Saxophone/Woodwinds

Laura Dreyer - Saxophone

Listen to Laura:
"Mambo Inn"
Neighborhood: Tribeca, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: age 10pillow-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: flute, clarinet
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Laura.

Saxophonist Laura Dreyer, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, has been a dynamic member of the New York jazz scene for many years. She has not only leads her own group at countless New York jazz venues and international jazz festivals, but is also in great demand as a side-musician. Audiences have heard her in the bands of such diverse artists as Dom Salvador, Dr. Billy Taylor, Rufus Reid, Walter Bishop Jr., Mel Lewis, Robert Palmer, Nnenna Freelon, and saxophonist/author James McBride to name a few. She was an original member of the all-female Big band, Diva, where she played tenor and lead alto for six years, in addition to arranging and recording with the band. Laura attended the Berklee College of Music, and studied with noted music educators Andy McGee, Joe Viola, and John LaPorta. In addition, she studied privately with saxophone greats Joe Henderson and Joe Lovano, composers Lyle Mays and Jim McNeely and is a 3 time recipient of grants from The National Endowment for the Arts. For more about Laura Dreyer, visit www.myspace.com/lauradreyer.

Wayne Escoffery - Saxophone

Listen to Wayne:
"Love Walked In"
"Angel Face"
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
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Since moving to New York City in 2000, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery has become one of the Jazz world's most talented rising stars and in-demand sidemen. At only 32 he has recorded four CDs as a leader and been on numerous recordings as a sideman. Wayne began his professional New York career touring and recording with The Eric Reed Septet. In 2001 he became a steady member of the Mingus Big Band/Orchestra/Dynasty, The Lonnie Plaxico Group, and Abdulah Ibrahim's Akaya. Then in 2004 Grammy award winning producer, arranger and trumpeter Don Sickler asked Wayne to be a part of Ben Riley's Monk legacy Septet. At this time Wayne was also touring with Jazz At Lincoln Center's Music, and in 2006 Wayne secured one of the most coveted gigs in jazz: a frontline position in Tom Harrell's working quintet. Wayne has been fortunate enough to study with some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world, including Jackie McLean, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Clark Terry, and Barry Harris. He also has first-hand experience playing with word class jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter. Wayne also leads his own group and performs internationally with The Mingus Band and Abdullah Ibrahim. He has experience introducing music to all ages and has learned the history of American Music from many of the innovators of the last five decades. B.Mus, The Hartt School; M.M., New England Conservatory; Diploma, Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance. For more about Wayne, visit www.EscofferyMusic.com.

Oscar Feldman - Saxophone

Listen to Oscar: "Fragile"
Neighborhood: Midtown, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: flute, clarinet
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Known for his splendid tonalities, Argentinian native Oscar Feldman demonstrates superb skills on alto, tenor and soprano saxes, while employing a wide range of pan-american references, from straight ahead to tango, candombe, samba, and mambo. Feldman studied at Berklee College of music where he graduated cum laude in 1995 with a Major in Professional Music. Oscar has recorded and toured internationally with notable artists such as guitar legend Al Di Meola, Grammy winner and top producer/arranger Eumir Deodato, Jeff Tain Watts, Avantango, Paquito D'Rivera's United Nations Orchestra, Alex Acuna at prestigious venues such as the Opera Vienna House, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Town Hall in New York, Park La Villette in Paris, the Blue Note as well as many International Jazz Festivals in Europe, the Americas and Africa. In 1999 Oscar recorded the album "Tropicana Nights" with a Big Band conducted by Paquito D'Rivera which received the Latin Grammy Award 2000 for "Best Latin Jazz Album". His debut album "El Angel" received rave reviews and features guest appearances by Gato Barbieri, Claudio Roditti, Alex Acuna and Paquito D'Rivera. Oscar toured in Spain with Bebo Valdes and His All Star Latin Jazz Band and most recently he performed in Greece with his own band featuring Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez. He recorded for the soundtrack of Ang Lee's new movie "Lust, Caution". Oscar we'll be touring Europe with Fusion Revolution together with Alex Acuna , Tom Kennedy and Otmaro Ruiz. For more about Oscar, visit www.OscarFeldman.com.ar.

Charles Pillow - Saxophone/Oboe/Clarinet/Flute

Listen to Charles:
"Charlotte"
"Il Vecchio Castello"
Neighborhood: Midtown, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
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With 4 CDs to his credit, Charles Pillow has established himself as one of the premier woodwind multi-instrumentalists on the scene today. His re-orchestration of Mussorgskys' "Pictures at an Exhibition" (2004) and Gustav Holst' "The Planets" (2007), both on ArtistShare, have earned him critical acclaim: "Pillow is on the cutting edge of a trend. He ushers in a previously unexploited way to enliven and extend jazz." --AllAboutJazz.com. His arrangements and compositions meld jazz, classical and world music into a unique "symphony of sound" approach With his mastery of oboe, bass clarinet, flute and saxophone, he is in demand as a performer, teacher, clinician and touring musician and has performed on over 80 recordings, including those of Michael Brecker, Maria Schneider, David Sanborn, Joe Henderson, etc. He also works as a music producer in his home studio, recording various projects via the internet. For more about Charles, visit www.CharlesPillow.com.

Other saxophonists/woodwind players who can teach in your home or at a Manhattan studio near you (upon request):
Javier Arau
Karel Ruzicka Jr.
Peter Sparacino
Loren Stillman
Jacob Teichroew
Michael Webster

Trumpet

Philip Dizack - Trumpet

Listen to Philip:
"Polkadots & Moonbeams"
Neighborhood: Inwood, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: trombone
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Philip.

Philip Dizack, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, began playing the trumpet at age 10. While attending the Milwaukee High School of the Arts, in 2003, Philip received a Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship from IAJE and NFAA, touring the United States, Canada and Japan. Later that year, Philip moved to New York to attend the Manhattan School of Music on a full-tuition scholarship. In 2007, Philip received his Bachelor's Degree from the Manhattan School of Music with honors. Since his move to New York in 2003, Philip was named third place winner of the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition in 2004, first place winner of the National Trumpet Competition in 2005, first place winner of the Carmine Caruso International Solo Jazz Competition in 2007, and semi-finalist in the 2008 Thenolious Monk Jazz Competition. Philip has been mentioned and featured in dozens of magazines and news articles, most notably the 2007 Down Beat Magazine article, "25 [Trumpet Players] for the Future". At the age of 22, he was the youngest member mentioned. Philip has performed extensively in the United States as well as the rest of the World. He currently performs and tours regularly with jazz greats, Bobby Watson, Tim Warfield and Eddie Palmieri, and has recorded with Greg Tardy, Eddie Palmieri, John Ellis, Aaron Goldberg and others. Philip's debut recording was released in November of 2005 on the Fresh Sound New Talent label. The recording includes Greg Tardy, Patrick Cornelius, Obed Calvaire, Miro Sprague and Joe Sanders. For more about Philip, visit www.PhilipDizack.com.

Alex Nguyen - Trumpet

Listen to Alex:
"A Morning Walk"

Neighborhood: Gramercy Park, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: piano
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Acclaimed trumpeter Alex Nguyen was the winner of the 2005 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition and received the Jamey Aebersold Award for Artistry at the 2006 National Trumpet Competition. He also was awarded residencies at Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, in Washington, D.C., and the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival, in Chicago. Since arriving in New York in 2007, Alex has been establishing himself as a unique new voice on the trumpet. The Savannah, Georgia, native has garnered praise for his independent projects, most notably the nine-piece ensemble, the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra. Alex arranges much of the material for the group, which released its debut record in March 2009. While his work as a soloist, bandleader, and arranger has caught the attention of critics, Alex has also been noticed by fellow musicians, appearing with such artists as Vincent Herring, Kamel Boutros, Jon Gordon, and Jimmy Cobb. In 2008, pianist Kenny Barron recorded Alex's composition "The First Year" for his acclaimed Sunny Side release The Traveler. A graduate of the University of North Florida's jazz studies program, Alex also holds a Masters in Jazz Studies from SUNY Purchase, where he worked closely with seminal trumpeters Jon Faddis and Jim Rotondi. For more about Alex, visit www.AlexNguyenMusic.com.

Chris Rogers - Trumpet

Listen to Chris:
"Blues for Michelle"

"Because You're My Lover"
Neighborhood: UES, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Chris.

Trumpeter and composer Chris Rogers has performed extensively throughout Europe, Japan, South America and the United States as a featured soloist with many prominent artists in jazz and Latin music. At the age of 19, he began a five-year association with Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band, replacing the legendary Tom Harrell as the featured trumpeter. Since then, Chris has been featured with Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Hampton, The Mingus Big-Band, Mel Lewis, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Hilton Ruiz, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Mercer Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Lee Konitz, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Chaka Khan, Maria Schneider, Bob Moses, Tom Harrell, and Mongo Santamaria (as both trumpeter and pianist!!!). During 2005/2006, Chris led 3-piece horn sections for Eartha Kitt (Carnegie Hall / JVC Jazz festival) and Tonya Pinkins ("Jazz at Lincoln Center"). He also recorded and performed with the San Francisco-based cabaret artist Terese Genneco. In 2007 he was featured on critically acclaimed recordings by Pete McGuiness ("First Flight"), Gary Morgan ("Felicidades"), and Marty Sheller ("Why Deny"). Chris' Broadway show credits include "Fosse", "42nd Street", Paul Simon's "Capeman", "Kiss Me Kate (lead)", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Wonderful Town" and "CATS". He has received awards from both JAZZIZ and Downbeat magazines, and also performs on EWI (Electric Wind Instrument) and keyboards. A New York City native, Chris is a product of this city's vibrant music scene and his playing style reflects his many varied influences. His jazz training began by osmosis – his father was the late, great trombonist Barry Rogers. From a very young age Chris got to hang out with musicians such as Eddie Palmieri, Michael and Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, and even James Taylor. Chris soon gained invaluable experience by sitting in around town with The Brecker Brothers' band, Soloff, Woody Shaw, and Mike Stern. Chris studied classical trumpet with Vincent Penzarella of the New York Philharmonic and was trained at the Manhattan School of Music, the University of Miami, and New York's ("Famed") High School of Music and Art. Chris' debut recording as a composer and bandleader, "Voyage Home", is due out in 2009. It features the late 13-time Grammy Award winning saxophonist Michael Brecker, and also features Ted Nash (lead alto saxophonist with Wynton Marsalis & the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra).

Nathan Warner - Trumpet

Neighborhood: UWS, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Nathan.

Trumpeter Nathan Warner was raised in South Bend, Indiana. He began his trumpet studies at the age of ten. He attended the Interlochen Arts Camp, where, in his second summer, he was the winner of the prestigious Governor's Scholarship. Mr. Warner completed his Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Studies on full scholarship at the Indiana School of Music, where he studied with Dominic Spera, John Rommel, David Baker, Edmund Cord and William Adam. He completed his Master's Degree in Classical Trumpet Performance at the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Vincent Penzarella of the New York Philharmonic. Mr. Warner has performed with Robin Thicke, Clay Aiken, Alejandro Sanz, Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis, Lou Marini, Patti LuPone, The Four Tops, Kurt Masur, The Temptations, Frederick Fennell, Olivia Newton-John, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Chaka Khan, The Glenn Miller Orchestra and Allen Vizzutti, among others. He currently resides in Manhattan, where he is in demand as a classical, orchestral, commercial, big band and jazz performer. As a champion of music education for inner city youth, Mr. Warner was the music teacher at St. Mark the Evangelist School in Harlem and has worked with the Midori and Friends Foundation. In addition, he has worked for the New York Pops Orchestra Outreach Program and the Hartwick College Summer Music festival and Institute. Warner is a founding member of the Sugartone Brass Band, one of the few second line bands to find success outside of New Orleans. He is currently on the faculties of the New York Summer Music Festival, the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division and the Geneva School of Manhattan. For more about Nathan, visit www.NathanWarner.com.

Other trumpet players who can teach in your home or at a Manhattan studio near you (upon request):
Dan Blankinship
Jacob Varmus

Trombone

Joe Beaty - Trombone

Listen to Joe: "Genbaku"
Neighborhood: UWS, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Joe.

Trombonist Joe Beaty began performing in front of live audiences in his home state of Texas at the age of 14. His musical talents earned him a full High School Scholarship to the world-renowned Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. Continuing his musical education in New York City at New School University for Jazz and Contemporary Studies, Joe earned a Bachelors Degree in Jazz Performance. Joe then received his Masters Degree in Music and Composition at New York University and became one of the youngest faculty members as trombone teacher at NYU. Joe Beaty has been able to take the stage with many great musicians such as Jason Lindner, Chick Corea, Richard Bona, Jean-Michel Pilc, Ari Hoenig, Junior Mance, Joe Lovano, and many others on tours throughout Japan, France, Brazil and Poland. He has also appeared on TV at the Latin Grammy Awards and performed numerous times at Blue Note, Birdland, Iridium, Smalls, Jazz Standard and Carnegie Musical Hall, as well as recorded with musicians such as Dave Liebmann, Lee Konitz, MK Groove Orchestra, and Maxwell to name a few. For more about Joe, visit www.BeatyBrothersBand.com.

Other trombone players who can teach in your home or at a Manhattan studio near you (upon request):

Jeff Fairbanks

Guitar

Tom Dempsey - Guitar

Listen to Tom:
"Blues in the Slope"
Neighborhood: Midtown, Manhattan
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Tom.

Guitarist Tom Dempsey's reputation for hard swinging sophistication and pure musicality have made him a distinct voice in the New York jazz scene. Dempsey has performed and/or recorded with a virtual "Who's Who" of world renowned jazz musicians including: George Coleman, Kenny Barron, Roy Haynes, Bobby McFerrin, Jack McDuff, Jim Hall, John Abercrombie, Brad Mehldau, John Scofield, Tal Farlow, Buddy Montgomery, Gerald Wilson, Mel Torme, Richard Wyands, Muhal Richard Abrams, and Dave Brubeck. He has recorded four CDs as a leader: What's Going On (Citytone Records), Perspectives (Imaginary Records), Blues In The Slope (Igmod Records/TJD Music), If Only We Knew (TJD Music). Tom has also recorded as a sideman on many recordings. Since 1992, Tom has been performing as a leader and a sideman at some of the top jazz venues throughout the world including the JVC Jazz Festival, SF Jazz Festival, The Blue Note, Yoshi's, Smalls, and Smoke. Tom is an Artist Endorsee for Thomastik-Infeld Strings. Known for his versatility as a musician Dempsey has made numerous appearances on New York radio and television including performances on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, the HBO series Sex and the City, and NPR. Dempsey has also performed for many Broadway shows including Bring In 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, Patti Lupone on Broadway, and Aida. Along with his active performing career, Tom Dempsey's talent as a composer is receiving noteworthy attention. Because of his distinctive sound and style Dempsey's music has been described as having "fine compositional ability and stylistic accessibility." His music has been featured on his four CDs as well as television and radio programs throughout the world including the HBO hit series Sex and the City. Tom received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in May 1991. In May 1996, he acquired his Masters Degree in Jazz/Commercial Music at Manhattan School of Music. Tom's deep commitment to education has made him a highly sought after educator and clinician. In recent years he has been teaching at Jazz at Lincoln Center, SUNY New Paltz, Rutgers University, and the National Guitar Workshop where he serves as Artistic Director for the Jazz Summit and Director of Music for all of the campuses. As an author Dempsey work includes four books: The Jazz Guitar Experience, Easy Jazz Soloing for Guitar, Sight-Reading for the Contemporary Guitarist and Classic Jazz Styles for Guitar and one DVD entitled Theory for The Contemporary Guitarist which are available through Alfred Music and Workshop Arts. He has also produced over 170 online music lessons for WorkshopLive.com. For more about Tom, visit www.TomDempseyMusic.com.

Sten Hostfalt - Guitar

Listen to Sten: "Ed's Head"
Neighborhood: Washington Heights, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: electric bass, mandolin
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Sten.

Internationally acclaimed guitarist, composer and bandleader Sten Hostfalt apprenticed in traditional jazz orchestras led by Phil Wilson, Herb Pomeroy and George Russell. He appeared as a leader, composer and featured soloist on recordings initiated by Paul Bley and Gary Burton and studied composition and improvisation with Jimmy Giuffre and Joe Maneri. Sten was introduced to the international jazz scene in the mid '90s, alongside many of the new jazz generation's most prolific players, as an original member of Guillermo Klein's pioneering large ensemble. Since 1999, Sten has received numerous grants and awards for original projects and recordings, and he has been recognized by leading press as one of few guitarists worldwide to create and perform, with self-invented techniques for the standard 6-string, new original music beyond the equal tempered 12-tone system. Current work focuses on modern traditional jazz and original compositions based on standard jazz songs and forms. Since 2006, Sten has operated his own Manhattan based educational facility--the NYC Guitar Studio. Mr. Hostfalt is a veteran educator and former faculty member of one of the world's oldest music conservatories, The Royal College of Music in Stockholm. He has also served as a clinician at leading institutions in Argentina, Sweden and the U.S., including New England Conservatory, Berklee College Of Music and New World School of The Arts Miami, FL. For more about Sten, visit www.StenHostfalt.com.

Andre Matos - Guitar

Listen to Andre: ""
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Languages: English, Portuguese
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Andre.

Guitarist Andre Matos was born in Lisbon in 1981. He got his first guitar when he was 9 years old. Inspired by the blues music of B.B. King and Muddy Waters, he soon started listening to jazz records by Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis and Weather Report. Years later, after spending one year at the Luis Villas-Boas school of Hot Club de Portugal, he was awarded with an international scholarship from Berklee College of Music. From 2000 to 2003 he lived in Boston, having had the chance to study with Mick Goodrick, Dave Santoro, Jon Damian, Ed Tomassi, Hal Crook, among others. After his first experience in the United States, Andre based his career in Portugal where he has played in the most important venues. His record "Small Worlds/Pequenos Mundos" features some of his original music and is published by Fresh Sound New Talent (www.freshsoundrecords.com). His most recent album is called "Rosa-Shock", and you can find it on www.toapmusic.com Andre recently completed a new recording, due out in the beginning of 2010, that features a stellar band, including Noah Preminger on sax, Thomas Morgan on bass, Ted Poor on drums, Leo Genovese on piano and the voice of Sara Serpa. Andre recently completed a Master's degree in jazz studies at New England Conservatory, where he studied with George Garzone, Danilo Perez, Jerry Bergonzi, Brad Shepik, John McNeil and Frank Carlberg. He currently lives in NYC, where he regularly performs with the brightest musicians of his generation in the most important venues of the city. For more about Andre, visit www.AndreMatosMusic.com.

Other guitar players who can teach in your home or at a Manhattan studio near you (upon request):
Dave Allen
Alejandro Florez
Brad Shepik
Russ Spiegel

Piano

Adam Birnbaum - Piano

Listen to Adam:
"All The Things You Are"
Neighborhood: UWS, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Adam Birnbaum.

Adam Birnbaum is emerging as one of the top young voices in jazz piano. Since arriving on the New York scene in 2003, he has become increasingly prominent performing in clubs and festivals around the world, working with artists as diverse as Greg Osby, Al Foster, Eddie Henderson, Carl Allen, and Wynton Marsalis. Adam's early education took place in Boston. In 2001 Adam became a member of the inaugural class of Jazz Studies at the Juilliard School. After graduating in 2003, Adam won the American Jazz Piano Competition in May 2004 to become the American Pianists Association's Cole Porter fellow in Jazz. Since then Adam has established a busy performing career as a sideman and as a leader. Adam performs regularly with Greg Osby, Al Foster and many others, as well as leading his own trio. Adam has maintained a private teaching studio in NYC for years, working with students of all ages and experience levels. He has also performed jazz workshops across the world and has served as adjunct jazz piano instructor at The Juilliard School. For more about Adam, visit www.AdamBirnbaum.com.

Jarrett Cherner - Piano

Listen to Jarrett: "Somebody Quietly"
Neighborhood: UWS, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 4-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Jarrett.

New York based pianist, composer, and educator Jarrett Cherner loves both music and teaching, and his professional life has always embraced them both. After completing his undergraduate work at Tufts University (B.S. in Mathematics, 2003, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and the New England Conservatory of Music (U.D. in Jazz Piano Performance, 2004), Jarrett moved to San Francisco where he quickly gained a reputation as "one of the most exciting young pianist-composers on the Bay Area scene" (San Jose Mercury News), as well as an in demand educator, teaching at the San Jose Summer Jazz Workshop, the Berkeley Jazzschool's Summer Youth Program, and maintaining a small private studio. Jarrett has toured throughout the U.S. as well as in South America, Canada, and Europe, both leading his own trio and working as a sideman. His debut album as a leader, Burgeoning (2005), earned him recognition from the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards and critics alike. In 2008, Jarrett relocated to New York City where he's currently performing, teaching, and completing a graduate degree at the Manhattan School of Music. For more about Jarrett, visit www.JarrettCherner.com.

Kelly Powers - Piano

Listen to Kelly: "You Don't Know What Love Is"
Neighborhood: UWS, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 4-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Kelly.

Pianist Kelly Powers has performed with the Cab Calloway Orchestra, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Jack Jeffers and the New York Classics, George Gee Swing Orchestra and Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra, among others. Her playing has been showcased in numerous New York City venues including the Smoke Jazz Club, Cleopatra's Needle, Kitano, Zinc Bar, Makor, Swing 46, Minton's Playhouse, Big Apple Jazz, Bruno Jamais, CafeŽ Vivaldi, Rockwood Music Hall, Crash Mansion and Night and Day. She has also performed throughout Germany, Spain, Italy and Holland. Ms. Powers graduated from the Manhattan School of Music Masters Degree in jazz studies program, where she studied with Garry Dial, Cecil Bridgewater and Dave Leibman. Ms. Powers has taught jazz improvisation and piano at summer camps at the Artist Collective (Hartford, CT) and Montclair Music Camp (Montclair, NJ). She currently has a sizeable roster of private students, and has appeared in educational concerts for children at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Webop Program. She is currently accepting new students. For more about Kelly, visit www.KellyPowersJazz.com.

Deanna Witkowski - Piano

Listen to Deanna:
"All Through The Night"
Neighborhood: Midtown, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: voice
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Deanna.

Winner of the 2002 Great American Jazz Piano Competition and a former guest on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz, pianist/composer/vocalist Deanna Witkowski has been heralded for her "consistently thrilling playing" (All Music Guide). Her new sacred jazz release, From This Place, with musicians including Donny McCaslin and John Patitucci, was recently profiled on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday. Witkowski's previous three releases, Length of Days (2005), Wide Open Window (2003), and Having to Ask (2000) clearly demonstrated her prowess as "one of the best of the new generation of jazz pianists" (Jazz Journal International) and showcased her rich fusions of jazz, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban music. In May 2009, Witkowski presented Moving with the Spirit: The Sacred Jazz of Mary Lou Williams at the Kennedy Center's Mary Lou Williams Festival. Moving has also been presented at Duke University and at the International Association for Jazz Education conference. Witkowski also embodies a love of Brazilian culture. Fluent in Portuguese, she has toured twice in Brazil, most recently appearing at the Recife Jazz Festival. Since 2006 she has been the pianist in the BMI/New York Jazz Composers Orchestra. She has also recorded and/or toured with Lizz Wright, James Finn, Vanderlei Pereira's Blindfold Test, the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly, Joseph C. Phillips' Numinous, and the Diva Jazz Orchestra. Witkowski holds an M.A. in jazz piano performance from the City College of New York and a B.M. in classical piano performance from Wheaton College (IL). For more about Deanna, visit www.DeannaJazz.com.

Other piano players who can teach in your home or at a Manhattan studio near you (upon request):
Gabriel Guerrero
Randy Ingram
Sean Wayland

Bass

David Ambrosio - Bass, Afro/Cuban Bata

Listen to David: "Hi Beck"
Neighborhood: UWS, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with David.

For more about NYJA's Afro/Cuban Bata Drumming Workshops,
click here.

Bassist and Bata drummer David Ambrosio, originally from the New York area, has been a vital component of New York's Jazz scene for more than 15 years. Since the start of his career in New York City David has played with an extensive list of jazz greats such as pianist Kenny Werner, legendary vibraphone/clarinet duo Terry Gibbs and Buddy DeFranco, George Garzone, Joseph Jarmon and Ralph Alessi. David has toured and recorded with many groups that he is an integral part of including George Schuller's Circle Wide, the Matt Renzi Trio, Eri Yamamoto Trio, Vinnie Sperrazza Trio, Grupo Los Santos, Deanna Witkowski Quartet, Eric Rasmussen's School of Tristano, Adriano Santos Quintet, Rob Garcia's Sangha, the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly and the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra led by Jim McNeely and Michael Abene. In 2001, while on tour in Cuba with Grupo Los Santos and Max Pollack's Rumbatap, David had the opportunity to work with Afro/Cuban folkloric music and dance ensembles. During that experience his interest and study of Afro/Cuban folkloric music, culture and Bata drumming began and, consequently, has become quite active in NYC's Latin music scene. As an educator Mr. Ambrosio has had much experience over the years. Since 1997 David has been on faculty at the Queens College Center for Preparatory Studies in Music where he teaches young developing artists in both Jazz and Classical genres. David was also among the first clinicians to work for the Colden Center's City High School Jazz Residency Program, now known as the Kupferberg Performance Center, where he continues to share his music in NYC public schools where students have very little opportunity to explore Jazz music. On numerous occasions David has toured in Central and South East Asia on behalf of the US State Department as a performer and clinician. David has a Bachelor degree in Classical Composition from Manhattan School of Music and Master's degree in Jazz Performance from Queens College. For more about David, visit www.myspace.com/davidambrosio.

Dan Asher - Bass

Listen to Dan: "Ice Age"
Neighborhood: Riverdale, Bronx (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: guitar
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Dan Asher.

Bassist Dan Asher has been busy performing and teaching in the New York area for much of the past decade. After graduating from Lawrence University in 2001, his active schedule has included performances at legendary jazz venues such as Birdland, the Blue Note, and Smalls, covering a wide range of music including Jazz, R&B, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian. He is a member of the Broadway Boys, a talented group of vocalists and instrumentalists who continue to pack theaters and jazz venues all over the country with their improvisational takes on current Broadway repertoire. He has also maintained an active teaching schedule with private students and ensembles throughout the Tri-State area. For more about Dan, visit www.myspace.com/danashmusic.

Michael Feinberg - Bass

Listen to Michael:
"317 E. 32nd St."
Neighborhood: East Village, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Michael Feinberg.

"A vibrant young bassist/composer whose voice conveys a distinct musical vision, Michael Feinberg continues to bring fresh ideas to life with music that incorporates jazz, hip hop, and rock, as well as influences from his Middle Eastern and Eastern European heritage. Through the continuing school of experiences: performing, writing, arranging and leading multiple bands, Feinberg has proven that he is one of the rising jazz elite." - All About Jazz

At the young age of 22, Michael has already performed with some of the top names in jazz and creative music including Slide Hampton, Russell Gunn, Dave Samuels, Ira Sullivan, Jonathan Kreisberg, Jim Black, Andrew D'angelo, Shelly Berg, Jim Rotondi, Peter Evans, Dr. Alex Norris, Ambrose Akinmusire, Greg Gisbert, Sam Barsh, Bobby Broom, Ted Nash, and Brian Hogans among others. As a composer, Michael has been recognized by Down Beat magazine, the International Songwriting Competition (ISC), sand Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead where he was a resident in 2008. Michael will be releasing his second album as a leader entitled "Evil Genius" in August 2009 about which Lee Zimmerman of the Miami New Times says "[the album] proves to be a provocative work, but one that's readily approachable as well. Feinberg deserves kudos for demonstrating a degree of tastefulness and finesse that's exceedingly difficult to come by." For more about Michael, visit www.MichaelFeinbergMusic.com.

Tim Ferguson - Bass

Listen to Tim: ""
Neighborhood: West Village, Manhattan (will travel)
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Tim.

Bassist Tim Ferguson has been a highly regarded fixture on the New York scene for the last 20 years, playing and touring with his own projects and as a side-man with a variety of acclaimed jazz artists, including Don Friedman, Cecil Bridgewater, Mel Lewis, Eddie Harris, Tony Scott, George Cables, Stefon Harris, Vanessa Rubin and the world famous Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Also a prolific composer, his works have been performed in concert by a variety of ensembles throughout the U.S. and Europe. An active educator, Ferguson teaches privately as well as having taught for a number of New York area schools and institutions, and has performed clinics throughout the US and Europe. He is co-author of "The Total Jazz Bassist" and "The Bass Line Encyclopedia," both published by Alfred. He is a 1977 graduate of the Interlochen Arts academy, has studied with John Schaeffer, member emeritus of the New York Phiharmonic and has a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from William Paterson College in New Jersey, where he studied with world renowned bassist and educator Rufus Reid.

Lindsey Horner - Bass

Listen to Lindsey:
"Last Look Home"
Neighborhood: Inwood, Manhattan (will travel)
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 9-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Lindsey.

Bassist Lindsey Horner is one of the more versatile musicians in jazz and modern music. He has most often been heard with musicians on the cutting edge recording and performing with artists such as Greg Osby, Bill Frisell, Bobby Previte, Dave Douglas and Muhal Richard Abrams. As a leader he has produced four recordings, NEVER NO MORE, MERCY ANGEL, BELIEVERS and the recently released DON'T COUNT ON GLORY. Through the '90s he performed as a member of the Myra Melford trio, an association which yielded four highly acclaimed discs. He is a member of the co-operative group JEWELS AND BINOCULARS/MICHAEL MOORE, LINDSEY HORNER, MICHAEL VATCHER PLAY MUSIC OF BOB DYLAN. His European connections include playing with guitarist Philip Catherine, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, saxophonist Matthias Schubert and the great Belgian tenor player, Erwin Vann. Lindsey also has deep roots in Irish music having toured and recorded extensively with singer/songwriter Susan McKeown, Scottish fiddle master Johnny Cunningham and traditional Irish music legend Andy Irvine. For more about Lindsey, visit www.LindseyHorner.com.

Linda Oh - Bass

Listen to Linda: "201"
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan (will travel)
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Linda.

Born in Malaysia, raised in Western Australia and now living in New York City, Linda Oh began playing upright bass at the W.A Academy of Performing Arts, and she completed her Masters at Manhattan School of Music. She has received many awards including the IAJE Sisters in Jazz award in 2004 and an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer's award in 2008.

Linda is an active double bassist, electric bassist and composer, composing music for short films. She has performed with the likes of T.S Monk, Billy Kilson, Nasheet Waits, George Cables and Slide Hampton to name a few, and has been coined "one of the greatest bassists of the new generation" by Nathan Davis.

She is about to release her debut trio album "Entry" in September with Obed Calvaire and Ambrose Akinmusire.
For more about Linda, visit www.LindaOhMusic.com.

Ike Sturm - Bass

(photo by Merri Cyr)

Listen to Ike: "Everduring"
Neighborhood: Midtown East, Manhattan
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Ike.

Ike Sturm is a bassist, composer and bandleader in New York. He serves as the music director for jazz at Saint Peter's Church in Manhattan (the "Jazz Church"), celebrating a deep jazz tradition of memorializing visionaries such as Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. Ike has shared the stage with many gifted artists including Gene Bertoncini, Donny McCaslin, Bobby McFerrin, Ben Monder, Ingrid Jensen, Maria Schneider and Kenny Wheeler. He has played on four "Downbeat" award-winning recordings as well as composer Steve Reich's releases on Canteloupe and Nonesuch Records. Ike studied jazz and classical bass and composition while earning Bachelors and Masters degrees at the Eastman School of Music. In 1999, he was inspired by studies with legendary bassist Dave Holland. Saint Peter's Church recently commissioned Ike to compose a jazz mass for choir, strings and jazz septet. The studio recording features Grammy award nominee Donny McCaslin. Ike's first release, Spirit, featured 14 performers and an extended original suite. For more about Ike, visit www.IkeSturm.com.

Other bass players who can teach in your home or at a Manhattan studio near you (upon request):
Howard Britz
Doug Drewes
Bennett Huxley Miller
Brad Shepik
Reid Taylor

Drums/Percussion

Lou Grassi - Drums/Percussion

Listen to Lou:
"Chichi Rides the Tiger"
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan (will travel)
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Lou.

Drummer and percussionist Lou Grassi is internationally known for his work in both the traditional and the avant-garde jazz worlds. He has literally played from Ragtime to No-Time - he toured with Ragtime pianist Max Morath and is the leader of the Dixie Peppers. He has performed and/or recorded with a wide range of outstanding artists including Marshall Allen, Billy Bang, Borah Bergman, Rob Brown, Roy Campbell, The Copascetics, James Garrison, Charles Gayle, Burton Greene, Urbie Green, Gunter Hampel, Johnny Hartman, Fred van Hove, Joseph Jarman, Sheila Jordan, William Parker, Perry Robinson, Roswell Rudd, John Tchicai, and Mark Whitecage. Lou has toured extensively, performing throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Central America. He has been a featured artist at numerous international festivals including The Stork Music Festival, NYC; The Vision Festival, NYC; The Texaco New York Jazz Festival, NYC; The Rochester Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY; Summer's End Music Festival, Middletown, CT; Rive de Gier International Jazz Festival, France; Festas Lisboa, Portugal; CAMP 99, Tubingen, Germany; The Guelph Jazz Festival, Canada, Festival Frei Improvisierter Music, Dresden, Germany and the WIM Festival in Antwerp, Belgium. He has also performed at Banlieues Bleues Festival, Paris, France; Luneburg Jazz Nights, Germany; The Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival, NYC and The International Dixieland Festival of Dresden, Germany. Since 1978, He has been on the staff of New Jersey City University as a dance accompanist, and he has been a teaching artist for New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) since 2001. He continues to teach privately and is available for workshops and clinics. For more about Lou, visit www.LouGrassi.com.

Pete (La Roca) Sims - Drums

Neighborhood: UWS, Manhattan (will travel)
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 14-adult
Levels taught: int-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Pete (La Roca) Sims.

A living legend, drummer Pete Sims started his career playing timbales in Latin bands, changing his name to Pete La Roca at the time. He played drums with Sonny Rollins (1957- early 1959) and had associations with Jackie McLean, Slide Hampton, the John Coltrane Quartet (where he was the original drummer in 1960) and Marian McPartland. La Roca led his own group (1961-62), was the house drummer at the Jazz Workshop in Boston (1963-64) and worked with Art Farmer (1964-65), Freddie Hubbard, Mose Allison, Charles Lloyd (1966), Paul Bley and Steve Kuhn among others. He led two impressive albums: the classic Blue Note record Basra with Joe Henderson and Bliss, a Douglas session (reissued on Muse) featuring Chick Corea and John Gilmore. For more about Pete, visit www.DrummerWorld.com.

Watch a classic video of Pete La Roca (external site).

Lorne Watson - Drums/Percussion

Neighborhood: Midtown, Manhattan (will travel)
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: marimba
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Lorne.

Lorne Watson is an active performer with the percussion duo Loop 2.4.3 and a freelance percussionist in New York City. Past performances include appearances with the American Chorus at Carnegie Hall, Cate' at the Blue Note, Clogs at Brooklyn Academy Music, and was a featured with Loop 2.4.3 as a guest artist with the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Currently Lorne is on the teaching roster for The Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music, The Brooklyn Arts Council, The Children's Museum of Art and Director of Education for The Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York. He has been an active teacher since 1991, and has published his own method book for beginners, "Three Dimensions". Lorne has been featured as a clinician performer at Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oklahoma City University, and Alma College. He relieved his Bachelor of Science in Percussion Performance and has a teaching certificate from Central Michigan University, where he studied with Robert Hohner. Lorne also studied privately with Jim Chapin, Joe Morello, and Alex Acuna. For more about Lorne, visit www.Loop243.com.

Other drum/percussion players who can teach in your home or at a Manhattan studio near you (upon request):
Richie Barshay
Kim Garey
Pete Zimmer

Voice

Sofia Rei Koutsovitis - Voice

Listen to Sofia: "El Lio"
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village, Manhattan (will travel)
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 11-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Languages: English, Spanish
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Sofia.

Vocalist Sofia Rei Koutsovitis mixes and elegantly fuses South American rhythms with a jazz aesthetic in a unique and extremely seductive way. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, she has been hailed by All About Jazz as "one of the most versatile and in-demand singers on the New York music scene". Sofia has recorded, performed and collaborated with renowned musicians and groups such as Folklore Urbano, Geoffrey Keezer, John Scofield, Lionel Loueke, Alcatraz, Bob Moses, Aquiles Baez, Hector Martignon, Samuel Torres Group, and Pablo Aslan's Avantango. She toured Europe with the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra and premiered with the group Cerulean Skies, a piece commissioned by the New Crowned Hope Festival in Vienna. She was recently featured with vocal giant Bobby McFerrin in Instant Opera at Carnegie Hall. Sofia is an active vocalist, composer and arranger. Her debut album Ojala has received great critical acclaim and has been chosen a top 10 album of 2006 by the Jazz Journalists Association. In Danilo Perez words: "She knows how to combine the best of her Argentine roots with the skills and passion necessary to make many contributions to our music community". Sofia has toured Europe, Asia, North and South America singing at renowned international festivals and venues such as the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note, the Festival de Jazz de Barcelona (Spain), the Chicago World Music Festival, the Festival Internacional Jazz en Lima (Peru), the Festival Iberoamericano de las Artes (Puerto Rico), Cite de la Musique (Paris, France), the IAJE Conference 2008 (Toronto, Canada), and the Lapataia Jazz and World Music festival (Uruguay). Her second album as a leader, "Sube Azul", is being released in Europe in the Summer of '09 by the prestigious label World Village (Harmonia Mundi). Sofia holds a Masters Degree from the new England Conservatory. For more about Sofia, visit www.SofiaMusic.com.

Carolyn Leonhart - Voice

Listen to Carolyn:
"Earth Calling"
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan (will travel)
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 6-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Carolyn.

The daughter of famed bassist Jay Leonhart, Carolyn Leonhart has a soulful voice that has been hailed by critics throughout the world. One of the winners of the Thelonious Monk Vocal Jazz Competition, she is one of the most accomplished and versatile singers of her generation. Carolyn successfully straddles the ever-changing worlds of jazz and pop, interweaving both into many of her projects. She is known for her fourteen-year tenure as lead back-up vocalist with Steely Dan, as well as her work with Lyn Leon and Wax Poetic. She sings jazz classics with authenticity, and navigates through complex music with ease.  Critics have written "Leonhart may be the one to give female vocalists a good name again." -- John Frederick Moore, Jazziz Magazine, July 2005 and Jazziz Magazine featured Carolyn on the cover of its "Women In Jazz" issue (2003) presenting even more evidence that Carolyn Leonhart stands out in the crowded field of jazz vocalists. Carolyn's three solo CDs (including "If Dreams Come True," a collaboration with tenor saxophonist and husband Wayne Escoffery) have received wide critical acclaim, and she will release her her next collaborative CD with Wayne Escoffery later this year. Carolyn has performed at clubs, theatres and festivals all over the world, and appears regularly at Smoke Jazz Club and The Jazz Standard in NYC. Carolyn teaches privately from her home studio in New York City, focusing on aspects ranging from vocal technique and musicianship skills to song study and improvisation. Since 2006, Carolyn has also been teaching part-time at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. At Berklee, Carolyn teaches private students as well as a variety of performance labs ranging from jazz to R & B and Background Vocals. She has given clinics and master classes at high schools and colleges throughout the US and Europe. Carolyn has also been a Voice Consultant on MSNBC and has appeared as a panelist at "GRAMMY Career Day" for New York City High School Students. For more about Carolyn, visit www.CarolynLeonhart.com.

Other

Mark Josefsberg - Alexander Technique

Watch a video on the Alexander Technique here.
Neighborhood: Midtown, Manhattan and Elmhurst, Queens
View interactive map.
Ages taught: ages 10-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: vibraphone
Send us an email letting us know that you want to study with Mark.

After studying Alexander Technique privately for some years, virtuoso jazz vibraphonist Mark Josefsberg decided to take the 1600 hour, 3 year training course to become a full time Nationally Certified Alexander Technique teacher. Mark has studied with some of the most experienced Alexander teachers from the United States, Israel and England, and he is ACAT and AmSAT Certified. In addition to his private teaching practice, with students from all walks of life, Mark has been on faculty at ACAT, training future Alexander Teachers. Some of Mark's private students have gone on to become certified teachers of the Technique. Mark has taught the Technique at Barnard/Columbia University's Physical Education department, and he is the AT teacher on staff at A.R.E. Holistic Health and Wellness Center in New York City. Mark also teaches the AT at the New York Spine Institute in Garden City, and at Step Into Stride Physical Therapy in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Mark is recommended by Beth Israel Hospital's Continuum for Health and Healing. Mark has written several articles regarding the Alexander Technique for Altmd.com, Wellsphere.com and alexandertechnique.com. For more about Mark, visit www.MarkJosefsberg.com.

Other players who can teach in your home or at a Manhattan studio near you (upon request):
Javier Arau - Theory/Composition/Arranging
Darcy James Argue - Theory/Composition/Arranging
Miles Okazaki - Improvisation/Theory/Composition

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