Oavette

“Oavette conjures elaborate landscapes.”
— Aakaash Israni (Dawn of Midi)

Oavette is an instrumental band from Japan. Their music embodies a unique blend of intelligence and primal energy, characterized by minimalism that is both emotional and dynamic. Percussive guitars intricately intertwine with complex drum patterns, while the bass line steadily builds tension, maintaining a stoic presence until the very end of each song.

Groovosophers

The Groovosophers band was formed in Krakow in March 2023, continuing the tradition of the Goddard Quartet/Quintet band, founded in 1997 at the jazz workshops in Chodziez. Over the years, musicians have met in various lineups and musical genres, and in 2023 they decided to fulfil their dreams and combine their strengths, creating their own energetic material together.

In July 2023 and 2024, the band played at the Night of the Museum at the medieval castle Pieskowa Ska?a in Su?oszowa. In April 2024, Groovosophers was a part of the celebration of the opening of the Improwizacja Jazz Club in Krakow and as guest, Leszek ??d?o on soprano saxophone joined the band on stage. In September 2024, the band played as a headliner on the 8th Hammond Kielce Festival. The band plays energetic concerts in jazz clubs around.

Since When?

Born: March 15

Since When? was formed by guitarist, bassist and composer Terence Culpepper . Their music is a fusion of jazz, rhythm & blues and Brazilian styles which reflect the range of influences Mr. Culpepper has been exposed to throughout his musical career. Since When? also performs arrangements of songs written or performed by the artists who haveinfluenced Mr. Culpepper's own compositional style which includes Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sade, The Rippington's and others. Remarks Mr. Culpepper on his approach to covering other composer's songs:

"When we begin to do another composer's song, I don't want the audience to recognize the song untilabout the 16th to 24th bar!"

Nico Moreno

Born: May 23, 1997

Guitarist and composer Nico Moreno is a young guitar player who currently resides in New York City. His playing is characterized by the convergence of different styles such as Latin American music, rock, and pop, deeply rooted in the jazz guitar tradition.

Nico began his guitar journey at the age of nine when his mother gifted him an acoustic guitar. He started playing rock and began performing at local venues when he was thirteen. His musical journey went from rock to heavy metal, progressive rock, fusion, and eventually jazz and Latin American music. He started to study jazz and improvisation at the age of seventeen and since then, he has been deeply inspired by the idea of composing in real-time and writing music inspired by the jazz and Latin American traditions.

Okan Ersan

Born: April 27, 1972

Okan Ersan’s Mediterranean roots and mindset have provided the springboard for a successful international career as a guitarist and composer. His innate ability to create complex harmonies that fuse into smooth melodies provide an inspiring experience for the listener. His work has earned accolades from his peers and across the music industry and his high-energy electric fusion appeals to audiences all over the world. Okan has headlined at prestigious International Jazz festivals including Leverkusener Jazztage, Penang Island Jazz Festival, Nanjing Jazz, Kansas City Jazz Festival, Carthage Jazztage, Aalener Jazz Festival, Ingolstadt Jazztage and more…A respected artist, he has collaborated with outstanding musicians such as Dave Weckl, Ernie Watts, Billy Paul, Rex Richardson, Faz?l Say, Joe Lynn Turner and Volkan Öktem.

Paul Livant

Paul Livant is a renowned guitarist based in New York City.  His wide palette of musical styles and creativity have lead to recording and performing with a diverse range of artists including: Paul Simon, Donna Summer, Carly Simon, Daryl Hall, Chris Botti, Phoebe Snow, Ruth Brown, Charlotte Church, Chaka Kahn, Lalah Hathaway, Graham Parker, Madeleine Peyroux, Mary Wilson and many more. He has worked extensively in NYC recording studios and has also played more than 35 Broadway shows.

Paul was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan. He currently resides in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter.  www.paullivant.com

Kenny Reichert

Born: November 12, 1992

Kenny Reichert is an award-winning guitarist, composer, bandleader, and educator whose innovative approach to the instrument has earned him recognition from DownBeat Magazine as “a distinctive player and composer.” Originally from Brookfield, Wisconsin, Reichert began his musical journey with piano, guitar, and organ before attending Berklee College of Music and later completing his studies in Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from DePaul University and was honored as a 2022 Luminarts Cultural Foundation Jazz Improvisation Fellow.

Noshir Mody

Born: October 9, 1972

Noshir Mody, an esteemed composer, guitarist, and producer, continues to make significant contributions to the world of music. Born in Bombay, India, Mody's passion for music was evident from an early age. He immersed himself in the rich tapestry of Indian classical music and was heavily influenced by his cultural roots. As he grew older, his love for jazz, progressive rock, and other genres led him to explore new horizons and develop his own unique style.

Mody moved to the United States at the age of twenty-two and successfully sustained a career in both music and technology. As a self-taught musician, he refined his skills on the guitar and immersed himself in the vibrant New York City jazz scene. Over the years, Noshir Mody has crafted a distinctive sound that melds the intricate textures of Indian classical music with the improvisational elements of jazz and the emotive power of progressive rock. This eclectic fusion of genres reflects not only Mody's personal journey but also the universal language of music that transcends cultural boundaries. His innovative approach has earned him a loyal following and critical acclaim from industry experts and peers alike.

Javier Rosario

Guitar virtuoso, composer, bandleader, educator and recording artist, Javier Rosario is the first ever Michel Camilo Scholarship winner. The scholarship was an initiative of the Dominican born, Grammy, Latin Grammy and Emmy Award winning pianist. It has been the first scholarship of its kind in the history of the Dominican Republic, where Javier was born in Santo Domingo. In 2006, Javier attended Berklee College of Music with full scholarship, graduating with the highest ratings ever given to a guitarist. In 2009, he performed at the Berklee Jazz and Blues Guitar Night: a concert which only featured the very top players of the entire school. In 2010, Javier decided to further his studies at the Longy School of Music of Bard College with a master’s degree. There he was awarded a Presidential Scholarship and was acknowledged by his guitar teachers as possibly the highest-level guitarist ever to enter the jazz program. 

Lauri Hyv?rinen

Born: March 25, 1986

Lauri Hyvärinen (b. 1986, Helsinki) uses guitar as his main sound source. His sound and music related activities are of theoretical and practical nature, of which improvisation remains as his primary medium and interest. Hyvärinen utilises the possibilities of improvisation, compositional and minimalist structures in search for shared and intensified social and spatial constructions.