Denielle Bassels

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.

Stuart Hawkins

Stuart Hawkins is a jazz trumpeter, composer and producer with a soulful, funky sound.

Born in Australia to British and Malaysian-Chinese parents and raised in Hong Kong, Stuart began playing the trumpet at the age of nine, and his love for jazz and blues grew throughout his teenage years.

Stuart studied Modern History at the University of Oxford and performed regularly with some of the UK’s top young jazz talents. Returning to Hong Kong, he became a frequent performer at The Jazz Club and played in venues across Asia.

Now based in Thailand, Stuart has collaborated with leading Thai and international jazz and pop artists.

Cayla Brooke

Born: June 22, 1962

Cayla Brooke, the award-winning singer-songwriter, found her voice after a decade-long silence. Her music and story people of all ages to rediscover their strength. Best known for "Plush Red Chair," her debut album acclaimed by No Depression Magazine. Now in Alberta, she's crafting her second album, "Simplicity."

Cayla Brooke's journey is one of unwavering determination. Despite early life trauma and a turbulent path, she rediscovered her voice and purpose. Her debut album, "Plush Red Chair," garnered critical acclaim and established her as a must-have in the music industry. Now based in Alberta, Cayla is shaping her second album, "Simplicity," a concept work that lets music shine with two instruments and vocals per song. Beyond music, she empowers listeners through her story, offering tools and permission to reclaim their inner strength.

Graham Griffith

Born: May 25, 1950

Graham Griffith first took up conventional guitar at 14, studying classical guitar. In his early 20s he played self taught fiddle in a jug band called the Cosmo Hamfat Entertainers. After seeing virtuoso pedal steel guitarist Kenny Kitching in 1976 he bought his first pedal steel guitar (a Sho-Bud double neck 10 string) and began investigating its complexities.

He later spent 3 months at the end of 1978 with master instrument maker/player Zane Beck as well as playing in a local VFW club in Little Rock, Arkansas. He had adopted Zane's single neck 12 string E13th pedal steel tuning the year before. Zane instilled in Graham a love for jazz tunes, taking his playing beyond the usual country music "bag". 

Sonia Edgy

Born: April 15, 1990

Sonia Edgy is a premiere UK jazz vocalist with a distinctive sound embracing over 4-octaves of voice range. Growing up in Polish mountains, Sonia received her early music education from some of the finest Polish artists.In 2008 Sonia was offered a scholarship from Frost School of Music University of Miami (USA) and successfully passed entry exams at K. Szymanowski Academy of Music (PL) for Jazz Voice studies. In 2009 she got signed to an international booking agency and for the next 5 years continuously performed in over 10 countries across Europe, Asia and Middle East, singing with variety of bands singing mainly jazz music but including also some pop, reggae, soul and rock gigs

Nicole Henry

Born: March 17

Since her debut in 2004, Nicole Henry has established herself as one of the jazz world's most acclaimed vocalists. Ms. Henry possesses a potent combination of dynamic vocal abilities, impeccable phrasing, and powerful emotional resonance. Her repertoire includes the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz titles, contemporary' standards, blues, and originals; while her accompaniment ranges from a simple jazz trio to a full big band.

Ms. Henry's passionate, soulful voice and heartfelt charisma have earned her a 2013 Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance," four Top-10 U.S. Billboard, JazzWeek and HMV Japan jazz albums, and rave reviews both domestically and internationally by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, El Pais, Jazz Times, Essence and more.

Shelly Rudolph

Born: June 17, 1969

“A soulful vocalist that prefers not to be contained” (Midwest Records) Shelly Rudolph has long been a favored voice around her hometown of Portland, Oregon, and musical travels have taken her to New York, Los Angeles, the West Indies, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and beyond. She has been dubbed a “robust and captivating vocalist” by Jazz Times and the LA Weekly praised her ability to use her “honey-glazed throat to send chills up and down your spine.”

Shelly Rudolph, long a beloved voice and singer-songwriter force out of Portland, Oregon, has teamed up with legendary soul-jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter to give funky lifeblood to the timelessly true sentiment: “I Love LOVE” Rudolph’s latest single, dropping June 1st, 2024.

Seba Molnar

Born: April 30, 1994

Seba Molnar is a saxophonist, composer, and educator, based out of Boston, Massachusetts. Seba Molnar is a Berklee alumni with a degree in saxophone performance. While at Berklee, Seba had the opportunity to study with world-renowned saxophonists George Garzone, Bill Pierce, and Tia Fuller. Since graduating Seba has made a name for himself as an in demand saxophonist both as a side man and as a leader. Seba has performed and recorded with Grammy nominated artist Debo Ray, jazz legend George Garzone, Mighty Mystic, Kat Wright and many others. Seba frequently plays in Boston and around the greater New England area

Deelee Dube

Born: January 15

Deelee Dube (/'di?li? 'du?b?/), born Sithandile Agatha Dube on January 15, is a British vocalist, songwriter, and musician of Southern African lineage.

On November 20th, 2016, Dube became the first British winner and recipient of a Sassy Award at the 5th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition hosted by Rhonda Hamilton and held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, which landed her a Concord Records contract and a chance to appear at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Onstage she was accompanied by a trio consisting of Sergio Salvatore (piano and musical director), Lisle Atkinson (bass), and Buddy Williams (drums). The panel judges included Sheila Jordan, Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Sheila E. Anderson, and Mark Ruffin. While in Newark, Deelee attended rehearsals and was greeted by co-producer of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Carl Griffin. This was followed by an interview with former WBGO radio broadcaster Nicole Sweeney before her triumph in the Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition at the NJPAC, where she also met and befriended Dorthaan Kirk and Linda Moody (wife of the late jazz saxophonist James Moody) as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival held at the NJPAC. Dube was presented with the Sassy award by NJPAC President & CEO John Schreiber (formerly Sarah Vaughan's road manager) and signed to Concord Jazz via Mark Wexler (former Chief Operating Officer at the Concord Label Group).