DOUG BROWN DUO
Douglas Brown is a multi-talented eclectic artist. His roots are in Blues, R&B, Jazz, Rock, and Folk. Douglas has played with acts local, national, and international. He has played with artists as varied as Chuck Berry, North Star (a band consisting of members of Smokey Robinson's backup band), The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Tommy Bolin, Norma Bell, Spyder Turner, The Garfield Blues Band, Koko Taylor, Mighty Joe Young, Dennis Coffey, jazz great Cameron Brown, free jazz artist Faruk Z Bey, jazz master Billy Heart. He occasionally performs with his daughter Sari Brown and can be heard on one of the tracks from her new release “The Holy Broken Heart”. Sometimes, he gigs with his son, Andrew Brown of Djangophonique and Appleseed Collective fame. He currently plays in the Detroit and Ann Arbor area as a solo artist, in small groups and with the powerhouse 12 piece soul-funk band “Skyline and the Backstreet Horns”.
JAMES O’DONNELL QUARTET
Co-leading Detroit's little big band the Planet D Nonet since 2007 has kept James O’Donnell in the limelight of the music scene in Detroit. The band has garnered seven Motor City Music Awards for Outstanding Jazz Recording or Outstanding Traditional Jazz Ensemble. The band’s “Salute to Strayhorn”, a tribute to Duke Ellington collaborator Billy Strayhorn released on Detroit Music Factory, was considered for a Grammy Award in 2017 and received airplay throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. James has toured through 13 states in the Midwest and the deep South with PD9.
DUNCAN McMILLAN QUARTET
Duncan Williamson McMillan began studying piano at age 5. His musical studies continued with Frederic Dehaven at Christ Church in Grosse Ponte, singing in the boys choir (1980-1987). From 1989-1992, Duncan studied jazz piano and music theory with James Hohmeyer, Bess Bonnier and Matt Michaels. Upon graduation from Western Michigan University in 1997 (B.M. piano/jazz studies), Duncan has established a reputation as a versatile musician, working with such diverse artists as Jon Hendricks, Aretha Franklin, Rodney Whitaker, Ira Sullivan, Marcus Belgrave, Eric Marienthal, Nelson Rangell, Chris Standring, and The Four Freshman. In demand as both a pianist and organist,
PAUL KELLER QUARTET w/ SARAH D’ANGELO
Sarah D'Angelo does it with verve, class, confidence, poise, perfect intonation, spot-on phrasing, terrific dynamic, personal expression and loads of love. She's an incredible team player with her own exquisite persona." Linda Yohn, WEMU 89.1
TOM DENNIS
Tom Dennis is a versatile jazz pianist whose style is defined by melodic solo lines and sophisticated reharmonizations of familiar melodies. His taste in composers ranges from Gershwin to Bacharach. Tom is Professor of Music at Oakland Community College, he currently performs as a solo pianist, a sideman to some of Detroit’s finest vocalists, and as the pianist in Detroit’s own traditional swing band, the Rhythm Society Orchestra.
JARROD CHAMPION DUO
His roots are deep in Detroit, but when he sits in front of the keys, Jarrod Champion’s sound makes its way to the south, over in the dixieland and delta. Ask anyone, he’s one of the best in the city. If it’s top notch Detroit made music you seek, look no further.
Travis Wright, WDET
BOB SCHNEEWEISS
Bob Schneeweis, originally from the Twin Cities, MN, has been an active pianist, composer/arranger, and teacher for the past two decades. Prior to moving to Detroit in 2009, Bob worked foremost as pianist, composer/arranger, and music director for the popular Minneapolis-based Latin orchestra Salsabrosa, as well as writing for and performing with the much-lauded Atlantis Quartet (then Quintet). He also collaborated with a wide array of other groups, from hip hop and electronic music, to free improvisation and experimental music. In the Detroit area, Bob continues
PAUL KING QUARTET
Influenced heavily by the great jazz, swing and soul crooners, Paul King has created a classic sound of his own. Known for his smooth tone and sophisticated style, Paul and his band have a gift for making your evening special. His interesting song choices and wonderful vocal phrasing have been making dancers, jazz heads and casual listeners happy for decades.
PAUL KING QUARTET
Influenced heavily by the great jazz, swing and soul crooners, Paul King has created a classic sound of his own. Known for his smooth tone and sophisticated style, Paul and his band have a gift for making your evening special. His interesting song choices and wonderful vocal phrasing have been making dancers, jazz heads and casual listeners happy for decades.
CHRIS CODISH w/ DARIAN TASCHNER
Keyboard specialist Chris Codish has steadily made himself a vital part of the Detroit musical community. A perennial winner at the Detroit Music Awards over the past fourteen years, he has received multiple honors for his vocal and songwriting skills as well as his keyboard mastery...