Fred Thomas occupies a very special niche in the history R&B. As James Brown’s principal bassist since 1971 (the “Make if Funky” era), he participated in one the most prolific periods in the Godfather of Soul’s incredible career as a member of Brown’s band, the J.B.'s.

Fred can be heard on hits such as: “Hot Pants”, “Papa Don’t Take No Mess,” “Make it Funky,” "Get on the Good Foot," "Doing it to Death," "I'm a Greedy Man," "I Got Ants in My Pants," "There it Is," "Stoned to the Bone," and instrumental classics like “Pass the Peas” and “Gimme Some More.” His recorded basslines on tracks such as Bobby Byrd's "I Know You Got Soul" and Lyn Collin's "Think" have been sampled numerous times.

He's on the seminal "Live at the Apollo Vol. 3 Revolution of the Mind" and can be seen in "Soul Power" (2008) documentary of James Brown's 1974 concert in Zaire, and in the many James Brown "Soul Train" appearances.

In his band, Fred Thomas is front and center singing, playing bass and tearing into a mix of blues and soul classics and the JB hits he recorded on.

The Outside In isn’t your grandma’s modern jazz band. Soaring melodies, passionate solos, head-banging grooves, intimate and reflective ballads all define the music, largely composed by pianist Ethan Ostrow. East Bay Express calls the music “dynamic, passionate, and gorgeous.” The band can be described as a blend between the Brian Blade Fellowship, the Pat Metheny Group, and something completely new. Featuring some of the most exciting up-and-coming musicians in New York, they are quickly establishing themselves with their deep, lush, and powerful sound.

Coming to an Outside In show is a mesmerizing experience. At a moment’s notice you’ll find yourself banging your head to a heavy breakdown, moving your feet to something funky, or in a state of quiet nostalgia during a beautiful moment. Be prepared for a diverse spectrum of textures and feelings, and for an experimental journey through soulful and emotional compositions. Bring comfortable shoes, your audio-bootleg device of choice, a few tissues, and, most importantly, earplugs.

The Outside In performs regularly throughout NYC, at venues such as Rockwood Music Hall, The Bowery Electric, Drom, and pop-up shows around the city. They recently returned from their first tour, playing for packed houses through the West Coast.

Website: theoutsidein.band
Instagram: @theoutsideinband

SunDub is a testament to the power of inclusion, diversity and unity— their music and community rallies around the concept that we are strongest when people of different backgrounds can work together to create positive change. These core values are showcased on SunDub’s first release, “Burden of Love,” which has since amassed millions of streams and whet the appetites of listeners around the world for their next release. In a world that is dominated by watered-down distillation of reggae, SunDub aims to honor the roots of Jamaican music while offering their unique ability to combine soul and funk sophistication into their art.

Born out of a weekly music residency at a local watering hole, Brooklyn-based SunDub has developed into a collaborative mix of New York City musicians, consistently turning heads with an offering of classic reggae repertoire peppered with original and featured soul and blues almost weekly since 2013. Anchored by a core quintet—Finnegan Singer (guitar), Josh T Carter (bass), Eric "The General'' Toussaint (vocals-keys) and the brother-sister team of Joanna (lead vocals) and Ben Teters (vocals-drums)—many of SunDub’s stellar and frequent collaborators came together for its first production of original music, "Burden of Love." The album features reggae royalty Ruff Scott, The Chronic Horns (Easy Star All-Stars), Larry McDonald (Lee Scratch Perry, Gil Scott-Heron) and Sidney Mills (Steel Pulse). They lend their talents to Joanna Teters' commanding and soulfully smoky lead vocals and blend seamlessly with the air-tight arrangements of the SunDub rhythm section. The result is a stand out expression of reggae’s classic undulating pulse and lush subterranean grooves, reinvented for listeners of all times and genres.

Outside of the studio and off of the stage, the band members that make up SunDub put their talents to work in a myriad of ways; using their music as a platform to advocate for political movements, teaching music lessons to New York City youth, and collaborating with non-profits to create change. Like so many other bands, SunDub was hit hard by the onset of the pandemic of 2020 — tours cancelled, opportunities postponed, income lost. But instead of being discouraged, the band came together on a Brooklyn patio and figured out how to make the most of the situation. During weekly, COVID-safe live stream performances in the summer of 2020, SunDub raised over $1,000 for the NAACP Education and Legal Defense Fund, used their platform to rally their community around the importance of political activism and dismantling unjust racial and societal structures.

www.sundubmusic.com

“Diana is one of those rare artists that comes along all too infrequently. Intelligent, funny, edgy with a signature voice underscored by sophisticated music that appears effortless. I predict great things are ahead for her.”
- John McCracken, Gold and Platinum Music Producer/Former Head of A&R for EMI Music Group.

An edgy and dramatic artist with a reverence for the mystical, Diana Hickman blends the quirky stylings of avant pop with the deep grooves and harmonic sophistication of soul, R&B and jazz. A California native, Hickman relocated to the east coast over a decade ago to attend Boston Conservatory and then settled into a new life in one of the world’s creative capitals, New York City. With appearances at big name clubs including the Blue Note Jazz Club, The Iridium, and Brooklyn Bowl, as well as extensive regional tours, Hickman has distilled her stage presence to smokey smooth perfection. Her sound channels singular giants such as Kate Bush, Bjork, Erykah Badu and Amy Winehouse without ever falling into parody. 

www.dianahickman.com

J. Hoard interweaves genres to articulate his vivid songwriting. This eclectic approach has yielded songwriting collaborations on two Grammy-award winning albums (Black Coffee – 2022 “Subconsciously” Dance Album & Chance the Rapper – 2017 “Coloring Book” Rap album). Additionally, he works closely with artists such as Brasstracks, Endea Owens, Jose James and the legendary Meshell Ndegeocello (credited vocalist on her 2019 Grammy nominated “Ventriloquism” album).

No matter the genre, platform, or language (backing vocalist on the Latin Grammy winning “Sobrevolando” Cultura Profetica album) J. Hoard possesses the essence of the Black church and allure of the Great White Way, usually with his arms stretched out like Whitney Houston, to ensure the audience is enriched while being entertained.

www.jhoardmusic.com

Stéphane comes from a rich cultural background that set the backdrop for his multi- cultural path in music, his father, of Spanish descent, was born and raised in Algeria and his mother of German-Italian background, was born in Vietnam
then raised in Madagascar. Stéphane grew up in Montpellier, France. He began his career as a drummer/ percussionist with local bands like Black and White Gospel Singers, Général Alcazar and Zwap.

In 1995 Stéphane made London his permanent home, where he worked with artists such as Andy Sheppard, Sibongile Khumalo and Tyrone Downie. Meanwhile in Paris joined the band of Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, whom he recorded and toured with from 1997 until 2004, including on their successful album “Dimanche a Bamako” (produced by Manu Chao and nominated at the Grammy Award 2005). In the year 2000 Stéphane met Kassin, Moreno Veloso & Domenico Lancellotti who he later joined in the band the +2’s (Luaka Bop). Stéphane relocated to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2002 where he became a member of the gafieira Big Band, Orquestra Imperial, formed the bands Os Ritmistas with Dany Roland and Domenico and most recently Cometa. In Brazil, he has worked with many brazilian artists like Adriana Calcanhotto, Arlindo Cruz, Bebel Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Elza Soares, Erasmo Carlos, João Donato, Jorge Mautner, Marcos Valle, Maria Gadu, Martn’alia, Seu Jorge, Tulipa Ruiz, Vanessa da Mata, Wilson Das Neves, Zé Manoel and more; with arrangers like Alberto Continentino, Arthur Verocai, Eumir Déodato, and international artists like Bernard Purdie, Gilles Peterson,  José Gonzales, Manu Dibango, On Fillmore (Darin Gray & Glenn Kotche).

In 2009 he created and directed the “Gainsbourg Imperial” project at Sesc Pinheiros theater (São Paulo), for the year of France in Brazil, two tribute shows to Serge Gainsbourg with the Orquestra Imperial arranged and conducted by Jean Claude Vannier, with special guests Jane Birkin and Caetano Veloso; the performance won the “Bravo Award” for best show in 2009. Stéphane also co-directed the documentary which was nominated at FIPA 2010 (European Emmy Awards) in live arts category.

In 2014, Stéphane released his first solo project as a singer/ composer/ songwriter,”Système de Son”. Recorded in Rio, London, and Montpellier; mixed by Mario Caldato Jr. and mastered by Robert Carranza in Los Angeles. On the album, he collaborates with the likes of composers Alberto Continentino, Sean O’Hagan, Gustavo Ruiz, and his mentor Wilson Das Neves. Released in Japan by Coreport label, the album got great reviews in latin music and jazz magazines like Latina, Intoxicate and CD journal, and also appeared on best album list 2014 including “Rolling Stone Brasil” and “Billboard Brasil“. The album release tour passed through cities like Rio de Janeiro ( Sergio Porto and Oi Futuro Ipanema theaters), São Paulo (Sesc Pompeia and Sesc Campinas theaters), Belo Horizonte (Marilia theater), Florianopolis (Celula Club), was part of the Festival Francophonie 2015 official program, Montreux Jazz Rio 2016 (Fasano) and the official program of Rio’s 2016 Olympics. The concerts’s repertoire included originals from the album as well as new songs and versions in french of samba songs like “O dia em que o Morro Descer e não for Carnaval” (Paulo César Pinheiro/Wilson das Neves) and a portuguese version of “Rue de Mes Souvenirs” (Stephane San Juan/Wilson das Neves) written by Chico Buarque.

In 2017, Stéphane moved to New York where he toured with On Fillmore for the release of the album which he co-wrote “Happiness of Living” (Northern Spy Records) in prestigious festivals like Wilco‘s Solid Sound, then joined Bernard Purdie and Friends as a percussionist with whom he recorded the album “Cool Down” (Sugar Road Records), collaborated with Yuka Honda (Beastie Boys, Cibo Matto) for the premiere of the show of art and haute cuisine Epicurean Nights, played with Ilhan Ersahin with whom he produced several solo concerts as well as Nublu Sessions with Ilhan on sax and bassist Josh Werner (Lee Scratch Perry, Robert Glasper, Wu Tang Clan), I led 3 Lives with Joonie Booth (Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Sun-Ra) and African artists like Yacouba Sissoko (Harry Belafonte, Lauryn Hill) at Ilhan’s new club club, Nublu 151.

Stephane also produced Tulipa Ruiz‘s “Tu” album (One Rpm) at Scotty Hard‘s Studios, curated and directed “Multiplicidade”, the opening night show of the 2018 Season 3 of The National Sawdust, defined by the New York Times as the city’s most exciting new venue, inviting artists such as Jeffrey Zeigler (John Zorn, Kronos Quartet), Magos Herrera, Mauro Refosco (Atoms for Peace, Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Melvin Gibbs (Defunkt, Rollins Band), Michael Leonhart (James Brown , Steely Dan), Vitor Gonçalvés (Hermeto Pascoal) and Vernon Reid (Living Color, Mick Jagger, Santana) to play a repertoire of songs by Abdullah Ibrahim, Mongo Santamaria, Tom Jobim and songs from Stephane’s new album “Saved by the Drums”.

Recorded in Rio and New York, mixed by Scotty Hard and mastered by Mike Fossenkemper in New York, “Saved by the Drums” features special guests Guto Wirtti, Jeffrey Ziegler, Michael Leonhart, Rogê, Ze Manoel and the late Wilson das Neves, his spiritual father to whom the album is dedicated. The LP is distributed worldwide by Silene Records and digitally by Buda Music.

In 2018 Stephane joined David Byrne ‘s American Utopia world tour which was qualified by NME “…The best live show of all times”, the show was on Broadway at the Hudson Theater from October 2019 until mid-February 2020. The show was awarded by the New York Drama Critics Circle, the Boston’s Elliot Norton Award and New York Times Critics’s Pick.

In September 2020, Stéphane released a few singles and an album of his own New York based trio called Stéphane San Juan & Sambacool, featuring Vitor Gonçalves on piano and Eduardo Belo on bass, the album got a great response from world radios, playlists and podcasts, for example Louis Michaud/Club Jazz FIP (France), Gilles Peterson/BBC 6 (UK), Worldwide Fm, Andrew Jervis/Bandcamp Weekly (USA), Dom Servini/Sounds and Colors (UK), Pedro Montenegro/Soho Radio (UK), Rai Uno (Italy), Jin Nakahara/J-Wave (Japan), Mike Gurrieri/PSBFM (Australia) and many more. A second album is due to release early 2022.

The film David Byrne’s American Utopia on Broadway produced by HBO and directed by Spike Lee premiered at the Toronto Film Festival 2020, then at the New York Film Festival. It was released on HBO max on October 17th 2020 and won 2 Emmy Awards out of 6 Nominations.

The show is currently reopened at the St James Theater since September 17th 2021 and will go on for 40 weeks. David Byrne and cast received a Special Tony Award 2021 and performed at the ceremony transmitted live on CBS.

www.stephanesanjuan.com

Mafer Bandola (Maria Fernanda Gonzalez) Is a Venezuelan bandola llanera player, community organizer, self-thought composer, and educator. With a grounded understanding of the bandola llanera (male-dominated) traditions,  she focuses on bringing the instrument to a new artistic path through composition, performance, and improvisation.

As co-founder and current member of Ladama, a collective of four female musicians from four different countries, mafer combines her oral traditions and musical approaches to create collectively original music in Spanish, English, and Portugues. . Currently, is the creator and hoster of Pipiris Nights, the first and only gathering event with a community focus where to play and dance Venezuelan Joropos in New York.

Mafer occupies a unique place as a composer, educator, and artist and has won multiple residencies and been the recipient of many grants for her work.  She has performed at institutions such as MassMoca, WOMAD, Womex, TED, TEDx, National Sawdust, NPR TinyDesk, among others, as well as presenting in spaces in Latin America as varied as Teatro Juares, Teatro Teresa Carreño both in Venezuela, Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia and Paco do Frevo in Recife, Brazil. As an educator, she has worked with El Sistema in Venezuela, has developed open sourced, culturally-responsive curriculum in partnership with TeachRock for American students, and has taught at multiple universities as an artist in residence such as Dartmouth College, George Mason University and Butler University among others. From July 2020 - March 2021, she  produced the international online conference Latínica where more than 200 Latinas from around the world gathered together to discuss in Spanish the different issues affecting them in the music industry.

www.maferbandola.com

Emma Frank is a singer-songwriter living in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from outside of Boston, she moved to Montreal at eighteen and spent the next nine years there, attending university, writing songs, and participating in the city's vibrant music community.  Both of her last two albums, Ocean Av and Come Back,  are collaborative efforts with pianist Aaron Parks and strike a balance between folk song and modern jazz.  Will Layman of Pop Matters called Ocean Av "a minor masterpiece."   Her newest album, Interiors, released May 12th on Nettwerk Music Group and Justin Time, is a collection of songs about being home, creation, and the challenge of self-acceptance. 

Armo’s intimate and energetic sound focuses on classic and contemporary Afrobeat.

Founded by longtime Antibalas bandmates vocalist/keyboardist Amayo, trumpeter/percussionist Jordan McLean, percussionist/vocalist Marcus Farrar, guitarist/keyboardist Nikhil P. Yerawadekar, drummerKevin Raczka, and bassist Justin Kimmel, Armo creates spontaneous arrangements of the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, TheDaktaris, Ebo Taylor, William Onyeabor, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, and original rhythm based music.

This 5-8 piece band features a revolving cast from the Daptone Records family and NY Afrobeat Scene. Members of the band now include Dave “Smoota” Smith on trombone/keyboards, bassists/guitarists Binky Griptite andTimothy James, saxophonist/keyboardist TonyJarvis, and drummer Dylan Fusillo.

Collectively the members of Armo have performed thousands of concerts around the world working with such luminaries as David Byrne, Angelique Kidjo, Public Enemy, TV on The Radio, Sharon Jones & The Dapkings, Ornette Coleman, and in the band for the Tony Award winning musical FELA!

Their first release, a self-titled EP, was released on System Dialing Records in 2018 and is available on 10” 45 rpm record, as downloads, and streaming on all major platforms. Their 2020 single New Beginning is available on Bandcamp.

With the goal of expanding the New York Afrobeat Scene, the band holds a monthly jam session at the legendary Bitter End in NYC’s West Village. Most recently they served as the house band for theCity Winery/Carnegie Hall afterparty tribute to Paul McCartney, and have restarted their years-long residency at Brooklyn’s famed Bar Lunatico.

@armoafrobeat on IG. Photo credit: Amy Touchette

Judette Elliston (she/her) is a Haitian-Canadian vocalist, composer, and improviser based in Brooklyn, New York. For Elliston, capturing how we move through grief, trauma, and joy is at the forefront of her singing and storytelling. While her artistic voice is rooted in jazz, singer-songwriter and folk influences can also be heard in her music. Her originals, which are a hybrid of tender lyrics and adventurous harmony have been described as a cross between Billy Strayhorn and Joni Mitchell.

An active bandleader and side-woman, Elliston has performed at venues and festivals such as Lincoln Center (USA), Rockwood Music Hall (USA), and The Victoria Jazz Festival (CANADA). More recently, Elliston has incorporated reinterpretations of Haitian folk songs in her repertoire. The introduction of new instruments and jazz influences to these songs results in a sonic merging of past and present. When she is not performing with her own group, Elliston can be found singing in Hush Tones - her duo with pianist PJ Fossum and playing synth in The Crystal Rose Band. 

Recent artistic endeavors include scoring Reminiscence - a community-based theatre performance project exploring the experience of 6 international women living in New York City, singing on Alyssa Chetrick’s EP What Blooms in The Dark, and conducting Afterwork Theatre’s first choir. 

Eli “Paperboy” Reed is a survivor. He was one of the first of the new wave of singers and songwriters to embrace unabashedly soulful music and he has been tearing up stages all over the world with his heart-stopping falsetto screams for more than a decade with no plans to slowdown. From humble musical beginnings growing up outside of Boston, at 18 Reed moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi and cut his teeth playing and singing in juke joints all over the Delta. From there he took the well-trod path to Chicago where he spent a year as minister of music the Southside church of Soul legend Mitty Collier.

Soon after returning to Boston, he was bit by the songwriting bug and released his first full length, “Roll with You” in 2008. Reed’s combination of powerful soulful vocals coupled with his strong pop sensibility as a songwriter made people all over the world stand up and take notice. Soon there were calls coming in from everywhere; television shows in the UK, festivals in Australia, and a jaw-dropping schedule of national and international tour dates.

Major record labels came calling, deals were signed and Reed’s star kept rising, now with the help of song placements in major movies, television shows and commercials. The albums “Come and Get it” (Capitol - 2010) and “Nights Like This” (Warner Brothers - 2014) went on to do more than $2.5 million in total licensing, while Reed and his crack band continued to wow audiences on five continents. In 2016, after some much-needed time off from the road, Reed returned to the studio to cut “My Way Home” (YepRoc - 2016); an album that is at once back-to-basics and startlingly current.

Starting in 2013 Reed began teaching at an after-school music education based in Harlem called Gospel for Teens during his breaks from touring. The program worked with at-risk youth from around the New York City area and Reed specifically began teaching these young men about Gospel Quartet music, its history and harmony. Out of those classes emerged a new project that Reed dubbed The Harlem Gospel Travelers. He produced, arranged and played guitar on their debut album which came out on the revered soul label Colemine records in 2019 to rave reviews. Now The Harlem Gospel Travelers are at work on their second full-length and have begun conquering festival stages as well.

Parenthood gave Reed a newfound wisdom and self-reflection. His daughter Stella was born in 2016 and son Oscar in 2019. With that in mind he returned to the south to record his 7th full-length “99 Cent Dreams” at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording studio in Memphis, TN. This time around he was joined by Soul legends The Masqueraders on background vocals. The title track was given an unexpected boost with a feature by hip-hop pioneer Big Daddy Kane! No Depression wrote “Reed never disappoints and on 99 Cent Dreams he takes his musical game to anew level, elevating us with it.”

Now approaching the 15-year mark in his career and releasing his 8th album “Down EveryRoad”, Reed has improbably become an elder statesman of the genre, and he’s begun seeing new artists who are taking inspiration from his unique sound. A sound that, over everything else, prizes feeling, energy, and, yes, Soul.

www.elipaperboyreed.com

The Paul Francis Quartet plays improvised music within unique arrangements of pop tunes from the 1960’s-2000’s. In 2022, the quartet released “All Your Life: Interpretations of the Beatles” in which they perform new and unique arrangements on Beatles’ classics. The band is currently preparing to release a second album of pop tunes from the 1980’s this Summer! 

Grammy-award winning drummer and educator Paul Francis has extensive experience working with some of the world’s greatest musicians. He is featured on the Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett album and subsequent PBS special “Cheek to Cheek”, and toured extensively with the duo to support that recording. Paul has also recorded and/or performed with Stevie Wonder, Jose Feliciano, Jon Faddis, David Hazeltine, Jim Belushi, Molly Ringwald, Megan Hilty, The Rockets, Ralph Lalama, Brian Newman, Rich Little, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and The Albany Symphony Orchestra, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra conducted by Buddy Morrow. Paul has also appeared on shows for HBO, ABC, NBC, Netflix, and MTV, and is on the soundtrack for the movie “Friends with Kids” as well as “A Star is Born” featuring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

Katie Martucci is a performer, bandleader, singer and composer who believes in the necessity of creative process for the self and the power of music to build and sustain community.

Her latest release ‘Note to Self’ on La Reserve Records is acollection of songs about the “unspoken third thing in theroom” — stories surrounding friendship, family history, imposter syndrome, her own personal journey with epilepsy and more. Drawing inspiration from the writing and production of artists like Madison Cunningham and Emily King, Martucci's songs are lush and cinematic.

"No matter what Katie Martucci chooses to sing, it absolutely captivates us. Her voice is incredible, warm, and personal." -Ear to the Ground Music

In addition to her solo work, Katie tours nationally with The Ladles, her folk-pop trio, while providing music workshops for local communities and developing sustainable touring methods. She is also the bandleader for Tucci Swing, a jazz ensemble featuring intricate three-part vocal harmony, and has worked as a producer for Eva Lovullo on her latest EP ‘tried to be everything.’ Katie has been featured on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and has scored film for National Geographic.

Hot Hand Organ Trio is a dynamic and soulful take on the timeless “organ trio” format made famous by artists like Jimmy Smith and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Hot Hand Band is a prominent brass band on the NYC music scene, and in 2020 during the pandemic, trombonist Kevin Moehringer and drummer Kevin Raczka felt a collective desire to explore a smaller format for other performance opportunities, and to expand their musical horizons. They teamed up with long time collaborator Benjamin Hoffmann on keyboards to form the Hot Hand Organ Trio. They’ve been making music together regularly ever since, with several residencies and other performances. They bring their unique sound to timeless classics and newer music, leaving audiences with a memorable and soulful listening experience.

Born to an American mother and a concert-promoter Brazilian father, Alexia Bomtempo was raised in the beach culture of Rio de Janeiro, while traveling to America frequently over the years. She grew up listening to Brazilian popular music and Bossa Nova, as well as rock, folk and jazz. Since relocating back to New York City, the Brazilian-American singer-songwriter has fully embraced, challenged, and redefined the Northern half of her American artistic roots. Equally comfortable wandering amidst hazy memory-inducing soundscapes as she is in delivering flowing melodies influenced by her beachside upbringing in Rio de Janeiro, Alexia is an artist of of multiple worlds. Her sound is individual and confidently feminine, navigating genres ranging from classic American song to exploratory Tropicália. In 2008, she began touring throughout Brazil, Europe, Japan and the U.S in support of her debut release Astrolábio (EMI Brazil).

Her 2012 English language tribute to Caetano Veloso, I Just Happen to Be Here (BiscoitoFino) was called “an ingeniously produced, lucidly performed, and hauntingly beautiful collection...” (Village Voice). BlackBook Magazine called her 2017 album Chasing Storms and Stars “a deeply poignant meditation on lost love, broken dreams and the soul-searching confusion that comes with revisiting those memories.”

Her 2020 album, the jazz-meets-bossa-nova-flavored Suspiro (Ropeadope Records) was released to critical acclaim. NPR’s The Latin Alternative named it “one of the best albums of the year”; Jazziz Magazine highlighted its timeless quality; American Songwriter defined it as “an exploratory journey”; KCRW radio hosts fell in love with Alexia’s voice. Suspiro was produced by French producer and drummer Stéphane San Juan – known for his work with a diverse group of acclaimed international artists including David Byrne, Caetano Veloso, Tulipa Ruiz, Amadou & Mariam – and American guitarist Jake Owen (Augustana, Charanga Cakewalk, Forró in the Dark). Thealbum features Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter and multi-instrumentalistMichael Leonhart (Steely Dan, Mark Ronson, The Roots).

As described by the Washington Post, the “top-shelf Brazilian jazz musician” is currently working with Grammy Award nominated pianist Orrin Evanson on a Brazilian inspired jazz ensemble featuring acclaimed modern jazz musicians Clarence Penn drums), Luques Curtis (bass) and Leandro Pellegrino (guitar). Entitled Terreno Comum, the quintet has appeared at this year’s DC Jazz Festival and Exit Zero Jazz Festival.

Alexia Bomtempo brings her trademark sultry Brazilian sounds to fans with a stunning new album called DOCE CARNAVAL released last August on Ropeadope Records.Highlighted on NPR MUSIC’s All Songs Considered as one of the best releases of the week, the nine-track album is a love letter to the timeless soundtrack of Brazilian Carnaval, with Bomtempo reimagining classic Carnaval songs and infusing them with her own intoxicating vocals and “doce” (sweet) musical flourishes.

Wayne Tucker is a 30 year old Trumpet player/Composer/Arranger based in New York City. He is a 2009 graduate of the Jazz Studies program at SUNY Purchase under the direction of Todd Coolman. Wayne has played with many of today's current Jazz stars including Kurt Elling, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cyrille Aimee, and Post Modern Jukebox, and Pop stars like Taylor Swift, Elvis Costello, David Crosby, Matt Simons and Ne-Yo. He has performed at some of the worlds greatest venues including Madison Square Garden, The Hollywood Bowl, Avery Fisher Hall, The Apollo Theatre, The Ravinia Festival and The Kennedy Center. He has played for TV shows like The Tonight Show, America’s Got Talent, Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen Degeneres, The Today Show and Good Morning America, and appeared in commercials for companies like Dove, SAP and Get Your Guide.

Additionally, he wrote the soundtrack and co-stars in the new film Hotel Bleu alongside longtime Broadway star Julie Halston. Wayne has also performed at clubs and festivals all over the world in places like Italy, France, Germany, Israel Korea, Dominican Republic, and Colombia. He was a participant in the 2009 & 2011 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program, 2009 National Trumpet Competition, 2009 & 2011 Steans Institute, 2005 New York All-State Jazz Orchestra and more. Wayne can be seen performing in New York City, and around the world with many of today's current and up and coming stars.

Leah Rich is a child of refugee Soviet musicians. A first generation American, Leah was taught from birth, that freedom of expression is worth living and dying for. After a lifetime spent playing unsanctioned jazz under the oppressive Soviet regime, Leah’s family risked everything to start over in New York City. And there, a new creative powerhouse came to be. Leah’s soulful, urban style bridges the gap between her Soviet Azeri roots, and her metropolitan upbringing. 

Leah's anticipated sophomore album, Caspian, seeks to celebrate this cultural fusion and courage. In collaboration with renowned producer Cale Hawkins, Leah has managed to do just that. Caspian is set to release Summer 2023. 

www.leahrichmusic.com

Young South African jazz vocalist, Vuyo Sotashe, is gradually making his mark in the New York jazz scene. Sotashe moved to the NYC in 2013 after being awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to pursue Master of Music (Spring 2015) at William Paterson University. Since then, he has gone to win first prize at the very first Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Vocal Competition in 2014, and performed on the festival's main stage in February of 2015. More recently, he won the Audience prize award and placed second over-all at the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition in 2015, held at the annual Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In the same he placed third in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocal competition, where he was the very first male vocalist ever to place in the competition's finals.

Vuyo Sotashe has also performed on international stages which include singing at the Arcevia Jazz Fest and the Fermo Jazz Festival in Italy 2012; the Stockholm Jazz Festival with South African National Youth Jazz Band in Sweden 2012; at the Cape Town International Festival with George Benson and the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra 2010; the Johannesburg Joy of Jazz Festival 2012; and he has toured with the SAMA Award (GRAMMY equivalent) winning band Proxy in the UK and Ireland 2009-2011. He has also performed with Multi-Grammy Award winning gospel artist, Israel Houghton as part of New Breed (Africa) Ensemble.

Sotashe is also the winner of the biggest music scholarship competition in South Africa, the South African Music Rights Foundation Scholarship, where he performed for the former South African President Thabo Mbeki. Vuyo Sotashe is currently performing around New York City with the praised drummer Winard Harper, who has performed with the likes of Betty Carter, Shirley Horn, and many other legends in jazz.

Argentinean born artist Sol Liebeskind started her musical journey in 2009. She remains to be one of the most influential artists in theJazz/Soul scene from Buenos Aires, Argentina, having participated multiple times at the Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival (2011, 2014, 2015); been an artist in residence for a decade at the prestigious Argentinean Jazz venue Thelonious Club; has released 4 albums as a solo artist (Soul Life Music Love in 2011, Building Bridges in 2016, Love Child in 2019, and Mucho Corazon in 2020); and has also performed at some of the most important music venues in Buenos Aires such as Teatro Colón, Usina del Arte, Teatro San Martin, Anfiteatro Parque Centenario, among many others.

In 2016 she moved to New York City where she currently resides. She has been an active recording artist and performer in New York during the past 6 years having performed at prestigious venues such as: Carnegie Hall, SOB’s, Brooklyn Bowl, National Sawdust, Trinity HipHop Festival, to name a few; has been featured in BillboardMagazine, Paste Magazine. She has also collaborated with artists such as Alex Wandter (Chile), Emanero (Argentina), Tomi Morano (Argentina), Bocafloja (Mexico) and Hache ST (EEUU), and has played shows in cities around the world such as London, Paris and SanFrancisco.

“Sol Liebeskind’s soulful vocals have a high class to them that mix well with the urban breadth of her music, in a style similar to R&B NewYork City legend Alicia Keys” - Urban Deli Magazine, New York, 2019.

”Her 2016 album, Building Bridges and her talents as vocalist, composer and spiritual guide, made her one of the figures responsible for the resurgence of Soul Music in Argentina. The amount of vocalists from the new generation she has influenced, that follow and acknowledge her work, that respect and thank her for her music, are beyond our knowledge. She has proved her immense versatility and plasticity to create different sounds, and with her second album ‘LoveChild’ she proved there are no limits for her and she’ll continue to expand the horizons for this genre. From New York she keeps setting the course for Soul music in Argentina” - Iñaki Duran, Buenos Aires, 2020

The always popular participatory program affectionately known as Sousapalooza returns this season with a special afternoon performance from the plaza at 599 Lexington Ave.

Calling all brass, woodwind and percussion players of all backgrounds and skill levels! You are invited and encouraged to join us by sight reading the marches of the incomparable John Philip Sousa on the spot, in a pop up performance from the Plaza @ 599 Lexington Avenue under the direction of Oscar Wiley Thorp.

Oscar Thorp is a conductor and trumpet player based in Brooklyn, New York. As an educator at Third Street Music School Settlement, Oscar directs the New Horizons Concert Band, Green Band, Prelude Band, and teaches the trumpet studio. He has also worked with the New Conductors Orchestra, the InterSchool Orchestras Concert Orchestra, the Third Street Philharmonia, the Pierce College Concert Band, the Puget Brass, and the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestras.

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Eleanor Dubinsky and her band perform an engaging blend of multilingual jazz and catchy pop, met with emotionally forthright songwriting. Singing in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, Eleanor invites audiences to travel the world while discovering underground tributaries that connect us in our shared human experience.

"A joyous, uplifting and deeply generous performance...this is music as medicine for your soul."- Tom Pryor (Songlines, Nat. Geo Music).

Recent performances include Jazz Aspen-Snowmass, Joe's Pub at The Public, U.S. Embassy Mauritania, and Bebop Jazz Club, Buenos Aires. Eleanor is joined by Arei Sekiguchi (drums), Michael O'Brien (bass) and Juancho Herrera (guitar/vocals).

Mark McIntyre's music is both cathartic and explorative, fusing poignant songwriting with spontaneous improvisation. During his two-year residency at the legendary 55 Bar, this guitarist and songwriter performed with his 7-member band to sold out crowds at their monthly Friday-night residency, developing their "Experimental Indie" sound, fluctuating between pin drop intimacy and vibrant grooves. Under the pseudonym MM Orchard, they released their debut album Eras this past February, created in the throws of the quarantine years, which features many recorded-from-home innovations, which you can hear and/or watch here: https://bio.site/MMOrchard

Stage mage JENNIFER JADE LEDESNA, Bronxite polyglot, is an alumna of the New School Jazz Conservatory & LaGuardia Arts. A Montreux Jazz Voice Competition Finalist, Equity actress, & ”Betty Carter Jazz Ahead” composer, Ms. Jade often performs at “Aux TroisMailletz” in Paris, “Jazz Na Avenida” in Salvador da Bahia, and all over NYC!

She's sung at Carnegie Hall in Bobby McFerrin’s “INSTANT OPERA!”, in the World Premiere Tour of “CHAPEL/CHAPTER” w the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Co. JJ’s also graced the international stages of Switzerland’s CHORUS Jazz Club, Norway's “Silda Jazz Fest” with her group ”RAJAFRO”, Jazz @ Lincoln Center with Bobby Sanabria’s “Multiverse Orchestra!”, Saint Croix's “Take Five Fest”, Santiago de Chile's “Teatro Municipal de Las Condes”, & Austria's PORGY & BESS, to name a few.

Grammy board member & former Artistic Director of the legendary“Minton’s Playhouse” in Harlem, Ms. Jade, has performed with David Amram, ELEW, Dave Valentin, Roy Hargrove, Wycliffe Gordon, Joatan Nascimento, Junior Mance, James Carter, Benny Powell, Candido Camero, Janis Siegel, & Wynton Marsalis, among others. She recently starred as Tempest in the feature film SINCE I LEFTYOU, and “Tinima” in the opera- musical HATUEY: MEMORY OF FIRE!