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Please find band photos, sound clips and bios below.
2008-2009 Press Materials
2008-2009 Ensembles
Brian Horton Quartet
Chris Byars Quartet
Duende Quartet
Eli Yamin Blues Band
Helen Sung & NuGenerations
Hoppin' John String Band
Roseanna Vitro and The JazzIAm Band Quartet
Ryan Cohan Quartet
The Student Loan
Vice Verse All Stars
Brian Horton Quartet
Durham, NC
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BRIAN HORTON QUARTET is deeply rooted in the traditions of blues, groove and jazz music. The Durham, North Carolina based ensemble explores multi-cultural rhythms and encourages improvisation, revisiting jazz standards with fresh ideas to craft original, spontaneous composition. The band developed through the study of masters—such as jazz greats Dexter Gordon, Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus—as well as through new, global urban grooves.
Brian Horton (saxophone) is a composer, saxophonist, producer and jazz educator from Kinston, North Carolina. He graduated from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance in the spring of 1997. Two years later he obtained a master’s degree at the Aaron Copeland School of Music in Queens, New York under the direction of Jimmy Heath and the late Sir Roland Hanna. Since that time he has worked as a bandleader, sideman and composer/arranger for such renowned jazz musicians as Hanna, Winard Harper, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry and Delfeayo Marsalis. Horton is known for his attention to detail and melody, especially in his ballads. As a composer and arranger his music has been featured in several independent documentaries for Columbia and Stanford Universities, ESPN, FootLocker and director Spike Lee. Horton currently is a visiting professor at North Carolina Central University, alongside artist-in-residence Branford Marsalis.
Jaimeo Brown (drums) is emerging as one of the pre-eminent new drummers on the jazz music scene. Comfortable in settings that range from jazz club to arena, Brown began his drum career at age 16 with his father, bassist, Dartanyan Brown; his mother, pianist and woodwind specialist, Marcia Miget; and drum teacher, Sly Randolph, a Bernard Purdie protégé from Harlem. In a mere 10 years, Brown has performed with a wide range of musicians including Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Wynton Marsalis, Kamaal (aka Q-Tip), Carl Craig, Kenny Garrett, Steve Turre, Pharoah Sanders and Bobby Hutcherson. Brown’s second album with tenor saxophonist, Greg Tardy will soon be released.
Ameen Saleem (bass) has toured Latin America, Russia, and Eastern Europe in previous tours with the U.S. State Department. Born and raised in Washington D.C., Saleem studied bass with the District of Columbia Youth Orchestra Program and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. In addition, Saleem graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina Central University and earned his master’s degree from the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College. Saleem currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
Ernest Turner (piano) has been an active member of the New Orleans and North Carolina music scenes since 1999. Turner received his bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Loyola University and later obtained his master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of New Orleans. While in New Orleans, Turner played with and befriended many great jazz musicians, including Delfeayo, Jason and Ellis Marsalis; Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra; Adonis Rose; Ed Peterson; Harold Batiste; Steve Masakowski; Tony Dagradi; Johnny Vidacovich; Brice Winston; John Mahoney and Michael Pellera. Turner currently serves as instructor of jazz piano at East Carolina University and is involved in various musical endeavors in the North Carolina area.
The Chris Byars Quartet
Bronx, NY
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Chris Byars Quartet’s rhythms evoke Manhattan’s bustling Times Square in its heyday. This New York-based quartet generates new, inventive music inspired by the 1950s Bop tradition—it has spent years developing relationships with and learning from musicians who thrived during the period.
The Chris Byars Quartet returns to The Rhythm Road after touring to the Balkans, Mediterranean and Central European regions with the program in February 2008. Three months later, the quartet was invited back to Cyprus to conduct an 11-day intensive workshop entitled "Jazz Futures," which took place in the United Nations Buffer Zone in the divided capital of Nicosia and featured musicians of both Cypriot communities. The Chris Byars Quartet has made it a practice to study the music and traditions of their touring regions while also continuing exploration of such musicians as Gigi Gryce. Gryce, an inspiration to the ensemble, was an American jazz musician who converted to Islam in the 1950s.
Chris Byars was born in New York City to a musical family. He began his career in opera and presently enjoys a varied career as a saxophonist, educator, composer and arranger. Winner of the Tanne Foundation Award and three Chamber Music America grants for education and composition, he combines a study of past jazz greats such as Lucky Thompson and Gigi Gryce with a deliberate thrust towards creation of new sounds in jazz.
Ari Roland grew up in downtown New York's Greenwich Village and benefited from early exposure to jazz through his proximity to the Village Vanguard, the iconic jazz club, as well as The Jazz Cultural Theater. He has played with many of today’s most important jazz artists, including Barry Harris and Lou Donaldson. Ari has led cultural tours for the U.S. State Department in Russia and Central Asia, recording the album Jazz Patterns with the Turkmen-American Jazz Quintet in 2007. His recent CD release And So I Lived in Old New York has received critical acclaim.
John Mosca is a native New Yorker, Juilliard graduate and musical director for the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, one of the world’s most celebrated and historically significant large jazz ensembles. His extensive career has allowed him to share the bandstand with assorted musical luminaries in countries across the world. He has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Barry Harris and Jimmy Heath. Tours for the U.S. State Department have brought him to Egypt, Tunisia, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Montenegro and the Slovak Republic.
Stefan Schatz was born in New York City. His diverse talents have led him to perform with jazz greats Dakota Staton, Jon Hendricks, Arnie Lawrence, Herman Foster and Teddy Charles, in addition to Isaac Mizrahi, the Mark Morris Dance Company and the Broadway production of Bombay Dreams. He recently led a U.S. State Department-sponsored jazz educational tour to the Palestinian Territories
Duende Quartet
Silver Springs, MD
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Duende Quartet, an ensemble devoted to playing Latin jazz, draws inspiration from the concept behind its name. Duende, literally meaning goblin or imp, has been used to describe jazz’s subtle, emotional power. Kenneth Tynan, one of several writers using the term to describe the understated music of jazz pioneer Miles Davis, defined duende as “...the ability to transmit a profoundly felt emotion with the minimum of fuss and the maximum of restraint.” Inspired by such qualities, the Duende Quartet crafts a unique Latin jazz sound in the styles of Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader and Willie Bobo as well as Blue Note Records’ legendary 1960s sound. In a unique small group setting—with piano, bass and two hand percussionists—the ensemble captures the vibe of the jazz combo while using the rhythms of a Cuban conjunto. Its repertoire ranges from traditional Cuban songs to arrangements of jazz standards—all pieces strike a balance between danceable groove and effortless improvisation.
Duende Quartet, based in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland areas, was formed in 2004. The group toured Turkey, Albania, Cyprus and Bosnia in February 2007 as part of The Rhythm Road. Band members have played together in many settings, including with Palmetto recording artists Rumba Club.
Harry Appelman (piano) has performed on five continents including notable stops in Egypt in February 2008 with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra as well as a U.S. State Department tour of the South and Central Americas in 2002. In addition, Appelman has toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra and the Artie Shaw Orchestra. Appelman is also a member of the Latin Jazz group Afro Bop Alliance—winners of a 2008 Latin GRAMMY®—and he plays frequently with Palmetto recording artists Rumba Club. Appelman graduated from the New England Conservatory with a master’s degree in music and from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree.
Mark Merella (percussion) is a seasoned jazz professional—his career spans over 25 years and covers a wide range of styles. Merella has performed with Fred Foss, Rene Mclean, Tom Williams, Eva Cassidy, Mary Wilson and percussionist Steve Berrios, co-founder of the Fort Apache Band. Merella has played at numerous international embassies as well as the White House and the Kennedy Center. A career highlight includes playing with the Latin Jazz All Stars alongside Steve Turre, Ray Vega and Andy Gonzalez. His educational experience includes residencies, workshops, private lessons and recording for the Warner Bros. band method series, which is used in high schools across the country.
Josh Schwartzman (bass) has participated extensively in the East Coast Latin and jazz scenes in America. Schwartzman is best known as founder, bassist and contributing arranger and composer for Rumba Club since the renowned group’s inception 22 years ago. He has performed in Washington D.C. area musical theater—most recently appearing in the 2008 Israeli operetta "David in Shadow and Light." Schwartzman has studied at Towson University, the Creative Music Studio and the Peabody Institute of Music.
Sam “Seguito” Turner (percussion) is best known for his 15-year long tenure as sideman with Lionel Hampton. He has also worked nationally and internationally with Machito, Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Charles Mingus, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Garth Fagen Dance Theater, Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Randy Weston, Don Pullen and others. Turner is a recipient of the United Nations Peace Award. Residing in Washington, D.C., Turner performs with Rumba Club, works with the Prince George's Arts Council teaching and performing in schools and serves as a resident adjunct professor at Towson University.
Eli Yamin Blues Band
New York, NY
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Eli Yamin Blues Band plays the blues to dispel the blues. This ensemble welcomes audiences of all ages into the varied and rich world of America’s primary musical art form—the blues. The band explores the healing power of the music and its range from spiritual to classical, from bebop to folk. In some instances, the music is folksy, fiery and brassy. At other times, it is quiet and restorative. The group explores the blues’ unique capacity to bring people together of all different backgrounds. The quartet sings to its audiences, “It’s not just a song for me/ Take a breath and you will see/ Why the blues has the power to be/ A healing song/ A healing song.”
In addition to being spirited performers, members of the Eli Yamin Blues Band are also skilled educators. They have taught with Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music and LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts. During their performances on The Rhythm Road tour, audiences “will be getting up and stomping, really feeling the juice of the blues,” says band leader Yamin. “They will relate their own personal experience to these practices and melodies.” Some members have travelled with previous Rhythm Road tours.
Eli Yamin (piano and voice) is a jazz pianist, composer, educator, broadcaster, bandleader and Steinway artist. Yamin has performed at top concert halls and festivals in the United States, India, China, Mali, Japan and throughout Europe. As a jazz educator, Yamin holds positions as Artistic Director of The Jazz Drama Program and Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center's Middle School Jazz Academy. He designs and delivers training sessions for business leaders, middle school students, music teachers and college professors. Yamin has recorded many CDs, including You Can't Buy Swing (2008) with the Eli Yamin Quartet and Suns of Cosmic Consciousness (2005) with Solar. His television and radio appearances include CBS Saturday Morning, PBS, Fox News and National Public Radio. Yamin has played, recorded and taught with Barry Harris, Wynton Marsalis, Illinois Jacquet, Walter Perkins, Perry Robinson, Mercedes Ellington, Kate McGarry, Claire Daly and Bob Stewart. Yamin holds a master’s degree in music education from Lehman College, City University of New York.
Chanell Crichlow (tuba) is a native New Yorker and spent most of her childhood on the island of Trinidad and Tobago. From a young age Crichlow was aware of the power of music and soon gravitated to the tuba as her first instrument. As a teenager, she attended both the Manhattan School of Music Prep and The Juilliard Schools’ Pre-college division. She founded the Sakura Brass Quintet in 2004 and in 2007 was selected to the National Orchestral Institute. Crichlow was awarded the Gramercy Horn of the Future Award by the Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York and was the winner of the Lincoln Center Young Musician Award through her performance with the La Guardia High School of Music Brass Quintet. In 2008 Crichlow received her bachelor’s degree in Tuba Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, as a student of Toby Hanks.
Crichlow’s orchestral and solo performances include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, The Juilliard School and at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival with Nedra Johnson and the Fat Bottom Girls.. Currently, Crichlow is a Graduate Assistant of Tuba at the Pennsylvania State University, as a student of Velvet Brown.
Kate McGarry (voice) grew up in Hyannis, Massachusetts. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Afro American music and jazz from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she studied with Dr. Horace Boyer and Archie Shepp. She tours nationally and internationally, and recently was invited to the San Sebastian and Ezcaray Jazz Festivals in Spain, as well as to the Tanglewood and Cape Cod Jazz Festivals in the United States. In August 2008, McGarry released her fourth CD on Palmetto Records, If Less Is More, Nothing Is Everything. The recording was recently nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for best jazz vocal album. McGarry is a faculty member at Manhattan School of Music.
LaFrae Sci (drummer) moved to New York City in 2000 to pursue her music career. Since then, Sci has participated in countless workshops both locally and overseas that foster jazz education. She has toured France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Switzerland, among other countries, with noted artists. Before moving to New York City, Sci was the program director for Instrument for Kids, a program sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Jazz Society. Sci graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political theory and economics from Oberlin College in Ohio.
Helen Sung & NuGenerations
New York, NY
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Helen Sung & NuGenerations fuses jazz tradition with musical exploration. Its jazz roots firmly established, this ensemble takes creative risks, sparking new works and innovative performances. A project of bandleader Helen Sung, each member of this New York City-based band represents a different generation of life and musical experience. With diverse backgrounds including classical music, R&B, funk and world-music, and from varied origins across the United States—from the Bay Area to Michigan to Texas to Chicago—Helen Sung & NuGenerations collectively create distinctive music and inspire audiences to participate in and learn more about this great American art form, jazz.
Helen Sung (piano) has been called “one of the brightest emerging stars in jazz today.” Challenging stereotypes as an Asian-American, female jazz pianist and composer, Sung’s training in classical music and subsequent studies in jazz and popular music make for a fascinating mix. As a graduate of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, Sung studied with great jazz masters and has since worked with Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Buster Williams and the legendary Wayne Shorter, as well as with luminaries Steve Turre, Steve Wilson, T.S.Monk and Regina Carter. She is an active bandleader, performing extensively in the United States and internationally and remains involved with music education through clinics and residencies. NuGenerations is one of Sung’s latest projects and she continues to craft her unique musical vision through the venture.
Quincy Davis (drums) discovered music at an early age, playing the drums, trumpet and tuba. Davis began his formal training at the Interlochen Arts Academy in 11th grade. Following his education there, Davis studied at Western Michigan University with drum master Billy Hart and taught elementary and middle school students. After moving to New York City in 2000, Davis has performed with greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Frank Wess, Russell Malone and Eric Reed. Davis has toured more than ten countries and performed in several celebrated jazz clubs. In 2007, Davis toured with The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad to West Africa.
Saundra Silliman (vocals) has trained with Bobby McFerrin, Patti Cathcart and Brenda Miller. She brings years of performance, theater and education skill to NuGenerations. She has worked with jazz masters Herbie Hancock, Buster Williams and Larry Coryell. In addition, Silliman has appeared as Billie Holiday in “Lady Day & Prez” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and a cast member in the work shop production of "Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope" at the Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C. She enjoys teaching children through music enrichment programs, choral direction and musical theater. Silliman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from San Jose State University.
Lonnie Plaxico (bass), a Chicago-native, inherited a musical gift from his family that was discovered and nurtured early. At age 14, having already performed alongside prominent Chicago jazz figures, Plaxico turned professional. At a young age, he played the electric and acoustic basses with equal facility. In 1980, Plaxico moved to New York and soon appeared with Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon and Wynton Marsalis. Plaxico’s first extended tenure was with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In 1986 he joined Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, continuing with that group until 1993. Plaxico was the musical director and featured bassist for Cassandra Wilson; their critically acclaimed and award-winning collaboration spanned 15 years. He has recorded or performed with many well-known artists, including Alice Coltrane, Abbey Lincoln and Dizzy Gillespie, as well as Steve Coleman, Rachelle Farrell and Dianne Reeves. Plaxico has recorded five critically acclaimed albums as leader, including Live at the Jazz Standard (2003) and Rhythm & Soul (2003). Plaxico's musicianship is best exemplified in his masterful integration of different forms—combining the rigorous technique of classical music, the improvisation of jazz and the rawness of funk into one exhilarating musical experience.
Hoppin' John String Band
Brooklyn, NY
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Hoppin’ John String Band performs and teaches music deeply rooted in the ballads, fiddle tunes, and traditions of the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. Through story and song, Hoppin' John String Band brings alive the experience of the American laborer, farmer and people from all walks of life. This music is made for bringing people together to sing, dance and to celebrate life. Comprised of two fiddles, guitar, banjo and bass, this band is sure to bring you to your feet and inspire you to sing along.
Ensemble members have hosted workshops on these traditional art forms internationally. With strong roots in Brooklyn, New York, this quartet actively performs for and educates local audiences of all ages. Constantly creating and innovating, the ensemble also writes original tunes inspired by classic melodies. "This music communicates the joy of being alive," says vocalist and fiddle player Alicia Jo Rabins. "It is music for stomping along with, for dancing and clapping. In its stories, American history comes through."
Alicia Jo Rabins (fiddle and voice) brings the history of traditional American music to audiences nationally and internationally. With a flair for bluegrass, old-time, Cajun and klezmer music, Rabins has toured countries such as Guatemala, England, Israel, France, Poland and Canada. In addition to performing, Rabins teaches the culture and technique of traditional American music to children and adults. Rabins was a founding member of The Mammals and is the fiddler in Golem, New York City's acclaimed klezmer-punk band. In 2003 she released Sugar Shack, a solo album of traditional American fiddle music. Her Brooklyn-based rock band, Girls in Trouble, will release their debut album of songs about women in the Old Testament on JDub Records in fall 2009. Rabins received a bachelor's degree from Barnard College and she has studied at the Peabody Conservatory.
Sarah Alden (fiddle and voice), a Brooklyn, New York resident, is an avid performer and community educator. In addition to her work with the Hoppin’ John String Band, Alden has worked with Dan Zanes, The Woes and Jose Flatfix Stringband. For five years, she toured internationally with the Luminescent Orchestrii and hosted workshops in Romanian and Hungarian violin. Alden earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Brooklyn College and has travelled to Eastern Europe, The Balkans and the Appalachian region of the United States to study and collect traditional folk music.
Sean Condron (guitar, banjo and mandolin), born and raised in Queens, New York, is skilled in many instruments. Condron has performed with several ensembles, such as The Wooster Street Trolley Jazz Band, Tin Pan and his own Brooklyn Rhythm Masters. A spirited instructor, Condron teaches in New York Public Schools through the program CREATE!, and works with other speciality education programs through Hospital, Inc. Condron is the musical director of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Wild West Jamboree. In addition to his work in the tri-state area, Condron has toured Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Russia, Guatemala, Belize, Canada and Mexico. Condron has studied at New York University, S.U.N.Y. Purchase and the Manhattan School of Music.
Taylor Bergren-Chrisman (bass) is accomplished in many musical forms, including klezmer, Pan-Latin American and traditional jazz. He has toured internationally through Canada, Japan, Poland, Spain and Taiwan. In New York, Bergren-Chrisman has instructed students in bass technique and music theory, among other things. Bergren-Chrisman attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the Centre Informatique Musicale in Paris, France.
Roseanna Vitro and The JazzIAm Band Quartet
New York, NY
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Roseanna Vitro and the JazzIAm Band draw from a conviction and dedication to jazz music in its many incarnations. The JazzIAm band is a high energy group comprised of four musicians who are powerful improvisers, composers, teachers and performers. This ensemble is a modern gumbo whose flavors include swing from Duke Ellington to Bill Evans, blues from the Ray Charles Songbook and the exotic melodies and rhythms that form world music, spanning the globe from Brazil to India. JazzIAm's mantra is, “Music is a universal language and it is spiritually healing. Good music played with passion unifies our world and makes it a better place.” Each member is based in New York City, has toured extensively, playing in major festivals and workshops, spreading the gospel of improvisational music.
Roseanna Vitro (voice), with her rich, dynamic voice, has the ability to move and inspire audiences with a musician's mind and a heart people can hear. Vitro has released 11 critically acclaimed recordings on Concord, Telarc International and Challenge in Europe. A who's who of jazz musicians have supported Vitro on these recordings, such as Elvin Jones, Joe Lovano, George Coleman, Eddie Gomez, Kenny Barron and Fred Hersch. Most recently, Vitro headlined with Kenny Werner for two weeks at New York City's Blue Note Jazz Club and released The Delirium Blues Project: Serve or Suffer for Halfnote Records on March 2008. For the past ten years, Vitro has been the vocal jazz chair at New Jersey City University and at the NJPAC Jazz Program for teens in Newark. She sees jazz education as giving back and perpetuating the art form. Vitro has toured extensively internationally in concerts and presenting workshops in South Africa, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Slovenia and India. In 2004, she toured with the U.S. Department of State to the Balkans, Turkey and Cyprus. Vitro was inducted into The Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame in 1998.
Bob Bowen (bass), a New York City bassist originally from Dayton Ohio, has performed professionally over the last 20 years in a wide range of musical styles including West African high life, salsa, bluegrass, rock, funk, fusion, jazz, big band, avant-garde, and with classical chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras. Bowen has played with many legendary performers including Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, James Moody, Mark Murphy, Joe Deninzon's Stratospheerious and the Tony Trischka band. Bowen co-leads the MOB Trio with noted drummer Matt Wilson and tenorman Ohad Talmor. Omnitone Records released the trio’s first recording, Loose, in 2000. The group's latest Omnitone release, Quite Live from Brooklyn, was released in August 2005. Bowen has been very active in jazz and music education in the New York area. Since 2000, he has been the bass instructor and director of the Jazz Combo Workshop at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. After directing and developing the jazz prep program at the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music Queens College (CPSM) from 1998 to 2005, Bowen joined with several colleagues to start the Manhattan-based Creative Music Workshop. Bowen graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in music composition from the University of Dayton, where he studied in the classical double bass graduate program at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with master bassist Al Laszlo. Bowen completed a master’s degree in jazz performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Harvie Swartz.
Joel Holmes (piano) is a fiery pianist who blends traditional and contemporary jazz, gospel, R&B, soul, hip-hop, neo-soul, funk, classical and pop. Holmes plays every Sunday in church, giving back and returning to his roots. After graduating the Baltimore School for the Arts High School, Holmes attended the acclaimed Peabody Conservatory of Music. He has studied with Bobby McFerrin, Roy Hargrove and Gary Thomas, and has toured several countries with famed jazz vocalist, Nneena Freelon. Holmes currently teaches at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and is head of the jazz department at the Baltimore School of the Arts. Holmes graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music with a degree in jazz performance.
Tim Horner (drums) is a master drummer and musician. In his solos, audiences can hear the melodies of songs through the drums. Horner was an integral member of GRAMMY® winner Maria Schneider’s Orchestra for ten years. He began playing drums at the age of ten and cites his parents as primary musical influences. Horner set his personal goal of being a professional jazz drummer when he entered Berklee College of Music in 1974. After spending six years in Boston, Horner relocated to New York City. While in the New York, Horner has earned the distinction of being one of New York City's premiere drummers. Horner has traveled the United States, Europe, the Balkans, Asia, North and South America, while performing, recording and teaching. In 2004, Horner toured with the Roseanna Vitro Quartet with the U.S. State Department. Horner currently teaches jazz ensembles and jazz drumming at New Jersey City University.
Ryan Cohan Quartet
Chicago, IL
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RYAN COHAN QUARTET constantly seeks new musical territory for exploration while remaining deeply rooted in jazz and blues traditions. Conversant in a variety of world music styles and rhythms, the Chicago-based quartet has distinguished itself on major stages throughout North America by balancing dynamic and tight ensemble playing with explosive, expressive solos. Through jazz, the Ryan Cohan Quartet stimulates genuine, personal connections—the ensemble has audiences and musicians alike clapping, dancing and improvising to its fiery tunes.
The 2008-2009 Rhythm Road season will mark the ensemble’s second tour with the program—previously, the Ryan Cohan Quartet toured Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Jordan.
Ryan Cohan (piano), Chicago, Illinois resident, has led the Ryan Cohan Trio, Quartet, and Sextet since 1994. National and international club and festival appearances have included The Calgary Jazz Festival, Symphony Center, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, The Green Mill, The Jazz Showcase, Catalinas and others. He has performed with many jazz luminaries, including Freddie Hubbard, Milt Hinton, Curtis Fuller, Jon Faddis, Paquito D'Rivera, Kurt Elling and Joe Locke. As an educator, Cohan is the Assistant Director of large and small jazz ensembles at the University of Illinois at Chicago and he has been a faculty member of the Skidmore Jazz Institute. Cohan twice received the New Works Award (2008, 2005) and the Encore Award in 2008 from Chamber Music America for his compositional work. He penned the theme for Ramsey Lewis's PBS TV series, “The Legends Of Jazz,” and has also scored music for film. Cohan attended DePaul University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in jazz performance.
Geof Bradfield (saxophone) has a diverse array of jazz teaching, recording and performance expertise. Bradfield has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, including appearances at the Chicago Jazz Festival, South by Southwest, Jazz in Nice and the Vienne Jazz Festival. A seasoned educator, Bradfield is a Columbia College faculty member in Chicago. He has also instructed at Washington State University, Whitworth College, the University of Idaho and Concordia College. Bradfield graduated with a master’s degree in jazz reeds from the California Institute of the Arts and he earned his BMA from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
Lorin Cohen (bass), a Chicago native, is fluent in a variety of jazz, Latin and popular music styles. He has toured around the world to destinations including in Africa, Jordan, Rwanda and Southeast Asia. In addition, Cohen has toured Europe and Canada with Monty Alexander. Lorin is a recipient of the 2006 Community Arts Assistance Program Grant from the City of Chicago and the Illinois Arts Council. He is currently based in Chicago.
Kobie Watkins (drums and percussion), a Chicago native, has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to jazz music and education. He has performed with several distinguished artists in the United States, including Sonny Rollins, Curtis Fuller and Arturo Sandoval. In 2007, Watkins recorded Song and Dance & The Way I Play with Bobby Broom, as well as One Sky with Ryan Cohan. In addition, Watkins has taught at Chicago State University and Northwestern University. He has acted as a Ravinia Mentor for the Chicago Public School Jazz Scholars. Watkins earned a master’s degree in Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University, as well as bachelors in music education from VanderCook College of Music.
The Student Loan
Portland, OR
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The Student Loan is a four-piece band that tests audiences’ perceptions of bluegrass and newgrass music. Their eclectic style mirrors their name—The Student Loan draws from many genres to produce distinctive, diverse musicality. Mixing traditional bluegrass and folk with elements of rock, jazz and blues, The Student Loan’s sound defies genre and is both familiar and new. With original songs and a vast library of covers from groups as diverse as Bill Monroe, The Beatles, Phish and Sublime, The Student Loan presents music set in the grass roots tradition.
While touring with The Rhythm Road, The Student Loan will share with audiences the nostalgia and the human emotion present in Appalachian music. This is The Student Loan’s first tour with The Rhythm Road. Originally from Bowling Green, Ohio, ensemble members now live in Portland, Oregon.
Liz Chibucos (guitar, violin and vocals) was classically trained on piano at a young age. Chibucos earned a bachelor’s degree in World Music and was exposed to many new sounds, including bluegrass and folk music. She analyzed American music extensively while in school, including her study of ''Grass Roots Politics: Bluegrass and Newgrass Aesthetics as Expressions of Political and Social Activism," presented at the Midwest Society for Ethnomusicology conference in 2008. Her contributions to The Student Loan include guitar, violin and vocals, and she served as recording and mixing engineer for both of their albums. She has also written several songs for the band, including "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Rufus," from the band's debut album, Wake Up to The Student Loan, and "Insomnia" off of their sophomore release, A New and Different Life.
Mark Gerolami (banjo, guitar and vocals) received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at S.U.N.Y. Potsdam as well as a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of Arts and Sciences at S.U.N.Y. Potsdam. He completed a master’s degree in ethnomusicology at Bowling Green State University focusing his research on issues of class and music. Gerolami has traveled to Ghana where he studied traditional West African drumming and dance. His performance credits include work with such groups as the BGSU Afro-Caribbean Dance Ensemble and the Balinese Gamelan Ensemble, the Crane School of Music Symphonic Band, Concert Band and Jazz Band, the Finger Lakes Community College Symphonic Band, the Jazz trio Avogadro and the Moles and the folk music group Norton and the Anthologies.
Julio Appling (bass and vocals) was born in Bakersfield, California and raised in Tacoma, Washington. Appling plays double bass, bass guitar, classical guitar, trombone and piano. Recently, he has played with the jazz fusion group Macumba Macamba, the rock band Oneiria and The Harlequin Jazz Quartet, his jazz trio. In addition to his work with The Student Loan, Appling has appeared alongside artists, composers and performers of all styles and genres including singer-songwriters Joel Smith, Megz Small and Jordan Ross; bluegrass artists Larry Keel, Mark Schmick and Jason Flournoy; and jazz artists Ron Stout, Clay Giberson, Gary Hobbs, Dave Tippett and Gene Parker. Appling holds a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Redlands in California, he recently completed his master’s degree in musicology from Bowling Green State University.
Chad Kimbler (mandolin and vocals) was born and raised in West Virginia. Around the age of 10, Kimbler started composing music for both garage bands and classical ensembles. Since then, Kimbler has received two degrees in music composition, a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University, and a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Kimbler composes music in both classical and vernacular styles.
Vice Verse All Stars
Spring Valley, NY
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Vice Verse All Stars crafts a timeless urban sound that conveys the passion of hip-hop music. Featuring rapping, singing, break dancing and beat boxing, this ensemble creates strong, conscious rhymes that bring hip-hop back to its essence. Vice Verse All Stars draws from greats such as The Roots, De La Soul, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and others, and it offers audiences an authentic non-commercialized, diverse experience with the genre.
During The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad, Vice Verse All Stars looks forward to spreading hip-hop’s message. Two musicians return from previous Rhythm Road tours. Members of Vice Verse All Stars have roots in The Bronx and Brooklyn and frequently perform throughout New York City venues.
Chris Rel (voice), born in the Bronx and raised in Spring Valley, New York, has been rapping since age 12. In 2007, Rel participated in The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad by teaching hip-hop workshops and performing in cities throughout India, Malaysia and Burma. In addition, Rel has performed at the Redstar in London and the Swedish Music Festival in Malmo. Rel’s rhymes and writing have been influenced by the likes of De La Soul, Ras Kass and The Roots. Rel served with the National Guard and he attended Stony Brook University.
Denny Jackson (voice) has been a solo R&B artist since 1995. Jackson has appeared at Long Island University, Sultana NYC and the 2007 West 4th Street All Star Game. In 2007, Jackson travelled to India, Malaysia and Burma for the Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad tours. Jackson recorded The Voice of Truth with Chris Rel.
OMNI Blaize (voice/guitar), a Brooklyn, New York native, is a skilled keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, singer, emcee and producer. Currently, OMNI Blaize is the lead for 2 Shades Darker. While working with the hip-hop group KENEK, he performed at Nuyorican Café, Fat Baby and Solomon’s Porch, among other venues. He has produced several studio recordings. From 2001 to 2008, OMNI Blaize was a science teacher in New York City’s Department of Education.
DJ PrettyNYCE (DJ) spins at several venues in New York City and Brooklyn, including Club Fahrenheit, Club Vesta, Club Secrets, Club Dv8, Ragtop, Elite Ark and The Lab. In addition, he has appeared on 99.3 Star FM. DJ PrettyNYCE is influenced by the big musical sounds from Jamaica and the Caribbean.
For the 2007-2008 press kit, please click here.
For the Summer 2007 press kit, please click here.
For the 2006-2007 press kit, please click here
For the 2005-2006 press kit, please click here.
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