Hailing from Chilliwack, BC and now living in New York City, award winning trumpeter/vocalist/composer, Bria Skonberg is "poised to be one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation."- Wall Street Journal. In 2013 she earned a Jazz Journalists’ Association nomination for “Up and Coming Jazz Artist of The Year” and is included in DownBeat Magazine’s Rising Star Critics‘ Poll for 2013/2014. She has recently been honored with a New York Bistro Award for “Outstanding Jazz Artist” and swept the 2014 Hot House Jazz Magazine Awards in all categories nominated: Best Jazz Artist, Best Trumpet, Best Female Vocalist and Best Group for the Bria Skonberg Quartet. Her first professional gig was as a big band singer at age sixteen doubling on trumpet and she has since performed as a bandleader and guest artist at over 50 jazz festivals in North America, Europe, China and Japan. Since moving to New York in 2010 she has headlined at Symphony Space, Birdland, The Iridium, Dizzy's and Cafe Carlyle. She has performed with the likes of Nicholas Payton, Anat Cohen, Scott Robinson and Bucky Pizzarelli; she has been featured on Wycliffe Gordon’s projects, studied with Warren Vache, experimented with electronic effects and presented a gig fusing jazz and stand-up comedy.

Chuck's musical education started long before he picked up a guitar. At age eight, he studied oboe and piano. Four years later his godfather exposed him to the musical diversity of Caribbean culture and encouraged him to play guitar. While in high school, he played bass and guitar in small R&B combos, rubbing elbows and jamming with future members of Parliament Funkadelic. While attending Lafayette College in the early 70's, he was a member of the Tim McCabe Blues Gang. The band's primary function was that of a backup band for touring blues legends on the East Coast college circuit. It was then that he was able to play for legends John Lee Hooker, J.B. Hutto and Screamin' Jay Hawkins. He also gained valuable exposure playing college parties and small clubs in the Delaware River Valley. Most recently, Chuck has been playing guitar and singing his blues for crowds up and down the Jersey Shore, Philadelphia New York City and metropolitan New York areas while always returning to play venues in his home town of Red Bank, NJ. As a member of the Panama Chapel Band, The Cal Vetrane Blues Band, and a guest artist with RB 3, Heavy Soul, Herd of Blues, Al Holmes and The Tribe, Poppa John and The Jam Band he has lent his vocal talents and guitar to many a fantastic night.

Originally from Boston, MA and currently living in New York City, Dennis Lichtman is a 35-year-old multi-instrumentalist (clarinet, violin, mandolin) who is deeply entrenched in early- to mid-1900’s American music, from traditional jazz and swing to bluegrass and western swing. His elegant voice carries through on all three instruments, lending a thread that weaves together the various genres he navigates.

Since 2007, Dennis has been the clarinetist and bandleader of the famed Tuesday night traditional-jazz jam session at Mona's in downtown New York, which was recently profiled in the New York Times, and has been described by the Wall Street Journal as "ground zero for an emerging late-night scene of young swing and traditional jazz players." December 2012 saw the release of Tuesdays At Mona’s, a 19-minute documentary about the Mona’s session produced by Hi-Tide Films, accompanied by a live CD of Mona’s Hot Four with 19 guest musicians.

For the past 20 years, Sarah has been performing jazz around the country. From New York’s famed Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel to the Catalina Bar and Grill and Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. She has enjoyed success at Washington D.C’s Blues Alley, Denver’s Dazzle Jazz Club, and Scullers, in Boston.

Sarah has four internationally released CDs that have received critical acclaim. “I’ll Be Easy To Find” on USA Records, “Blame It On My Youth”, “You Are There. Songs For My Father” on Germany’s Nagel Heyer Records and “Perspective”, released by her own Peartree Productions. Her latest recording of original compositions, “I Never Thought I’d Be Here” will be released by Origin Records in March 2015.

Sandy Josephson, a member of the New Jersey Jazz Society Board of Directors, is the author of Jazz Notes: Interviews Across the Generations (Praeger/ABC-Clio). He writes the “Big Band in the Sky” column for Jersey Jazz Magazine and has written extensively about jazz musicians in a variety of publications ranging from the New York Daily News to American Way magazine. Josephson is also curator of the “Music in the Moonlight” jazz series at the Luna Stage in West Orange. He is director of marketing and public relations for the Matheny Medical and Educational Center in Peapack, NJ. His new book, "Jeru's Journey: The Life and Music of Gerry Mulligan", will be published in October by Hal Leonard Books.

The New Jersey Jazz Society, founded in 1972, is an organization dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. The Society produces music festivals and concerts, awards scholarships to deserving New Jersey college jazz studies students and conducts Generations of Jazz programs in local school systems.

The membership is comprised of jazz devotees from all parts of the state, country and the world. The Society publishes an award-winning monthly magazine, Jersey Jazz, which contains feature articles, photos, music calendars, concert and album reviews and Society information. It is free to all members. For more information, log onto www.njjs.org or call 1-800-303-NJJS (6557).

Music and spirituality have always been fully intertwined in the artistic vision of trumpeter, composer, educator and activist Sean Jones. Singing and performing as a child with the church choir in his hometown of Warren, Ohio, Sean switched from the drums to the trumpet upon his first exposure to Miles Davis at the age of 10. Twenty-five years later, he still cites Miles’ overall artistic vision and purity of sound as his greatest personal influence. After receiving his Master’s Degree from Rutgers University, Sean had a 6-month stint with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. This marked the beginning of a relationship with Wynton Marsalis, whose personal work ethic and ability to break barriers had already made a significant impact on the emerging artist. Wynton offered Sean a permanent position as lead trumpeter and Jones remained there until 2010.

David Liebman’s career has spanned over four decades, beginning in the early ‘70s with his "apprenticeship" period performing and recording in the groups of drummer Elvin Jones ("Live At The Lighthouse") and Miles Davis ("On The Corner"). Since then he has led his own groups (Lookout Farm; Quest; The Dave Liebman Group) featuring musicians such as John Scofield, Richie Beirach, Billy Hart, Adam Nussbaum, Al Foster, John Abercrombie and Vic Juris.

Lieb has consistently placed among the top three in the Downbeat Critics Poll for Soprano Saxophone since 1973; winning first place in both the Downbeat and Jazz Times Critic's Poll in 2011. As well in 2011, Liebman received the NEA Masters of Jazz Award, the highest honor for jazz given by the United States government.

Alexis Jessica Morrast, a 14 year old vocal phenom from Plainfield, New Jersey is already an accomplished singer and song writer. The youngest of six, Alexis began singing in church at the age of three and had her first solo in the adult choir by the time she was seven. She has performed at a variety of events and venues including the Apollo Theater and in 2013 at the U.S. (Tennis) Open. She landed the lead in the school play and won “Plainfield on Stage” a talent search for grades K-12, two years in a row. Alexis has also sung at church events, conventions, graduations and conferences.

The New Brunswick District Jazz Band, consisting of more than 25 student members, has performed in a variety of venues including the State Theatre and the Hub City Sounds Concert Series. Their 2012 performance at VH1 Studios in NYC was nationally televised. The band directors have extensive musical backgrounds and work together to facilitate a common goal of quality jazz music education for all student members, while offering many performance experiences in which to showcase their talents. Although the band performs all types of jazz, Latin jazz is a staple of their repertoire.

Since 2010 the New Brunswick Jazz Project has successfully fostered a supportive environment for regular live jazz performance in the New Brunswick area. NBJP partners, Jimmy Lenihan, Virginia DeBerry and Mike Tublin have gone from producing two jazz shows a month, to offering free, world class jazz performances two to three nights a week, year round.

Over the past five and a half years, NBJP has presented more than 800 events with world-renowned veteran musicians and emerging artists. Ravi Coltrane, Arturo O’Farrill, Ralph Peterson, Dave Stryker, Roseanna Vitro, Jerry Weldon, Akiko Tsuruga, Dezron Douglas, Freddie Hendrix, Joe Magnarelli, Ethan Cohen, Winard Harper, Kenny Davis, Tia Fuller, Vic Juris, Orrin Evans, Jerry Weldon, The Curtis Brothers, Sean Jones, Myron Walden, Virginia Mayhew, Ralph Bowen and Conrad Herwig are among the acclaimed national and international jazz artists and special guests who have performed for NBJP.

Live, straight ahead jazz is presented weekly at Hotoke and regularly at other venues such as the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick and Tumulty’s Pub. (Full Schedule - http://nbjp.org)The New Brunswick Jazz Project has created a real jazz scene and now regularly draws guests from all over the state, as well as New York and Pennsylvania, to Central Jersey to enjoy this quintessential, uniquely American music.

". . .New Brunswick has now become a destination for jazz." ~ The New York Times

"The New Brunswick Jazz Project is quickly becoming New Jersey's freshest jazz presenters..." -The Star Ledger

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, and Miles Davis. This Camden, NJ resident has been a first call bassist since hitting the scene at age 20. A Grammy nominated, NEA awarded, prolific composer and arranger, before forming his group, “Something More” in 1990, Williams was a member of the seminal group, “Sphere” and the “Timeless Allstars”. Since its inception, "Something More'', has had numerous tours of Europe including the first International Jazz Festival in Moscow; tour of Japan and Australia; countless engagements throughout the U.S. and a CD soon to be released.

Often performing together since the 1970's, both Wolff (Cannonball Adderley and Arsenio Hall) and Clark (Herbie Hancock and The Headhunters) have each had stellar music careers. They combined their talents to create a band without boundaries, which resulted in the Wolff & Clark Expedition. These sonic explorers embrace the past, venture into the future, but remain rooted in the improvisatory present. Pianist Michael Wolff and Drummer Mike Clark -- the Wolff & Clark Expedition -- released their second album on Random Act Records in June 2014. Featuring jazz luminaries like bass stalwart CHRISTIAN McBRIDE and trumpeter WALLACE RONEY, the new album’s personnel also reflect the future of the music: Rising star saxophonist HAILEY NISWANGER and 17-year-old bassist extraordinaire DARYL JOHNS join the Expedition for a journey to uncharted musical territories.

From a three-time Emmy award television post-production editor at CBS to a world-class performer, Generet (pronounced Gen-er-RAY) has performed in front of sold out crowds from New York City to Jazz at Lincoln Center DOHA in Qatar. He has worked with great musicians such as Wycliffe Gordon, Branford Marsalis, Bucky Pizzarelli, Kenny Werner, Sherman Irby, Billy Stritch, and pianist, arranger, producer, Onaje Allan Gumbs who produced his debut recording, “(re)generet-ion”, (Monsieur Music/Mosaic Records). The theme of his, critically acclaimed, release is romance, where Generet has re-imagined the Standard, adding his own unique styling and vocal flexibility. His music continues to receive rave reviews from critics, listeners and colleagues alike. Critic Stephen Holden of the New York Times says of Gregory, “A voice that’s so sultry you might get burned.”

This "hot" young trumpeter has been tapped by Wynton Marsalis when he included Horne in the Aug, 2011 issue of JET Magazine in the list of 16 young jazz musicians entitled, “Wynton’s Picks: Who’s Got Next”. In addition to having performed with Marsalis, Diane Reeves, Michael Feinstein, he won the National Trumpet Competition.

During the 2013-2014 season, he subbed for Marsalis in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and toured with the orchestra for the 2013, 25th Anniversary Tour. His sonorous tones were heard on Broadway as a member of the 17-piece orchestra for the show “After Midnight” featuring guest artists Fantasia Barrino, Dule Hill, K.D. Lang, Babyface, Toni Braxton and others. Adding actor to his resume, Horne will premiere as a character in the Hollywood film “Bolden” (Nov 2015) directed by Dan Pritzker.

Jazz House Kids has gained a reputation as one of the nation’s preeminent arts education and performance organizations. Our mission is to transform young lives and open doors to the future by offering pre-professional, year-round musical training along with community engagement and education programs for K-12 students from diverse backgrounds. Internationally renowned jazz performers teach alongside our professional staff, offering students a wide range of creative programming that develops musical potential, enhances leadership and life skills, and strengthens academic performance. Through music, mentoring, education and apprenticeship, Jazz House Kids cultivates tomorrow’s global citizens so they may build vibrant communities.

For more info: www.jazzhousekids.org

Radio announcer, author, TV show host and freelance producer, Ms. Anderson has produced the Somerville (now Central Jersey Jazz Festival) since its' inception. Currently the on-air-host of "Weekend Jazz After Hours" on WBGO, The Jazz Source (88.3FM/www.wbgo.org) she has authored Three books: "The Quotable Musician from Bach to Tupac", "How to Grow as A Musician: What All Musicians Must Know to Succeed"-both Allworth Press and "The Little Red Book of Musicians' Wisdom" on Skyhorse Press. In addition Ms. Anderson produces the Jazz In The Garden summer festival for the Newark Museum and worked with Jazzmobile, Inc., the oldest Jazz organization presenting free Jazz.