Cynthia Rafaella

Born: August 14

With a warm, full voice and passionate overtones, Cynthia Rafaella's artistry and musical styling creates a tapestry of vibrant color and mood that’s sure to uplift the masses.

Cynthia Rafaella first made a name for herself performing alongside some of the most talented musicians on the New York jazz scene in the 1990’s. Cynthia Rafaella has performed with musicians such as Bill Lee, Rahn Burton, Arturo O’Farrill, Chip Crawford, James Weidman, Dennis Davis, Roy Hargrove, Justin Robinson, Miles Griffith, Winard Harper, Philip Harper, Stephen Scott, Dwayne Burno, and many others. Also, Cynthia Rafaella studied under talented jazz artists such as Andy Bey, Sheila Jordan, Norman Simmons, Ann Marie Moss, Daniel Carillo, Mike Holober, and Nancy Marano.

After enrolling in a jazz workshop at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music in the early 1990's, Cynthia Rafaella found herself immersed in classic jazz standards and the Great American Songbook. She also attended the jazz workshops of legendary pianist Barry Harris. Her jazz education continued at the “University of the Streets” in the East Village where she attended a jazz singer’s workshop. She'd work on tunes with a trio and was mentored by a continuous stream of seasoned jazz veterans whom she would later perform with, including Juini Booth, Gil Coggins, Burt Eckoff, and Clifford Barbaro. Cynthia Rafaella also performed regularly at late-night jam sessions which provided her with opportunities to jam with some of the most talented musicians on the New York jazz scene at that time. These encounters eventually led to weekly Monday night performances at the famed Village Gate nightclub and a spot as a featured singer with The Harper Brothers Band during an engagement at Condon's nightclub in 1993.

Cynthia Rafaella also studied under the mentorship of Bill Lee, the acclaimed bassist and composer. One afternoon, singer Miles Griffith invited Cynthia Rafaella to accompany him to a rehearsal at Bill Lee's home. That rehearsal would be the first of many. From 1993 to 1995, she sang first soprano in Bill Lee's vocal group, “The Family Tree Singers”. She attended weekly group rehearsals, as well as some one-on-one music lessons with Bill Lee. The vocal group performed excerpts from his folk-jazz operas and other original compositions, with Bill Lee conducting from behind his bass. Bill Lee often referred to Cynthia Rafaella as his “head trumpeter” and he composed a ballad solo that highlighted her vocal range. Bill Lee was known for his work with Odetta, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin, and many others. He also scored the soundtracks for some of the films of his son, Spike Lee.

Looking to further develop her musicianship, Cynthia Rafaella auditioned for Ron Carter “one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history” and other faculty members of The City College of New York and was accepted into the Jazz Program. During this time, she was showcased at Birdland as an up-and-coming jazz vocalist. And in her senior year, while singing with The John Motley Chorus, she had the opportunity to perform with legendary drummer Max Roach and his quartet. 

Bernell Jones II

Born: March 12, 1998

Originally from Memphis, TN, Bernell Jones II is a NYC-based saxophonist and songwriter. He is known not only for his playing, but also his disruption of the content creation industry in the music sector with his consistent stream of viral music-comedy videos on Instagram and TikTok. 

At age ten, Bernell picked up the saxophone after primarily playing piano for four years. This was a huge turning point in his life. Although he doesn’t consider himself a professional pianist, it aided him in enhancing his compositional skills and his understanding of music. 

His discography showcases a variety of musical influences from his upbringing such as gospel, jazz, blues, r&b, etc. Bernell has worked alongside artists such as Ms. Lauryn Hill , Wyclef Jean, Philip Harper, Julius Rodriguez, and more. He credits his style of writing to the influences his parents played around the house growing up such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, and Janet Jackson, along with jazz influences such as Roy Hargrove, Miles Davis, and Herbie Hancock. 

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

Keith L. Brown

Born: August 13, 1983

Keith L. Brown is an accomplished composer, educator, and pianist, who has established himself as one of the most sought-after pianists in contemporary jazz. He was born in Memphis, TN, and raised in Knoxville, TN, where he began playing piano and bass at a young age. Keith grew up in a musically inclined family, where both his parents were musicians, and many of his aunts and uncles possessed exceptional musical talent. His father, Donald Brown, is a world-renowned jazz pianist/composer, having performed with many greats, and his mother, Dorothy, is also a pianist who plays various woodwind instruments.

Keith Brown

Born: August 13, 1983

Keith L. Brown is an accomplished composer, educator, and pianist, who has established himself as one of the most sought-after pianists in contemporary jazz. He was born in Memphis, TN, and raised in Knoxville, TN, where he began playing piano and bass at a young age. Keith grew up in a musically inclined family, where both his parents were musicians, and many of his aunts and uncles possessed exceptional musical talent. His father, Donald Brown, is a world-renowned jazz pianist/composer, having performed with many greats, and his mother, Dorothy, is also a pianist who plays various woodwind instruments.

Orian Rose

Born: September 19, 1997

Orian Om Rozenzweig, professionally known as Orian Rose, is a drummer, composer, and record producer based in New York City. He was born on September 19, 1997, in Jerusalem, Israel, and spent his formative years in India from ages 3 to 9, where he learned to play the tabla.

Orian's passion for music led him to pick up the drums at the age of 10, and he quickly developed a prodigious talent for the instrument. He began studying classical piano and theory at the age of 12, further broadening his musical horizons. As a high school student, he attended the Israeli Conservatory of Jazz and Classical Music in Schtriker, Tel Aviv, where he honed his skills in jazz drumming

Kaisa M?ensivu

Kaisa Mäensivu is a Finnish double bass player and composer. She is currently based in New York, where she finished her Master's degree at the highly acclaimed Manhattan School of Music in May 2017. She studied under the guidance of teachers and professors such as Dave Liebman and Jay Anderson. Prior to moving to New York, Kaisa studied at the prestigious Sibelius Academy Jazz Department with professor Jukkis Uotila and Ville Herrala. \

During her career, Kaisa has been awarded multiple awards and grants. In 2018, Kaisa was awarded as the Rising Star at the Pori Jazz Festival

Niebla

Spanish singer and composer Pepa Niebla is renowned for her vocal versatility that has allowed her to be involved in a great variety of projects: from blues, soul and jazz to Cuban son and popular music. Living in Granada, Havana, London and Brussels gave her the opportunity to grow, learn and experiment in different genres. Now, settled in Belgium, Niebla has found her sound and direction as an artist, bringing to life her own compositions and arrangements with her new project: The Pepa Niebla Quintet. 2020 will see the release of Renaissance, Niebla��s first album of original compositions (following her releases Pepa Niebla Project and Pepa Niebla & Ricky Vivar), featuring guitarist Toni Mora, pianist Maxime Moyaerts, double bassist Alex Gilson and award-winning drummer Daniel Jonkers

Mike Casey

Born: June 10, 1993

Saxophonist, songwriter, and teaching artist Mike Casey has been a fixture on the Hartford jazz scene and beyond since 2011, when he began attending the acclaimed Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Harford’s Hartt School. In 2015, Mike was one of 24 young jazz composers worldwide chosen by Jason Moran to participate in the prestigious “Betty Carter Jazz Ahead” Program at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC where he studied with an all-star faculty including Eric Harland, JD Allen, Eric Revis, Cyrus Chestnut, and Jason Moran.

After a sold out NYC debut at the Minton’s in Harlem in September 2016, Mike went on to accomplish an incredible feat: the crowdfunding campaign for his debut album "The Sound of Surprise: Live at The Side Door" (due for a February 2017 release) reached 111% funded in under 30 days. His resume includes appearances with Charles Tolliver, DJ Logic, Brandee Younger, Zaccai Curtis, Tarus Mateen and Marc Cary, whose project “The Harlem Sessions” features Mike as an original member.

James Austin, Jr.

Jazz Pianist James Austin Jr. Debuts Plunging Heart First into the Bedrock Book of Wonder - Stevie Wonder

Blissful Songs in the Key of Wonder Brilliantly Covers Motown Legend’s Prolific Mid-`60s to Mid-`80s Heyday in Straight Ahead and Latin Veins

Pianist James Austin Jr. traveled from his hometown of Chicago to New York City to tackle Jazz on its highest level after surprising himself as a semifinalist in the 2006 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. That day, James met many prestigious icons – Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock and George Duke. But it is Stevie Wonder that left the most indelible impression on James – before, during and after that day. And it is Stevie Wonder’s incomparable songbook that Austin salutes on his debut as a leader: the scintillating, self-released 10-song set, Songs in the Key of Wonder.