Musicians

Joe Ashlar has been performing music professionally around the US and internationally since the age of ten. In 2001 he founded and led the group Grandfather Ridiculous. While performing with them until 2003 they were privileged to share the stage with artists such as Trey Anastasio (of Phish), Bobby McFerrin, Billy Martin (of Medeski, Martin, and Wood), The Spinners, Rebirth Brass Band, and The New Deal, to name a few. Now he works as bandleader of groups of a variety of formats and styles, and as a sideman has performed and recorded with many notable musicians. A short list includes: Wynton Marsalis, Norah Jones, Chuck Loeb, Meshell Ndegeocello, Matisyahu, DJ Logic, Roy Hargrove, Candiria, Fabio Morgera, and Lou Soloff (of Blood Sweat, and Tears). His music has been featured on national television on CBS, BET on Jazz, and MTV. Joe made his debut as film composer in Brian Berowitz's first film "Secret Transit Codes".

in the Education Corps for three years. After his military service, he graduated from the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. After being awarded several scholarships to the Berklee College of Music, Roy moved to Boston in 2003 to pursue his undergraduate studies there. While at Berklee, he studied with such distinguished musicians and teachers as Joanne Brackeen, Danilo Perez, Kenny Werner, Michel Camilo, Richie Beirach and Sonny Bravo/Roy also earned additional scholarships and awards from the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. Roy graduated from Berklee in 2005 and was awarded a BA cum laude. In May of 2005, Roy was invited to perform at the Promising Artist of the 21st Century Performance Series in Costa Rica. Shortly thereafter, he performed with his jazz quartet at the Phoenix Jazz Festival in Kobe, Japan. In September 2006, Roy began a two-year program at the Manhattan School of Music toward earning a Master's degree in Jazz Performance. He is fortunate to be taught by pianist Kenny Barron. Most recently, in the summer of 2007, Roy was invited to play with The Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band and share the stage with such jazz legends as Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Antonio Hart and many more. Roy joined them on a European tour consisting of 13 cities, as well as for additional performances in Canada, Puerto Rico, and one week at the famed Blue Note in New York City. Over the last few years, Roy has additionally performed with Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Dave Samuels, Claudio Roditi, Victor Mendoza and Giovanni Hidalgo, among other world renowned musicians. Roy most recently received the 30th Downbeat Student Music Award, and 2nd place of the Charlie Palmieri Memorial piano Competition.

"I had the privilege to meet a very promising and diligent musician. It is quite plain to see and I can foresee that through its earnest efforts at consistency and hard work, added to his natural talent he will without a doubt become one of the major contributions to our world of music" -Kenny Werner

"Roy Assaf is an amazing pianist - you will defiantly be learning a lot of good things about him" - Kenny Barron

"I was impressed with his knowledge of the Jazz idiom, his harmonic concept and the flow of ideas during his solo improvisation. I believe he has a great talent and a potential to become one of the "players" in the Jazz world" -Michel Camilo

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio (and a former Harvard University Engineering student), saxophonist Don Braden has toured the world with jazz greats Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Tony Williams, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, and many others. He has recorded on nearly fifty CDs as a sideman and has produced twelve CDs as a leader, the latest of which is "The New Hang", on the HighNote label. He has composed music for countless concerts, for all of his CDs and for a number of independent films; plus he spent four years as composer for the CBS sitcom ³Cosby² and has written for "Little Bill." In 2000, he was one of the recipients the Doris Duke Foundation New Works composer's grant. He works extensively as an educator, teaching for Litchfield Performing Arts, the New Jersey Performaing Arts Center, the North Netherlands Conservatory in Groningen, Holland and at William Paterson University.

Vince Cherico specializes in Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Funk, Jazz, and Rock drumming. He has performed with Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Carlos "Patato" Valdez, Paquito D'Rivera, Dave Samuels, Hilton Ruiz, Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Gabriela Anders, The Mamas & Papas, and The Shirelles. Vince recorded Ray Barretto CDs: My Summertime, Contact, and Blue Note's Tribute to Motown.

Ed Cherry has performed with many of the great players on the scene today, Dizzy Gillespie, Henry Threadgill, Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, John Patton, Dakota Staton, Roy Hargove, Sherman Irby, Pheeroan Ak Laff, Ratzo Harris, Oliver Lake, Mario Rivera, Laird Jackson, Hilton Ruiz, Yoron Israel, Ruth Brown, Steve Coleman, Chris White and many others.

Rick has performed in clubs, concerts, jazz festivals and recording studios nationally and internationally with some of the top jazz artists on the scene including, Tal Farlow, Harry Leahy, Vic Juris, Gene Bertoncini, Jack Wilkens, Bucky Pizzarelli, Dave Stryker, Jimmy Ponder, Les Paul, Kenny Baron, Bobby Tucker, Norman Simmons, Cyrus Chestnut, Mike Melillo, Don Friedman, and Jim McNealy, Bill Stewart, Joe Morello, Bill Evans, Dave Liebman, Don Braden, Eric Kloss, Jerry Niewood, Bob Kindred, Claudio Roditti, David Murray, Warren Vache, and Richie Cole.

Willy Dalton has been a working guitarist and composer since 1970. He has performed/recorded with include Bo Diddley, Cissy Houston, Ben E. King, The Shirelles, Joe Cocuzzo, Daniel Ponce, and many others. He has released 4 CDs by The Dalton Gang-a 10 piece band he has led as guitarist/composer/arranger since 1979. The most recent Dalton Gang cd, "Last Year's Waltz" was released in the summer of 2006. In addition to live performances with the Dalton Gang and others, he has arranged and composed music in many formats for ensembles ranging from small jazz groups to big bands to symphony orchestras.

NY based keyboardist has worked with a wide range of artists including Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston, Gerald Alston, Regina Belle, Bernard Purdie, Randy Brecker, Will Lee, Otis Rush and Tisha Campbell. His recent CD ³Urbanized² received wide spread critical acclaim and was very popular internationally in the smooth jazz format, including the CD101.9 Chris Botti Show.

Kermit Driscoll, ac. and el. bass. Born March 4th,1956 in Kearney, Nebraska,USA, he began playing piano at age 5, bass at 13. A student of Jaco Pastorius in 1974 he later attended the Berklee College of Music ,graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1978. He has recorded and performed with: The American Composers Orchestra, Chet Baker, Bang-on-a-Can All Stars, Don Byron, John Cale, Dave Douglas, Robert Dick, Buddy Emmons, Bill Frisell(a band member from 1987 to 1996), Elliot Goldenthal, Michael Gordon, Gerry Hemmingway, John Hollenbeck, Wayne Horvitz, David Johansen, Russ Johnson, Ben E. King, Ben Monder, Johannes Mossinger, The New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur, Philharmonia Virtuosi, Buddy Rich, Mick Rossi, Elliot Sharp, Phoebe Snow, Soldier String Quartet, Toots Thielmans, Mel Torme, Tony Trishka and John Zorn. A veteran of 18 Broadway shows and numerous film scores and TV commercials, he is currently affiliate faculty at SUNY Purchase College.

Upright and electric bassist, pop/jazz drummer, keyboardist and vocalist, freelance jazz/pop upright/electric player has performed with Judy Bady, Jeanie Bryson, John Blake, Joshua Breakstone, Vivian Lord, Tomoko Ohno Farnham, Steve Slagle, Todd Coolman, Vic Juris, Roy Hargrove among others and is Music Director of an Arts Intensive Church.

Mark Egan is one of the most respected and in-demand electric bassists on the music scene today. With three platinum & three gold albums to his credit, Mark has recorded/performed with the Pat Metheny Group, Sting, Arcadia, Roger Daltry, Joan Osborne, the Gil Evans Orchestra, Marianne Faithful, David Sanborn, and John McLaughlin. Mark has added his musical prowess to many movies and television shows such as; Aladdin, The Color of Money, A Chorus Line, NBC Sports, ABC's All My Children, and CNN/Headline News. In 1977 Mark joined the Pat Metheny Group and remained a long time member of the group. Among Mark's many accomplishments, Mark performed on the quintessential "Pat Metheny Group" recording with Danny Gottlieb, and Lyle Mays, as well as, the group's renowned recording American Garage.

Gary Foote received a scholarship to Florida State University where he studied composition with Leonid Lipovetsky. Upon arriving in New York, Gary quickly emerged on the music scene and began touring with Swiss based jazz great Billy Cobham. Returning from Europe Gary began writing, recording, producing and performing with the likes of Maxwell, Bad Boy artists, P Diddy, Mase Carl Thomas, television's Showtime in Harlem, Regina Belle, Hall and Oates and many others. As a Blood Sweat and Tears alum Gary has played with most major U.S. symphony orchestras including Houston, Los Angeles, and Cleveland.

Jared Gold's recent emergence as one of New York's most in demand organists comes from years of dedication and respect to the Hammond B3. With such influences as Larry Young, Jack Mcduff, and Don Patterson a unique philosophy based on extending harmony and solidifying groove has been honed. Versatility has provided Jared the opportunity to work with such established veterans as John Abercrombie, Ed Cherry, Dave Styker, Jimmy Ponder, Jon Gordon, Bill Goodwin, Ralph Bowne, Cecil Brooks III, Don Braden, Adam Nussbaum, Ralph Perterson, William ash, John Swana, and Tony Reedus.

Hailing from Ridgewood, NJ, Jared first began playing organ in college where he purchased his first B3 after hearing a recording of Jimmy Smith's "Groovin at Smalls' Paradise". He received the prestigious governers award in Jazz before his path soon led him all across the world. Tours of Africa, California, Michigan, and Ireland have allowed him to hone an organ sound unlike many others.

Widely respected guitarist John Hart has performed with numerous jazz legends. John Hart is a distinctive modern mainstream guitarist, impressing many with his fine recordings as a leader for Blue Note and Concord. Among his most significant associations were with Terumasa Hino, Larry Goldings, and particularly Jack McDuff, with whom he toured and recorded. In addition, Hart has been a busy music educator and performed with many top jazz artists, including Jimmy Smith, Lou Donaldson, James Moody, Mike Mainieri, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, and Steve Allen, in addition to leading his own groups.

Karl Latham has performed with the John Lee Quartet, Johannes Mössinger; Mark Egan; Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton; Don Braden; Joe Lovano; John Hart; Clark Terry; Claudio Roditi; Johnny Winter: Edgar Winter: Michal Urbaniak: Attila Zoller: Ed Cherry: the Shirelles: Randy Brecker; Wolfgang Lackerschmid; Stephanie Schlesinger; The Fantasy Band (with Dave Valentin, Noel Pointer, Dave Samuels, George Jinda, Marion Meadows, Chuck Loeb, Victor Bailey, Larry Coryell, Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith and Cornell Dupree): Cameron Brown, and Charlie Elgart among many others. Karl is adjunct faculty member at County College of Morris Randolph, NJ and Passaic County Community College in Paterson, NJ and endorses Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Factory Metal Percussion and Evans Drumheads.

John began his career working with the bands of Carlos Garnett, Joe Henderson and Pharoah Sanders. In 1972, John was bassist for the Max Roach Quartet; he worked and recorded with Gary Bartz, Philip Catherine, Joe Henderson, Chris Hinze, Jasper Van'T Hof, Joachim Kuhn, Charlie Mariano and Toots Thielemans, Norman Connors, Gil Evans, Joe Henderson and Lonnie Liston Smith. In 1975, he joined Larry Coryell's Eleventh House. In 1977, John left the Eleventh House to concentrate on the John Lee/Gerry Brown Band and guitarist Philip Catherine. In 1982, John joined the McCoy Tyner Quintet, joining the Dizzy Gillespie Group in 1984. John was a member of Dizzy's various bands including the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, the 70th Anniversary Big Band and the United Nation Orchestra. John is currently producing and writing as well as working with the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Sonny Rollins, Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi, Gregory Hines, and the Fantasy Band, he is also the program director for "DIZZY�: The Man and the Music", the official concert and clinic program celebrating the life and work of John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie.

Hendrik Meurkens began with piano lessons, played drums, vibraphone and upon hearing Toots Thielemans play the he was so moved that he bought his own chromatic harmonica, the next day. He quickly became an important musician on the European scene performing with the Danish Radio Orchestra, Harry Sweets Edison and Buddy Tate. In 1989, he recorded his first album as a leader in Brazil, SAMBA IMPORTADO. He released six Concord recordings as well as numerous others. He has performed with Paquito DiRivera Charlie Byrd, Manfredo Fest, Lionel Hampton, Wallace Roney, the New York SambaJazz All-Stars, Jimmy Cobb, Herb Ellis, Ray Drummond, Eric Alexander and Olivia Newton-John and composed for the movie "Dolores Claiborne".

Johannes Moessinger has played piano since the age of 9 years on, first classical studies and then jazz and popular music. He gave his first solo recital at 16 years old in Karlsruhe and work from then on as pianist, conductor, composer and leader in several musical areas. His first instrument was the trumpet, which he played for ten years. He studied in Freiburg and Bern (CH) and played all over in Germany and Europe. With his major project, the Johannes Moessinger New York Trio, he has been touring since 2002. Together with Kermit Driscoll, bass (NY) and Karl Latham, drums (NY) he developed his personell style and modern feel in this trio. He has performed concerts in the US, Europe and the Near East and worked with Don Braden, Joe lovano, John Lee, Bob Malach, Michael Küttner, Wolfgang Lackerschmid, Henning Sieverts, Prof. John Rapson, Rudi Engel etc. As leader Johannes Mössinger has released already 9 CDs.

Tomoko Ohno was born in Tokyo. After graduating from Rikkyo University in Law and Politics, she entered the Jazz Studies Program at William Paterson University in New Jersey,. Tomoko has performed at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Sweet Basil, in addition to appearing on live radio broadcasts by WBGO and WNYC. She has performed as a side musician with such diverse musical ensembles as the The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band, John Lee Quartet, Claudio Roditi and the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble Miss Ohno has led her own group, releasing three CDs on the Japan-based Tokuma label. In 1997 her first album, Powder Blue was released, and in 1999 her second album, Affirmation was released, followed in 2000 by her most recent album Natural Woman.

Partridge also developed a keen interest in acting at a young age. She decided to enroll at the prestigious Northwestern University, where she majored in Theater. After receiving her degree, Partridge stayed in Chicago and landed her first feature film role -- opposite Tom Cruise in the smash hit, "Risky Business." She then headed west to L.A., where she acted in several film roles and became actively involved in doing commercials and voice-overs. She was often heard portraying super heroes on cartoon shows. Throughout the late eighties and early nineties, Partridge could be seen guest starring in many TV series, sitcoms and soap operas... then came that fateful night at the Improv; an old dream reawakened, she soon shifted the focus of her life back to music.

The story continues.

Currently leading a bicoastal life, Sarah has been spotted entertaining audiences at many notable east-coast haunts such as, New York's Firebird Cafe, The Hideaway, Delmonico's, The Jazz Standard and many others. L.A. jazz spots include, Catalina's Bar & Grill, Spazio, and the Hollywood landmark, the Cinegrill. She is consistently pegged as "pick of the week" in newspapers on both coasts.

Until his death in early June of 1997, Sarah could often be found practicing her own brand of meditation, sharing the bandstand with her pal, legendary jazz giant, Doc Cheatham. She was a fixture at his Sunday afternoon jazz brunches at New York's Sweet Basil Restaurant. They also teamed at other local clubs such as Metropolis and New Jersey's own, Trumpets. He affectionately referred to her as "A woman of high voltage!"

Nick has performed and/or toured with numerous musicians including: saxophonist Frank Foster, drummer Charlie Persip, bassist Eddie Gomez, trumpeter Jimmy Owens, saxophonist Billy Harper, bassist Buster Williams, bassist Reggie Workman, bassist Cecil McBee, trombonist Steve Turre, saxophonist Benny Golson, drummer Winard Harper, drummer Gene Lake, actor/comedian Dave Chappelle (including Dave's critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut), trombonist Slide Hampton, the great James Moody, saxophonist Jimmy Heath, 2x Grammy Nominated Trumpeter Russell Gunn and Ethnomusicology, drummer T.S. Monk, actor/choreographer Hinton Battle, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, soul singer Amel Larrieux, soul singer Alison Crockett, UK nu-soul pioneer Omar, U.K. Soul sensation Julie Dexter, Verve recording artist Lizz Wright, musician/poet/actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and currently tours with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. Rolfe is co-starring with Academy Award winners Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes in the soon to be released feature film "Doris and Bernard" directed by Robert Balaban [2005]

The Stein Brothers present their own highly personal and melodic take on bebop, the revolutionary brand of jazz pioneered in the 1940s by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. According to Zan Stewart, jazz critic at the Newark Star Ledger and formerly with the Los Angeles Times, the Stein Brothers " . . . display an impressive command of, and keen intuition for [bebop's] language [and] are capable of crafting solos and compositions packed with the kind of winsome lines and propulsive rhythms that make listeners pat their feet and nod their heads in appreciation."

Though Zan Stewart is best known as a jazz journalist, currently on staff at the Newark Star-Ledger, he is a lifelong musician. He studied piano at age five, took up clarinet at age six, and saxophone at age 16. Tenor saxophone is his primary instrument.

As a leader, Zan has performed with Bob DeVos, Dan Kostelnik, Cecilia Coleman, Jerry Rusch, Gary Frommer, Clarence Johnston, Carl Burnett, Roy McCurdy, Dave Carpenter, Andy Watson, Darek Oles, Paul Kreibich, Terry Trotter, and others. He has also shared bandstands in spontaneous situations with Albert Dailey, Dave Stryker, Pat Britt, Art Hillery, Wilbur Brown, Magnarelli, Tabackin, Tony Reedus, Peter Bernstein, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Brian Blade, Jimmy Cobb, Christian McBride, Mike LeDonne, and many others.

Stewart plans to make his recording debut in 2007.

Gradie Stone, a true musician's singer comes from a musician's family. Her dad led the Kirby Stone Four ("Baubles, Bangles and Beads"). Gradie has performed with many national touring acts such as George Young, Lou Rawls, Rodney Dangerfield and Frank Sinatra Jr. To date she has released two critically acclaimed solo CD¹s "After All These Years" and "Gradie Stone Live". She continues to perform actively throughout the NYC area.