Lori Mechem
Piano

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, ... [full profile]

Roger Spencer
Bass

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, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco and Carl Fontana. He and his wife Lori Mechem ... [full profile]

Beegie Adair
Piano

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 ... [full profile]

Chris West
Saxophone

Based in Nashville, Chris West has been composing/arranging for the past 16 years. An accomplished saxophonist/flutist/woodwindist, West has been working as a freelance musician for 20 years in Nashville TN. West holds a Bachelor's degree in Commercial Music Performance/Composition, and a Master's degree in Jazz Studies. In 1998, his song ... [full profile]

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 ... [full profile]

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 ... [full profile]

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; ... [full profile]

Roy Vogt
Bass

Roy Vogt took up the bass in Texas at 14, inspired by Jack Bruce, Jack Cassidy, Chris Hillman and Noel Redding. His first mentor, Dallas bassist Ed Garcia, turned him onto the playing of Ray Brown and Stanley Clarke and detoured the young bassist into jazz and fusion. Roy worked in a variety of Rock, Funk and Country bands in the Dallas-Ft. ... [full profile]

Joe Davidian
Piano

Joe Davidian was born and raised in Vermont, where he first learned classical piano and then was introduced to jazz by his father. Joe played gigs in Vermont while in school and began teaching at a young age. Joe received his Bachelor's and Masters degrees (in 2003 & 2005, respectively) in Jazz Piano Performance from the University of Miami ... [full profile]

Jeff Coffin
Saxophone

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, ... [full profile]

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 ... [full profile]

Don Aliquo
Saxophone

Saxophonist Don Aliquo has been described as a musician with a "fluid and articulate flow of always surprising ideas, sophisticated with a dexterous technique and an incredibly smooth tenor sound that seduces rather than shouts." His career began in jazz-rich Pittsburgh, where he grew up listening to and learning from the city's jazz legends ... [full profile]

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 ... [full profile]

Kirk Whalum
Saxophone

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, ... [full profile]

Roland Barber
Trombone

Trained at Indiana University and the Manhattan School of Music, Roland Barber has performed with an impressively diverse list of artists including Chaka Khan, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center, Kirk Whalum, the Wooten Brothers, the Chico O'Farill Orchestra, Robin Thicke, the Temptations, Manny Oquendo y ... [full profile]

Evan Cobb
Saxophone

The rare musician able to work in many musical vernaculars - woodwind specialist Evan Cobb has played jazz standards in Jazz at Lincoln Center, funk solos at the Brooklyn Bowl, and Ravel's famed "Bolero" solo with the Nashville Symphony. His album Falling Up, mostly borne in his popular monthly jam sessions at the Nashville Jazz Workshop, ... [full profile]

Oscar Utterstrom
Trombone

Swedish-born Oscar Utterstrom started playing the trombone at the age of ten. He began his musical career at the music school in Vaxjo. When Oscar was twelve, he moved with his family to Belgium where he continued playing in various bands, including blues bands, concert bands and fanfare orchestras.

Oscar studied trombone at Boston's ... [full profile]

Jamey Simmons
trumpet

Arranger, composer, trumpeter, and educator Jamey Simmons grew up in Wisconsin and knew early on that music was his unique gift. He earned his Bachelors of Music at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and his Master of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media at the Eastman School of Music where he studied under jazz composer and arranger ... [full profile]

John Hinchey
Trombone

John Hinchey is an experienced arranger, orchestrator and music prep professional. His list of clients include Sting's Rainforest Benefit Foundation concerts, Royal Caribbean Cruise lines, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Earl Klugh, Lee Ann Womack, BJ Thomas, Broadway vocalist Rob Evan, and others. John also serves as a consultant to music ... [full profile]

Jeff Steinberg
Arranger, Composer, and Conductor

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 ... [full profile]

Chester Thompson
Drums

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 ... [full profile]

Marcus Finnie
Drums

A Memphis native, Marcus Finnie began playing drums at church accompanying his mother on organ. From grade school to high school, Marcus began studying classical and jazz music. While playing at Olivet Baptist Church in Memphis, TN, Marcus was told by Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum that "if you keep practicing and learn to read music, ... [full profile]

Duffy Jackson
Drums

Born and raised in Jazz, Duffy Jackson has been performing since the age of four, when his father, legendary Jazz Bassist, Chubby Jackson, gave him his first set of drums. "He had a fantastic feeling for rhythms", remarked the elder Jackson; whose own rhythmic pulse sparked the Woody Herman Orchestra during the 1940's.

By the age ... [full profile]

Chris Brown
Drums

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 ... [full profile]

Kenny Malone
Drums

Kenny Malone has been swept away by music since he was 5 years old. He served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years, during which time he played in the Navy Band in Washington D.C., and served as head of the percussion dept. at the School of Music for Navy, Army, and Marines. He has played every genre of music and is recognized as an extremely ... [full profile]

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. ... [full profile]

Mel Deal
Guitar

Mel Deal has over forty years experience as a professional instrumentalist and has worked in venues ranging from solo jazz guitar to The Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Because of his versatility, he has also performed with many pop and country music stars.

In addition to a playing career, he is part of the faculty at The Nashville ... [full profile]

Andy Reiss
Guitar

Andy Reiss grew up in San Francisco, Calif., playing in a wide variety of bands all through high school. Finding himself in a starving rock and roll band after high school, when given the opportunity of joining a showband and going on the road, he jumped on it. It was the beginning of a dozen years of playing in a wide variety of bands, ranging ... [full profile]

Pat Bergeson
Guitar

Guitarist and harmonica player Pat Bergeson has written, toured, and recorded with many of his musical heroes. Beginning at the University of Illinois in his home state, he moved on to New York City and picked up a Jazz Studies degree at William Paterson University. After playing in New York for ten years, he moved to Nashville upon the request ... [full profile]

Pete Huttlinger
Guitar

Pete Huttlinger is one of the greatest fingerstyle guitarists in the world today. And no, that's no exaggeration. Author of over 10 CD's and numerous songbooks and instructional DVD's, Pete has had a busy recording and touring schedule. He is one of the most engaging artists and teachers you'll meet, and studying with him is a fabulous chance ... [full profile]

Ron Browning
Voice

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 ... [full profile]

Christina Watson
Voice

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 ... [full profile]

Connye Florance
Voice

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 ... [full profile]

Margaret Rose
Voice

Margaret Rose received a full scholarship and graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Performance-Classical Voice. She studied with Clifford Balshaw (4 years) and with Ron Browning (3 years) using Speech Level Singing method. She has been teaching the Vocal Lab at NJW for 3 years. [full profile]

Liz Johnson
Voice

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 improvisation. She has moved from student ... [full profile]

Cecilia Grespan
Voice

Cecilia grew up in the interior of São Paulo state, Brazil, later migrating with her family to the state of Paraná. She earned a BA in psychology from Catholic University of Paraná (PUC) in Curitiba, and has studied Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish and English. Cecilia has lived in Nashville since 1989, where she has ... [full profile]

Abby Burke
Voice

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 ... [full profile]

Sandra Dudley
Voice

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 ... [full profile]

Jim Ferguson
Voice and Bass

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 ... [full profile]

Annie Sellick
Voice

Annie Sellick is a poster child for hard work and determination. She got her start at formal training right here at the Nashville Jazz Workshop, after finding initial success singing in clubs while in college. She mastered the repertoire of vocal classes at NJW and never looked back. She stepped up her music studies, taking guitar at the New ... [full profile]

Vali Forrister


Vali is the producing artistic director of the Actors Bridge Ensemble, which she co-founded with Bill Feehely in 1996. She has produced over 60 productions for the company, has acted over 20, directed more than a dozen, and authored four. Vali holds a Master of Arts degree in Performance Studies. Her thesis work in the scripting and performance ... [full profile]

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 ... [full profile]