Curtus Fuller, Trombone

When it comes to jazz trombone, Curtis Fuller sits among high priests like J.J. Johnson, Slide Hampton, and Kai Winding as one of its most influential practitioners. Fuller's fluid improvisations and wide-interval leaps have graced Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and Benny Golson and Art Farmer's Jazztet, as well as recordings by other luminaries such as John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Abbey Lincoln, and Qunicy Jones, among many others.

Mulgrew Miller, Piano

Mulgrew plays on the world stage after growing up and playing church piano in Greenwood, Mississippi He was named the most in-demand pianist by a recent New York Times poll, Mulgrew Miller forges a multi-dimensional sound that can seamlessly shift time, throttle through hard-driving grooves, and delve into gentler persuasions, all with distinctive heart and soul. From his professional start with the Ellington Orchestra and Woody Shaw, he went on in the nineties developing his career as a leader of his own trios and quintets, recording an impressive series of albums. He has over 400 recordings to his credit.

Jimmy Heath, Tenor Saxophone

Jimmy Heath has long been recognized as a brilliant instrumentalist and a magnificent composer and arranger. Jimmy is the middle brother of the legendary Heath Brothers (Percy Heath/bass and Tootie Heath/drums), and is the father of Mtume. He has performed with nearly all the jazz greats of the last 50 years, from Howard McGhee, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis to Wynton Marsalis. One of Heath's earliest big bands (1947-1948) in Philadelphia included John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Specs Wright, Cal Massey, Johnny Coles, Ray Bryant, and Nelson Boyd.

Terri Lyne Carrington, Drums

World-renowned drummer, composer, producer and clinician, Terri Lyne Carrington, has maintained her status in the industry as a person to watch for over 20 years. Terri developed a reputation as a child prodigy, jamming with jazz veterans Dizzy Gillespie, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Oscar Peterson, Joe Williams, and many more. Terri received a full scholarship to Bekelee College of Music at age 11 and was the drummer for the "Arsenio Hall Show." She has also toured the globe with Mike Stern, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock and spiritual mentor, Wayne Shorter. Her recent solo CD, Jazz Is A Spirit, has enjoyed considerable media attention and critical acclaim.

Ray Drummond, Bass Composer, arranger, bandleader, educator and producer are hats that bassist Ray Drummond has worn well over the past 30 years. But it all comes down to one thing: musician Ray Drummond likes to make great music. His solid rhythmic and harmonic innovations landed him gigs with artists including Betty Carter, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Faddis, Milt Jackson, Kenny Barron, Pharoah Sanders, and George Coleman. Additionally, he has been documented on over 300 recordings with artists including Art Framer, David Murray, Houston Person, Stan Getz, Kenny Burrell, Kevin Mahogany, Toots Thielemans, Benny Golson, and Ray Bryant.

Randy Brecker, Trumpet

Randy Brecker has been shaping the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for more than three decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Chaka Khan, George Benson and Parliament Funkadelics to David Sanborn, Horace Silver, Jaco Pastorius arid Frank Zappa. Randy has also played with Stanley Clarke's Jazz Explosion Super Band, the Brecker Brothers and Blood Sweat and Tears, and has been honored for three years straight as "Most Valuable Trumpet Player" by the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.