Kathy Sanborn

Born: January 16

Kathy Sanborn is an American award-winning jazz vocalist, composer, and recording artist. Known for her velvet voice, Sanborn takes jazz music into the modern era with her sultry, contemporary sound. Her unique contralto voice interprets her original compositions in an emotional way that captivates the listener. Sanborn's latest album, Romance Language, releases July 11, 2025. 

Simona Pop

Born: April 2

Simona 'Simi' Pop (producer, composer) A classically trained pianist turned self-taught saxophonist, Simi co-founded the Jazz Band in Baia Mare, Romania, receiving recognition from the Pro Muzica Foundation. She then played saxophone on national TV and at the Bucharest-based Dakino Film Festival. Later, in New York City, she played with Cabana Rock and currently forms the jazz duo SiMiDaNi. Simona holds a BA in Opera Directing and earned her master's at Hunter College, CUNY. She directed contemporary operas in Romania, commissioned by The Ernst von Siemens Foundation, Bucharest National University of Music, and Bucharest Goethe Institute

Nick Phillips

Born: July 14, 1965

A GRAMMY-recognized record producer, consultant, artist coach, playlist curator, educator, and Billboard-charting recording artist, Nick Phillips has been a ubiquitous, creative force in jazz for more than three decades.

Record Producer 

A multi-GRAMMY®-recognized record producer, Nick Phillips has worked on several hundred commercially-released projects.

Newly-recorded projects produced by Nick include albums by jazz luminaries Kenny Barron, Richie Beirach, Bob Berg, Ruby Braff, Jimmy Bruno, Joanne Brackeen, Randy Brecker, Alan Broadbent, Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham, Fred Hersch, Nnenna Freelon, Jon Hendricks, Roger Kellaway, Nancy King, Marian McPartland, Chris Potter, Poncho Sanchez, Ray Vega, Kenny Werner, Jessica Williams, and others.

Angelo Mastronardi

Born: March 11, 1982

An eclectic pianist who combines the tradition of jazz with new languages, Angelo Mastronardi's compositions and his style in improvisation are recognized by critics since his debut in a piano trio in 2014. His works range from duo to big band and symphony orchestra.

Angelo Mastronardi is the producer and label manager of GleAM Records, an Independent Record label and music publisher based near Lecce (Italy). The label is specialized in jazz recordings, music for brands, film, TV and advertising. His published work includes:

Angelo Mastronardi Fakebook vol. 1 (2015 Four Edition)
Angelo Mastronardi Fakebook vol

Matthew Shell

Matthew Shell (also known as MTS), is a music producer and engineer. Based in Washington DC, his versatile production style spans genres as wide as jazz and rock, to RnB and soul. Matthew writes and produces music released as solo productions under his own name, as well as for other bands and solo artists. He is the founder and CEO of publishing house and record label MTS Music. Shell��s work on the production for Marcus Johnson��s album Flo: Chill reached #7 on Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Chart in 2009. Later that year he worked as the engineer on O.A.R.��s album Rain or Shine that reached #5 on the Independent Albums Chart and also #7 on the US Alternative Albums Chart

Barbara Brighton

Born: October 2, 1948

Barbara J. Brighton’s lifelong love of jazz has bloomed in advocacy and activism. She has provided an important Los Angeles performance showcase for student musicians, the Young Artist Jazz Series, for 23 years. Innumerable young players, including more than a few nationally known musicians, received their first public exposure on the Catalina Bar & Grill’s bandstand that Brighton has presided over. It’s no exaggeration to note that nearly all SoCal jazz musicians under 45 have participated in YAJS. While she has a 40-plus career as a licensed psychotherapist, Brighton’s efforts to produce a competition for student musicians launched her role as impresario. Her consultations with the late recording executive Ellen Cohn proved invaluable, leading to Brighton’s founding of BJB Jazz Ventures. Barbara produced jazz brunches and memorial tributes to Cohn, Carmen McRae and Horace Tapscott. At the behest of the late Bill Traut, Kurt Elling’s manager, she booked the singer into every SoCal jazz venue for a solid month; then Blue Note Records hired her to do the same for Caecilie Norby. Barbara also handled promotion of pianist Kenny Werner’s book Effortless Mastery in Los Angeles.