full of joy and wonderment, and awash with tonal colors. But it is his deeply swinging piano style and collaborative spirit that have also made him an in-demand sideman for both instrumentalists and vocalists. He has toured worldwide, appears on scores of recordings, and his work has been described as “the best jazz accompaniment I’ve seen in a cabaret in years” (The New York Times), and “the crispest rhythm section imaginable” (The London Times).

Vanessa Vacanti

Born: November 10, 1999

Vanessa Vacanti is a fresh new face on the jazz scene. A recent grad of SUNY Fredonia, (BFA/Musical Theatre) her vocal talents are quickly becoming recognized by musician’s and audiences alike.  She has recently become local to Buffalo, NY, but previously has worked in the Syracuse area.  She has been mainstay in the Syracuse scene with performances at Syracuse Jazz Fest, Fayetteville Jazz Fest with Ronnie Leigh, Fulton Jazz Fest, Lake Ontario Wine and Jazz Fest, the Jazz By The Lake series in Oswego as well as frequent night club performances throughout Central New York. She frequently works with The Jazz Mafia Trio, which is her first-call backing band

Anita Faye

Anita Faye is an American singer/songwriter, stage performer, voice over artist, fashion accessories designer, and philanthropist. Her latest project is an uplifting worship song entitled "To God be the Glory" which was penned by Chantel Collier and Brandon Williams.  She is also currently performing in a stage production called "We Move in Color" which celebrates the history and resilience of African Americans.  

Practically born in the church, Anita began singing at a very early age and studied music throughout school and college.  She competed in and won several talent shows, and as she progressed in her singing and songwriting, she collaborated with other music creators.  Anita Faye has worked with GRAMMY® award-winning producers, including Gen Rubin and the late Betty Wright who penned "All of the Above" on Anita’s "Kingdom Journey" project. 

Chris Weeks

Born: February 9, 1990

Chris Weeks is one of the UK’s finest Jazz singers, as well as an actor, musician, session musician and producer.

Chris started singing professionally at 16 years old, having sung with the County and National Youth Jazz Orchestras. He has performed at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho, The Cavern Club in Liverpool, Twinwood Vintage Festival, The Big Feastival as well as at parties, weddings, private events and on cruise ships and in hotels across the world. 

?At 24, Chris decided to train in acting, and so took the 3 Year Acting Course at the Oxford School of Drama. In 2017, He left the school early to play Guy Haines in Strangers On A Train for Frinton Summer Theatre. He then played Will in 'For The Time Being' for BBC Radio 4.

Heather Ward

Born: March 29, 1963

Heather Ward is a seasoned jazz vocalist and vocal coach, originally from Canada and now based in Seattle. Her two albums, 'Honeysweet' and 'Gilded & Silver', signify a major milestone in Heather’s career, marking her full transition from a diverse musical and theatrical performer and educator to focusing solely on her passion for jazz. Her family is full of music teachers, choir directors, church organists and professional musicians. All of them influenced and inspired her, as music was a constant part of life in her home. She was hugely influenced by artists such as Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington, as well as contemporaries like Holly Cole and Michael Bublé

Changamire

Raised on the music of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn and Dinah Washington, Changamire? is a jazz vocalist and recording artist from Washington, DC. Glenn Turner, pianist for the late Gil Scott Heron, was her first vocal coach.

In 2001, she self-released her critically acclaimed debut album, Only Human, which features a 14-piece string section. AllAboutJazz.com wrote, "It's difficult to nail down just what makes her voice so darn compelling. Maybe it's the comfort and familiarity, maybe the confiding honesty. Whatever the case, it works exceptionally well.”

Phillip Haynes

Born: June 15, 1961

A veteran artist based in New York for 25 years, Phil Haynes is featured on more than 85 LP, CD, and DVD releases by numerous American and European record labels. Haynes’ debut, The Paul Smoker Trio’s QB with Anthony Braxton, was named the #1 recording of 1985 by esteemed critic Kevin Whitehead. The international media have compared his drumming to masters Jack DeJohnette, Roy Haynes and Elvin Jones, and his compositions to Duke Ellington, Charles Ives, Charles Mingus and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. His performances were recently noted to be “The perfect middle between tradition and avant-garde, between power and sophistication, between accessibility and adventure. . . standards with a new sense of drama, dynamics, and true moments of fun.”