PV, DM, PK, JOD
2025-10-01 18:30 - 22:30 (America/Detroit)

DUNCAN McMILLAN QUARTET
2025-10-04 18:30 - 21:30
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, he regularly performs in the Midwest region with bassist Paul Keller, vocalist Sarah D’Angelo, The Paul Keller Orchestra, and The Randy Napoleon Sextet. In addition, Mr. McMillan is a respected musical director/arranger for regional thea-ters, church organizations and local bands. His arrangements have been performed by The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, University of Michigan (Flint) Jazz Ensemble, Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Jazz Orchestra, Flint Symphony Orchestra, Theatre Bizarre Orchestra, & The Planet D Nonet. More information is available through Musa Canta Music, a collaborative business venture with saxophonist/educator/arranger, Joshua James. www.musacantamusic.com Selected Discography:“Room with a View” – Duncan W. McMillan (2019)“My Blue Heaven” – The Paul Keller At Sundown Quintet (2017)“Brother, Brother” – Tom Douvan (2014)“This is what we do” – The R.J. Spangler Trio (2012)“At Sundown” – The Paul Keller Quartet (2012)“Your Soul” – The Ben Jansson Trio (2012)“The Jukebox Crowd” – Randy Napoleon Sextet (2012)”Organic Roots” – The Pete Siers Quartet (2009)”The Gentleman is back” – Johnnie Bassett & The Blues Insurgents (2009)”A week in the life of The Firefly Club” – Paul Keller Orchestra (2008)”The Easy Life” – The Odessa Harris Group (2003

PV, DM, JOD
2025-10-17 18:30 - 22:30

PAUL KELLER QUARTET w/ SARAH D'ANGELO
2025-10-30 18:30 - 21:30, 2026-01-08 18:30 - 21:30
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
2025-11-03 18:30 - 21:30
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
2025-11-05 18:30
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
2025-11-10 18:30 - 21:30
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 to be active as a jazz pianist, composer, and teacher, as well as a composer and performer of classical/new music.
In October 2017, Bob served as a performer, composer, and lead organizer for the powerful Bicentenary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah event at the Strand Theater in Pontiac, MI. Here, he coordinated a broad array of regional and national groups across many cultures and artistic traditions – including chamber and gospel choir, classical Indian dance, folk, Native American, and jazz music, as well as original theatrical monologues threading the program together. The process of organizing the program was fundamentally collaborative, seeking to engage the wider community in many aspects of the planning process, and involved the commission of 7 new works of music and dance (including one by Schneeweis), as well as a series of original theatrical interludes, all based on principles related to the oneness of humankind.
From 2017-2018, Bob contributed to the Soul Food series of concerts aimed at celebrating the true purpose of music as a means to empower and unite people. At these concerts – as well as at the Bicentenary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah – he performed original compositions and arrangements of his with a powerful all-star group including such great local players as Gayelynn McKinney, Marion Hayden, Pat Prouty, Miles Brown, Mark Stone, and Matt Dufresene. From this series was also born The Universal, which continues to perform in the Detroit Metro area.
In 2017, Bob was a winner of the Oakland Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, performing the first movement of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G. He holds a Masters Degree from Oakland University in piano performance, and maintains his own private piano studio, teaching both jazz and classical piano performance, as well as composition, improvisation, and theory.

CHRIS CODISH w/ DARIAN TASCHNER
2025-12-01 18:45 - 21:45
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. He formed the multi award winning funk/jazz/jam band The Brothers Groove, produced the last two albums for the late, great Detroit bluesman Johnnie Bassett on Sly Dog Records (Mack Ave. Records), and toured globally with Hiram Bullock, Harvey Mason, Alexander Zonjic, Larry McCray and Lucky Peterson. He’s performed and/or recorded with Don Was, Roy Ayers, Ronnie Laws, Jim “Moose” Brown, Sponge, The Motor City Horns, The Dead String Brothers, Kenny Tudrick, Dave McMurray, Thornetta Davis, Kenny G, Bob James, Jeff Lorber, and countless others. When not on tour, Chris performs on piano, organ and keyboard throughout the Metro Detroit area, as well as at God Land Unity Church in Detroit every Sunday morning.

DANA MARIA DUO
2025-12-10 18:30 - 21:30

JOHN T-BONE PAXTON QUARTET
2025-12-31 20:30 - 2026-01-01 00:30, 2026-02-20 13:30 - 17:30
John “Tbone” Paxton is a veteran trombonist and vocalist professionally active in Southeastern Michigan for many years. He is the featured singer and trombone soloist with the award-winning jazz ensemble, the Planet D Nonet. John is a 2nd generation musician and a son of the “Jazz Age.” His soulful sense of swing, phrasing, and his ability to interpret and bring personal meaning to a lyric allows him to connect to his audience at an emotional level, both as a vocalist and as an instrumentalist.
John was integral member of the Sun Messengers band for decades, leaving to develop his own career as a jazz singer and trombonist. He has had long associations with many of the great Detroit area bandleaders like Paul Keller, Eddie Nuccilli, Scott Gwinnell and piano master Mr B. Tbone has also played with a lot of great blues and R&B men as well, including Earl King, Johnny Adams, Sir Mac Rice, Pinetop Perkins and even Latin Jazz Great Eddie Palmieri! His repertoire reflects all of these influences, most notably, growing up in a musical home influenced by his father Fred, who was an accomplished pianist working all the major rooms in the area. In fact, a regular pianist at the London Chop House for fifty years! His repertoire features both hits and obscure rarities by such artists as Fats Waller, Frank Sinatra, Danny Barker, Nat Cole and Louis Jordan, creating his own personal take on the Great American Songbook.
John draws the audience in and brings passion, soul, a unique repertoire, joy and authenticity to his performances everywhere and every night!! Look for his upcoming recording “Back in Your Own Backyard” with the RJ Spangler Quartet.

COLTON WEATHERSTON QUARTET
2026-01-09 18:30 - 22:30

CARY KOCHER QUARTET
2026-01-22 18:30 - 22:30
Vibraphonist and voclisr Cary Kocher trained at the University of Michigan under Michael Udow, the late Charles Owen, and Salvatore Rabbio. Kocher plays with Latin jazz group Los Gatos and co-leads a classic vibraphone quartet with bassist Paul Keller.

CHRIS CODISH TRIO
2026-01-23 18:45 - 21:45, 2026-03-06 18:30 - 22:30

DUNCAN McMILLAN with VANESSA RUBIN
2026-02-05 18:30 - 21:30, 2026-02-06 18:30 - 21:30

CHRIS PLANSKER
2026-02-10 18:30 - 21:30
Chris Plansker is a composer,pianist and session musician based in the united states. His work has been featured on various recordings,television shows and commercials globally.Trained in classical and Jazz piano Chris holds a degree in music composition from the University of North Texas. When not composing, Chris also performs on a regular basis with his group as well as the long time keyboardist with Detroit singer/songwriter Stewart Francke. It has been with Francke that Chris has arranged for Motown’s Funk brothers and opened for acts such as Brian Adams, Rick Springfield and Bob Seger.

JAMES O'DONNELL QUARTET
2026-02-13 18:30 - 21:30
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.

MICHAEL ZAPORSKI
2026-02-17 18:30 - 21:30
Michael Zaporski creates astonishing music that merges American jazz traditions with a West-African-influenced rhythmic dialogue. Serving as the pianist for the late Detroit saxophonist Sam Sanders, Zaporski traveled to West Africa, playing and teaching jazz through the U.S. State Department.
This long-time association lead to performances with such renowned jazz artists as Jackie McLean, Frank Foster, Art Blakey, Pharaoh Sanders, and Donald Byrd. Whether fronting his own group or playing with the Planet D. Nonet, Zaporski imbues every original composition and jazz-standard with a wealth of sophistication gained through these experiences.Through his own group, FutureVisions, Zaporski has garnered headlining performances at jazz festivals and colleges, and has released several recordings– including one for orchestra, chorus, and jazz quartet–to critical acclaim. Combining adrenaline-pumping energy levels with African rhythms and haunting melodies, Zaporski continues the pursuit of excellence and individuality that is the essence of the American jazz tradition.

DUNCAN McMILLAN
2026-02-24 18:30

Olivia Van Goor Duo
2026-02-25 18:30 - 21:30

PAUL KELLER QUARTET featuring: PAUL KING
2026-02-27 18:30 - 21:30
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
2026-02-27 18:30 - 21:30, 2026-02-28 18:30 - 21:30

CHRIS CODISH
2026-03-02 18:30 - 21:30

TONY VIVIANO
2026-03-03 18:30 - 21:30
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Tonys’ formal classical training began at the age of 7. His involvement with music led him to study at Sienna Heights University, concentrating on jazz and classical piano, theory and composition. Along with his studies and as keyboardist/composer for various groups he also found time to study with Toledo jazz legend Gene Parker.
His versatility also earned him an adjunct faculty position at Washtenaw Community College in Ypsilanti , Michigan. Under then departmental head Morrice J. Lawrence Jr. he taught classes in theory and jazz/blues piano. During this time Tony mentored under the remarkable pianist/keyboardist Pittsburgh native, Eddie Russ.
From 1989-90 American/European Express, a luxury train that traveled between Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York, contracted Tony for several months to perform in the “club car”. Always ready for something new and challenging in 1991-92 Tony then traveled to Japan to work for the Biwako Kissen Company of Otsu,. There he performed on the “Bianca”, a prestigious dinner boat that sailed along the coastline of Lake Biwa.
Upon his return from Japan, Tony played for several seasons with the Grand Hotel Orchestra on historic Mackinac Island, Michigan. Acting as headliner for the month of June 1999 then staying on as guest artist accompanying other headliners such as, Detroit saxophone legend George Benson, Grammy nominee jazz vocalist Betty Joplin and New Orleans vocalist John Boutea. Tony was also an opener for The John Pizzarelli Trio, Chic Corea, Herbie Mann, Auturo Sandoval, and Straight Ahead.
For 7 years Tony took to the high seas and was employed as solo pianist on the Disney Dream and Magic cruise ships. Then was contracted as leader of jazz quartets aboard Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Cruise lines new “Solstice” class ships. On board he performed originals and jazz standards while sailing throughout Alaska, Mexico, Caribbean, Baltics, Bahamas and the Mediterranean.
Currently Tony is still active in the Michigan music scene and travels throughout the state and nationally performing with various artists from vocalists to instrumentalist.

HANNAH FRANCIS DUO
2026-03-04 18:30 - 21:30

PAUL KING QUARTET w/ CHELSEA PACKARD
2026-03-05 18:30 - 21:30
