21 OCT 2020 · Riley Mulherkar has been recognized as a “smart young trumpet player” by The New York Times, praised by The Wall Street Journal as a “youngster to keep an eye on,” and is a 2020 recipient of Lincoln Center’s Emerging Artist Award for his work as “an original bandleader, composer, arranger, educator, community activist and advocate for jazz and the arts.” Riley works with a number of leading artists of our time, including Wynton Marsalis, Anna Deavere Smith, and Alan Cumming, and is a founding member of The Westerlies, a new music brass quartet that creates the rarest of hybrids: music that is both “folk-like and composerly, lovely and intellectually rigorous” (NPR Music). Riley also serves as Artistic Director for Jazz at Joye in Aiken, bringing leading young talent to the historic city of Aiken, South Carolina. Born and raised in Seattle, Riley moved to New York in 2010 to study at The Juilliard School, where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in 2014 and his Master’s in 2015. In 2014, he was the first recipient of the Laurie Frink Career Grant at the Festival of New Trumpet Music. Riley is actively engaged in educational initiatives, directing the Summer Advanced Institute at Seattle JazzEd, serving as an ambassador for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “Jazz for Young People” program in New York and St. Louis from 2016 – 2018, and serving as a judge for the Essentially Ellington festival and competition in 2020. Riley is an Edwards Artist and performs on Edwards trumpets.

13 OCT 2020 · Upon graduating, Barry moved to New Orleans and played with many of the city's notable musicians while studying for his Masters degree at the University of New Orleans under the tutelage of Roland Guerin. Currently he is a resident of Washington Heights and making his presence felt on the New York Jazz scene. In 2011 he joined the Glen David Andrews Band and appeared on several on the band's albums as well as serving as musical director on the album "Redemption". Barry then joined Jon Batiste and Stay Human in 2013 and has performed on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and a variety of festivals including the Montreaux, Montreal, Newport, North Sea, Monterey, Umbria, and Playboy Jazz festivals as well as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. In 2014, Jon purchased a tenor banjo for Barry and had him learn and play it thirty minutes prior to a performance on NPR. Barry has been known to lead and compose for bands in various genres of music. In 2011, he was awarded the ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Award followed by the Svenson Composition Award in 2012. In March of 2015, he released his debut jazz album Basic Truths featuring original compositions and is in the process of finishing his second album while touring with the Grammy nominated drummer/vocalist Jamison Ross, vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, and others while maintaining an active performance schedule around New York City.

7 OCT 2020 · Morgan Stewart is an active musician and educator hailing from New York City, currently living in the New Orleans area. After graduating from LaGuardia High School for Music and Performing Arts, Morgan moved to Philadelphia to pursue a degree in music education at Temple University. Upon receiving her Bachelor of Music, she accepted a position to serve as a Woodwind Specialist itinerant teacher for the School District of Philadelphia. She went on to receive her Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from Loyola University New Orleans. Her principal teachers have included Dr. Stephanie Thompson, Victor Goines, John Reeks, Renee Rosen, Cheryl Y. Boga, and Lawrence Wagner. Morgan has participated in clarinet master classes with Paquito D’Rivera, Anthony McGill, Mariam Adam, and Paul Demers. She is a free-lance performer with various chamber groups in the Greater New Orleans area and has collaborated with Grammy nominated producer and composer Khari Mateen on his album Wait for Sunrise. While completing her studies at Loyola University New Orleans, she joined the staff at Roots of Music in 2014. As the Chief Programs Officer, she has traveled the world with the Roots of Music students. She accompanied them to the North Sea Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival at Curacao, the Harvest Jazz and Blues fest in Fredericton Canada, and the French Jazz Sous Les Pommiers Festival. As the Chief Programs Officer, she is thrilled to work with the teachers, staff, and directors to create enriching and life changing experiences for the youth of New Orleans. Music by: Gregory Agid Quartet Music by: The Session Produced by: Darrian Douglas Editing by: Darrian Douglas

29 SEP 2020 · Michael Watson entered into a family of music lovers and legacies in 1985 in Canton, Ohio. From the time he picked up the trombone in 1994 to the time he went to Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio he had played in four All State Jazz Bands, The Grammy Jazz Ensemble with the top twenty-four high school musicians in the world at the 2003 Grammy Awards, and the Tri-C All Star Jazz band at the Tri-C Jazz Festival. In 2006, when his service in the U.S. Marine Corps brought him to New Orleans, he became actively involved in the city's vibrant live music scene. In addition to his performances with the Marine Corps band at Mardi Gras parades he has had the privilege to play with Stevie Wonder, Sheila E, Eric Benet, F.U.N., Bill Summers, Jimmy Heath, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Clayton and Alvin Youngblood Hart. After completing his active duty service in 2010, he has been performing regularly in the city making appearances with various ensembles at French Quarter Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. And was also asked in 2012 to record on New Orleans Born John Boutté's album All about Everything. In 2011, through a partnership with The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and the New Orleans NBA team, was asked to be a bandleader. Where he and his band performed at 13 home games throughout the 2011-2012 season. Michael has also toured nationally with Comic Relief’s “The Return of Tony Clifton”, and toured nationally with The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, performing at many different major venues including Carnegie Hall and The Apollo Theater (2012) In 2010, Michael Watson began his international tours for music. He made his first appearance in Europe at the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland, as apart of the Regeneration Brass Band of New Orleans. Where they continued to perform for three consecutive years. From 2010 to 2018 Michael has also performed at several music festivals around the world, including North Sea Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, and Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival. on May 28th, 2016, Michael created “The Alchemy”, a quintet that performs his original work. He leads this band as they continue to perform on a regular basis throughout the city of New Orleans at venues such as The Jazz Playhouse, The Spotted cat, Starlight lounge, Snug Harbor and Three Keys at Ace Hotel. Michael Watson and The Alchemy have also perform at the French Quarter Fest, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Ascona Jazz Festival and Brooklyn Bowl NYC.