"Born on March 3, 1949 in Seattle, Washington, Booker T. Williams, Jr. displayed his artistic talent at a very early age,.... sketching and drawing virtually anything and everything. However at around age 13, Booker became smitten with the saxophone bug and his artwork became a secondary consideration. After attending Washington State University and the University of Washington for several years, he set out for NYC in 1974 to further "chase the music", with a passion for art still reverberating in his being.

Booker travelled extensively through-out Europe and Japan, honing his sax chops and gigged considerably in and around New York. In addition, Booker has recorded, gigged, and jammed substantially with such notables as Andrew Cyrille, Sonny Stitt, Reggie Workman, Denis , Charles Mingus, Archie Shepp, McCoy Tyner and Sonny Rollins to name a few. [...]"

"Seattle jazz titan Gary Hammon embodies the spirit of jazz as an expression of self, deeply rooted in the rich musical legacy of Seattle's Central District. Growing up in the 1960s and '70s, Hammon first picked up the saxophone as a student at Garfield High School, studying under influential Seattle jazz educator Joe Brazil. He quickly made a name for himself, performing with local legends such as Dave Lewis, the Black and White Affair, Chuck Metcalf, and Booker T. Williams.

In 1969, Hammon joined the first cohort of Black students at the New England Conservatory, a pivotal step that propelled him into the vibrant jazz scenes of New York and Boston. There, he collaborated with renowned artists like Big John Patton, Ray Charles, Jaki Byard, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Stevie Wonder, solidifying his place among the jazz greats.

After decades on the East Coast, Hammon returned to Seattle with a mission to give back to the community that shaped him. He performed alongside fellow Seattle saxophonist Hadley Caliman, resulting in the acclaimed two-tenor album Fangs (2005). Continuing to enrich the local scene, Hammon frequently collaborates with Seattle stalwarts like trumpeters Nathan Breedlove and Erik Esvelt, as well as saxophonist Booker T. Williams Jr. His dedication extends to mentorship, coaching the award-winning jazz band at Ballard High School and inspiring the next generation of musicians.

Hammon's latest project, In Case You Didn't Know, debuted at the Earshot Jazz Festival, blending live storytelling and original compositions inspired by his personal journey and Seattle's Central District jazz heritage. As the city evolves, Hammon remains a steadfast advocate for preserving its cultural heartbeat, ensuring that the stories and sounds of its vibrant jazz history continue to resonate."

"Marc Franklin is a trumpet player and arranger based out of Memphis, Tennessee. Raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Marc moved to Memphis in 1993 to pursue a career in music. He cut his teeth touring the world with the legendary Bobby "Blue" Bland in the mid-nineties, and holding down the trumpet chair for many of the house bands on world famous Beale St. In the meantime, Franklin, with producer/bassist, Scott Bomar, co-founded The Bo-keys, a multigenerational soul music outfit with many of Memphis' legendary soul session players.

For the last twenty years, Franklin has been a first call gig and session player for a wide array of artists including Aretha Franklin, Anthony Hamilton, Justin Timberlake, Isaac Hayes, Buddy Guy, BB King, Booker T. and the MGs, Solomon Burke, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Rodgers, Otis Clay, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Ann Peebles, The WuTang Clan and many more.

Marc Franklin's compositions and arrangements have been featured on many films and television shows. Highlights include the Oscar winning film "Hustle and Flow", "Black Snake Moan", "Soul Men", "Scandal", and "Grudge Match." His arrangements also appear on Grammy nominated recordings by Cyndi Lauper and Anthony Hamilton.

Franklin continues to make music in Memphis and all over the world and is currently playing with The Gregg Allman Band."

"I'm Chad Fowler. I write books, write and play music, write software, lead organizations (currently for Microsoft, in Berlin), invest in startups, speak at conferences, teach, learn, organize conferences, etc.

I started and co-organized a couple of Ruby-related conferences including The International Ruby Conference and RailsConf."

Kelley Hurt is an American jazz singer, known for the groups Dopolarians, George Cartwright/Chad Fowler/Steve Hirsh/Chris Parker, and The Music of Frank Lowe.

"New York based pianist Chris Parker is a multifaceted performer and composer who has written for everything from small jazz groups and chamber ensembles to full symphony orchestra. With a long list of original works, he heads his own group that offers a diverse, lineup of Latin, funk and straight-ahead jazz. Contemporary jazz icons Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Chris Vadala and Lyn Seaton have all performed with Parker's band.

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Parker started classical piano lessons at age nine. Eventually earning Bachelors and Masters degrees in music composition, Parker moved to New York where he has been Professor of Music and head of jazz studies at SUNY Orange. A New York Chancellor's Award winner, Parker engages and inspires students as he teaches them the skills they will need as future musicians.

His two CDs on the OA2 label, "Late in Lisbon" and the newly released "Full Circle" feature the unusual frontline of saxophone and violin. The albums are an exciting mix of Parker's original jazz compositions ranging in style from burning latin and straight ahead, to funky tunes and laid back ballads."

"Luke has pursued a vast number of creative projects over the years. He plays bass and saxophone with DC-based indie rock band Laughing Man, who has performed at historic venues in the city including the Black Cat and St. Stephen's Church, opening for national acts such as The Evens, Wavves, Junkyard Band, and Wale. He has also played saxophone with his own experimental group Ziggurat, as well as various special collaborative performances throughout the East Coast.

As an electronic artist, he has been showcased in local exhibitions alongside legendary hip hop artist Grap Luva, and DC beatmaker Damu the Fudgemunk. He has also been a participant of Sonic Circuits' Festival of Experimental Music, performing on the same bill as cellist Okkyung Lee, as well as performing in other venues alongside instrument builder Layne Garrett and saxophonist Sam Hillmer (Diamond Terrifier). He is also a member of experimental electronic trio Mind Over Matter, Music Over Mind, which has participated in numerous festival performances, including Sonic Circuits' Festival and Noise Fest at George Mason University.

On the jazz side, Luke has performed at many of DC's historic venues including Bohemian Caverns, Twins Jazz, and HR-57. He had the honor of studying and performing with saxophonist Hamiett Bluiett. Recently he lead a 12-member ensemble in an hour-long tribute to John Coltrane on his birthday at the legendary Bohemian Caverns. He is also a member of Trio OOO, a collaborative ensemble featuring saxophonist Aaron Martin, and drummer Sam Lohman.

More recently he has helped establish CapitalBop.com, a DC-based jazz website and 501c3 non-profit organization, as its Avant Music Editor. Through the site, he has helped launch a live jazz performance series dubbed the "DC Jazz Loft", presenting some talented jazz artists in and around the DC area. He has also presented other jazz performances in his "Red Door Loft" series at the now-closed Goldleaf studios, as well as shows at CD Cellar in Arlington, VA, Bossa Bistro and Lounge, and DIY space the Paperhaus, where his performance curation was picked by Bob Boilen as one of the best shows of 2012.

He is also an Artist-In-Residence at the art space Union Arts and Manufacturing, in Washington, DC, where he regularly rehearses his numerous musical projects as well as hosts special performances and workshops.

During the day, he is the Production Coordinator for WPFW 89.3FM, as well as the host of THE VIBES edition of Overnight Jazz, weekly eclectic jazz program which showcases music from various sources in Luke's musical explorations. Through WPFW he has had the privilege of working with some seminal figures in music and social justice such as Chuck Brown, Yusef Lateef, Randy Weston, Muhal Richard Abrams, Juma Sultan, and Amiri Baraka. He has had the opportunity of producing many successful programs including a month-long commemoration of Black Music Month., featuring notably the reunion of trombonist Phil Ranelin and saxophonist Wendell Harrison from the Tribe organization of Detroit. He also co-produced a month-long tribute to pianist Horace Tapscott Los Angeles based community organization UGMAA (Union of God's Musicians and Artists Ascension). He also produced Washington, DC's first live radio appearance of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal on the program Jazz and Justice with Tom Porter."

Chad Anderson is a jazz drummer and graphic artist, born in Starkville, Mississippi.