Born in Bali, Indonesia, Joey Alexander has been performing professionally since 2013 when he was invited by Wynton Marsalis to perform at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala. Alexander subsequently moved to New York City and released his debut album, My Favorite Things, in 2015 on Motéma Music, followed by three more on the label and another on Verve. Alexander’s albums have netted three GRAMMY Award nominations – one for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and two for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. Over the course of his astonishing career, Alexander has performed with Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding for International Jazz Day 2016 at the White House for President Barack Obama, at the Arthur Ashe Learning Center for President Bill Clinton, and at the Grand Ole Opry, Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall and major jazz festivals and night clubs around the world. He has also been the subject of profiles on “60 Minutes” and in The New York Times. Origin is Alexander’s first album for Mack Avenue Records and will be released in May.

Pianist, composer and music director John Beasley takes pride in being a musical chameleon and has an amazing track record to show for his versatility. Beasley grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana  and by the time he was a teen was playing trumpet, oboe, drums, saxophone and flute. His interest in jazz was sparked after hearing a Bobby Timmons recording. Beasley was offered an oboe scholarship to Juilliard but by that point his career had taken off and he was soon touring with Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. Since then, his list of collaborators has grown long and varied, including Steely Dan, Barbra Streisand, Queen Latifah, Chaka Khan and James Brown. Beasley also has performed on film scores for Erin Brokovich, Finding Nemo and The Godfather III. He has released numerous albums, including Positootly!, which received a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Instrumental Jazz Album. In 2013, Beasley formed MONK’estra, a 17-piece band that celebrates Thelonious Monk’s classic compositions with a contemporary twist incorporating Afro-Cuban rhythms, modern jazz, hip-hop and traditional big band instrumentation.

Brian Blade is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana who established himself as a versatile, accomplished drummer early in his career, appearing on albums by the likes of Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett and Bob Dylan. Blade released his first album, Brian Blade Fellowship, at the age of 27 in 1998 and followed two years later with Perceptual, both on Blue Note. Always an in-demand sideman and collaborator, he continued to find work with a varied bevy of artists, including Chick Corea, Bill Frisell, Herbie Hancock, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Daniel Lanois and Wayne Shorter. Ten years after releasing his first album, Blade returned with Season of Changes in 2008, this time on Verve. A year later he released the solo Americana, singer/songwriter effort Mama Rosa for the label. Blade is a member of the acclaimed Wayne Shorter Quartet alongside bassist John Patitucci and pianist Danilo Pérez. His latest release is 2017’s Body and Shadow, marking the fifth album in Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band’s 20-year history.

Terence Blanchard is a multi-GRAMMY Award-winning trumpeter, composer, and bandleader whose expansive vision has made him one of the most influential voices in contemporary jazz. Known for his dazzling improvisations and cinematic approach to composition, Blanchard exists in a unique space in the worlds of jazz, opera and film music, creating work that is both emotionally powerful and socially resonant. Born in New Orleans, Blanchard first gained prominence as a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, where he served as music director and the group’s primary composer. He later established a distinguished solo career, releasing numerous acclaimed albums and becoming a prolific film composer best known for his longstanding collaboration with Spike Lee. His scores for films like Malcolm X and BlacKkKlansman have earned widespread recognition for their originality. Blanchard made history in opera with works such as Fire Shut Up in My Bones, which premiered at the Metropolitan Opera.

Kris Bowers is an Oscar-winning composer and pianist whose work spans jazz, film, and television, with a particular impact in contemporary screen scoring. Born in Los Angeles, Bowers began studying piano at age nine and attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts before earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School. He first gained wide recognition after winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, launching a career that bridges performance and composition at the highest level. Bowers has performed and recorded with Aretha Franklin, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Ambrose Akinmusire and created acclaimed scores for Green Book, King Richard, Respect, Bridgerton, and When They See Us, earning widespread recognition for his ability to blend orchestral writing with jazz and contemporary influences to enhance narrative storytelling. Bowers maintains an active career as a recording artist and performer at major venues and festivals worldwide.

Dee Dee Bridgewater’s exuberance, creativity, undeniable confidence and joyous spirit have earned her a place as one of the world’s premier jazz vocalists. Her extraordinary career encompasses more than two dozen albums, three GRAMMY Awards, and a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway production of The Wiz. She has received recognition as an NEA Jazz master, Doris Duke Artist, and Commander in France’s prestigious Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Her portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Day won her a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress. Dedicated to using her talents for the world’s most vulnerable, Bridgewater has served as an Ambassador for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and her humanitarian work earned her the ASCAP Foundation Champion Award. Her newest release, Elemental, is a collaborative album with Bill Charlap that documents their critically acclaimed, sold-out live concerts.

Till Brönner is a world-renowned trumpeter, composer, and producer whose smooth tone, lyrical phrasing, and crossover appeal have made him one of the most successful European jazz artists of his generation. Born in Viersen, Germany, Brönner was introduced to music by his father, a classical musician, and went on to study at the Cologne University of Music, where he developed a style that blends jazz with pop, soul, and contemporary influences. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists including Ray Brown, Kurt Elling, Sergio Mendes, and Milton Nascimiento, while releasing numerous chart-topping albums bringing jazz to a broader audience. In addition to performing, Brönner is an accomplished producer and photographer. With a distinguished international career and a signature sound that bridges genres, he continues to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying his reputation as one of the most accomplished and influential trumpeters in modern jazz.

Terri Lyne Carrington is a four-time GRAMMY Award-winning drummer, producer, recording artist, educator and activist who is a leader in creative music and a voice for justice in the music world. Born in Medford, Massachusetts, she had her first major performance at 10 years old with trumpet legend Clark Terry. Carrington went on to perform and record with Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, Stan Getz, James Moody, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, playing with Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder on Hancock’s GRAMMY Award-winning Gershwin’s World. She made history with this album when she became the first woman to win a GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. Carrington is a professor at the Berklee College of Music, where she founded and directs the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice. An NEA Jazz Master, she has been featured on more than 70 albums, including 14 of her own.

Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and artistic output. Corea was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and began studying piano at age 4. His first professional gig was with Cab Calloway, followed by stints in Latin jazz bands led by Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo. Since embarking on a solo career in 1966, Corea has been at the forefront of jazz, both as a renowned pianist forging new ground with his acoustic jazz bands and as an innovative electric keyboardist with Return to Forever, the Elektric Band, and the electro/acoustic Vigil. A DownBeat Hall of Famer, NEA Jazz Master, 22-time GRAMMY Award winner, and keyboard virtuoso, his extensive discography boasts numerous albums, beginning with his 1968 classic, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs. Corea is the fourth-most-nominated artist in the history of the GRAMMY Awards, with 63 nominations. He also has earned 3 Latin GRAMMY Awards, the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album category. From straight ahead to avant-garde, bebop to fusion, children’s songs to chamber music, along with some far-reaching forays into symphonic works, Corea has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career. He continues to forge ahead, continually reinventing himself in the process.

Jamie Cullum is one of the most successful jazz artists, with more than 10 million albums sold worldwide. He has received a GRAMMY Award, 2 Golden Globes, 2 GQ Man of the Year awards, 3 Brits and 3 Sony Radio awards, among many other honors. Born in Rochford, England, Cullum first made his mark through jazz with the multi-platinum Twentysomething release, but it is his knowledge and love of all music that has helped propel him onto the world stage. The sensational musician has the ability and versatility to blur musical genres with his unique take on jazz, pop and rock, and his wide appeal has taken him from Seoul to Sao Paulo and from Hamburg to Hollywood, where he collaborated with Clint Eastwood on the Golden Globe nominated score for Gran Torino. Cullum has written for the London West End stage and presented television shows on VH-1, Sky and the BBC. He has hosted several documentaries for BBC Radio featuring such eminent subjects as Blue Note Records, Herbie Hancock, Jimi Hendrix and Quincy Jones. Cullum currently presents his own award-winning weekly primetime show on BBC Radio 2, the highest rated station in Europe. Interlude, his latest project on Island Records, shows Cullum reconnecting with his jazz roots.

Paquito D’Rivera defies categorization. The winner of 14 GRAMMY Awards, the celebrated clarinetist, saxophonist and composer is recognized for his artistry in Latin jazz and his achievements as a classical composer. Born in Havana, Cuba, D’Rivera performed at age 10 with the National Theater Orchestra, studied at the Havana Conservatory of Music and, at age 17 became a featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony. He directed the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna for two years, and was a founding member and co-director of Irakere, which performed an explosive mixture of jazz, rock, classical and traditional Cuban music never before heard. In 1988, he became a founding member of the United Nation Orchestra, a 15-piece ensemble organized by Dizzy Gillespie to showcase the fusion of Latin and Caribbean influences with jazz. D’Rivera went on to release more than 30 solo albums. His contributions to classical music include his three chamber compositions recorded live in concert with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Among his many honors, D’Rivera is the recipient of a National Medal of Arts and has been named an NEA Jazz Master. He continues to tour worldwide with his chamber jazz ensemble, big band and quintet.

Saxophonist and composer Eli Degibri of Israel has established himself as a prominent musician in jazz, gaining a worldwide fan base. He toured with Herbie Hancock’s sextet for more than two years, and went on to perform and record as a member of the Al Foster Quartet. Degibri is a recipient of the honorary Israeli Prime Minister Award for Jazz Composition and the Landau Award for Jazz Performance, which recognizes his achievements as a bandleader. His latest release with his quartet is aptly named Cliff Hangin’ as it captures the thrilling and unpredictable urgency of his playing. It received a rare five-star review from DownBeat magazine. Degibri’s next project will pay tribute to legendary saxophonist Hank Mobley.

Two-time GRAMMY Award winner Kurt Elling combines his extraordinary vocal talents with his bandleading, composing and arranging to produce a sound that has been thrilling audiences for more than 25 years. Elling developed his idiosyncratic scat style in the clubs of Chicago, sharing the stage with the renowned Von Freeman and Ed Peterson. He signed with Blue Note in 1995 and went on to release six Blue Note albums, all of which have been GRAMMY nominated and critically acclaimed. Elling has spent two decades leading the DownBeat Critics and Readers polls for best male vocalist and has won 15 Jazz Journalists Association awards for male vocalist of the year. He recently made his Broadway debut at Hermes in Hadestown and enjoyed a world-premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center of The Big Blind, a jazz musical he co-wrote with Phil Galdston. Elling’s latest release is Wildflower Vol. 3, a duet album featuring Christian Sands.

Aretha Franklin’s musical legacy has made her a living legend. She is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known the world over simply by her first name. The reigning and undisputed “Queen of Soul” has created an amazing legacy that spans six decades, from her first recording as a teenage gospel star to her current RCA Records release, Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics. Her many countless classics include “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Chain Of Fools,” and “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)” along with her own compositions “Think,” “Daydreaming” and “Call Me” and her definitive versions of “Respect” and “I Say A Little Prayer.” Franklin is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, along with 18 GRAMMY Awards, a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award and a GRAMMY Living Legend Award. Her powerful, distinctive, gospel-honed vocal style has influenced countless singers across many generations, justifiably earning her Rolling Stone magazine’s No. 1 slot on its list of “The Greatest Singers of All Time.”

With his authoritative voice and calm demeanor, Morgan Freeman is one of the most respected figures in cinematic history. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman made his acting debut at age 9. He turned down a drama scholarship to Jackson State University, opting instead to serve as a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. In 1969, he appeared onstage in an all African-American production of “Hello, Dolly!” Freeman first appeared on television on “The Electric Company.” Two years later, he moved into feature films. Freeman received an Oscar nomination for his performance as a merciless hoodlum in Street Smart, and received a second Oscar nomination in 1989 as the patient, dignified chauffeur in Driving Miss Daisy. The same year, Freeman starred in the epic Civil War drama Glory. Other career highlights include his memorable performances in Unforgiven, The Shawshank Redemption, Amistad, and Million Dollar Baby, which won him the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. In 2011, Freeman was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globe Awards. That same year, he received an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award. Committed to preserving and perpetuating the blues, Freeman is co-owner of the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Robert Glasper is a pianist, composer, and producer whose innovative approach has reshaped the sound of contemporary jazz. Known for seamlessly blending jazz with hip-hop, R&B, and soul, Glasper’s genre-defying style bridges tradition and modern culture. Born in Houston, he was deeply influenced by gospel music through his mother, a church pianist, before studying at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Glasper gained recognition with his acoustic trio before expanding his sound with the Robert Glasper Experiment, earning acclaim for albums like Black Radio, which brought jazz into dialogue with contemporary Black music and won a GRAMMY Award. In addition to his collaborations with artists including Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, and Common, Glasper is an influential producer and curator, contributing to film, television, and cross-genre projects that highlight the evolving landscape of jazz. With a continually expanding body of work, he remains a leading voice in modern music.

Legendary blues guitarist and singer Buddy Guy is widely regarded as one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time. His electrifying playing and soulful voice have influenced countless musicians while bringing the Chicago blues tradition to audiences worldwide. Raised in rural Louisiana, Guy built his first guitar from wires and a piece of wood. He relocated to Chicago and quickly became part of the city’s vibrant blues scene. Performing alongside influential artists like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, Guy developed a bold and innovative guitar style that blended traditional blues with a powerful, modern edge. He recorded for the legendary Chess Records and later achieved broad recognition through a prolific solo career and collaborations with artists across genres. Guy has received multiple GRAMMY Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He continues to tour and record, keeping the spirit of the blues alive for new generations of listeners.

World-renowned pianist and composer Herbie Hancock is one of the most innovative and influential musicians of our time. A modern music icon, he has shaped the direction of jazz, fusion, funk and hip-hop for more than six decades. From his recordings with the legendary Miles Davis Quintet to his solo jazz albums and pioneering music incorporating multiple genres, Hancock has always been on the cutting edge. He has earned 14 GRAMMY Awards including Album of the Year for River: The Joni Letters, and an Academy Award for his score for the film Round Midnight. A Kennedy Center honoree, Hancock serves as Creative Chair for Jazz at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue. He is the Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz and a Distinguished Professor at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA.

Zakir Hussain is a classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order and a chief architect of the contemporary world music movement. His exciting performances and masterful improvisational dexterity have established him as a national treasure in his native India, and gained him worldwide fame. A child prodigy, Hussain was touring by age 12. He came to the United States in 1970, performing his first concert at the Fillmore East in New York City with Ravi Shankar. Hussain’s contributions have been unique, with historic collaborations including Shakti, which he founded with John McLaughlin and L. Shankar, Remember Shakti, the Diga Rhythm Band, Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, Tabla Beat Science, and Sangam with Charles Lloyd and Eric Harland. Additionally, Hussain has recorded and performed with artists as diverse as George Harrison, Yo-Yo Ma, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Airto Moreira, Béla Fleck, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, Mark Morris, Rennie Harris and the Kodo drummers. Hussain has composed music for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, National Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Jazz Festival and 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and has scored for many films. He comprises one third of international jazz supergroup the Crosscurrents Trio, with saxophonist Chris Potter and bassist Dave Holland, which released its debut album, Good Hope, in 2019.

Al Jarreau has captivated a worldwide audience with his blend of jazz and soul music, amazing vocal skills, and scat techniques. With seven GRAMMY Awards and scores of international jazz and pop music awards, he has established himself as a legend in the music industry. Jarreau began his career as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco. Although he had been singing since age 4, it wasn’t until his early 20s when he began singing in local clubs with George Duke that he decided music would become his career. Jarreau relocated to Los Angeles and performed around the city. After several national television appearances, he was signed to Warner Bros. in 1975 and released his first album, We Got By, which received massive critical acclaim. In 1977, Jarreau won his first GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Performance and topped many readers and critics polls. His 1981 album Breakin’ Away, which included the hit “We’re in This Love Together,” sold a million copies and made him one of the most recognized singers in music. Since that time, Jarreau has continued to release chart-topping albums that blend jazz and R&B, and tour the world performing with his sextet and with symphony orchestras. Jarreau was awarded a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star, commemorating his spectacular career.

Diana Krall is a multi-talented pianist and vocalist who is one of the best-selling jazz artists of her generation. Krall grew up in British Columbia and began taking piano lessons at age 4. By age 15, she was performing jazz classics in local bars and restaurants. Krall attended the Berklee College of Music and released her debut album, Stepping Out, in 1993. Her 1996 album All for You, a tribute to Nat King Cole, was a breakthrough success, and her follow-up album, When I Look in Your Eyes, topped the Billboard jazz charts for more than a year. It also earned Krall her first of five GRAMMY Awards. Krall went on to win the 2002 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album for her seventh release, Live in Paris. On The Girl in the Other Room, Krall for the first time included some of her own compositions as well as songs written by British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, whom she married in 2003. During her varied career Krall has toured with Tony Bennett, recorded with Ray Charles, and produced music for legendary singer-songwriter Barbra Streisand. More recently, she worked with rock icon Paul McCartney on his 2012 album, Kisses on the Bottom. Krall’s latest release is Wallflower, which features her signature renditions of songs by Bob Dylan, Elton John and the Eagles.

Lionel Loueke is a truly original artist and an influential voice in jazz. Born in Benin, Africa, Loueke began playing guitar at age 17. He attended the Institute of Art in Ivory Coast, studied at the American School of Music in Paris, and then moved to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music. There, he met bassist Massimo Biolcati and drummer Ferenc Nemeth, who would become an important part of his musical family. He also began developing his artistic vision, melding African guitar tradition with jazz harmony. In 2001, Loueke was accepted to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, where he studied with Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter and continued to play with fellow Monk students Biolcati and Nemeth. He later toured and recorded with both Blanchard and Hancock. Loueke performed alongside Sting on Hancock’s Possibilities, and is featured on Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters. In 2007, he signed to Blue Note and released Karibu, featuring Hancock and Shorter. His latest release on the label is GAIA, which features his longtime collaborators Biolcati and Nemeth.

Legendary trumpeter Hugh Masekela has been a defining force in world music and human rights in Africa and around the globe. The iconic performer, composer, producer and activist is best known for his 1968 GRAMMY-nominated hit single, “Grazing in the Grass,” which sold more than 4 million copies and made him an international star. Born in Witbank, South Africa, Masekela began playing piano as a child and later took up the trumpet. He escaped South Africa’s Apartheid oppression and attended London’s Guildhall School of Music. Masekela later studied at the Manhattan School of Music. On his first night in New York, he visited three different jazz clubs to hear John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and Max Roach. Masekela has collaborated with numerous artists including Miriam Makeba, Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Herb Alpert, U2 and Fela Kuti. He played an integral role in Paul Simon’s tour behind the classic album Graceland, one of the first pop records to introduce world music to a broader public. In the 1980s, Masekela’s hit song “Bring Him Back Home” became an anthem for the Free Nelson Mandela movement. His latest release, Playing @ Work, is a dynamic, genre-defying exploration of mbaqanga funk, jazz, and rhythm and blues, all cloaked in his indefatigable spirit and social consciousness.

Christian McBride is a GRAMMY Award-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader whose commanding tone, rhythmic drive, and remarkable versatility have made him one of the most in-demand musicians in jazz and beyond. Renowned for his ability to move seamlessly across styles, McBride has built a career defined by both technical brilliance and deep musicality. He began playing bass at age nine, attended Philadelphia’s High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and went on to study at The Juilliard School. McBride gained recognition performing with artists including Bobby Watson, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, and Pat Metheny, and later collaborated with Sting, further expanding his reach beyond traditional jazz circles. McBride leads a wide range of ensembles, including the Christian McBride Band, Inside Straight, and the genre-blending group New Jawn, each highlighting different facets of his artistry. He serves as Artistic Director of Jazz House Kids and hosts The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian on SiriusXM.

A revolutionary force in music, John McLaughlin has been forging his own path on guitar since the 1960s. Growing up in Yorkshire, England, McLaughlin studied violin and piano before gravitating to the guitar. He played in a variety of bands in London and later joined Tony Williams’ Lifetime band. McLaughlin soon found himself in the studio with Miles Davis recording what would become the classic album In a Silent Way and subsequently the platinum album Bitches Brew. In 1971, he formed the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which united rock, jazz and Eastern music and had a massive impact on musicians and music lovers worldwide. His Five Peace Band with Chick Corea won the 2009 GRAMMY for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. Throughout the decades, McLaughlin has played on dozens of albums with artists including Stanley Clarke, Carlos Santana, Dexter Gordon and Wayne Shorter. His Shakti ensemble won the 2024 GRAMMY for Best Global Album.

Pat Metheny is an incomparably versatile guitarist who has won 20 GRAMMY Awards in 12 different categories. Metheny grew up in Kansas City and began playing trumpet at age 8. He switched to guitar at age 12 and by 15 was working regularly with the city’s best jazz musicians. Metheny burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974 when he began performing with vibraphone great Gary Burton. His soon-to-become trademarked playing style blended the loose and flexible articulation customarily reserved for horn players with an advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility. This way of playing and improvising was modern in conception but grounded deeply in the jazz tradition of melody, swing, and the blues. With the release of his first album, Bright Size Life, Metheny reinvented the traditional jazz guitar sound for a new generation of players. Throughout his career, Metheny has redefined the genre by utilizing new technology and evolving the improvisational and sonic potential of his instrument. Over the years, he has performed with a diverse array of artists including Ornette Coleman, Steve Reich, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Milton Nascimento and David Bowie. Metheny’s body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras and ballet pieces, with settings ranging from modern jazz to rock to classical. In May 2016, he will release Pat Metheny: The Unity Sessions.

Marcus Miller is one of the most influential artists of our time, appearing on more than 500 albums during his decades on the scene as a performer, composer, producer, arranger, and humanitarian. A virtuoso on multiple instruments, Miller is best known for his unmistakable style on the electric bass. He has brought his distinctive sound to collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, LL Cool J, and Frank Sinatra, among many others. As a member of the Miles Davis group following the jazz legend’s return from retirement, Miller’s contributions as a bassist, composer and producer defined Davis’ style throughout the 1980s. A two-time GRAMMY Award winner, Miller works tirelessly as a UNESCO Artist for Peace to raise awareness of global impacts of the transatlantic slave trade. He is also the host of Miller Time with Marcus Miller, a radio show on SiriusXM.

James Morrison is a virtuoso trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader whose technical brilliance and adventurous spirit have made him one of the most celebrated figures on the international contemporary jazz scene. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Morrison began performing professionally as a teenager and quickly gained recognition for his mastery of the trumpet, as well as his ability to play multiple instruments including trombone, piano, and euphonium. Morrison has collaborated with legendary artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, and Frank Sinatra. He has also led his own ensembles, showcasing his inventive arrangements and signature blend of jazz, swing, and big-band sensibilities. Morrison is a dedicated educator and advocate for jazz music, founding programs to mentor young musicians and sharing his expertise through masterclasses worldwide. With a career spanning decades and a reputation for both technical mastery and musicality, he continues to thrill audiences and inspire up-and-coming jazz musicians.

Danilo Pérez is a pianist, composer, educator and social activist who ranks among the most influential and dynamic jazz musicians of our time. Born in Panama, Pérez started his musical studies at age 3 with his father, a bandleader and singer. While still a student at the Berklee College of Music, he performed with Terence Blanchard, Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi and Paquito D’Rivera. Since then, Pérez has worked with artists from Dizzy Gillespie to Tito Puente, most famously serving alongside drummer Brian Blade and bassist John Patitucci in Wayne Shorter’s renowned quartet. Pérez, who serves as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, is a vocal exponent of music as a force for building understanding and tolerance. Pérez is a Doris Duke Artist and the founder and artistic director of the Panama Jazz Festival. His latest album, Lumen, is a collaboration with the Swedish jazz orchestra Bohuslän Big Band, where Pan-American rhythms meet the Nordic big band sound.

No band exemplifies the essence and soul of New Orleans like Rebirth Brass Band. Whether seen on HBO’s “Treme” or at their legendary Tuesday night gig at the Maple Leaf, Rebirth is a true New Orleans institution. Formed in 1983 by tuba/sousaphone player Philip Frazier and his brother, bass drummer Keith Frazier, along with trumpeter Kermit Ruffins, the band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to performing at festivals and stages around the world. While committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands, they also extend themselves into the realms of funk and hip-hop to create their signature sound. According to The New York Times, “The Rebirth Brass Band updates the traditional strutting rhythms and continuous improvisation of New Orleans parades with an infusion of funk. It doesn’t need microphones, amplifiers or anything but breath and rhythm to make a crowd jump.” The band’s 2011 release Rebirth of New Orleans received the 2012 GRAMMY for Best Regional Roots Music Album. Rebirth’s latest release is 2014’s Move Your Body. Rebirth’s infectious energy, creative depth and versatility continue to symbolize the ineffable spirit of New Orleans.

Five-time GRAMMY Award winner Dianne Reeves is one of the premier vocalists on the worldwide music scene. A native of Denver, she began her career touring with Sergio Mendes and Harry Belafonte, then signed to Blue Note. Her self-titled debut, featuring Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard and Tony Williams, was nominated for a GRAMMY. Featured in George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck, Reeves won the Best Jazz Vocal GRAMMY for the film’s soundtrack. In recent years, she has collaborated with Lizz Wright and Angelique Kidjo for “Sing the Truth,” a musical celebration of Nina Simone. Reeves has performed at the White House on multiple occasions, including President Obama’s State Dinner for the President of China. In 2018, she was named an NEA Jazz Master. Reeves recently recorded an album with Branford Marsalis to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth. The album will be released this September on Blue Note.

GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist Lee Ritenour has appeared on more than 3,000 sessions in virtually all styles of music. Ritenour played one of his first sessions at age 16 for The Mamas and the Papas. His albums in the ’70s, spanning jazz, pop and Brazilian music, were met with chart-topping success. In the ’90s, Ritenour was a founding member of the jazz group Fourplay, whose first album spent an unprecedented 22 weeks at number one on the Billboard contemporary jazz charts. Ritenour has appeared on albums by Dizzy Gillespie and Pink Floyd and received the top spot in numerous guitar polls. His most recent record is A Twist of Rit and includes John Beasley, Dave Grusin, Patrice Rushen, Makoto Ozone, Bob Sheppard and Rashawn Ross, among others.

GRAMMY Award winner David Sánchez is recognized around the world as one of the finest saxophonists of his generation. His mastery of the instrument is undeniable and his sound unmistakable. Combine that with Sánchez’s deep-seated knowledge of both jazz and Latin music, and the traditions that mold them, and the results are extraordinary. Born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Sánchez started playing saxophone at age 12 and came to the United States to study music at Rutgers University. He later joined Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra and Gillespie became his mentor. Sánchez signed with Columbia Records and released seven albums. Coral earned him his first Latin GRAMMY Award for Best Instrumental Album. Sánchez has performed and recorded with Kenny Barron, Roy Haynes, Pat Metheny, Roy Hargrove, Danilo Pérez and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. He continues to tour as a bandleader, bringing his mix of mainstream jazz with Latin influences to audiences around the globe.

Kendrick Scott is one of most creative and sought-after drummers in jazz today. Scott attended Houston’s prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and received a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has performed alongside a stellar array of artists including the Jazz Crusaders, Lizz Wright, Pat Metheny, Dianne Reeves, Joe Lovano and Gretchen Parlato. The Source, Scott’s debut album with his group Oracle, featured an ensemble of jazz luminaries, including Robert Glasper and Lionel Loueke. He also contributed to Terence Blanchard’s GRAMMY-nominated album A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina), showcasing his powerful drumming in a moment of musical history. Scott continues to captivate audiences globally, performing with the renowned Charles Lloyd Quartet along with his own groups.

Wayne Shorter is one of the greatest jazz artists of all time. As a composer and improviser, he has profoundly impacted the sound of modern music for the last half century. Dozens of his more than 200 compositions are standards performed by artists around the world. Shorter grew up in Newark, New Jersey and graduated from Arts High School. He attended New York University and then served in the Army while playing saxophone in groups with Horace Silver and Maynard Ferguson. In 1959, Shorter joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, where he soon became musical director. In 1964, the same year Shorter recorded Speak No Evil – his first record as a leader for Blue Note – Miles Davis invited him to join a quartet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. Shorter recorded 12 albums with Davis and provided much of the material for the group’s musical explorations. In 1970, Shorter and Joe Zawinul formed Weather Report, which became one of the most influential forces of the fusion era. In 2005, he won a GRAMMY Award for Beyond the Sound Barrier. Shorter currently performs with his dynamic quartet, which includes Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade. Without a Net, the group’s latest release, documents this exceptional ensemble performing live with the Imani Winds. The album garnered Shorter the 2014 GRAMMY Award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo, taking his total to 10 plus a Lifetime Achievement Award over the past 25 years.

esperanza spalding is a dynamic bassist, singer and composer who is cutting her own unique creative path. She is the first jazz musician to win a GRAMMY® Award for Best New Artist. spalding grew up in Portland, Oregon and was drawn to music when she saw Yo-Yo Ma perform on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” She began playing cello at age 5 and discovered the bass while attending Northwest Academy, a performing arts high school in Oregon. spalding entered the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and after her first semester was invited to perform with Patti Austin on the “For Ella” tour. She also studied with Joe Lovano, who later invited her to join his band. Upon graduation, spalding returned to Berklee as an instructor. Since then, her career has taken off with performances at the White House and the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, as well as the chart-topping releases Esperanza, Chamber Music Society and Radio Music Society, which includes a 12-piece, world-class band. In 2021, she released her eighth studio album, Songwrights Apothecary Lab, to critical acclaim.

Composer, singer, author, actor, activist – Sting has won universal acclaim in all of these roles, yet he continues to defy labels. For nearly four decades, he has remained at the forefront of public consciousness and has been widely recognized for his musical contributions, which feature elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new age and worldbeat. Born and raised in Wallsend, England, Sting moved to London in 1977 and joined Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers to form The Police. The group released five chart-topping albums and won six GRAMMY awards. Soon after the band parted ways, Sting released his first solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, featuring an all-star cast of jazz musicians including Branford Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland. Sting’s worldwide success has continued with the release of 11 additional solo albums. His most recent endeavor, 2013’s The Last Ship, inspired by the Broadway musical of the same name, draws upon his childhood memories of his hometown’s shipbuilding industry. Throughout his remarkable career, Sting has received 16 GRAMMY Awards, induction into the Rock and Role Hall of Fame, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Kennedy Center Honors Award, and a Commander of the British Empire appointment from Queen Elizabeth II. Sting’s longtime support for human rights organizations has included his involvement with Amnesty International and Live Aid, and his creation of the Rainforest Foundation to save the rainforests and protect indigenous people.

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews grew up in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans and began playing trombone at age 4. He participated in brass band parades and became a bandleader by age 6. In his teens, he performed with the Stooges Brass Band and attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts before joining Lenny Kravitz’ horn section at age 19 for a world tour. Trombone Shorty also has appeared with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, performed with U2 and Green Day, and played himself in a recurring role on the HBO hit series “Treme.” Backatown, his Verve debut, received nearly universal critical and commercial acclaim, hitting the Billboard jazz charts at No. 1 and remaining there for nine straight weeks. Trombone Shorty is the acclaimed bandleader and frontman of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, a hard-edged funk band that employs hip-hop beats, rock dynamics and improvisation in a jazz tradition. The band performs high-energy, sold-out concerts all over the globe, and performed at the 2014 GRAMMY Awards with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, Madonna and Queen Latifah. Trombone Shorty received the President’s Medal from Tulane University for his charitable work with the Trombone Shorty Foundation, which helps schools across New Orleans receive quality instruments that he personally donates.

Winner of six GRAMMY and three Latin GRAMMY Awards, Cuban pianist, composer and arranger Chucho Valdés is widely considered the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban music. Born into a family of musicians in Quivicán, Cuba, Valdés received his first training from his father, the pianist, composer and bandleader Ramón “Bebo” Valdés. By age 3, the young pianist was already playing back the melodies he heard on the radio. He continued his formal musical education at the Conservatorio Municipal de Música de la Habana, graduating at age 14. A year later, he formed his first jazz trio and in 1959 debuted with the fabled orchestra Sabor de Cuba. Valdés is perhaps best known for founding and directing the legendary Cuban ensemble Irakere, discovered by Dizzy Gillespie in 1977 and later signed to Blue Note Records. Valdés, who led Irakere from its founding in 1973 until 2005, has functioned as one of the most recognizable ambassadors for Cuban music and culture, pursuing a successful solo career with 25 albums to his name and collaborating with eminent artists from around the world. Valdés has received honorary doctorates from institutions including the Berklee College of Music and Victoria University in Canada. His most recent release is Tribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac, which won the 2017 GRAMMY for Best Latin Jazz Album.

Bobby Watson is a saxophonist, composer, and bandleader whose vibrant tone and soulful phrasing have earned him international acclaim for five decades. Known for his strong grounding in the hard bop tradition, he plays with a commanding sound that is both deeply rooted and contemporary. Born in Kansas City, Watson was immersed in the city’s rich jazz heritage from an early age. He rose to prominence as a member and musical director of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. During that time, he also recorded and performed with George Coleman, Joe Williams, Max Roach, and Betty Carter. Watson later formed his own ensembles, including Horizon, and became recognized for his ability to balance tradition with innovation while maintaining a strong melodic sensibility. He has released numerous acclaimed recordings as a leader and collaborator, showcasing his versatility. Watson was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and received Howard University’s Benny Golson Jazz Master Award.

For more than a decade, Ben Williams has steadily become one of the most acclaimed and versatile bassists in modern jazz. In 2009, he won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition which helped to launch his career and gave him the opportunity to record for the Concord label. He has performed and recorded with such giants as Pat Metheny, George Benson, Stefon Harris, David Sanborn, Lauryn Hill, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, Maxwell, and Nicholas Payton. Williams has received the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll Rising Star Award for Bass on two occasions. He recorded and released his critically acclaimed debut album State of Art and his follow-up Coming of Age with his band, Sound Effect. His latest release is I AM A MAN, features Williams reaching beyond his jazz roots to incorporate elements of R&B and hip-hop into his politically-themed compositions.