IDIT SHNER

An active performer of both jazz and classical music, Idit Shner has played in various distinguished venues in the United States and abroad, such as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Lincoln Center in New York.
Her latest project, Mhondoro, blends Zimbabwean folk music and American jazz. Mhondoro released their first album, Heatwave, in 2022 and are about to release their second album soon. Additional jazz releases include Live at The Jazz Station, 9 Short Stories (which garnered a 4-start review in Downbeat magazine) and Tuesday’s Blues. Jazz festival performances include the Diet Coke Woman in Jazz Festival (NY), Bellayre Festival (NY), and New-Trier Jazz Festival.
As a classical saxophonist Idit has commissioned and recorded new music and performed solo recitals in the US and Israel. Idit holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University, a Masters degree in Music Education from University of Central Oklahoma, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of North Texas.
Idit now teaches at the University of Oregon, as professor of saxophone and jazz studies. She was awarded three prestigious teaching awards: The 2015 Thomas F. Herman Award for Excellence in Pedagogy in areas of saxophone technique and chamber music coaching; the 2016 University of Oregon Faculty Excellence Award; and a Philip H. Knight Endowed Chair in 2019.
The Band:
Idit Shner ~ saxophone
TBD ~ piano
Garrett Baxter ~ bass
Dae Bryant ~ drums

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THE HEADHUNTERS

Few bands can boast a history as fortuitous and storied asThe Headhunters. What each member brings to the table forged a history that most bands can only dream of. Their blend of jazz with funk and rock would go on to sell over a million albums worldwide, while the band’s legacy would inspire musicians of every genre for years to come, be sampled by hundreds of hip-hop artists throughout the ’80s and ’90s, and influence countless musicians’ playing today. The Headhunters’ impact remains a global phenomenon, and their time with Hancock proved to be a life changing experience. The band has released 8 more albums stepping out on their own sans Hancock’s involvement starting with Survival of the Fittest in 1975 and on Straight from the Gate in 1977 and most recently Speakers In the House in 2022 and Live From Brooklyn Bowl in 2023.

The current band consists of a top notch quintet with Clark, Summers and Harrison joined by bassist Chris Severin (Dr. John, Diana Krall, The Neville Brothers) and pianist Kyle Roussel (Preservation Hall Jazz Band), both staples on the New Orleans music scene. Managed by Greg Lucas and Craig Walker at Devil Hills Entertainment, the band is poised for success in 2024, having recorded a new album and accompanying feature length documentary at the legendary Hyde Street Studios in August 2023 and completed a sold out European tour in November 2023 including two nights at the London Jazz Festival.

The Band:

Donald Harrison ~ saxophone
Kyle Roussel ~ piano
Chris Severin ~ bass
Bill Summers ~ percussion
Mike Clark ~ drums

 

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ERIC KENNEDY

Eric Kennedy & Friends: Tribute to Lisa

A Baltimore, Maryland native, Eric Kennedy is a drummer, vocalist, percussionist, educator, arranger and composer. He started performing at the age of three with a family band and encouraged by visiting local and national musicians.

Eric was the 2004 runner-up in the Billie Holiday Vocal Competition and first-place band member in the Chick Webb Jazz Combo Competitions 2008 and 2009. Eric also won the Jazz Journalists Association of America 2023 award for Baltimore Jazz Hero.

Eric has performed, toured, and recorded with Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz, Phil Woods, Billy Harper, Curtis Lundy, Bobby Watson, Gary Thomas, Fred Wesley, Wallace Roney, Cyrus Chestnut, Ethel Ennis, Larry Willis, Cecil McBee, Donald Harrison, Joe Locke, TK Blue, John Hicks, Richard Wyands, Yusef Salim, Eddie Henderson, Joe Bonner, Carl Grubbs, David Murray, Oliver Lake, Pansori master Ahn Sook Sun and many others.

The Band:

Eric Kennedy ~ drums
Marc Cary ~ piano
John Lee ~ guitar
Kelly Shepherd ~ alto saxophone

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LORI WILLIAMS

Acclaimed international jazz vocalist Lori Williams has a most impressive resume as a performing artist, veteran music educator and choral director, songwriter, producer, musical theater actress, jazz radio host on JazzRadioWETF.org, a business owner at PositiveMusicPM.org, and artist-in-residence with over 30 years of experience.

It is her work as a vocalist and clinician that most satisfies her and has brought the widest amount of recognition. With each performance in a new country comes fresh admirers. Her annual vocal jazz tour and performances at music festivals have taken her all over the world. Her vocal jazz artist residencies have allowed her to work with and mentor students on college campuses in the United States and abroad.

For over three decades, Lori Williams has worked with many notable artists including Oleta Adams, The Blackbyrds, Tom Browne, Jonathan Butler, Terri Lyne Carrington, Will Downing, Nathan East, James Genus, Marcus Johnson, Stanley Jordan, Maysa, Najee, Phil Perry, and more.

The Band:

Lori Williams ~ vocals
Tracey Cutler ~ saxophone
Benjie Porecki ~ piano
Michael Bowie ~ bass
Mark Prince ~ drums

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CYRUS CHESTNUT WITH EKEP NKWELLE

A masterful jazz pianist and Baltimore native, Cyrus Chestnut balances his lithe technical skill with a robust, soulful style that speaks to his deep gospel roots and love of swinging hard bop. Raised in the church, he learned how to infuse his swinging, classically trained style with a warm gospel sound, a style that first marked his work as a sideman, backing legendary vocalists Jon Hendricks and Betty Carter, as well as with instrumentalists like Donald Harrison and Wynton Marsalis. The future is bright with great possibilities for Cyrus.

Ekep Nkwelle is a 24-year-old, Cameroonian-American, jazz vocalist from Washington, DC, living in New York City. A part of the promising future of jazz, Ekep Nkwelle is one of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s latest rising stars, and with her artistry, she strives to display her passion for music all around the world. She has worked with jazz masters such as Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Wynton Marsalis, and Peter Washington, as well as young, well-respected musicians such as Emmet Cohen and Endea Owens.

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