Advanced Tickets $20GA/$30 Front Row Seating here $25/$35 at the door (subject to availability) Robert Papacica- guitar Logan Kane- bass Miles Lennox- piano Rodolfo Zuniga- drums Robert Papacica is an award winning composer, educator, and musician originally from Toronto, Canada. Robert has appeared as a sideman in jazz clubs in Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seattle, and New York. As a leader, Robert is part of the Ark Trio which features Keshav Batish on Drums and Anthony Paolini on Saxophone. The band released their debut record in April 2022. More recently, Robert released a new trio project entitled Reverse Migration featuring Kanoa Mendenhal on bass and Mark Ferber on drums through the New York City based Pinch Record Label. He regularly plays with his quartet featuring his own original music in New York and in jazz clubs across the United States. As a sideman, Robert has appeared Orlando Madrid’s From This Moment Forward featuring GRAMMY award winning trumpet player Mike Rodriguez. He can also be heard on BMI William Goldstein award recipient Adam Claussen’s record entitled Arethusa Falls. He has also appeared on Gary Meek's 2021 release, Monterey Groove, which features Airto Moreiera, Dave Weckl, Flora Purim, Michael Lent, among others. Robert Papacica began playing guitar at the age of 10 and started playing local gigs at age 15 in the California Bay Area. He was a member of the Kuumbwa Jazz Center education program, the SFJazz High School All Star Big Band, and a Young Arts Jazz awardee in high school. He is also an alumni of the International Association of Schools of Jazz 2019 led by Dave Liebman in Zagreb, Croatia. In 2022, Robert received an outstanding graduate student soloist award from Downbeat Magazine and was selected to be a part of the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. under the direction of Jason Moran. As an alumnus of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, Robert was a member of the Concert Jazz Band where he played alongside acclaimed guitarist and composer Adam Rogers, as well as GRAMMY award winning artists such as Dafnis Prieto and John Daversa. Robert can also be heard on acclaimed composer and jazz professor Clint Bleil’s album. He has studied under many notable artists and teachers such as Peter Bernstein, John Scofield, John Hart, Bruce Forman, Alan Ferber, Brad Shepik, Billy Drewes, Brian Lynch, Julian Lage, Pat Kelley, Gary Meek, and Adam Rogers. Robert currently resides in Brooklyn, New York where he preforms and is an educator for Third Street Music Settlement and Jazz Empowers, a non-profit organization providing jazz education to the New York School System. He also has taught as an adjunct guitar instructor at the NYU Steinhardt School. 

Jazz in Paris is a beautiful posthumous album by George Brown of Kool & the Gang dedicated to Miles Davis. His love for jazz shines through in every soulful melody and rich harmony. To honor his legacy, The George Brown Jazz Ansamble was formed, bringing his musical vision to life. Talented musicians including former band member of Kool & the Gang Louis Van Taylor, Andrea Lisa, Lyndon Rochelle, Mike Cordone, Stu Pearlman, and vocalist Katja Koren united to celebrate his spirit and share his timeless gift with the world. Through this project, George's music continue to inspire and uplift, carrying his passion, creatively and soul forward. 

Albert Lee "Lay It Down" album release tour. Albert Lee has played with everyone from Jerry Lee Lewis to Eric Clapton, to Emmylou Harris.  He was a member of The Crickets in the post-Buddy Holly era, and forged an impressive solo career along the way. Albert is out on the road this summer with a new album, Recorded at the legendary Konk Studios in London in March 2024, LAY IT DOWN is a tribute to some of Albert's favorite artists and biggest inspirations.  From Mark Knopfler's blistering Setting Me Up to Jimmy Webb's soaring piano ballad Too Young To Die, to The Everly Brothers' storming hit The Price Of Love, Albert's latest album sees his triumphant return to the studio, recording live, as one of the greatest guitarists ever.    Don't miss the man known as "Mr. Telecaster," one of the legendary guitarists of rock and roll, rockabilly and country music. “The ultimate virtuoso. His skill is extraordinary, his ear is extraordinary and he’s gifted on just about every level.” - Eric Clapton "When Saint Peter asks me to chronicle my time down here on earth, I'll be able to say - with pride if that's allowed - that for a while I played rhythm guitar in a band with Albert Lee." - Emmylou Harris "To hear Albert Lee play guitar is a joy I've never experience with any other musician."- Dave Edmunds Albert Lee is a Grammy Award-winning British guitarist and multiple recipient of Guitar Player Magazine’s “Best Country Guitarist” who is celebrated by fans and musicians the world over for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked both in the studio and on tour with many notable musicians from a wide range of genres including ERIC CLAPTON, the EVERLY BROTHERS, BILL WYMAN, EMMYLOU HARRIS, JOE COCKER, JACKSON BROWNE, ROSANNE CASH, and more. In 2002, he appeared on stage at the Concert for George, celebrating the life and music of Beatle George Harrison. Lee started his music career at a very early age in England. With the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and the Everly Brothers on the radio, Albert took to playing all over London in bars and church halls. In the mid to late 60s, a time of wah-wah pedals and distortion with Jimmy Hendrix and Eric Clapton fronting the music scene, Albert had his first taste of commercial success playing with Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds. Albert soon found his favored guitar of choice, the Fender Telecaster, (while everyone else was playing Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster), and along with this he discovered his love for country music. Traveling back and forth between Los Angeles and the U.K., Albert worked with the likes of “A Poet and a One Man Band” with future Fairport Convention guitarist Jerry Donahue before joining 'The Crickets,' with whom he recorded and toured. 'Poet And The One Man Band' eventually evolved into 'Heads Hands & Feet' with whom Albert enjoyed some commercial success, most notably in the U.K. Albert eventually got to meet and work with his idols, the Everly Brothers, playing with Don as lead guitarist and harmony singer in his touring band. In the mid-70s, Albert joined Joe Cocker’s band, which led him to an opportunity to tour with Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band. With the help of Emmylou's husband and producer, Brian Ahearn alongside The Hot Band, Albert recorded his first solo album, 'Hiding' (1979). Then came touring and a series of collaborations with long-time friend Eric Clapton that spanned five years and included recording the albums “Another Ticket”, “Money and Cigarettes” and the double live set, “Just One Night,” recorded at Budokan in 1979.   On September 23, 1983, the Everly Brothers played their reunion concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and Albert was on hand as the guitarist hand-picked and agreed to by both brothers. He continued that role, touring and recording with them for over 25 years.   Albert continued to play on the road, working with a variety of artists and bands including Rosanne Cash, and eventually English pedal steel guitarist Gerry Hogan, who invited Albert to front his band 'Hogan's Heroes.' This was the start of something both extremely different but hugely enjoyable for Albert, who at first was somewhat nervous about leading a band for the first time, but soon found his feet, and in turn, great success with the group. Albert has been awarded two Grammys for “Best Country Instrumental Performance” in his illustrious career. In 2002, for “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” from the album “Earl Scruggs & Friends,” and again in 2009 for his work on Brad Paisley's track “Cluster Pluck.” He also received nominations for tracks on three of his solo albums. Lee has received many other awards as a guitarist, winning Guitar Player Magazine’s “Best Country Guitarist” five consecutive times. Albert Lee is known within the music industry for his speed of playing and his technical virtuosity but is also one of the most melodic players. He’s often referred to as “the guitar player’s guitar player.” His song “Country Boy” helped to redefine country guitar for a whole generation of players and was later to become a #1 hit for multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs. In the early 2000s, Albert toured regularly with Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. Sugar Hill Records released Albert’s solo efforts, “Heartbreak Hill” in 2003 and “Road Runner” in 2006. In 2011, a summer jaunt with guitarist John Jorgenson prompted Albert to form his own U.S. band for the very first time, and to this day, he maintains a robust solo career and continues to tour with his great band, selling out venues from coast to coast and overseas.  http://albertleeofficial.com/ 

THE LAO TIZER BAND Lao Tizer - keys Elliott Yamin - vocals Danny Janklow - sax, flute Cheikh N'Doye - bass Gene Coye - drums Munyungo Jackson - percussion "Jazz Group of the Year" nominee, The Lao Tizer Band, make their return to The Grape on Saturday, September 13th in support of their brand-new album & video release AMPLIFY. The new release is a major evolution for the group and includes 5 new original vocals and 4 new original instrumentals, with an all-star cast. The project was recorded and filmed all LIVE at legendary EastWest Studios in Hollywood with simultaneous 7-camera video shoot and a legendary cast of musicians. Joining keyboardist, bandleader and former "Best New Jazz Artist" nominee, Lao Tizer for the show are American Idol star, Elliott Yamin - vocals, GRAMMY-winning drum phenom, Gene Coye (Hiromi's Sonicowonder, Larry Carlton), GRAMMY-winning percussion legend, Munyungo Jackson (Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder), sax & flute wunderkind, Danny Janklow (MONKestra, Shelea), and Senegalese bassist, producer and bandleader, Cheikh N'Doye (Baaba Maal, Weedie Braimah). Please join us as the group takes you on a high-energy musical ride through a variety of flavors and styles with an all-star cast of musicians at Ventura's premier live music venue! 

TD Lind & The Aviators is an indie rock band out of Southern California driven by old-soul storytelling, brawny vocals, and larger-than-life sound. Born in England, TD Lind signed a record deal at 19 years old and has since toured America and Europe for the last 30 years, sharing the stage with Sting, Bad Company, Wilco and many others. He has 4 critically-acclaimed albums, the last being produced by legendary producer Glyn Johns. In 2022, TD Lind joined up with producer and bassist David Franz (Iyeoka, Underground Sun), saxophonist Karl Hunter (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), drummer Greg Weiser (Danny McGaw), and guitarist Sam Kulchin (The Caverns). They are known for their unforgettable live shows, as featured on their “Into the Light” album, recorded and released in 2023. Their debut studio album “Golden” was released on August 21, 2024. No Karl Hunter on Saxophone for this performance. 

Ponpon Chen is a 23-year-old rising jazz star from Taipei, Taiwan — a gifted vocalist and guitarist known for her signature blend of jazz guitar, scat singing, and storytelling. Inspired by legends like George Benson, Chet Baker, and Ella Fitzgerald, she brings a sound rich in soul, cultural depth, and individuality. Performing since the age of 12, Ponpon has graced stages across Asia and the U.S., with standout appearances on Hunan TV's Come Sing With Me 3 and Taiwan's Jungle Voice. In 2024, she launched her first jazz tour in the U.S. and went viral for her heartfelt rendition of But Not For Me. Recently featured by ABC News and praised by Grammy-winning musicians, Ponpon is captivating international audiences with her authenticity, talent, and East-meets-West jazz fusion. Her performances are intimate, expressive, and joyfully alive — a fresh voice in the global jazz scene. 

Dayramir González Cuban Pianist • Composer • Music Visionary Dayramir Gonzalez- piano Juan Clemente Chiavassa- drums Jose Ignacio Mateu Graside- bass Takafumi Nikaido- percussion Yamaha Artist Dayramir González is an electrifying force in contemporary jazz—a visionary pianist, composer, and bandleader whose work bridges the rich Afro-Cuban musical heritage of his homeland with the innovation of modern jazz. A three-time Cubadisco Award winner, Dayramir made history as the first Cuban national to receive Berklee College of Music’s Presidential Scholarship, and was honored with the Wayne Shorter Award for Most Outstanding Jazz Composer in 2013. Handpicked by the legendary Chucho Valdés, Dayramir headlined Carnegie Hall’s "Voices of Latin America" series in 2012 as the face of a new generation of Cuban jazz pianists. His quartet has since captivated audiences at iconic venues such as Lincoln Center, Times Square, Blues Alley, and the La Jolla Music Society, as well as on international stages including the London Jazz Festival and the Havana Jazz Festival. His latest project, V.I.D.A., is a vibrant celebration of life, blending modern jazz with deep Afro-Cuban rhythms—both accessible and danceable, complex and joyous. This work continues the bold artistic journey he began with The Grand Concourse, a concept album named after the famed Bronx boulevard, where his life and music intersect. The record showcases his breadth—from West African-inspired grooves to reimagined Cuban classical traditions and cinematic jazz ballads like Blood Brothers. Dayramir González is not only carrying forward the legacy of Cuban music—he’s expanding it, creating new forms and dialogues through composition, orchestration, and performance. As Carnegie Hall declared, “Dayramir González can be added to the pantheon of distinctive Cuban jazz voices.” And as the Wall Street Journal affirms, he is “a stunningly gifted composer and arranger… an entertainer who captures the attention and live spirit of the audience in every performance.” 

Shawn McMaster has presented his wild style of comedy and magic in clubs and theatres around the world. He has appeared in Las Vegas, off-Broadway, on cruise ships, and is a favorite performer at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. Becoming interested in magic at the age of six, Shawn’s early inspirations were not only magicians, but also classic comedians. His ability to blend the astonishing with the absurd has delighted countless audiences all over the world, making him a highly sought-after act. You may have caught Shawn’s appearances on America’s Got Talent or on Masters of Illusion where he presented one of that program’s most memorable and hysterical moments. Here at The Grape, you can experience Shawn performing amazing close-up magic right at your table and behind the bar. You’re sure to enjoy the magic and comedy of Shawn McMaster. Ron Saylor is a California based, Gold Medal Award Winning Magician that will leave even the largest of skeptics in awe! Ron Saylor performs close to 200 shows every year, all across the U.S. From close-up magic to full large illusion shows, from private parties to theatrical productions, all of which are choreographed to vibrant music and with volunteers used throughout the entire show. Ron Saylor has performed on The Emmy Awards, at The National Football Championships, on the stages of 9 major Las Vegas Casinos, regularly at The Magic Castle in Hollywood and numerous magic theaters from coast to coast, and even by request for Christina Aguilera. Ron Saylor has won numerous awards throughout his magic career, including being named a 2x “Mentalist of the Year”, and recently inaugurated into The International Brotherhood of Magicians’ “Order of Merlin”. Ron is also an Official Magician of The Breeders’ Cup, and the Creator and Producer of the “Celebrities of Magic” series, which is now in it’s 28th Season. And, when not performing magic for a live audience, Ron Saylor has also contributed to some movie magic. Ron was the Magic Consultant for both the 2017 feature film “Sleight” and the 2021 short “Carl the Exorcist”, and has enjoyed small roles in 6 motion pictures and 6 television shows, not to mention having his own cable television special, “Magic & Illusion” in 2010. Tony Clark Most recently Tony joined the ranks of the elite few magicians that Fooled Penn & Teller on the CW’s Fool US tv show. After winning the World Class Stage Contest for the Society of American Magicians in 1988 Tony began traveling the world performing and winning more awards for his classical style and high skill. Tony is a regular performer at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and was nominated for Stage Magician of the Year. Tony’s critically acclaimed revue show Phantasy which he produced and starred in, made Lake Tahoe entertainment history for being the first show to ever run four years straight! In 1998 the Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls club surprised Tony by presenting him with the Volunteer of the Year Award for his work with underprivileged kids in the community. Then in 2000 Clark won the World Magic Award for “Best Classical Magic Act” which aired on CBS TV. You may have also seen Tony on NBC’s World Most Dangerous Magic, several TV episodes of “Masters of Illusion” and a guest appearance on ABC’s “Bachelorette”. With Interlude Piano by Robert Van 

Franklin Murphy- keys Nate Hunnicut- trumpet Matt Cho- guitar Evan Tindall- drums Wyatt Schmidt-bass Two Trees Jazz Project By: Franklin Murphy I started the Two Trees Jazz Project about 15 years ago with a few friends I met through the Ventura Jazz Orchestra. At the time, I was spending a lot of evenings at the old Squashed Grapes and felt inspired to start a band of my own. Jazz has been part of my life since high school, when I formed my own big band and we performed three songs, including one of my originals, at our senior music concert. The reaction from the crowd was unforgettable, and from that moment I knew I wanted to keep creating and performing. Over the years I joined different bands and explored many styles, but jazz always stayed close to my heart. Eventually, I started playing with a jam band around Ventura, which meant putting the Two Trees Jazz Project on hold for a while. The Squashed Grapes, The Grape, and the people behind it, especially Adam, Tiffanie, and Josh who have always meant a lot to me. They built a space that respects and celebrates musicians while bringing the community together through music. I even used to flyer for them downtown to help spread the word of the Squashed Grapes in those early days. Over the years they became more than just collaborators; they became close friends. That’s why it feels so special to be returning to The Grape with this project. This new chapter for the Two Trees Jazz Project was inspired in part by someone I met at The Grape who developed a real passion for jazz. She had an incredible ear and a genuine excitement for the music that reignited my own. Together we went to see jazz artists and groups I might not have sought out otherwise, and through her I found myself reconnecting to jazz in a way I hadn’t felt in years. Playing with my own band again became something I truly wanted, and she was pivotal in helping me rediscover that love. Now I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a group of talented and dedicated musicians. Evan Tindall is on drums, and together we’ve been writing some funky and complex new material. Wyatt Schmidt on bass and Matt Cho on guitar bring groove and energy that locks in perfectly with the rest of the band. Leading the horn section is Nate Hunnicut on trumpet, whose motivation and talent help drive the music forward. We’ve already been playing a number of gigs together, developing strong chemistry and a sound that is both high-energy and fun to experience, whether you’re in your seat or up dancing. Alongside some of the great jazz standards, we’ve built a strong catalog of original music, much of which we’ll be debuting at The Grape on September 25th. The final person who inspired me to bring this project back is my mother. She has been there every step of the way, encouraging me from the very beginning. We are the only ones left in our family, along with my two boys, and she recently moved to Ventura as well. She reminds me of those early days in high school when I was first leading bands, and she has always believed I could do this. Her support has given me the confidence and strength needed to pursue something that isn’t always easy, and I am deeply grateful for her. The Two Trees Jazz Project is more than a band. It’s a chance to share joy, energy, and connection through music. I feel lucky to have such amazing players beside me and such supportive people around me. I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you. Come out to The Grape, sit back or get up and dance, and let the music put a smile on your face. 

GK - Piano Ken Wild -bass Kevin Winard- drums Organic, funky, and melodic: the essential qualities that have defined Grammy winning keyboardist/composer/producer Gregg Karukas' 13 solo CD's over a three decade career, with many #1 radio hits, both sophisticated and accessible. A prolific, genre-crossing veteran of the Contemporary Jazz scene, Gregg was a founding member of The Rippingtons in 1986 and has toured with Boney James, Dave Koz, Larry Carlton, Sergio Mendes, Dori Caymmi, Ricardo Silveira, Peter White, Rick Braun, Shelby Flint, Melissa Manchester, Alphonse Mouzon, Brenda Russell and Jeffrey Osborne. 

Presale tickets $25 GA/$35 VIP $30/$40 at the door (subject to availability) TRANE STORIES IS... TEODROSS AVERY- TENOR AND SOPRANO SAX THEO SAUNDERS- Keyboard HENRY FRANKLIN- BASS MARVIN “SMITTY” SMITH- DRUMS AND SPECIAL GUEST CURTIS TAYLOR- TRUMPET Celebrating the music of John Coltrane Franklin played on Hugh Masekela's 1968 number one single, "Grazing in the Grass," as well as with Masekela's band at the Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967. In addition, Franklin played and recorded with Gene Harris and the Three Sounds, Hampton Hawes, Freddie Hubbard, Bobbi Humphrey, Willie Bobo, Archie Shepp, O.C. Smith, Count Basie, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Curtis Amy, Teddy Edwards, and Sonny Criss. Franklin's recording—composed by Sanifu Al Hall, Jr.— "Soft Spirit" was featured on the Breakbeat compilation Tribe Vibes as it had been sampled by the musical group A Tribe Called Quest. THEO SAUNDERS Theo (Ted) Saunders was born and raised on the island of Manhattan. His Russian heritage is masked by his name, which was legally changed along with the rest of his family so that his father, Nicholas, could get work as an actor during the Communist paranoia era of the 1950’s, which makes more sense when you know that he was the only actor in SAG/AFTRA who could speak fluently in both languages without a trace of an accent in either. He comes from a family whose theatre and musical roots go back four generations. His mother, Gedda, was pregnant with Theo when she was in Carousel on Broadway and, as a young teenager, he regularly provided piano accompaniment for her Broadway Show auditions. He attended the High School of Performing Arts (along with fellow jazzers George Cables, Bob Moses, and Ray Maldanado) where he got the jazz bug and spent several years at New York University before leaving to pursue his jazz calling. Besides working in NYC, he also lived and worked in Boston, Montreal, and Cincinnati. He was professionally known as Teddy or Ted Saunders until 1985 when he decided to use the name Theo because it felt closer to his European/Russian heritage. He first moved to Los Angeles in 1974 and returned to NYC in 1980. He spent 5 years there before permanently moving back to Southern California in 1985. Highlights of his career include: Performing at the Village Vanguard for a week in 1969 with guitarist Sonny Greenwich, Jimmy Garrison, and Jack DeJohnette….Playing electric piano and clavinet on the Bill Evans/George Russell album, “Living Time” on Columbia Records in 1971….. one of the first members of saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi’s group, Con Brio in the early 70’s….a member of John Klemmer’s group that opened for the first national tour of the VSOP band in 1978 (including a concert at Avery Fisher Hall)…. a member of Ted Curson’s group that played Monday nights at Sweet Basil for a year in the early 80’s……first gig in Los Angeles- a three month stint with Willie Bobo in 1974……six national tours with Freddie Hubbard between 1981-95…..European tour and Japanese tour with Carla Bley’s band in 1983-84 and a DVD, “Live at The Montreal Jazz Festival” ( a band that included Joe Lovano, Steve Slagle, Steve Swallow, and Victor Lewis)……being a member of Bob Brookmeyer’s Quartet in Los Angeles from 1979-80 and touring nationally as well as in the Netherlands…Musical Director for 3 contemporary operas by composer Noa Ain ("Trio" at the Berkshire Music Festival, first american music theater festival in Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall and virginia tech University, "The Outcast" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Merkin Hall, and the Houston Grand Opera, "Verse of Fortune", lyric by christian holder and still in development), member of Mike Stern’s group that played regularly at The 55 Bar in Soho from 1981-83….a number of gigs with Sonny Fortune in NYC from 1981-84 and a week with his band at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles in 2009…...first recording as a leader- The Teddy Saunders Sextet, “Sueblue” on Discovery Records in 1978…..second recording as a leader- The Theo Saunders Trio, “Three For All” on Blue Chip Jazz….my sixth recording as a leader- Theo Saunders and Intergenearation, “When The Saints Go Out” on Arabesque Records…my collaboration with George Herms at The Redcat Theatre in Los Angeles in 2011 and the recording it led to, which is my latest -"Jassemblage"......Performance collaborations with poet David Meltzer at the Hammer and Getty Museums in Los Angeles and the bird and Beckett book store in San francisco..... a member of bassist Henry Franklin’s group for the last decade with seven recordings…..a member of Bobby Matos’ Afro-Latin Ensemble for the last decade with six recordings…..a member of Azar Lawrence’s west coast band for the last three years, including a 2011 appearance at the Inntone Jazz Festival in Austria and at the Porgy and Bess club in Vienna and an eleven month residence at the RG Club in Venice, CA (2014) along with henry franklin and alphonse mouzon and many special guests. He recently (2016) toured with saxophonist Sonny Fortune as a member of a quartet that included Henry Franklin on bass and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. The tour included gigs at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay, CA, The Jazz Alley in Seattle, and The Portland Jazz Festival......a member of the jazz tap ensemble performing with iconic hoofers like Jimmy Slyde, Harold Nicholas, and gregory hines.....took part in the 45th anniversary celebration of the Keystone Korner, hosted by founder Todd Barkan......performed in Dakar, Senegal with the Azar lawrence Quartet, My seventh recording as a leader...."Trane Stories" with Dwight Trible, Teodross Avery, Henry Franklin, and Marvin "Smitty" Smith...John Coltrane's music with lyric and spoken word. Marvin "Smitty" Smith is an American jazz drummer and composer. Marvin Smith was born in Waukegan, Illinois, where his father, Marvin Sr., was a drummer. "Smitty" was exposed to music at a young age, receiving formal musical training at the age of three.[1] After graduating from Waukegan East High School, Smith attended Berklee,[2] graduating in 1981. Smith has recorded 200 albums with various artists, as well as two solo albums.[3] He has toured with, among others, Sting, Dave Holland, Sonny Rollins, Willie Nelson and Steve Coleman.[3] He is a former member of The New York Jazz Quartet,[1] and was the drummer for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno band, led by Kevin Eubanks, from January 30, 1995[3] until the show's end on May 29, 2009. Smith was also the drummer for the Jay Leno Show band in 2009-10. As a musician, Dr. Teodross Avery stands as one who defines live music—best experienced front row, and full throttle. His commanding presence, on stage and off, reflects his musical ingenuity and skill. With an outstanding pedigree, both professionally and academically, Teodross is a saxophonist to watch, as evidenced by many of today’s biggest names in music relying on his wide musical reach. While growing up in Oakland and Vacaville, California, Teodross’ parents exposed him to a wide range of music including traditional Eastern and Western African music, Soul, Rock, and Jazz. At ten, his father started him with classical guitar lessons. Jolted by the sound of John Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps,’ Teodross switched to the saxophone at thirteen. As a testament to his young promise, the great Wynton Marsalis purchased a saxophone for him. At 17, Teodross eventually won a full music scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. While at Berklee, renowned A&R exec, Carl Griffin of GRP/Impulse Records, heard of Teodross’ cutting edge sound and eventually signed him at 19, stating, “I was so thoroughly impressed with his lyricism and writing talent”. In 1994, Teodross launched his first album In Other Words, which was welcomed by critical acclaim, including a five star review in USA Today. Still an undergraduate, Teodross was now feverishly in demand by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Betty Carter and Ramsey Lewis. He balanced all of these demands and completed college while on the road in 1995. After graduating, with a wealth of professional experience to add, Teodross did what any other talented musician would do – he tackled New York City. After just one week in New York, he performed at the legendary Bluenote Jazz Club with the Cedar Walton Sextet, featuring Art Farmer on trumpet. He also played and/or recorded in groups that were either led by or included jazz titans such as Hank Jones, Ben Riley, Harold Mabern, Cyrus Chestnut, Lewis Nash, Donald Harrison, Bobby Watson, The Roy Hargrove Big Band and (3X) Grammy Award winner, Dee Dee Bridgewater, among many others. He landed a performing role in the successful film Love Jones in 1995. He then launched his second album, My Generation, under the GRP/Impulse label, in 1996. “This album was ahead of it’s time. I was starting to mix Jazz with the Hip Hop sound of The Roots (The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon) by adding frontman, Black Thought and the Rock-influenced sound of John Scofield,” says Teodross. Curtis Taylor is a dynamic presence in Jazz, excelling as a performer, composer, and educator. Growing up in Bedford, Ohio, he began playing the trumpet at an early age. Inspired by concerts he attended while in middle and high school, Taylor committed to a career in Jazz, honing his craft under the tutelage of his mentors at Michigan State and Rutgers University. Taylor‘s artistry has graced many stages worldwide. From iconic venues like the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Apollo Theater & Dizzy’s Club in New York City, to international festivals like The North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands and the San Javier Jazz Festival in Spain. He has also performed and recorded with numerous acclaimed artists, such as Billy Childs, James Carter, John Clayton, Patrice Rushen, Rodney Whitaker, Ed Motta, and Cyrus Chestnut. Notably, his work on Gregory Porter's Grammy Award-winning album "Liquid Spirit" earned him high praise. As a leader, he has recorded three albums, and his current release TAYLOR MADE has earned rave reviews from various publications, including features in JAZZIZ and DOWNBEAT, two of the top music magazines in the world. In addition to performing, Taylor shares his knowledge and passion for music with students as a clinician & guest artist and has taught for nearly a decade at the collegiate level. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of Iowa. He teaches several courses integral to the program’s curriculum, is the principal organizer for many Jazz area visiting guest artists, and coordinates the UI summer Jazz camp annually.