Revered as both a torchbearer and a storyteller, jazz vocalist Vanessa Rubin possesses a voice hailed for crystalline clarity, hearth-like warmth and playful lioness sass. The Cleveland native brings a wealth of diverse influences to her vocal performance from both the Trinidadian/Caribbean roots of her mother and traditional jazz by way of her Louisiana-born father. Additional homespun influences include the melodic bell tone clarity of a young Capital Records recording artist, Nancy Wilson, the fire of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, the sweet sounds of trumpeter Blue Mitchell as well as her love of the Motown Sound…especially girl groups like the Supremes.

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.

Vibraphonist and voclist 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.

Phil Kelly, a 35 year veteran of the Detroit Jazz scene and one of the most in-demand pianists in the Metro Detroit area

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.

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.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan . The smooth sounds of Keith Ferguson will leave you relaxed and energize. His style of music ranges from Jazz to Motown. Keith is presently the musical director for “The Spinners”. He has also played with the late great Ms. Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Anita Baker, Kem,Cheryl Lynn just to name a few.

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.

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.

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

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.