Vanessa Finney

Born: May 22

Vanessa Finney grew up in southern California, where she worked as a radio DJ and attended UCLA. Now based in southern Oregon, she hosts two podcasts at Jefferson Public Radio: the pro-aging segment "My Better Half" and "The Creative Way," an artist profile series.

She performs at venues throughout Oregon's wine country and just released her first album, "Bésame Mucho," with arranger Mark Hamersly.

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. 

Nancy Newman

Nancy Newman: A Voice Like No Other

Vancouver-based jazz vocalist and songwriter Nancy Newman effortlessly blends jazz, pop, and original compositions to create performances that leave a lasting impression. Known for her lush, evocative vocals and heartfelt interpretations, Nancy's artistry is a seamless fusion of passion, creativity, and raw emotional honesty. Her improvisational talents and fluid, nuanced style make every performance a memorable experience, transcending traditional jazz boundaries.

Bidi Dworkin

Born: November 21, 1962

Bidi Dworkin is a jazz-folk vocalist whose earliest performances were as a folk singer in coffee houses throughout New England. Intrigued by the dynamic interplay of technique and freedom which exists at the core of modern dance, she attended NYU and received her master’s degree in Dance Education, performing professionally with the Nancy Meehan Dance Company from 1980-1986.

After moving to a quiet valley in rural Vermont, she continued her movement studies, becoming a yoga instructor. Bidi has received advanced certification in New York City and India, skillfully leading classes and retreats since 1993. Especially moved by devotional song, Bidi embraces ancient Sanskrit chants as well as Hebrew melodies, and has led her community in the High Holiday morning services for over twenty-five years.

Paolo Antonelli

Paolo Antonelli is a singer-songwriter from Turin with an exotic streak and a Mediterranean sound.

Moka Blues (Cielazzurro music, 2024) is his solo debut album. Already leader of the project Pablo e il mare with which he released four critically acclaimed albums, he now presents his solo one-man acoustic listening show (classical guitar, voice, stompbox) that navigates between the chanson, bossa and milonga genres.

Delia Fischer

Born: August 29, 1964

­“Delia Fischer is a Brazilian artist of the highest quality. She sings and plays my song beautifully. She gave it a new meaning. I feel very grateful!”

Ivan Lins, singer-songwriter

“In the constant search for new forms of Brazilian music, with all its variations and roots, I have an important ally in Delia. Her concept of mixing and ?ltering Brazilian in?uences through her unique musicality and personal joy stimulates my own creative work.”

Egberto Gismonti, composer and multi-instrumentalist

Ada Rovatti

Born: July 25, 1976

Italian native Ada Rovatti started playing saxophone in high school after years of classical piano training.

After winning a scholarship from Berklee College of Music in Italy she divided herself between Boston where she studied with Joe Viola, George Garzone and Fred Lipsius and Italy where she was regular working in Big Band with guest artists such as:  Phil Woods, Lee Konitz and many more.

 After spending one year in Paris touring Europe and Africa she moved in New York City. She has performed in important festivals  such as JVC in NYC Rochester Jazz Festival, IAJE, Detroit Jazz Fest, Montreal Jazz Fest, San Francisco Jazz Fest, NorthSea Jazz Fest and a regular on the JazzCruise, appearing  and performing with an impressive and diverse list of artists and bands such as: Mike Stern, John McLaughlin,  Anne Ducros, Bob Mintzer, Victor Bailey, Joanne Brackeen, Tony Levin, John McLaughlin , James Moody, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Patti Austin, Joe Bonamassa and many others.

Jodi Michelle Proznick

Sarah James

Born: July 1

Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in the NY metro area, Ms. James came from a family with musical influences from her grandfather, who came from County Cork, Ireland, and played traditional Irish music on accordian and parents who were big jazz fans with an extensive record collection of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Huddie Leadbetter, Lightnin' Hopkins and Frank Sinatra recordings. Piano lessons started at 10 and as a child listening to William B. Williams and his "Make Believe Ballroom" on radio, and DJ's such as Allison Steele, "The Nightbird" and Jonathan Schwartz, the music of the big bands and the Great American Songbook informed her sensibility

Lisa B aka Lisa Bernstein

Born: September 28

Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) is a unique combination: award-winning literary poet and riveting singer, performer, and recording artist.

HER LITERARY POETRY is featured in her second book God in Her Ruffled Dress (10/23, What Books Press), her most recent full-length record "Reverberant" (Piece of Pie Records), her first book The Transparent Body (Wesleyan University Press), the chapbook Anorexia (Five Fingers Poetry), and 60+ literary magazines and anthologies, including Antaeus, Caliban, City Lights Review, Field, Kenyon Review, Lilith, Ploughshares, Poetry International, Tikkun, and Zyzzyva.