“Take any opportunity that presents itself to hear Roswell Rudd.” -The Village Voice / Shortlist / May 12, 2004
 
Roswell Rudd, 1935, aka THE INCREDIBLE HONK, is a musical wiz if ever a wiz there waz.
 
His musical range has expresssed itself in extraordinary musical collaborations and subsequent recordings with musicians from Mali (Toumani Diabate), Mongolia (Buryat Band), the great Puerto Rican cuatrista Yomo Toro, and the brilliant Cuban guitarist/singer David Oquendo. He has performed and recorded with all of the bands performing at this unique musical event.

 
In 2000 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in composition.
 
In August 2010 he was voted #1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll
 
In 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2010 he was voted Trombonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association.
 
ROSWELL RUDD (trombone), is proudly of the tradition that has given us such jazz trombone greats as Jack Teagarden , Kid Ory, J.J. Johnson, and Joseph Nanton. One of the most imaginative, stimulating players, Rudd is known for his work with groundbreaking groups and musicians like Herbie Nichols, the NEW YORK ART QUARTET, Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, Carla Bley, and Steve Lacy.
 
His trailblazing on the trombone has influenced an entire generation of trombonists who hear his extroverted gut bucket stylings as the modern incarnation of the New Orleans style. He has equally a passionate lyricism in the tradition of American folk songs and ballads.
 
Roswell Rudd has received international recognition as a performer, and for his compositions and arrangements ranging from large scale music dramas to instrumental jazz suites. His jazz operas BLUES FOR PLANET EARTH and GOLD RUSH have achieved cult status from their performances in the 1960’s.
 
From 1999 to the present have been his Soundscape years marked by his collaboration with Verna Gillis.

Rudd is one of the giants. His active playing force is to be greatly welcomed, with his larger-than-life individualism.
 
For complete discography and more information, please visit: Roswell Rudd official site

John Medeski official site | John Medeski on Facebook

Famed keyboardist John Medeski is not easily contained to a single project or genre; he is credited on over 300 works to date, most notably as one third of the groundbreaking trio, Medeski Martin & Wood.

Equally comfortable behind a Steinway grand piano, Hammond organ or any number of vintage keyboards, Medeski is a highly sought after improviser and band leader whose projects range from work with John Zorn, The Word (Robert Randolph, North Mississippi Allstars), Phil Lesh, Don Was, John Scofield, Coheed & Cambria, Susana Baca, Sean Lennon, Marc Ribot, Irma Thomas, Blind Boys of Alabama, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and many more. Classically trained, Medeski grew up in Ft.Lauderdale, FL where as a teenager he played with Jaco Pastorius before heading north to attend the New England Conservatory. He released his first solo piano record, A Different Time, on Sony’s Okeh Records in 2013, and current projects include a new album in the works with his band MadSkillet (Terrence Higgins, Kirk Joseph, Will Bernard), and HUDSON (a collaboration with Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield & Larry Grenadier), plus a documentary on Medeski Martin & Wood.

Steven Bernstein official site

Steven Bernstein is a trumpeter/slide trumpeter, bandleader, arranger, and composer who lives outside of musical convention. He has released four critically acclaimed CDs; Diaspora Soul, Diaspora Blues (featuring the Sam Rivers trio), Diaspora Hollywood, andDiaspora Suite. All four are on John Zorn’s Tzadik label.

His band Sexmob has been together since 1995 touring the world, winning numerous awards, and has had their music featured on MTV, Saturday Night Live and NPR. Sexotica, recorded for Thirsty Ear’s Blue series, was nominated for a Grammy in 2006. Their most recent CD, Sex Mob Plays Fellini was released in 2013.

His nine-piece ensemble, the Millennial Territory Orchestra, has released two CDs, MTO Vol 1 and We Are MTO. Their latest CD, MTO Plays Sly, features Bernie Worrell, Vernon Reid, Antony, Martha Wainwright, Dean Bowman, Sandra St. Victor and Shilpa Ray. MTO was formed in 1999 for a series of Midnight shows at Tonic, and spent a year and a half long residency at the Jazz Standard. Bernstein also arranged and co-produced Baby Loves Jazz, featuring vocalists Sharon Jones and Babi Floyd, along with keyboard master John Medeski. The CD is available on Verve records.

Bernstein’s newest project is Butler/Bernstein & the Hot 9, a collaboration with the brilliant New Orleans pianist Henry Butler. Their debut recording, Viper Drag, was released in May 2014 on the new Impulse! record label.

Bernstein was the musical director for I’m Your Man, a documentary on Leonard Cohen that focuses on a tribute concert held at the Sydney Opera house, released by Lions Gate films in spring 2006. He was the musical director for the live sequences in the 2009 Bill Withers documentary Still Bill. Other DVDreleases include Solos, originally a Canadian Television program featuring solo performances by musicians including Andrew Hill, Joe Lovano, and John Scofield, as well as Lou Reed’s Berlin (directed by Julian Schnabel) and Levon Helm Ramble at The Ryman. Bernstein was also the subject of a feature entitled “Creative Spaces” on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and was interviewed by Terry Gross onNPR in 2002.

Since November 2004 Bernstein has been a member of the Levon Helm band, playing at the Midnight Rambles in Levon’s home in Woodstock. Bernstein wrote horn arrangements for Levon Helm’s Grammy winning 2009 recording Electric Dirt and 2011’s Ramble at the Ryman, as well as Bill Frissel’s Grammy winning 2004 recording Unspeakable. Other arranging credits include Lou Reed, Rufus Wainwright, Marianne Faithfull, Elton John, and Marvin Pontiac.

In 1992, musical iconoclast Hal Willner produced the eponymous debut CD by Spanish Fly, a cooperative trio with Bernstein, slide guitarist Dave Tronzo and tubaist Marcus Rojas, and they have been collaborating ever since.

Bernstein has worked as musical director on many Hal Willner projects, including tributes to Leonard Cohen, Doc Pomus, Nino Rota, Shel Silverstein and Harold Arlen, and created the music for Robert Altman’s film Kansas City. He was also the musical director for the touring version of the Kansas City band, which included David “Fathead” Newman, Henry Butler, Don Byron, James Carter, Christian McBride, and Nicholas Payton.

During his 10 years as a member of John Lurie’s Lounge Lizards he arranged the music for Get Shorty, Clay Pigeons, Fishing With John and many more film, television and commercial projects with Mr. Lurie.

For composer/Foetus mastermind Jim Thirwell, Bernstein arranged Steroid Maximus to be performed live by a 21 piece ensemble.

Bernstein’s work as a composer includes the documentaries Keep the River On Your Right andBalloonhat, Nickelodeon’s hit TV show The Backyardigans (including an ANNIE nomination for his score to “International Super Spy”), live scores to silent Laurel & Hardy films, theatre scores for Mae West’s Sex and Trouble in Paradise, dance pieces for Alvin Ailey, Body Vox, the Donald Byrd Dance Company, the Flying Karamazov Brothers and the San Francisco Ballet, and commercial jingles.

Bernstein has played trumpet with a diverse group of artists including My Morning Jacket, Linda Ronstadt, David Murray, David Berger, Digable Planets, Sting, Medeski Martin and Wood, Courtney Love, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Don Byron and Mocean Worker.

Awards include:
*DOWNBEAT CRITICS POLL 2006 (#1 Rising Star Arranger, #4 Rising Star Trumpeter)
*DOWNBEAT CRITICS POLL 2005 (#1 Rising Star Arranger)
*DOWNBEAT CRITICS POLL 2004 (#1 Arranger, #2 Big Band – Millennial Territory Orchestra)
*JAZZ JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION 2003 (Rare Brass)
*DOWNBEAT CRITICS POLL 2002 (Sex Mob #1 Beyond Group, #1 Acoustic Jazz Group)

Photo Credit: Harald Krichel

BOB DOROUGH, born in Arkansas and “raised” in Texas, immediately fell in love with music upon joining the Plainview Texas High School Band. He served three years in a Special Services Army Band Unit, gaining much professional experience as arranger, clarinetist, saxophonist, pianist, and entertainer (1943-45).
 
After earning a Bachelor Of Music degree at the University of North Texas (1949), he made a bee-line for New York City where he took classes at Columbia University and immersed himself in the volatile jazz scene then taking place there -the BeBop revolution.
 
In 1952 he turned his back on the academic scene to devote himself to jazz performance, specializing in piano/vocals. After years of accompanying, conducting, arranging, and playing, he made his first recording as a leader (1956) for the Bethlehem label….DEVIL MAY CARE, having written the title tune three years earlier.
 
He is known as “the only singer to record with Miles Davis”. While this may not be 100% true, he did record two vocals with Davis, in 1962, “Nothing Like You” and “Blue Xmas,” both of which he composed. Davis also recorded an instrumental version of Bob’s classic song, “Devil May Care,” that same year.
 
In 1971 he received a commission to “set the multiplication tables to music.” This led to a small industry, being the beginning of ABC-TV’s SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK, Saturday morning cartoons that entertained and instructed unsuspecting children during the years 1973-1985. The impact of this media exposure was unpredictably immense. The show came back for another five years in the 90’s and is now enjoying its 30th anniversary with a DVD edition of the entire, five-subject series, for which Dorough worked as the Musical Director.
 
In 1995 he signed a contract with the prestigious jazz label -Blue Note Records – and has done three CDs for them (“Right On My Way Home,” “Too Much Coffee Man” and “Who‘s On First”).
 
Now residing in Pennsylvania, he has received honors from that state (the Governor’s Artist of the Year Award) and from his native state (the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame.) In 2002 his trio was chosen to represent the State Department and Kennedy Center, as an Ambassador of Jazz and Blues. The one-month tour saw them play some 22 workshops and concerts in thirteen cities in six different countries.
 
Currently recording on Arbors, Candid and his own label, Bob Dorough continues to perform, often for children too, in Jazz Clubs and Schools, wherever he can.

Gary Lucas Official Website | Gary Lucas on Facebook | Gary Lucas on Twitter | Gary Lucas on Instagram 

GARY LUCAS has been hailed as “one of the 100 greatest living guitarists” by Classic Rock Magazine UK and “legendary left-field guitarist” by The Guardian, The New Yorker magazine described him as “an A-list musician”. The New York Times wrote: “Lucas plays the guitar like Salvador Dali paints”. He’s released 35 acclaimed albums as a leader and co-leader, performed in over 40 countries including the UK, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Israel, Morocco, Scandinavia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, India, Cuba, China, Russia, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, Australia, Canada, Serbia, Slovenia et al.. He’s played and collaborated with everyone from Jeff Buckley (Lucas co-wrote Buckley’s anthems “Grace” and “Mojo Pin”) to Leonard Bernstein and Lou Reed. Lucas spent 5 years as a featured soloist and Magic Band member with Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet). Other collaborators include Chris Cornell, Bryan Ferry, Patti Smith, Future Sound of London, David Johansen, Alan Vega, John Zorn, Jerry Harrison, John Cale, Elli Medeiros, Joan Osborne, Nona Hendryx, Bob Weir, Amanda Palmer, Los Van Van, Roswell Rudd, Emir Kusturica and the No Smoking Orchestra, and many others. Mr. Lucas makes his home in NYC.

Richard Hammond is an electric and acoustic bassist, composer, producer and author based in New York City. Born in Dargaville, New Zealand, he moved to Auckland at age 18 and quickly became one of the most in-demand bassists, performing and recording with New Zealand’s top artists. Moving to Boston at age 22, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance on Acoustic Bass, and went on to attend Manhattan School of Music, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Jazz/Commercial music.
 
Equally versatile on acoustic and electric bass, and across a broad range of musical genres, he has performed with an array of artists including Carlos Santana, Gavin DeGraw, Danny Kortchmar, Bob Moses, Louis Bellson, Luciana Souza and Mose Allison. Currently touring with Joan Osborne, Richard has also toured as bassist with Erasure, The East Village Opera Company, Angelique Kidjo, Jonatha Brooke, Dar Williams, Marshall Crenshaw, Chiara Civello, Shannon McNally, and Jim Campilongo.
 
He maintains a busy recording schedule, working with artists such as Raul Midon, Nellie MacKay, and Marion Raven, and legendary producers Arif Mardin, Neil Dorfsman, Kevin Killen, and Rob Fraboni. He has also recorded on several major motion picture soundtracks including: Rumor Has It, Paramount’s The Marc Pease Experience, Disney’s Enchanted, and Ridley Scott’s, American Gangster.
 
Richard has also worked as composer/producer on several national advertising campaigns, and regularly co-writes with several songwriting teams. In addition to being co-author of “Teach Yourself Visually Bass Guitar”, he has also worked as an instructor for the National Guitar Workshop and as a clinician for Berklee College of Music.

To date, drummer Aaron Comess, a founding member of the Grammy nominated, ten million plus album selling band Spin Doctors, has played on, written on and/or produced over two hundred albums with an acclaimed and diverse roster of artists such as, Joan Osborne, Bilal, Rachael Yamagata, New York Electric Piano, Isaac Hayes, James Maddock, Marc Cohn and Chris Whitley to name a few.

In command, infectious, energetic and strong, Fay Victor hypnotizes audiences, whether singing a blues, sculpting a free piece, reinventing a Herbie Nichols tune with her own lyrics, or effortlessly improvising over the harmonies of a jazz standard or her own material. Victor’s lyrics speak of universal themes in story-driven ways, running the full gamut of human emotion in an original mix of traditional song forms and free improvisation – or “FreeSong” – that has become Victor’s trademark approach to improvised vocal music. The trademark transcends Victor’s own original music to include her valued contribution to esteemed ensembles featuring her unique vocal abilities, so unique in fact, that the ensembles Victor are now featured in, rarely, if ever, have vocalists in them.

Since forming in 1975, Grammy winners BeauSoleil have claimed their undisputed role as the most esteemed Cajun group in music. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet take the rich Cajun traditions of Louisiana and artfully blend elements of zydeco, New Orleans jazz, Tex-Mex, country, blues and more into a satisfying musical recipe. From The Grand Ole Opry to Newport Folk, from concert hall to dance floor, the music of BeauSoleil continues to captivate audiences the world over.

Born in New York City, Ivan grew up in small-town New Jersey and upstate New York. He played piano by ear as a child and began putting together lyrics and chord patterns when he was nine. Ivan taught himself guitar a few years later and became consumed with writing songs in high school. Since then he has written hundreds of songs and instrumental pieces, composed scores for dance and theater, recorded a number of CDs and played with great musicians in many styles. But his first love remains the folk-rock singer-songwriter tradition.
 
Ivan has performed at venues all around the northeast since the mid-1990s: concerts, recitals, festivals, dance, comedy and theatrical events, city parks, bars, hotels, cafes, bed & breakfasts, restaurants, fundraisers, rallies, protests, parades, bar and bat mitzvahs, summer camps, schools, churches, synagogues, radio stations, train stations, weddings and parties.
 
In addition to his folk-rock wanderings, Ivan has played in several “world music” ensembles (with trombone great Roswell Rudd, Fode Sissoko and others), and has accompanied a wide range of performers on guitar, piano, drums, bass, mandolin and vocals. He has also taught numerous classes in rock, folk and blues history and performance, as well as guitar and songwriting lessons to dozens of students of all ages and levels.

Organized labor, united with its community allies, is an irrepressible social force. This is the message of the New York City Labor Chorus. The Chorus, with 75 members representing over 20 local unions and District Councils, was founded in 1991 for the purpose of bringing the message of workers’ history and struggles for social and economic justice through song to people everywhere.
 
The Chorus has a national and international reputation as the premier multi-cultural and multi-generational labor chorus in the United States. It is a powerful cultural tool in the arsenal of workers. Wherever the struggle for people’s rights is being waged, the Chorus will be there.
 
We stand ready to perform on picket lines, at union conventions, union rallies and shop steward meetings, as well as at community events, churches, colleges, and schools.
 
Our repertoire represents the great legacy of U.S. labor music. The repertoire includes songs of labor struggles, protest, and social significance. It also includes a rich diversity of music from the cultures of all working people: songs in the gospel, jazz, classical and folk traditions.
 
In 1997, we travelled throughout Sweden. We were hosted by two Swedish unions, LO, a union of several million blue collar workers, and SAS, the Scandinavian Workers Song Association. The Chorus performed at a five day festival in Uddevalla, along with thousands of chorus members from throughout Scandinavia. The Chorus also sang at Carnegie Hall in 1998 as part of a Tribute to Paul Robeson; in 1992 at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park at the Roots of American Music festival, and is featured on the 1998 Peter, Paul and Mary album, “Around the Campfire.” Other performances include the 1992 Democratic Party National Convention, South Africa Solidarity Day and the International Workers Memorial Day at the United Nations, and annual performances in New York City’s Labor Day Parade.