Nicholas Payton is widely considered one of the greatest artists of our time. Hailed as a virtuoso before he was even out of high school, his unbridled talent has earned him praise and accolades, as well as insured his place in history.
 
“Payton’s clarion trumpet, as well as his genre-defying solos, stood at the center of the music making… Payton bent notes beyond recognition… No descriptive label or category could be affixed to Payton’s solos, which were as brashly original as they were technically imposing.” — Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 1, 2012
 
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Kevin Hays is internationally recognized as one of the premier jazz pianists of his generation. Many of his 15 recordings as leader have received critical acclaim from publications such as The New York Times, Downbeat Magazine and Jazz Times, as well as a “Coup de Coeur” from the Académie Charles Cros (France). A prolific sideman appearing on over 60 records, Kevin’s long list of notable musical associations include records with Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, Nicholas Payton, and Al Foster.
 
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Born and raised in Woodstock, NY, Vicente Archer has been hailed as one of the most sought-out bassists of his generation. At the age of twenty, while still in college in Boston, he was picked up by acclaimed artists Donald Harrison and Eric Reed to tour. Soon after that he went on to work with artists such as Terence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, Wynton Marsalis, Stanley Jordan, Stefon Harris and many more. Vicente currently tours with Blue Note recording artists Amos Lee and Robert Glasper, as well as the Grammy Award winning artist Nicholas Payton.

Joseph C. Dyson, Jr.’s musically inclined family introduced him to music at the early age of two years. He began playing as a drummer in his father’s church with other family members. His musical education began at Mc Donogh #15 Creative Arts/Magnet Elementary School in New Orleans and continued at NOCCA. Dyson has honed his skills over the years as a participant in the Project Prodigy Summer Music Camp, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, Berklee’s Five Week Summer Performance and Jazz Workshop, Port Townsend Jazz Workshop, Tipitina’s Internship, and the New Jazz School Jazz Camp. He has received numerous scholarships, including the full tuition presidential scholarship to Berklee College of Music from which he graduated with honors. He has been priviledged to be associated with some of the finest musicians in the industry, having studied with the likes of Donald Harrison, Alvin Batiste, Clyde Kerr, Herlin Riley, Chico Hamilton, Adonis Rose and Jerry McGowan among others.
 

featuring:
Sullivan Fortner (piano/keys)
Jonathan Michel (bass)
John Davis (drums)
Sarah Elizabeth Charles (voice)

 
Sarah Elizabeth Charles is a rising vocalist/composer based in New York City. She has worked and studied with artists such as George Cables, Geri Allen, Nicholas Payton, Sheila Jordan, Jimmy Owens and Carmen Lundy and released her debut record, “Red” in September of 2012 with her band the S.E.Charles Quartet. As the active vocalist in a number of bands (including AJOYO, Manner Effect, Transient Beingsand Enoch Smith Jr.’s “Misfits”), Sarah has performed at many venues throughout her career. These venues have included The White House, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Gillette Stadium as a National Anthem singer for the New England Patriots, the Bern International Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival, The Kennedy Center, the Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival, the Burlington Jazz Festival, the Apollo Music Café, Blue Note NYC, Le Poisson Rouge, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and the Rose Theatre with Jazz at Lincoln Center.
 
In addition to her performances, Sarah is also an active educator. She works as a teaching artist with Carnegie Hall’s Musical Connections program, teaches private lessons in New York City and at Larchmont Music Academy and is developing an early childhood music education program with Rise2Shine, a non-profit organization based in Fond Parisien, Haiti.
 
Sarah’s sophomore project, “Inner Dialogue”, released March 24th, 2015 on Truth Revolution Records, features her band along with co-producer/special guest Christian Scott. Along with the release of this project, Sarah has recently performed at the Rose Theatre (along with the great Andy Bey and Molly Johnson in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “Celebrating Lady Day” event), at Duc des Lombards and The New Morning in Paris, the Blue Note in New York City and at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse for her Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert. One can only look to the future for more unique music and performances from this one of a kind artist.
 
Sarah Elizabeth Charles official site
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Photo credit: Shervin Lainez