Kristina Marinova

Kristina Marinova has been described as a virtuoso performer of extreme energy and youthful vibrance. Her clear and precise tone enhances her stormy expressions and performances, full of grace, serenity, style, and beauty. Her album 4 RHAPSODIES, which she performed live at Carnegie Hall on November 17, 2022, has been called “A Feast for the Ears” by Darren Rea of Classical Music Review Magazine. 

“Listening to works like 4 RHAPSODIES we instantly realize music is like a message from God” – Nagamag Magazine. 

Words used to describe Marinova’s efforts on her album include “dazzling, tender, virtuosic and emotional with unparalleled talent.” Her recent performance at the legendary Tarrytown Music Hall was described as “the elegant and masterful Bulgarian pianist delivered an incredible spectacular performance.”

Teodora Brody

Born: September 30, 1967

Born in Romania, and now based in Switzerland, Teodora Brody initially trained in classical jazz and rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s singing with legendary jazz pianist Johnny R?ducanu.

Acclaimed for her extraordinary vocal power and creative vision, Teodora pioneered the fusion of jazz with Doina – Romania’s improvisatory folk singing tradition – and is widely credited with introducing international audiences to this extraordinary, deeply emotive music.

Always searching for new musical territories to explore, Teodora has performed alongside musicians including Stanley Jordan, Theodosii Spassov, Lars Danielsson, Johnny R?ducanu, Les Paul, Curtis Fuller, Eric Legnini, Phillippe Duchemin, Guido Manusardi, Benny Rietveld, Daniele di Bonaventura, Ion Baciu and Al Copley. On the world stage, Teodora has regularly appeared at prestigious European jazz festivals including Montreux, Lugano and Marciac, and across the Atlantic she has performed at the US Library of Congress and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and at legendary clubs including Iridium New York and Blues Alley in Washington D.C.

Alex Dante

Born: May 12, 1983

Alexandros Dandoulakis (born 12th of May 1983), better known by his stage name Alex Dante is a Greek musician originally from the island of Crete. 

Since 2001 he lives and works as guitarist, music teacher, arranger and composer in Athens. He studied Mathematics and Physics at the National Technical University of Athens and Music at the University of West London which he graduated with the Licentiate of Teacher’s Diploma in electric guitar.

He has collaborated with many Greek artists and world class musicians like Bill Frisell, Alan Zavod (Zappa & the mothers), Monophonics and Jazz Soul Orchestra. His projects cover many music genres such as Jazz, Soul, Rock and Classical music.Alex Dante, with his electric guitar, redefines the aesthetics and sound over Frederic Chopin’s and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s pieces, describing a route from Wes Montgomerry and Joe Pass to Pat Metheny and Kurt Rosenwinkel.

F. August Bish

Dominique Reilly

Kristen Mather de Andrade

Born: December 29

New York-based artist Kristen Mather de Andrade has immersed herself in a broad array of musical worlds and cultures, from the classical canon to world music, and beyond. Devoting time to both the worlds of clarinet and voice, Mather de Andrade has enjoyed a career of prime accolades and acclaim within her chosen musical paths, but these days music feels as vital as ever as she explores being a solo artist. This fresh outlet of releasing her own recorded music has been transformative, as Kristen is already releasing her sophomore album As Bright As The Skies Are Blue on the heels of her debut album Clarão (2021). 

Kenny Wesley

Born: September 1

He is a songwriter, pianist, vocalist with a range spanning more than four octaves, and a linguist who speaks five languages. His name is Kenny Wesley. With three acclaimed projects, numerous accolades, collaborations, compilation features, and high-profile performances under his belt, including a win as a finalist, and the United States representative, for the 2013 Montreux Jazz Festival’s Shure Vocal Competition, Kenny has firmly placed his stamp on the burgeoning modern music movement.

His songs, fusing elements of electronic, jazz, funk, classical, folk and gospel, have been prominently featured on radio, film and TV – including the FOX series So You Think You Can Dance.  A welcomed guest to festivals and legendary venues across the globe such as SXSW, The Kennedy Center, Southport Weekender, Jazz Cafe London, Blues Alley, A-Trane, Montreux Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scotts, The White House, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Jazz à Vienne, The Blue Note, Bohemian Caverns, and The Apollo Theatre Cafe, he has shared the stage with numerous artists and musicians including Maysa (Incognito), the B52s, Vinx, Rachelle Ferrell, Kurt Elling, Sheila Jordan, Jean-Paul Bourelly, Giacomo Gates, Vikter Duplaix, Leela James, Charnett Moffett, Frédéric Yonnet (Prince, Stevie Wonder), Mino Cinélu (Miles Davis, Weather Report), Federico Peña (Marcus Miller, Meshell Ndegeocello), Stephanie Mills, Regina Belle, Zo!, Carmen Rodgers, Phonte (Little Brother, The Foreign Exchange), Alice Smith, Eric Roberson, Kindred and The Family Soul, N’Dambi and Syleena Johnson.

Thomas Palance

Thomas Palance is known for his versatility as a trumpet player and innovative teacher. Tom started The Orchestra On The Hill in 2007 with five members. Since then, the orchestra has grown to a full professional ensemble delighting audiences with unique concerts. Tom retired from the US Navy Band in Washington DC after 20 years of service where he was the named "The most versatile trumpet player in the US Navy."

At the band Tom held positions of assistant principal trumpet and soloist with the concert band, and soloist with The Commodores Jazz Band. In 2005 Tom relocated to Ipswich, MA with his family where he is a freelance trumpet player, composer, conductor and teacher. Tom has served on the faculty at The Boston Conservatory, The University of New Hampshire and Salem State University and is now a professor at The Berklee College of Music.

Taeko Kunishima

Born: September 2

"I was born in Japan and studied classical piano performance at university. When I heard Miles Davis on the radio, I switched to jazz.

I had a long absence from musical activity while living in the Middle East, and shortly after, in my youth. By experiencing different cultures and listening to Japanese, classical, jazz and  Arabic music I was inspired to write my own diverse compositions ." —Taeko Kunishima (June 2022)

Kunishima has released five albums on 33 jazz records and been played on  BBC Radio 3 Late Junction, Jazz FM, BBC World, and Resonance FM.

Simeon Nathanael Davis

Born: September 2, 1997

With a career spanning two continents before he was 20, arrangements that have received awards from both Downbeat (2021) and the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (2021) while still a student, and compositions described as ��on a scale with Everglades by Terence Blanchard,�� (Gary Lowe, WUNH), Simeon Nathanael Davis is a composer, bandleader, saxophonist, and violinist who blends jazz, folk, classical, and neo-soul music with his roots in South African jazz to programmatically trace narratives drawn from mythology, religion, fiction, and lived experiences. Davis was raised and lived in Cape Town, South Africa for 17 years