• Directors
• Instrumental, Ensemble, & Improvisation
• Drumset
• Latin Percussion

Directors

Lori Mechem
Founder, Director and Pianist
www.lorimechem.com

A respected jazz pianist, composer and educator, Lori, along with her husband Roger Spencer, has lived in the Nashville area since 1988. In addition to directing production shows and conducting musical theatre, she has performed with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Red Holloway, Jimmy Smith, Cal Collins, Roy McCurdy, Terry Gibbs, Pete Christlieb, Edie Gorme, Bobby Militello, Kirk Whalum and Donna McElroy. A native of Anderson Indiana, Lori received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. Lori's first CD, "Welcome to Brazil" was nominated for " Best Jazz Album of the Year" by the Nashville Music Awards in 1997. In 2003, Lori's second CD, "Shiny Stockings, rose to #26 on the jazz charts. In 2005 she released a Brazilian Christmas album on Village Square Music. Lori and Roger founded and direct the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Lori is responsible for curriculum, student advisement, and special events, and teaches vocal, instrumental, and keyboard classes.

Roger Spencer
Founder, Director and Bassist

Originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, Roger has had an extensive musical career. He has performed, traveled and recorded with such artists as Les Brown and His Band of Renown, Harry James, Rosemary Clooney, Sam Butera, Tony Bennett, Ray Conniff, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Frank Sinatra, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco and Carl Fontana. He and his wife Lori Mechem moved to Nashville in 1988 where he records, performs, and teaches. Roger attended Indiana University, studying under David Baker in Jazz Studies, and graduated from Indiana State with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Besides performing and recording with Lori, Roger is a longtime member of the Beegie Adair Trio, and is also on the faculty at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music. Roger and Lori founded and direct the Nashville Jazz Workshop, where Roger is responsible for administration and financial management, and teaches improvisation, theory, and ensembles.

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Instrumental, Ensemble, and Improvisation

Denis Solee
Saxophone

Multi-reed player/saxophonist Denis Solee has lived in Nashville since 1974. Interested and skilled in all types of music, he has played in military bands, symphony orchestras, Broadway shows, big bands, and small groups. He has appeared on radio, TV, films, and recordings for artists from Ray Stevens to Ray Charles; Mel Tillis to Mel Torme; Louis Bellson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sarah Vaughn, Amy Grant, Liberace, Aretha Franklin.... and the list goes on. While he makes a living playing virtually all types of music, Denis in the last few years has focused more on his major interest: big bands and small jazz ensembles. Denis has 4 of his own albums on the Green Hills Music label and just recently released his newest CD - "Sinatra on Sax" for Village Square Music. Denis teaches ensembles at The Nashville Jazz Workshop, and is responsible for the transcriptions and arrangements performed by these ensembles.

Beegie Adair
Piano and Voice
www.beegieadair.com

Beegie Adair is one of Nashville's most recognized and respected jazz musicians. She has played behind such artists as Slide Hampton, Frank Rosolino, Urbie Green, Bill Watrous, Ernie Watts, Connie Francis, Dinah Shore and Perry Como.A native of Cave City, Kentucky, Beegie graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. In 1961, she moved to Nashville where she has performed extensively on TV and radio and been a successful studio musician. Her first independent release in 1991 was "Escape to New York". In the 1990's she hosted a radio show, "Improvised Thoughts," for which she interviewed jazz greats from around the country. In recent years, Beegie has been busy recording CDs for the Green Hill and Village Square labels. Her first CD with Green Hill, " The Frank Sinatra Collection" won "Best Jazz Album of the Year" at the Nashville Music Awards in 1997. "The Nat King Cole Collection" was nominated for the same award in 1998. She currently teaches at Vanderbilt University's Blair School, and travels. Besides teaching at NJW, Beegie also serves on the Board of Directors.

Bruce Dudley
Piano, Composition, Theory and Ensembles

A native of Rochester New York, Bruce and his family have found a home in Nashville. Bruce studied at New England Conservatory in Boston, Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and Eastman School of Music, and has a Masters of Music degree in Jazz Performance. After graduating he was Assistant Professor of Music and Jazz Studies at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada. From 1991 to 1995 Bruce taught at San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas. He was frequently heard in clubs and concert halls throughout the Southwest with his trio, as accompanist to such jazz artists as Herb Ellis, Marvin Stamm, and with his wife, vocalist Sandra Dudley. Bruce currently teaches at Belmont University and MTSU. In 1998 his trio CD, "Semblance,"was nominated for "Best Jazz Album of the Year" for the 1998 Nashville Music Awards. Bruce teaches advanced improvisation classes and ensembles at NJW.

Rod McGaha
Trumpet

Raised in the "Windy City", Rod's incredible jazz trumpet playing has taken him through all of the major U.S. cities and many cities over seas. He has performed with such artists as Lou Rawls, The O'Jays, Bebe and Cece Winans, Take 6, Kirk Whalum, and Max Roach and his Brass Quintet. Rod studied music at DePaul University in Chicago, where he studied under jazz great Clark Terry. Rod and his family moved to Nashville in the early 90's and has been very successful with studio work, club dates, and with his own solo projects. Rod teaches styles and improvisation classes at NJW and serves on the Advisory Board.

Kirk Whalum
Saxophone
http://www.kirkwhalum.com

Originally from Memphis TN, Kirk grew up in a very musical family. He began playing sax in high school and went on to college at Texas Southern University in Houston. In 1983 he began his recording career with Bob James. He has traveled and played with so many great artists such as Whitney Houston, Nancy Wilson, Luther Vandross, Al Jarreau, George Benson, George Duke, Take 6 and Quincy Jones just to name a few.Whalum has had great success in the music business. Not only is he a superb player, but a wonderful composer. In 1998, Kirk released his first gospel project, "The Gospel According to Jazz" for which he recieved several award nominations. Since then, Kirk keeps busy recording and traveling. He resides in Nashville, TN with his family. Kirk is a member of the NJW Board and has conducted an Artist Residency, special concerts, and Master Classes on Improvisation.

Don Aliquo
Saxophone
www.mtsu.edu/~daliquo

Originally from Pittsburg PA, Don has been in the Nashville area since 1999. He accepted an Assistant Professorship in Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Middle Tennessee State University. He has recorded 3 original cd projects. Aliquo has performed with artists such as David Liebman, Claudio Roditi, Louis Bellson, Buddy Rich, Herbie Mann, Charlie Haden and Doc Cheatham as well as record with many other artists. Don teaches advanced improvisation and ensembles at NJW.

Jeff Coffin
Saxophone
www.jeffcoffin.com

Jeff moved to Nashville in 1991 after graduating from North Texas State and has been recording, playing, touring, writing and teaching ever since. Jeff records and tours with Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, and also performs and records with his own group, the "Mu'tet". He has played and recorded with such artists as the Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Van Morrison, Bruce Hornsby, Branford Marsalis, Phish, Medeski, Martin & Wood, John Scofield, Sheryl Crow. Jeff has recorded a number of CD's under his own name, including "Outside the Lines" "Bloom," "Go Round," and "Commonality." Jeff is also known in Nashville for starting the first Jazz Workshop and Jam Session to help budding musicians learn and play with the pros. Jeff endorses Yamaha saxophones and Vandoren reeds. He is also a member of NJW's Advisory Board.

John Arnn
Piano, Vocal Literature, and Theory

John Arnn taught commercial/jazz piano and related courses in theory and improvisation at Belmont University's School of Music. He maintains an active career as a composer, arranger, and performer in the Nashville area. In 1998 he studied composition with English composer/arranger Bob Chilcott in London and Oxford. Published works (UNC Jazz Press, Wingert-Jones Publications, Lorenz) include choral, instrumental, jazz choir, and solo piano collections. His professional experience as a free-lance keyboardist includes appearances with the Glenn Miller band under Ray McKinley, Ralph Marterie, and the Warren Covington Orchestra. He is a Past-President of the Tennessee Unit of IAJE.

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Roy Agee
Trombone

Roy Agee has been a freelance trombonist in Nashville for 15 years. He has traveled extensively playing in some of the worlds most prestigious halls and clubs including Birdland, The Blue Note (in both Tokyo and New York City), The Bottom Line, and even the Houston Astrodome. He has played with Jimmy Lovelace, Lew Anderson's Big Band, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and appeared on hundreds of CDs.

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Drumset

Chester Thompson
Drumset
www.chesterthompson.com

In 1995, Chester and his family moved from L.A. to Nashville. He is known for a very successful playing and recording career with such artists as Weather Report, Frank Zappa, George Duke, Phil Collins and many more. Chester is on the faculty at Belmont University in Nashville. He is very much in demand in the studios, and is constantly traveling to do clinics and master classes. Chester teaches drumset classes and ensembles at NJW, and also serves on the Advisory Board.

Tom Giampietro
Drumset

Tom Giampietro holds a Bachelor of Music in Studio Music in Jazz from the University of Miami (FL), and a Masters in Music in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Iowa. He was a member of Grammy-winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin's eclectic jazz group the Mu-tet, and performed on Coffin's award-winning and critically acclaimed CDs, "Go Round," and "Commonality." From 2003-05, he was a member of the University of Northern Iowa Faculty Jazz Ensemble. He has appeared as a clinician or adjudicator at numerous universities and festivals. He is also an active composer, and currently leads his own group, featuring his compositions, in and around Nashville.

Chris Brown
Drumset

After arriving from New York in 1992, Chris has been one of the most sought-after jazz drummers in the South. He has recorded and played with many great musicians while in Nashville. Chris's first professional big band gig was with the Maynard Ferguson Band, and he has also played with Don Grolnick. A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chris graduated from North Texas State with a Bachelors of Music degree in Jazz Studies. Besides being one of Nashville's top session drummers, Chris tours with Sam Bush and performs regularly with the Beegie Adair Trio.

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Voice

Ron Browning
Voice
www.ronbrowningmusic.com

A native of eastern Kentucky, Ron Browning has been immersed in both performing and fine arts since childhood. He earned a BME in voice and piano from the University of Kentucky and did post graduate studies at the University of Louisville, KY and at University of CA at Northridge. Ron has produced and directed professional theater as well as conducted and arranged music for concert choirs. While living in L.A., Ron worked and studied under Seth Riggs, Hollywood's famous vocal coach for the stars. Not only is Ron a great vocal coach, he is a fine pianist and visual artist. Ron teaches Vocal Technique and performance classes at NJW.

Jeff Hall
Voice
www.jeffhallmusic.com

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, vocalist Jeff Hall has recently relocated to the Nashville area. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Jazz/Commercial Performance from Towson University, and furthered his education at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Jeff continues to perform and record in both Nashville and Maryland, and has been featured on Ken Navarro's After Dark and Pride and Joy CDs. He has also toured Europe, including performances with the jazz vocal group 'After Hours' at the Montreaux and North Sea Jazz Festivals. Jeff teaches Vocal Jazz Improv, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and Musicianship for Vocalists at NJW. His CD, "Let's Face The Music"; was released by Jeffworld Music in 2003.

Liz Johnson
Voice
www.lilyrecords.com

An Illinois native, Liz began her musical study at age 6 with piano and moved to flute and then alto saxophone in high school and college, playing in local jazz bands. After college she moved to Nashville, where she found the Nashville Jazz Workshop and began several years of intensive study of voice and improvistion. She has moved from student to accomplished performer and jazz artist, performing regularly in Nashville and around the country. Her second CD, "Playground," was released in 2003, and has received national acclaim and airplay. In 2004 Liz was invited to perform at the Montreux Switzerland Jazz Festival as a semi finalist in the international vocal jazz competition. Liz has taught at the Vanderbilt Blair School and has pursued graduate study at MTSU. One of the newest additions to the NJW faculty, Liz teaches vocal literature.

Sandra Dudley
Voice
www.sandradudley.com

Currently teaching at Belmont University in Nashville, Sandra is one of Nashville's foremost vocal talents. She has performed with such jazz greats as Fred Hersch, Barney Kessel, Bobby Millitello and was the featured vocalist with The Nelson Riddle Band. In 1998 she was a winner of Jazziz Magazine's "Vocals on Fire" Jazz Original Song Competition with "Billie". Sandra holds a B.M. from State University of New York and a Master of Music from Eastman School of Music in Vocal Performance. Sandra's first solo CD "Close To You", was released in 2003 on Bella Records.

Jim Ferguson
Voice and bass
www.jimfergusonmusic.com

Jim is a bassist and vocalist whose two recent CD's "Not Just Another Pretty Bass," and "Deep Summer Music" have received national attention. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Master of Music Degree in 1981, he moved to Nashville. He has performed with scores of major jazz artists, and at numerous festivals. Among the artists with whom he has performed are Teddy Wilson, Kenny Burrell, Lenny Breau, Cal Collins, Phineas Newborn Jr., Jimmy Raney, Martin Taylor, the Hi-Los, Jay McShann, Conte Candoli, Gene Bertoncini, Attila Zoller, Steve Allen, Marian McPartland, and Mose Allison. He has appeared on a number of NPR programs, including "Piano Jazz" and "Morning Edition".

Abby Burke
Voice
www.abbyandthemanlyband.com

Abby's love of music and its effect on people has made teaching and performing a driving force in her life. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Education. In 2001 she formed "Abby Burke featuring The Manly Band", and in 2005 released her debut album which drew rave reviews. She has performed in Opera (with credits including Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" and the 2005 premier of Marcus Hummon's "Surrender Road") and in theater ("Ain't Misbehavin'" with the Tennessee Rep). She broke racial barriers at The Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach, SC by becoming the first African-American performing artist to participate in their "One for the Holidays Spectacular." In 2005 she received the Individual Artist Fellowship in Vocal Performance from the Tennessee Arts Commission. Abby has performed with Patti LaBelle, Englebert Humperdink, Tim Curry, Donald Byrd and his Black Birds, and Beegie Adair, and has performed for former Vice President Al Gore. Abby teaches vocal performance at NJW.

Connye Florance
Voice
www.connyeflorance.com

Connye Florance is an award-winning vocalist (BET Jazz Vocalist Of The Year, 2000) and dynamic actress who has career credits which include stage, studio and screen performances. She has headlined regional and area jazz festivals with her award winning ensemble, performing alongside such notables as Randy Brecker, Maynard Ferguson and Beegie Adair. She has toured nationally with Columbia Artists and American Negro Playwright Theater, hosted an educational series for PBS and KET TV, and been the voice of numerous commercials, including Major League Baseball and The WB network. Her most recent work includes her original one-woman show celebrating the legacy of jazz, titled "Jazz Rhapsody." This tour-de-force performance showcases both her vocal and writing prowess, and, after a recent "standing-room-only" premiere, will tour nationally. Connye teaches vocal performance at NJW.

Christina Watson
Voice
www.christinawatson.com

Originally from southeastern Kentucky, Christina moved to Nashville in 2001 after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Since her arrival in Music City, her versatile voice of 3+ octaves and love of all cultures have gained her entry into a wide array of musical situations, including appearances at various jazz festivals and at numerous venues in the US, France, Belgium and Sweden. Currently promoting her 2004 debut CD "All About Love," she also sings soprano in the Nashville based vocal jazz quartet 3rd Coast Vocals. Christina teaches private voice lessons from her home studio and is an instructor of Vocal Literature classes at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Christina also holds a BA in French from Centre College and an MA in French Literature from UT Knoxville.

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Arranging and Composition

Jeffrey Steinberg
Arranger, Composer and Conductor
www.jeffsteinberg.com

In thirty-plus years as a composer, arranger, instrumentalist and producer, Jeff Steinberg has been active in all areas of the music industry: jazz, pop, R&B and classical recordings, film, television, theater, advertising, corporate communications, publishing, and music education. After graduating from the Berklee School in 1969, he joined The Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Buddy DeFranco and toured the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Japan. In the years since he has worked as arranger/composer for numerous recording artists (Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., Johnnie Taylor, Leslie Uggams, Don Henley, Sting), advertising campaigns (General Motors, McDonald's, ALCOA, The Monsanto Company, TimeLife), jazz luminaries (Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson) and symphony orchestras (The London Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestras, Nashville and Detroit Symphony Orchestras). Jeff is an artist/producer/arranger with Village Square Records where he works on the recordings of Beegie Adair, Denis Solee and Lori Mechem, as well as those under his own name. He is currently a frequent guest POPS conductor with the Nashville Symphony and other orchestras and conductor/arranger/pianist for Broadway's Mike Eldred.

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Latin Percussion

Dann Sherrill
Percussion

Dann is one of the south's most sought after percussionists, and is a Latin Jazz and Contemporary Rhythm and Blues percussionist and drummer. He is an expert in Afro-Cuban and Brazilian drumming, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of these styles. He has performed with Michael English, Mel Tillis, Armando Perazza, Mose Allison and Arturo Sandoval. Dann performs and records with several groups in Nashville, including Al Delory and Salsa En Nashville, Lori Mechem and Ritmos Picantes, Som Brasiliero, and most recently Trabuco, a salsa band. Dann teaches a Cuban Music Ensemble and a Brazilian Music Ensemble at NJW. He is also the director of the Music City Samba, Nashville's first authentic Escola de Samba.

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Guitar

Mel Deal
Guitar

Mel Deal was born in Van Wert, Ohio. Raised in a musical family, he studied piano and violin before taking up the guitar. He attended Ohio State University from 1969 to 1973 and then studied with jazz guitar great, Jimmy Raney.His jazz experience has included work with Melba Moore, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Mark Feldman, Gatemouth Brown and Ricky Woodard. Currently living in Franklin TN., he has made Nashville his home.

Shawn Purcell
Guitar

Shawn Purcell graduated from Duquesne University in 1993 with a Bachelors of Music in Recording Arts and Sciences, studying with Kenny Karsh, Joe Negri, and Marty Ashby. After graduation he toured for two years with the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus. From 1996 to 2004 Shawn held the guitar chair for the Air Force Jazz Band "The Airmen of Note." During this time he toured the U.S. and the world, played with countless jazz greats, recorded, taught, and appeared at concerts and festivals worldwide. After leaving the Air Force in 2004 Shawn moved to Middle Tennessee and completed a Masters degree in arranging and composition at MTSU. Besides teaching at NJW, Shawn is busy recording and performing around the area, and teaches at MTSU and TSU as well as teaching privately and at the National Guitar Summer Workshop.

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In Memory

Charles Dungey
Bass and Voice

A native of Nashville, Charles had a long and distinguished career as both a Bassist and Vocalist. While living in New York city for 17 years, he travelled and worked with artisits such as Tommy Flanagan, Milt Jackson, Teddy Wilson, Dorothy Donegan, Sammy Davis, Jr. and the Count Basie Orchestra. Charles was an Adjunct Instructor at Tennessee State University where he taught the Jazz Ensemble, Jazz History and was head of the String Department. At NJW, he taught advanced vocal performance and repertoire classes. We were extremely fortunate to have such a seasoned "pro" on our faculty. Charles passed away on September 22, 2003.

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