Mary Cross

Born: March 31, 1976

International Recording Artist Mary Cross founded 2NspireU, (an 8 piece band) in December, 2016 in Southern NJ. The vision was to share her love of music worldwide. The music genres are Jazz, Classic Soul, R&B, and Soft Rock The repertoire includes original releases, and music from various genres by a plethora of artists including Nancy Wilson, Nina Simone, Gregory Porter, Rachelle Ferrell, H.E.R., Ledisi, Phoebe Snow, Patti Austin, Jean Carne, Deniece Williams, Phyllis Hyman, Lizz Wright, Captain and Tennille, Gladys Knight Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Bishop, Ella Fitzgerald, The Staples Singers, Betty Wright, Teena Marie, and a host of others.

Joshua Castro

Born: March 19

Joshua Castro is a fiction author, poet, lyricist, and musical entertainer from Los Angeles, CA.

He has released five Vaudeville inspired ragtime/jazz albums: “SAVAGES of 2020,” “RAVAGES of ’21”, “CARNAGES of ’22: A Halloween Album,” “ERAS of ’23: A Musical Revue,” and "FROLICS of '24". 

A graduate of Alhambra High School and a former East LA College student, Castro lives in Los Angeles, CA with his loving and supportive husband John. ?

Benoit Viellefon

Born: May 13, 1973

BENOIT VIELLEFON

Benoit Viellefon is one of the last "old fashion" band leaders keeping the craft alive in Europe today, backed by an all star cast of the UK's finest swing musicians. Here is his story.

Whether it be as a lifelong student of the glorious gypsy guitar musings of Django Reinhardt or as a crew member and specialist mechanic on 1930s De Havilland Tiger Moth airplanes, Benoit has always had a penchant for the nostalgic things in life. Like the man himself, Benoit's music is characterized by its distinctive elegance and boundless energy.

Rares Morarescu

Born: October 25, 1966

Born in 1966 in Bucharest from an Italian mother working for the Defence Ministry, and Romanian father economist for the Ministry of Industry, Rares was recognised as a musical prodigy at the age of three and received the best classical education from the Russian School on Piano and violin.

He also benefited from the affluence and knowledge of the family and was encouraged by his father to study extensively medicine and music. Aged 14 & 15 he had a life changing encounter in France when he met Jazzmaster Stephane Grapelli who coached him during summer holidays, starting a lifelong passion for Jazz and Swing.

Queen Esther

Born: June 30

Solo Performer. Vocalist. Topliner. Writer. Musician. Songwriter. Playwright. Librettist. Actor. TED Speaker.

Described as “...the unknown queen of Americana…” (Feedback, Norway), “..a Black Lucinda Williams…” and a “...brutal, original, explosive singer…”  (Vanity Fair, Spain), Queen Esther’s creative output musically is the culmination of several critical Southern elements, not the least of which are years of recording and touring internationally as frontwoman for several projects with her mentor, harmolodic guitar icon James “Blood” Ulmer, including a stint in his seminal band Odyssey.  Raised in Atlanta, GA and embedded in Charleston, SC’s Lowcountry – a region with African traditions and Black folkways that span centuries and constantly inform her work –  Queen Esther uses her Southern roots as a touchstone to explore cultural mores in America, deconstructing well-worn historical narratives while creating a reclamation-driven soundscape.  

Gaucho

Active since: 2002

Gaucho is a masterful Bay Area band that combines the influence of gypsy jazz of 1930��s Europe with the rhythmic drive and collective improvisation of New Orleans swing music, gutbucket blues and elements of ragtime. Their sound, a uniquely American concoction, blends instrumental acuity and lighthearted humor that keep their audience coming back for more. As founder, guitarist, and main composer Dave Ricketts says, the band is ��in love with the music of Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller and Jimmie Rodgers, as well as the stories, the life styles and the foot steps of hundreds of other great jazz, blues, country and rock musicians that created the sound of American Music from roughly 1900-1950��s��

Led by eminent guitarist, Dave Ricketts, the group has been a San Francisco mainstay for over fifteen years, and one of the busiest bands in the bay area playing 5 to 10 gigs a week

Eric Seddon

Eric Seddon is a clarinetist, saxophonist, and jazz composer based in Cleveland, known for the big, warm sound of his vintage instruments and his blues informed, lyrical lines.

Drew Nugent

Born: August 28, 1985

Drew Nugent is a jazz musician, hailing from the city of Philadelphia, and bandleader of the group "Drew Nugent & the Midnight Society". Nugent, as well as his ensemble, specializes in playing traditional or "Hot" Jazz, from the 1900s to the 1940s, with the main area of focus being the Jazz Age - the Roaring 20s. His main instruments of choice are the piano, trumpet and vocals. He is also known for his playing of an odd contraption called the"Hot Tea-Kettle", or the "Teapot Trumpet" as some fans have named it. Drew made his debut in 2005, at age 19, on the classic NPR radio show "A Prairie Home Companion", where he placed 3rd on the "Talent from 12-20 Contest"

Ultrafaux

Active since: January 15

The Baltimore-based Ultrafaux Ensemble performs original Gypsy Jazz-inspired music with elements of swing, funk, blues, Brazilian choro, and French musette. Lead guitarist and composer Michael Joseph Harris is one of the most prolific writers in this style rooted in the technique of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt. The instrumentation and personnel vary with each show drawing from a list of top players in the jazz, folk and bluegrass scene. The compositions allow Harris' constant rotation of sidemen on accordion, violin, clarinet, guitar, and upright bass, to harmonize together over rich Gypsy-inspired melodies while also allowing ample solo opportunities throughout each song

Angela O'Neill

Born: March 13

Angela O'Neill was born and raised in the beautiful Napa Valley...in Calistoga, California.  With a high school graduating class of 30...she's not much of a big city girl, at heart. 

'Our home was always filled with music...I fell in love with Stan Kenton and Buddy Rich and Nancy Wilson...at my Dad's knee while he corrected History papers for the kids at Santa Rosa High School. My sister and my Mom have beautiful voices...and we sang and had my parent's music on ...everyday...all the time!  

I started playing the oboe in 3rd grade and played all the way through college...my ardor for music has never cooled ..to this day