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."

"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."

Bobby LaVell is a jazz saxophonist, known for the groups Chico & Rita New York Band, Chico & Rita New York Quartet, Jimmy Heath Big Band, Robin Eubanks Mass Line Big 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."

"Rodney Jordan is a native of Memphis, Tennessee where he grew up playing the bass in church and with his high school orchestra. He later studied music with Dr. London Branch, Alvin Fielder, and Andy Hardwick at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. During his college years, Jordan joined the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra where he served as Assistant Principal Bassist. After graduating, he became Chair of the String Department at the Dougherty County Public School and served as Principal Bassist with the Albany Symphony Orchestra in Albany, GA. Teaching has always been an important part of Mr. Jordan's life and career. In addition to teaching strings in Dougherty County, he also taught in the DeKalb County School Systems.

During his years in Georgia, Jordan served as a bass instructor at Darton College (part of the University System of Georgia) in Albany and at Georgia State University in Atlanta. While living in Atlanta, Jordan became one of the city's most active jazz bassists, performing and recording with some of America's finest jazz musicians, including Marcus Printup, Mulgrew Miller, James Williams, Milt Jackson, George Coleman, and Russell Gunn. He joined the faculty in the School of Music at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL in 2001 where he now holds a rank of Associate Professor of Jazz Studies. Jordan teaches jazz bass, jazz combo playing, music education classes, and a jazz styles class.

It was at Florida State University that Jordan and Marcus Roberts first met and played together. From the beginning, the two had a very close musical bond, playing and teaching together on many occasions.

"One of the first things that I noticed about Rodney was his dedicated work ethic," says Marcus Roberts. "When I observed students around him, I noticed that they became more serious just from working with him. His example inspires and leads them to greater commitment to learning how to play this music. Students respect him because he practices what he preaches. He also spends a lot of extra time with the students, and is never too busy to answer their questions."​

Jordan joined the Marcus Roberts Trio in 2009. It was evident during that first official performance of the newly-formed trio at the prestigious Wigmore Hall in London that Jordan thoroughly understood Roberts' unique trio conception. Rodney Jordan is one of the most versatile jazz bassists on the scene today. His tone is rich and soulful when he plays hauntingly beautiful phrases with the bow. Just as readily, he plays fast virtuosic passages with apparent effortless skill. Jordan's knowledge of harmony from his classical bass training combined with the relentless feeling of swing in his playing is a perfect fit for the powerful melodic, blues-based, syncopated improvisational sound of the Marcus Roberts Trio."

"Darrian Douglas is an arts leader, educator, and advocate dedicated to empowering the next generation of musicians. As Executive Director of Second Line Arts Collective (SLAC), he spearheads initiatives that bridge gaps in music education, equipping young artists with the business, creative, and professional tools needed for a sustainable career. His leadership at SLAC has fostered programs that blend mentorship, artistic innovation, and community impact, ensuring that jazz and creative music continue to thrive in the modern landscape.

In addition to his work with SLAC, Darrian is a dedicated educator, teaching drum set at Jazz House Kids and the NJPAC TD Jazz for Teens program, where he mentors young musicians in both technical mastery and artistic expression.

A deeply respected drummer and composer, Darrian has performed with an array of jazz luminaries, including Ellis Marsalis, Jazzmeia Horn, Bria Skonberg, Mathis Picard, Chris Pattishall, Freddie Hendrix, Bruce Harris, Marquis Hill, Wayne Tucker, Endea Owens, Neal Cain, Russell Hall, Corcoran Holt, and Victor Gould, among others. His performances have graced over 30 international festivals and renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall.

His latest creative endeavor, The Sadie Mae Project, is a deeply personal oral history and improvisational music work inspired by his late grandmother's life story. Whether through education, leadership, or performance, Darrian remains committed to using music as a tool for storytelling, empowerment, and community building."

"Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond is a poet, novelist, master educator, community arts organizer, and culture keeper. As a teen, she was signed to M.C. Hammer's label as a hip hop artist and writer. She is the author of chop: a collection of kwansabas for fannie lou hamer (2015). Dr. Redmond is the co-founder of Fannie Lou Hamer House, a migratory artist residency, and is the founder of The Community Archive, a non profit where she teaches communities how to collect their elders' oral histories. Dr. Redmond currently serves as a Chancellor's postdoctoral fellow in poetry and African American Literature at Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville."