Marko Marcinko

Jackson Hillmer

Born: June 16, 1992

Jackson Frye Hillmer is a drummer, songwriter, and educator who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he developed a deep love of music. He began his journey learning the trumpet and eagerly picked up the tuba and drum set soon after to perform with the Redwood High School jazz and symphonic band. He had the opportunity and good fortune to study with John Mattern (Redwood High School), Alan Hall (Cirque Du Soleil), Jeff Masanari (SF Symphony), and Chris Amberger (Janis Joplin, Rahsaan Roland Kirk). As a member in his early jazz groups, he opened for vocalist Kenny Washington, and played frequent local festivals & weekly gigs. Jackson started teaching drum lessons to beginner students when he was in high school and has continued to teach throughout his music career.

Eric Gale

Born: September 20, 1938

Welcome to Eric Gale's official page,

I would like to take this opportunity to address an important issue. Unfortunately, there are individuals who are hijacking the original, Eric Gale name, Wikipedia page and net worth sites, posting false information about him, and fraudulently using his platform to promote their own "artistry." Please be advised that this is the only official site where you can find accurate and true information about New York's finest, Eric Gale.

Born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York to an American mother and British father, Eric Gale grew up in a time when interracial marriages were not widely accepted. Despite this, Eric's father always ensured his safety. He had two younger brothers, who were a decade younger than him. Eric's childhood included holidays spent visiting family in the UK, giving him a unique perspective on the world. Fluent in Spanish, German, and French, Eric had a diverse linguistic background.

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.

Eli Hershiser

Born: January 3, 1995

An emerging virtuoso on the New York City scene, Eli Hershiser is a saxophonist, composer, and educator whose sound is a refreshing take on the jazz tradition. Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Eli began playing the saxophone at the age of 10. His early influences included Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Joshua Redman, and John Coltrane. Eli earned his BFA in Saxophone Performance at The New School where he was mentored by Dave Glasser, Chris Byars, Marc Mommaas and many more. His vast musical interests have led him to experimental collaborative projects such as the New York Jazz Workshop (NYJW) Saxophone Quartet- a contemporary ensemble led by Marc Mommaas. The group released their first album in the fall of 2021, featuring jazz, classical and contemporary arrangements.

Joe Wittman

Born: June 26, 1990

Joe Wittman has been an active member in the NYC jazz scene for over 10 years. In searching for the tone of Kenny Burrell, the feel of Grant Green and the phasing of Jim Hall, Wittman hopes to find something altogether different- himself. He enjoys a raw and earthy approach to guitar, with a maturity beyond his years (to quote what was allegedly on Jim Hall’s business card: “can’t play fast, won’t play loud”). You can catch Joe playing nightly around New York City, playing well thought out sets containing a mixture of songbook standards and original compositions

Dan Waldman

Guitarist Dan Waldman has paid dues both in Europe and the USA, over a number of genres, performing as a sideman with artists such as Jason Marshall, Soul Understated (Bean Clemons / Mavis Swan Poole), Pee Wee Ellis, Jean Toussaint, Gareth Lockrane, Frank Willams / Brotherhood of Breath, The Real Live Show / MC Malik Work, Grupo Lokito (RIP Eugene Makuta), Jovol Bell, Nate Jones, Kim Thompson, Raheem DeVaughan and Celestine - appearing on recordings released by Acid Jazz, Jazz Refreshed, Mark de Clive Lowe and more.

His 2020 debut release as leader  'Sources & Angles', featuring Will Vinson on sax, Kassa Overall on drums and Ryan Berg on bass received a 4 star review in Jazzwise magazine, international radio play and positive reviews elsewhere including The Times and on this site.

Craig Akin

Born: April 5, 1973

Warm and familiar, you know this tune by heart. Yet with twists in tempo, his story marches to its own beat. Meet Craig Akin, a versatile bassist whose 25 years of experience have afforded him the skills to play myriad styles of music with ease. Born into a musical family in the buckle of the Bible Belt and now attuned to the rhythms of the New York skyline, he’s a quick study whose talents have taken him across the globe.

Whether he’s playing his upright or electric bass, on stage or in the studio… jazz, pop, folk or rock, Craig Akin is comfortable and creative, and he consistently delivers the goods

Barry Danielian

Born: February 27, 1962

Trumpeter/Producer/Arranger Barry Danielian has for nearly four decades performed with many of the biggest names in the music industry.
Barry’s touring and recording credits read like a who’s who of the music business. Having worked with such diverse artists as Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Sting, Tower of Power, Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Charles, KRS One, Public Enemy, Branford Marsalis, Paul Simon, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tito Puente, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Southside Johnny and the Jukes, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, The Roots and Bono.
Since 2012 he has been on tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Barry has been one of the most in demand trumpeters and arrangers in NYC. He has recorded on over 500 records, and is constantly requested by such legendary producers as: Phil Ramone, Jay-Z, Arif Mardin, Randy Jackson, Barry Eastmond and Narada Michael Walden. He is a prolific writer, arranger and producer whose music is used throughout the media industry including NBC, CBS, HBO, Showtime, A&E, The Discovery Channel and Fox. He has two CDs as a solo artist. “Common Ground” released in 2004 received much critical praise and his release “Metaphorically Speaking” has been available since 2013.
Trained from an early age in his first love, jazz, some of Barry’s most memorable performances have been with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Golson, Illinois Jacquet, Paquito D’Rivera, McCoy Tyner and Branford Marsalis. Equally valuable in the evolution of his style were some of his first New York gigs, with Latin music giants Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente. Starting in 1984, he toured widely with these bands over a number of years and began an impressive series of Latin recordings with such artists as Marc Anthony, Shakira and Ricky Martin.
Barry has been on the “short list” of legendary R&B artists such as The Temptations, The OJays, The Four Tops, The Spinners, The Dells and The Whispers.

Barry attended the Berklee College of Music from 1980-82, where he graduated with the 1982 Faculty Performance Award. He earned a B.A. in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University. In 1984 he was honored with the University of Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Competition’s Outstanding Jazz Soloist Award, and in 2000 and 2001 became the only unsigned artist nominated for the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards.
Barry currently resides in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he spends most of his time composing and producing when not on tour with “The Boss”. Barry is also a licensed Acupuncturist and a board certified Herbalist.

Sophie Dun��r

Born: October 28

“It’s not fusion – it’s Dúneresque – a newly created genre!” Grammy Award winning recording producer Michael Haas.

Sophie Dunér is a singer & composer with her roots in jazz. Originally from Sweden, she travels and performs internationally as her blend of jazz, world and contemporary classical writing receives demand worldwide – from the infamous CBGB´s in NYC to Buenos Aires Festival de Música Contemporánea La Plata to Festival O/Modernt in Sweden. Her new solo CD ‘Strictly Business’ (produced/recorded in London by the renown producer Darren Allison) was released in July 2022.