2012

Ferit Odman (1982) is an on demand and busy jazz drummer based in Istanbul. He started his music studies in Sweden as an AFS exchange student (1999), got a full scholarship to get his B.A. in Music at Istanbul Bilgi University (2001), attended the School For Improvisation workshops in NYC (2004), and has been granted a Fulbright Scholarship to further build on his studies at William Paterson University (2006). He spent / played two years in NYC and holds a M.M. (Master of Music) degree in Jazz Performance.
He became heavily entrenched in the Turkish jazz scene at a young age and recently performs and tours with Turkish pianist Kerem Görsev, while leading his own quintet and touring around Europe.

Luca Aquino was born on June 1st, 1974 (Gemini) in Benevento, an ancient town in
Southern Italy. He took up trumpet at the age of 20, enchanted by the wide and warm sound of Miles Davis. Two years later, he left trumpet to start alto saxophone. Just six months later, this time charmed by Chet Baker's sound (his second true love) and this way trumpet came back into his life for the second time. However, it again lasted only two years, as he decided to focus on his university studies getting a degree in Business. At that time though, he realized to fully dedicate himself to music. In fact, he returned to trumpet and has played it ever since.

You may not know it but, you've definitely heard Paulette before!!  She has been the solo voice for so many TV and radio jingles including Coke, Pepsi, Folgers, McDonald’s, Cadillac, United Airlines,  American Express and this list goes on....Paulette's highly anticipated CD “Telling Stories”, is a beautiful beginning to all to she's hoping for..  Paulette McWilliams is in the driver’s seat and choosing her destination.  
 
A Chicago native, McWilliams earliest memories of singing are with her mother.  “Unlike a lot of singers that I know, I didn’t grow up in the church.  I went to Catholic school and grew up singing Jazz and Blues with my mom.”   The former original lead singer for Ask Rufus, before it was Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, McWilliams fondly recalls (forming and performing with the group that put this dynamic group on the map.    “…when I heard her sing I felt it was my duty for everybody to know her and hear her sing.  The group knew her as my friend but didn't know she was a singer,and when I was ready to leave after returning from a 3 month trip through Europe and the South of France, I was done.. I went to Chaka first and told her I was thinking about leaving and that I would love for her to take my place and I suggest her to the guys,  because I thought she would be a perfect fit for the group. With reluctance at the time they agreed only if I stayed to perform with her on stage for 2 more weeks.. She was on her path.. I was still searching for mine.
 
It was not too long after the Ask Rufus split that she was introduced to Quincy Jones by Phil UpChurch (a mentor of hers at the time)  Quincy made her his solo/lead singer for the Body Heat tour and introduced her on the Mellow Madness album which she co-wrote the title song. Quincy Jones stated it when they were together and it is even more obvious today the Paulette is truly a great singer.
Paulette's discography reads like the who's who in music history.. Everyone from Sammy Davis Jr. to Placido Domingo, with every genre of music in between.
 Johnny Mathis, Tom Scott, Cedar Walton, Roger Kellaway, Luther Vandross, jazz great violinist whom Paulette did a solo on his last recorded CD Noel Pointer, and finally Marvin Gaye who was going to produce a record on Paulette before his untimely passing.
"Jazz is where I feel most at home and it make sense since I've been singing jazz and blues from my beginning."
Recently Michael Buble heard "Telling Stories" and said simply stated "This is Beautiful"!

Life’s musical journey has come full circle for McWilliams.  After years of touring and recording with artist like Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Bette Midler, Billy Idol, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, Johnny Mathis, and countless others.. Singing solo/back up for other artists for tv shows, concerts, one-night stands, and life’s ups and downs “her dues” has been well paid, and she is finally beginning to reap the rewards of her efforts.. 
Set for release on Spring 2012,  her latest project, a collaborative effort with long time colleague, Tom Scott, is a labor of love that features a duet with the Incomparable sultry voice of Mr. Will Downing .. A cover of the Kool and the Gang hit  "Too Hot." And, a beautiful duet with the amazing Bobby Caldwell!! It is such an beautiful presentation from Tom Scott .. Tom Scott presents Paulette McWilliams "Telling Stories"!! 
Enjoy!!  This is her beginning!!

Changton Kunjara was born in Bangkok, Thailand in 1976. He has begun to play guitar before he’s got Bachelor degree in Economic from Chulalongkorn University and Master degree in Cultural Studies from Mahidol University. In his early musical life, he has mastered all Thai classical instruments and has won many prizes in Thailand. Few years later after he started to play guitar, he got interest in jazz music. In 1999, He received a "world scholarship" from Berklee College of Music and came to the U.S. in 2000. At Berklee, He was focusing on performing and writing in jazz music. Changton studied with many famous artists such as Ted Pease, Bret Willmott, Jim Kelly, Jon Damian, David Feuzynski.
Changton is now a Head of Jazz Studies Department of Conservatory of Music Rangsit University teaching jazz guitar, jazz ensemble, jazz theory and improvisation.

Lica Cecato is a Brazilian singer, composer and guitarist with a deep and colorful contralto voice. A recipient of the prestigious Sarah Vaughan Award, Lica studied under full scholarship at Berklee College of Music in Boston. She has performed at festivals, theaters and clubs all over the world: Germany, Indonesia (Java Jazz Festival), Italy, Australia (Bunbury Jazz Festival), Japan, Turkey, Russia, Portugal, France (New Morning and Cité des arts) and Brazil.

Maxim Pustovit is a Moscow trumpet player. He is also composer, arranger and creator of musical programs in smooth jazz, lounge, house and R&B styles. He is an exponent of the young jazz generation of Russia, mixing styles and using modern techniques without limitations.


Considered one of the most interesting and innovative accordion player on the internationalscene, his research moves between the boundaries of contemporary music, acoustic and electronic sound experimentation, mixing together experiences and super-refined influences issuing in an absolutely personal approach to omprovisation materials. Eclectic musician, performs an intense concert acticvity with groups of diverse backgrounds.

Performing with Dutch musicians:
Wim Den Herder
Joris Teepe
Steve Altenberg

Born in Edinburgh 1967, Tommy Smith, a keen nurturer of young talent he formed Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2002 and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra in 1995. Smith first came to prominence when he joined Gary Burton’s group aged 18, touring worldwide. Tommy Smith is a major creative force in contemporary music. The saxophonist, composer and bandleader performs in settings ranging from solo saxophone to big bands and symphony orchestras. He has recorded over 24 albums as a leader, featuring world-renowned musicians like Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Kenny Barron, Eddie Gomez, Kenny Wheeler, Jon Christensen and Arild Andersen among others. He has also performed with Al Cohn, Benny Golson, Bill Evans and Randy Brecker to name a few. His albums include over 250 of his own original compositions.

Since his childhood, he has divided his time between Europe and Chile. Influenced, divided, and nourished by both these cultures, he builds bridges between Western European and Latin American music, merging their different rhythms, harmonies, sonorities, and styles through his own unique musical language.
His first CD Meloalegría (2006 Scaena / Night & Day) was a FIP choice and was on the play list of several French and Chilean radio stations. His second CD, ¿Y que Paso! will be released this April with Frémeaux et Associés and will be distributed in Holland by AMG records.

Nikolai Ivanov is a composer, multi instrumentalist, ethno jazz musician and an artist from a latitude- a bridge between the East and the West. Nikolai Ivanov mixes Modernity and Different Traditions, works in the space extending between jazz and vanguard, film and improvisation music, electronic styles and esoteric new age. The complete synthesis of expression in which Free Spirit rises is his creative credo. Over 30 films, performances, ballet music, over 20 CDs, intensive concert activity- from solo multi instrumental performances and 19 years behind the first Bulgarian ethno-ambient group “OM”, through series of international projects Nikolai has played in almost all European countries, in the Far East and China.

Marialy Pacheco represents the next generation of emerging Cuban musicians. Her music is a fine balance between Cuban tradition, jazz and her classical training. She brings the piano to life with an immense talent for highly nuanced improvisations.
Marialy Pacheco has released 5 independent albums and in 2011 was a finalist at Europa Fest International Jazz Competition in Bucharest, Romania.

Nikolas Anadolis was born in 1991 in Thessaloniki, Greece. He used to improvise on the piano since he was 4 years old. At the age of 5 and a half he started lessons in classical piano and in 2002 he became a student at the national conservatoire in Thessaloniki. In 2004 he won the first prize in the Greek-Cypriot piano contest “Filon”. In 2008 he won the “presidential scholarship” for jazz piano at Berklee University in Boston, where he is studying since. He has composed pieces for solo piano, duo with saxophone, piano trio and brass and string ensembles. He has performed in jazz clubs, for example Blue Note in New York, at the Rabat Jazz Festival in Morocco and at the European Jazz Festival in Athens, Greece. In October 2010 he won the first prize in the world wide contest for jazz piano MARTIAL SOLAL, which takes place every four years in Paris, France.

Adina Even-Zohar, grew up in New York  City  but calls  Israel home since 1977. Though singing and performing had always been her first love, she began to pursue it professionally in her mid 40's.. Eight years into her career, she recently released her independent  debut album "For the First Time (in a long time)" recorded in France and hosting an international ensemble of musicians .  Also a lyricist , Adina  has collaborated on songs which have received international attention. Adina  performs  at various venues including Israeli jazz clubs and festivals, cultural centers, and closed events, moving audiences with her deep, rich voice and warm stage presence.