DUNCAN McMILLAN
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,
Olivia Van Goor Duo
William Marshall Bennett (piano) and Olivia Van Goor (vocals) have been working together for a little over a year, both as a duo and in band settings. Olivia and Will are heavily influenced by many styles of jazz, ranging from Traditional and Swing era to be-bop and fusion. They greatly enjoy putting their own unique spin on standard songs. OliviaVan Goor is a SE Michigan jazz vocalist. She grew up near Cleveland, OH, graduated from Denison University in Granville, OH in 2019, and is now playing music and teaching private lessons. William Bennett is an Ann Arbor based pianist. He graduated from the University of Toledo with a B.A. in Jazz Studies and is currently working on a Masters Degree at Wayne State.
PAUL KELLER QUARTET
Paul is well known for his associations with pianist/vocalist Diana Krall and guitarist Russell
Malone. Paul has performed with jazz greats Joe Williams, Cab Calloway, Marian McPartland,
Barry Harris, Jeff Hamilton, Benny Golson, Benny Green, Jon Hendricks, Wycliff Gordon,
Mulgrew Miller, Jay McShann and James Moody. He has played on over 50 CDs with artists
such as Larry Vuckovich, Eddie Higgins, and Marcus Belgrave.
Paul was honored by the West Michigan Jazz Society as their 2001 Jazz Musician of the Year
and by the Detroit Music Awards as the 2002 Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist. Keller is on the
faculty of the Wayne State University jazz department in Detroit. He travels frequently, giving
jazz concerts, workshops and clinics and is well-respected as an innovative and enthusiastic
jazz educator.
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.
ELIJAH ROCK
Rooted in the elegance and swing of The Great American Songbook, Elijah weaves timeless standards with inspired originals, carried by the rich textures of jazz, blues, and vintage R&B. Anchored by Elijah Rock’s commanding baritone, each entertaining moment unfolds with the kind of classic showmanship that doesn’t just recall another era—it brings it vividly back to life
Critic Scott Yanow affirms:
“It takes a certain kind of artist these days to carry on the torch passed on from the likes of Nat ‘King’ Cole, Freddie Cole, Billy Eckstine, and Joe Williams.”