Dr�� Matsumoto

Born: June 21, 1972

Dré Matsumoto (aka André Marcel Ajamu Akinyele) is an American-Canadian residing in Yokohama. The bassist and multi-instrumentalist is known for his jazz-fusion-funk. His inspirations include Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, and Ron Carter, to name a few. He was born in San Pablo, California as André Marcel Wilson, and changed his name to André Marcel Ajamu Akinyele in 2004. Why the name Dré Matsumoto? He stated that “Dré is half my name André, and Matsumoto is a Japanese name that I love the sound of.” A native of the San Francisco bay area, he currently resides in Toronto, Ontario Canada and Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan

Aiskander

Born: September 12, 1973

AISKANDER is a Polish jazz composer, arranger, reharmonizer, as well as guitarist, improviser, and music producer. He founded the Wroc?aw-based vocal and instrumental ensemble Mistrz Allegro, and is also the owner and founder of the Polish independent record label illumination Music. The artist mainly performs instrumental jazz-funk, jazz fusion, and world music.

The willingness to improve the creative process inspired Aiskander to work on his own material. In mid-2009 Aiskander recorded his first solo album Tysi?czna cz??? rado?ci. The opening songs Ró?a wiatrów, Fantazja and twelve other compositions woven around the melodic sound of a classical guitar announced the direction continued in the next two albums. His third long-play and the albums: Idylla, Furta and Nostalgia stand out because of the multitude of instruments used to record them. Apart from the well-known ones it is worth to mention: the marimba, the English horn, the Chinese violin - Erhu, or the Persian santoor. According to Aiskander the use of unconventional instruments is inspiring and has a significant impact on the audience.

DayRide

Active since: 2025

Formed by Conrad Henderson and Robert Bratetich, this fusion band blends technical mastery in an exciting blend of Jazz,Rock Fusion, Latin and Funk styles. 

The lineup features Sam Aliano on drums, a powerhouse percussionist known for his dynamic rhythm and complex beats; Robert Bratetich, a guitar virtuoso whose intricate solos and expansive style redefine the boundaries of fusion guitar; Conrad Henderson, a bass guitar master whose deep grooves define the foundation of the band; and Konrad Olszewski, a virtuosic classically trained pianist with strong jazz/rock influences which expands the music through the skillful blending of multiple styles.

David Garfield

David Garfield has been driven by the same mission statement since moving from his hometown of St. Louis to Los Angeles as a teenager in the early '70s: “I make music.” Fully living up to this vision and in more expansive ways over the past few decades, the multi-talented keyboardist, composer, arranger and recording artist has established himself an eclectic force of musical nature. At any given point during his career—and often at the same time—he has been a renowned songwriter, producer, bandleader (of Los Angeles based contemporary world jazz collectives Karizma and Los Lobotomys), arranger, recording artist, record label owner (Creatchy Records), session and touring musician, musical director and composer of various commissioned themes for global organizations.

Jonas Shofler

Born: December 19, 2002

Jonas Shofler is a jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger based in Boulder, Colorado. He leads the Jonas Shofler Quartet, known for delivering lively and versatile performances. The quartet's repertoire spans a wide range of jazz styles, allowing them to adapt their performances to be either energetic and prominent or subtle and ambient, depending on the occasion.

In addition to his live performances, Shofler has shared his music through various platforms, showcasing his skills as both a performer and composer. He also maintains a presence on social media, where he shares insights into his musical journey and engages with his audience.

Karl Clews

Karl began his musical odyssey at the age of 8, on the classical guitar. Having achieved a distinction at grade 8 and a Performer’s Diploma by the age of 16, Karl turned his attention to the bass guitar: ‘I was heavily into soul, funk and fusion as a teenager,’ he states, ‘and I quickly realized that it was the bass guitar that really drove and directed this kind of music.’
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Influenced by such virtuoso bass players as Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Louis Johnson, Armand Sabal-Lecco and Mark King, Karl developed a distinctive percussive and rhythmic style that quickly established him as an in-demand player for jazz, blues and soul bands whilst still at university in Oxford

Awen Robbe

Awen Robbe is a young trumpeter and ecletic composer from France. From an early age, he was immersed in music (especially in Jazz & Breton culture) thanks to his father Fabien Robbe, Jazz pianist & multi-instrumentalist. He began playing the trumpet at 7 at the "Maison of Arts" in Baud, with his first teacher, Guillaume St-Michel. He started young to perform on stage, playing his first professional concerts at the age of 12, between Fest-Noz and major Breton festivals.

Michael Friedinger

Born: April 7, 1976

MICHAEL FRIEDINGER | Detailed biography

• First piano lessons at the age of 15
• Studied at the music academies in Trossingen, Nuremberg and Stuttgart in the subjects of school music, jazz and composition/arrangement with piano as his main subject under Paul Schwarz, Bernd Hufnagel, Frank Sikora, Klaus König and Prof. Martin Schrack, among others.
• Already working as a répétiteur for jazz singing and tutor for jazz piano during his studies
• Pianist in the Baden-Württemberg State Youth Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Prof. Bernd Konrad
• Pianist and keyboardist for the Baden-Württemberg State Youth Gospel Choir
• Keyboardist for the Stage Entertainment musicals 42nd Street and Mamma Mia
• Workshops and masterclasses with renowned musicians, including Michel Camilo, Marcus Miller, BobMintzer, Christian Jacob, Dave Taylor, Bobby Shew, Peter Herbolzheimer
• as a pianist and keyboarder in countless bands and projects between jazz, funk & soul, gospel, pop/rock, Cuban and Brazilian music as well as concerts and festivals in Italy, Holland, France, Switzerland, Poland and elsewhere with artists as diverse as Roberto Blanco, Randy Brecker, Max Mutzke, Sir Waldo Weathers (James Brown Band), Julia Neigel, Stefan Gwildis, Cecile Verny, Roberto Santamaria, Alexander Klaws, Giovanni Costello, Henni Nachtsheim (Badesalz), Olvido Ruiz, Ron Williams, David Hanselmann and many more.
• Support for Joss Stone, Maceo Parker, Earth Wind & Fire Experience
• TV recordings for ZDF, SWR, RAI3
• as pianist and keyboarder for numerous CD productions, including Baden-Württemberg State Youth Jazz Orchestra, Baden-Württemberg State Youth Gospel Choir, Arno Haas, Dodokay, SBO

Eldad Tarmu

Born: August 26, 1960

Eldad Tarmu was born and raised in Los Angeles. He originally played drums and percussion before switching to the vibraphone where his mentor was Dave Pike. He spent time in Israel, studied and graduated from Tel Aviv University, and then back in the United States performed and recorded with a range of jazz groups including Freddie Hubbard, Frank Morgan, Poncho Sanchez, and Ernie Watts. Tarmu became a world traveler, performing at festivals and venues in over twenty-five countries while developing his own fresh voice on the vibes. He began recording as a leader in 1997 with Aluminum Forest, followed by Get Up Close, which garnered notable critical acclaim

Jason McGuiness

Infused in LA's jazz scene, Jason was a regular at the Piano Bar & Blue Whale where LA's rising talent would come to celebrate the music they loved. It was here that Jason first met with prolific saxophonist Kamasi Washington. In 2014 Jason recorded with Kamasi on an EP called Masterpiece. The 3 track EP featured new arrangements of classic tracks from The Temptations and was dedicated to the songwriting/producing duo behind it, Norman Whitfield & Barret Strong. 

In 2019 Jason released his debut album, Empyrean Tones, an exploration of cosmic jazz featuring some of the greatest musicians of our times: Phil Ranelin, Kamasi Washington, Keyon Harrold, Randal Fisher, Mark de Clive-Lowe, and more. The following year he released his sophomore album, Passages, together with frequent collaborator Matthew Little, along with Keyon Harrold, Camila George, Phil Ranelin, and others.