           
Musician
Featured this week,
Singer, writer and producer Karina Nuvo is a first generation Cuban-American from Miami, Florida.
When she was growing up she would "lip-sync shows" to her family. She also "lip-synced" songs
while in high school, but says she did not really become "aware of her voice" until she was 19
years old. She never took voice lessons or sang live until that time. She considers herself
to be a "late bloomer" with her musical career, but also says "better late than never". Karina
says she feels "quite blessed" to have shared the stage with Celia Cruz, Tom Scott, Ray Parker Jr.,
Jeff Kashiwa, Johnny Britt of Impromp 2, Paul Shafer and Dan Siegal and feels "quite lucky" to have
a fantastic band to perform with her on stage and on the NUVOSOUL CD (July 2008). Her music is
described as being "a sultry combination of Soul-Jazz and Latin" Notably, she co-wrote,
co-produced and sang the songs in both English and Spanish "to create a unique sound" she
calls "NuvoSoul". |
  
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 Pianist Wayne Wilentz,
originally fron New York, moved to the DC area in 1989 and has played Brazilian Jazz in the nation's capitol since then. Before coming to DC Wayne was a keyboardist and composer for the '80's funk band "SKYY", and received a gold record commemorating their #1 Album "Skyy Line" on Salsoul Records. During his career he has performed with such famous R&B acts as Carl Gardner's Coasters, The Shirelles, The Marvellettes, and Jimmy Norman. Since moving to the DC area, Wayne has recorded on a number of CD's, many of which he co-produced. In 2004, Wayne released his first compilation of original material entitled "Break of Dawn". It featured vocals by four of DC's finest jazz singers, Pam Bricker, Patrick Desantos, Nicki
Gonzalez and Steve Washington. Over the years Wayne has done many sessions
for ESL Music and Thievery Corporation, and can be heard on remixes by them.
The Wayne Wilentz Quartet has released a new CD,
Recordar E Viver (2008) on CDBaby.com.
Link: MySpace |
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 Joel Harrison - guitarist, composer and vocalist,
a DC native whose medium is primarily jazz, but his music emanates from many sources:
African and Indian, contemporary classical, blues and R&B all have a place
in his unique voice. Over the course of his musical career, Joel has
involved himself in ever-inventive bands and
projects, including Free Country, Harrison on Harrison, and Harbor, but he
is best known for his composing and arranging skills. He has twice been selected as the winner of the Jazz Composer’s Alliance Julius Hemphill Composition Competition. He just
finished a new CD for Highnote Records entitled Harbor with internationally renowned guitarist Nguyên Lê, and just recorded his 60 minute chamber/jazz piece for double quartet entitled "The Wheel". Links: website,
MySpace and website music store. |
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Singer, Sara Jones from the Maryland
Eastern Shore. Sara attained degrees in music from both St. Mary's College
of Maryland and her masters in music from the University of Cincinnati in
Ohio. She began playing piano at age 4 and professionally at the age of 14. She won first prize in the W.A. Virts Piano Concerto Competition in high school at 18.
Critics have written that Sara's musical voice is "lush", that she "beguiles and charms" the audience with her "velvet embrace" of the music. These qualities won her the " Billie Holiday Vocal Competition" in 2004. Since then she has toured and performed through out the U.S. While a full-time singer, Sara also performs as a pianist and accompanies both
singers and instrumentalists on recitals. She is a featured vocalist on The Young Brothers CD "Tales of Time" (2007) on CD Baby.com. . Links: website and
MySpace page. |
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Perry Conticchio, a musicians musician - plays all the saxes, a bit of flute and occasionally bass clarinet. Perry is also a band leader, mentor and teacher of music.
A New Jersey native, he studied music at Miami University of Ohio and Berklee College of Music in Boston, at Berklee he studied with Joe Viola, John LaPorta and Charley Mariano. In 1976 Perry relocated to the
DC area, where he performed with and learned from three multi-talented musicians - Don Cherry, Anthony Braxton and Sam Rivers. At one point, Perry was co-leader of a jazz quartet "Clarity". From this experience,
he started his own quartet. Perry plays all types of music, but he says his real
love is jazz. Perry can be heard performing at several local venues in the
DC area. Pick up his CD "Speak Your Truth" which you can purchase on his
website. Links: website and
MySpace page. |
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Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter and Producer Eban Brown from Newark, New Jersey. At the age of seven, Eban began playing guitar
and singing with a number of gospel groups. As a young guitarist and singer growing in the musical arts, he discovered that he also had a gift for songwriting
which he has also pursued during his career. Eban has performed with a number of well known R&B groups over the years. He was lead singer for
Ray, Goodman and Brown (also known as the Moments),
The Manhattans and The Delfonics. In 2000, he joined the Stylistics as their lead vocalist. He has produced two songs for Rap Artist Rob Base,
which features the Delfonics. Most recently, Eban’s vocals can be heard on NAS’ You Can’t Stop Us Now (Feat. Eban Brown). Eban has been recognized for his talents and his contributions to the music industry. He was inducted into the 98.7 Kiss FM
Hall of Fame in NYC, the NAACP Hall of Fame in Atlanta GA and received a NAACP award for his accomplishments as lead
vocalist for The Delfonics, just to name a
few. Eban has released four CD's through CD Baby, "Master Suite" (2002), "Restless Soul" (2004), "Exit 15" (2006) and a multi-track single CD titled
"Diggin' Everything About U" (2006). In 2008, Eban has completed his latest
soon-to-be-released album entitled "Determinism". Links: Website,
MySpace and
CDBaby.com. |
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Flutologist Arch Thompson began his musical quest at the age of twelve.
In High School he began playing flute. When he was 16, he said his father would take him to clubs where he would sit in with the band. He remembers standing
online with other musicians waiting to have a turn on stage. His father was his spokesperson at the clubs for his music and
the club "Jam Sessions" were his inspiration. Arch attended and studied music at City College in L.A. It was also around
this time that he heard the music of John Coltrane. He said Coltrane's "Love Supreme" raised his consciousness and he began
playing his own "music within". In the Army, Arch was a member of the Army Band, and while performing with them he had the
opportunity to play with a salsa band. He said this chance encounter introduced him to a number of Latin artists and
awakened an interest in Latin music. This interest launched him on a musical odyssey which took him to Puerto Rico,
New York and finally to DC. Arch can be heard performing in venues in the DC area with his groups Flute Visions, Visions
of Jazz and also solo. Links:
Flute Visions, MySpace Music and CD:
Flutevisions (CDBaby.com)
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 Bill McGee - Trumpeter,
songwriter, arranger, producer, educator, musical mentor and quintessential musician. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Bill is noted for being a top trumpet man in the music industry for well over thirty years.
Bill has been a studio musician and has performed with many R&B and Jazz groups during his career. He has produced three solo CD's. His most recent being "Chase
The Sunset", which features several cover and original tunes.. Link:
MySpace and Website |
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 Flutist, vocalist. songwriter, Ragan Whiteside
is taking the Contemporary Jazz world by storm. With her
unique style and soulful vibe, this "triple threat" is bringing the flute
back into mainstream focus. After winning the 2006 Capital Jazz Challenge,
Ragan returned to the 2007 Capital Jazz Festival with a new critically
acclaimed album, "Class Axe", produced by Pianist/Arranger Bob Baldwin and
Engineer/Arranger Extraordinaire Dennis Johnson. Link:
MySpace, Website and Jazz Review Interview |
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Piano, Keyboardist, Songwriter, Arranger
Kne-O'chaw Hampton is (at this writing) a 15 year old prodigy from Willingboro, New Jersey, who has been actively engaged in creating and performing her own music. She began playing keyboards at age 8. By the age of 10, Kne had learned "to write songs at an advanced and accelerated level".
She wrote and arranged her first CD titled "The Other Side of Town". She created and released her second CD "From Deep in My Soul" at age 11. Kne released her third CD in 2005 titled "Planet 9ine". In addition to her original works, Kne
also plays Classical, Gospel, R&B and Jazz Standards. Links: Kne on MySpace. Buy "Planet 9ine" at CD Baby.com. |
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 Guitarist Ronny Smith, Originally from Baltimore, Maryland. Ronny is a self-taught musician who began learning to play the guitar, by ear, at age 12. Ronny has performed on stage with the famed Motown singing group, the Marvelettes and also with drummer and Philadelphia jazz icon Bobby Durham. He had the opportunity to share the stage with R&B singer and actress, Melba Moore who performed with the U.S. Army band. Ronny has recorded four CD's . His first, "Long Time Comin", "Laid Back", "Got Groove" and his latest (released in May 2007) "Simply Stated". Links:
About, MySpace & CDs
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"Sweet" Sue
Terry is an alto and soprano saxophonist, songwriter and writer.
Sue grew up listening to Jazz from her father's jazz album collection. She later pursued
the study of music while in High School, studying under pianist and educator John Mehegan. Sue began her musical
career performing at church functions and in musical theater at the age of 16.
She attended and graduated from the University of Hartford where she was a protégée' of the late great saxophonist Jackie McLean at the Hartt
School of Music, and the first graduate of the jazz studies program he founded. She began playing jazz gigs while
attending Hartt. On the advice of Jackie McLean, Sue moved to New York City where she was a featured soloist with
many bands. Sue has appeared as a Jazz soloist with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, with the New York
Pops at Carnegie Hall and with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She has performed at
numerous jazz festivals, at Montreux Jazz Festival, the Nice Jazz Festival, the Pori Jazz Festival, the Northsea
Jazz Festival and the Blue Note in Tokyo and many more. Link:
Website,
MySpace,
CD Baby Discography,
and on DC Bebop |
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 Nate "NateKid" Lombardi - Singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and dancer. Nate says he has "always been attracted to music with funk and soul" and it all started with his hearing the music of Stevie Wonder. "As a kid, I do remember sitting in my room listening to him.. it changed my life." From Stevie he says it expanded to his interest in Hip-Hop.
While in high school Nate performed for fun. In college he was introduced to
tap dancing and the ole movie musical. Nate saw "Singing in the Rain" with
Gene Kelly and was inspired by both the cinematic performance and the music
of the era. Nate has "been in Off-Broadway shows, modeled, done
TV and film, and sang with big bands". He says he "wants to bring brilliant
and still relevant tunes back that the younger ears have never heard,
(sometimes, with drastic interpretations, sometimes not) and write songs
that will be as immortal as the ones from the American Songbook."
Nate is cast in the role of a musical bridge that joins the past to the present. Classic jazz standards married to
contemporary interpretations of the music of both times. Links: About Nate, MySpace and Website |
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Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Valve Trombone, Vocals, Actor, Songwriter, Kiku Collins is from a little town in northern New Jersey. She was trained in the classics at the prestigious Interlochen
Arts Academy in Michigan, and at the Manhattan School of Music. Kiku
has just released her first Jazz CD titled "Here With Me" to impressive reviews.
Listen to Kiku on MySpace. Visit her website.
Buy her CD at CD Baby.com. |
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Composer, trumpeter and vocalist Nate Birkey. His style, described as a "subtle vocal and trumpet approach", is
often compared to Chet Baker, Miles Davis and Art Farmer. he studied music at Berklee in Boston, Seattle Pacific University and the University of California Santa Barbara. For a number of years
Nate was a "jazz presence" in Southern California and was referred to as a quintessential "west coat jazz musician".
He performed with a number of groups before forming his own Quintet and moving to New York City. Over the years,
he has contributed to and released a number of CDs. His Quintet released "Indelibly You" in 1998, "Mennonite" in 2001, "Ballads" also in 2001 and "Shortest Day" in 2004. All of Nate's efforts have received glowing reviews for his songwriting, composition, style of play and his singing.
Listen to Nate on MySpace. Visit his website. |
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 Singer, keyboardist, composer, arranger
Sali Oguri
is a Modern Pop Rock artist. Her emotionally gripping music is a
linking of ethereal and hard-edged elements. With her
smoky-angelic voice and high energy, blood-rushing performance, her sound is
juxtaposition extremes: heaven and hell, hot and cold. Sali has captured the
interest of top industry professionals and fans across the world. Link:
MySpace, Website and WUJ Productions |
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 Mark
Mosley - Jazz and Blues Guitarist. Based in Baltimore, Mark can
be heard performing with numerous musicians in his Trio, Quartet and Quintet in
venues in the DC/Baltimore area and New York. When the budget allows, Mark
adds Dave Schnitter on Tenor Sax. During
his career, Mark has toured with Lou Donaldson, worked with Gary Bartz, the late
Keter Betts, and many others. Mark writes for
Modern Guitar Magazine. Links:
Mark's MySpace Music, and
Website.
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Kevin Peter Jones - Drummer, songwriter, producer, arranger and educator. Born and raised in
Chicago, Illinois, he began playing drums at the age of ten. During kevins musical career he has met and
performed with many music legends. Pianist Roger Smith; Grammy Award winning drummer William Kennedy;
percussionist Alex Acuna; Keyboardist Bernard White; Bassist Wayman Tisdale; Club Nouvou and Pianist
Dave Brubeck. More recently, Kevin is involved in recording a new CD with numerous Grammy Award winning
musicians from Pieces of a Dream, Sypro Gyra and the Yellowjackets. Kevin is also a dedicated drum
instructor and mentor to many promising musicians. Links to Kevin's website and
MySpace page. |
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 Lauren Hooker Jazz vocalist, composer and lyricist. from Teaneck, NJ. In her bio it is written that Lauren "was born into music ... as early as in the womb (kicking to the beat - my mother tells me)... hearing my dad jam with his fellow musicians in the basement ... starting piano lessons at age four ... meeting Bill Evans at the Vanguard whom my father recorded with in college ... being exposed to and singing most of the major classical oratorios with full orchestra ...shaking hands with Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck ...reaching for Sarah Vaughan's range, Ella's scat, Miles Davis' tone and Coltrane's intention. Lauren's talents were recognized and encouraged early in life and allowed her to develop her skills. Her critically acclaimed debut CD produced by Rufus Reid and Allen Farnham entitled: "Right Where I Belong" was released in May of 2007, with Rufus Reid on the bass, Allen Farnham
on piano and Tim Horner on drums and percussion. Lauren has been featured
and can be heard in many major venues in the New York metropolitan area. Link:
MySpace and Website |
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 Phyllis Beard - Bassist.
Born in Hot Springs National Park, AR, Phyllis started at the piano at age eight, but in junior high school she began playing the bass. Her talent earned here a music scholarshiop
to Stetson University in central Florida, where she majored in Classical Bass Performance. After college
she moved to Minneapolis MN,
where she earned her teaching license, and master's degree in education. On
one eventful night at the Dakota Jazz club in St. Paul, she heard Gerald Cannon of the Roy
Hargrove Quintet performing and it revitalized here interest in performing jazz. Phyllis left Minnesota eighteen months later to pursue here musical career. Since answering her
musical calling, Phyllis has toured Canada, Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe and the Shetland Islands.
She performs with her trio in NYC. Link:
MySpace. |
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 Saxophonist, composer, arranger, band leader, and producer Paul Ahlstrand,
is considered to be one of the best saxophonist in the Boston area. He can
generally be heard leading his stellar quartet on Sundays in Cambridge, MA
performing at Toad in Porter Square. Paul has both performed and toured with
many well know musicians. He also arranged, produced and performed songs
with R&B Vocalist Tony Lynn Washignton. Check out Paul's most recent CD on
the Gibraltar label titled "Sunday Hang",
which showcases several original tunes by him. Read about him on
his
Website and
listen to him on MySpace. |
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 Karl Sterling, Drummer
Born in Ithaca, New York, grew up in Syracuse, NY. Karl was 9 years old
when he first saw legendary drummer Buddy Rich perform. Karl KNEW the drums were his instrument and
began seriously studying and practicing. Over the years, Karl has played with many wonderful musicians and bands in the Syracuse, Rochester, and New York City area's. Link:
MySpace |
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 Bassist Kyle Spark
grew up south of Boston and has made his way around the country with two national groups. As a freelance bassist he did national tours with Blueground Undergrass (Atlanta,GA) and DJ Logic's Project (NYC). He currently is doing freelance bass work around Boston as well as working on his own solo and overdubbed bass compositions.
Link to
Kyle's MySpace Music page. |
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 Vocalist Maria Rochelle
- from Kansas City, Missouri. Singer and lyricist. Whether singing her combination of Hip-Hop with European soul or and Italian aria, her melodies and lyrics capture the essence of love for diversity, humanity and romance.
Link to
Maria's MySpace Music site. |
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 Rhythm guitarist Tom Reaves, Jr. from Richmond, Virginia. Known for his style of playing as the "Tonedoctor", Tom can be heard laying down the rhythm and soul on tracks with producers; Lamont "Hit.La" Fleming, Marcus “Bellringer” Bell, and Nate Smith. He can also be heard on CD recordings with such artist as Trumpeter; Bill McGee, and singers; Eric Dozier, Antoinique, and Jarrard Anthony. In addition he regularly frequents the Virginia club circuit with his band “The Krewe”, and others. Link: MySpace.
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 Freeport, Smooth Jazz, Jazz/Funk, and Jazz Standards -
Organized in 1981 in Philadelphia, Scott Marvill assembled a group of musicians eager to play the music they enjoyed. Jazz. Freeport has recorded and performed with Tower Of Power, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Special EFX, and Grover Washington Jr. to name a few. Several years ago Scott moved to Winston-Salem, NC where he
reorganized Freeport. The band has been performing around the Carolinas and has released a new CD "Freeport Open". Link: MySpace and Website.
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 John Lewis, Guitarist
and vocalist - John's group, JL's Tropical Jazz is sometimes a duo with
him and Arch Thompson laying down the smooth sounds of the islands as well
as jazz and R&B.
Link - MySpace |
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 Flutist Bill Haymon
- is a native of New York City living in the DC area.
Bill is currently rekindling his musical career and can be heard at venues around town. On most Friday evenings, he can be found and sometimes heard at the
Friday night Jazz concerts at the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Link to - Bill Haymon's Information |
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 Atiba Taylor
is a saxophonist and vocalist with a distinctive style. He has shared the
stage with greats like Archie Shepp, Wallace Roney and Organist Jimmy Smith. Atiba performs with
the AJQ Jazz Quartet locally.
Link to Atiba's
DC Bebop Gallery |
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