"Patrick Brennan [born 1954] listens to, wonders at, wonders about, imagines & plays music. He coordinates ensembles, composes & plays the alto saxophone. He's recorded eight albums of original music as a leader."

"Brian Groder draws on the entire jazz tradition, as well as world music influences, to create compositions critics have called "Music not only for today, but also for tomorrow," and AllAboutJazz hailed as "Music of ceaselessly fascinating possibilities."

A New York native, Groder comes by his musical abilities honestly. Both his parents were working musicians during the Swing Era. His parents were musicians and from a young age Groder played trumpet and flügelhorn. Early in his professional career he played in hotel and casino bands in Atlantic City backing visiting pop stars. For about a decade he taught in Philadelphia before moving back to New York City in the early 90s. Groder established a reputation among avant garde jazz and improvised music players, including Abstract Truth recording Curiosity on Acoustical Concepts in 1991.

The Brian Groder Ensemble's first CD, Ancestral Tongues, received special commendation from critic Andy Bartlett for the beauty of the ballads and the compelling solo work from all." Subsequent recordings, Perihelion and Incantations, drew critical praise in Europe and Japan, becoming staples on The National Radio Show in the Netherlands. Groder's preference for working with other composer/performers gives his brand of modern progressive jazz unique improvisatory richness and depth: in 2007 Brian released Torque, a CD featuring the legendary composer/performer Sam Rivers and his trio, which received a "Four Star" rating from Downbeat Magazine. 2009 saw the release of Groder & Greene, a collaboration between Brian and avante-jazz pioneer Burton Greene, called "one of the year's best" by All About Jazz. In 2013, Brian and pianist Tonino Miano released FluiDENSITY, a new-classical and jazz imprvisational hybrid, and headlined at the prestigious Timucua White House as part of the 13in13 Project. 2014 saw the recording Reflexology, a disc of Groder compositions performed by his latest trio with bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Jay Rosen.

Although noted for his innovative work in free jazz, Groder is also a composer of distinction. His bands include the Brian Groder Ensemble and Double Perceptions. The last-named of these has included Rez Abbasi (guitar), Dominic Duval (bass) and Newman Taylor Baker (drums). Other musicians with whom he has worked are trumpeter Taylor Ho Bynum, saxophonists J.C. Feil, Michael Mee, J.D. Parran and Blaise Siwula, pianists JoAnne Brackeen (with whom he has also studied), Burton Greene, Katsuyuki Itakura, Francesca Tanksley and Ron Thomas, guitarists Kevin Kuhn and Dennis Sandole, bass players Vince Fay, Andy McKee and Craig Thomas, and drummers Jackson Krall, John McLellan and Tony Vigilante. Groder has also enjoyed a highly commendable association with veteran free jazz saxophonist Sam Rivers and the latter's trio partners, bass player Doug Mathews and drummer Anthony Cole. Strikingly inventive, Groder plays with flair and suppleness. He has described what he plays as modern progressive music and it is constantly thought provoking and rewarding. He also operates his own label, Latham Records. In addition to his work with jazz musicians, Groder has collaborated with choreographer Cherylyn Lavergnino for whom he composed 'Music For Dance', a work that was premiered in New York City in 2006.

His work includes original film soundtracks and multi-media presentations, and he has received a number of awards for his composition, including two fellowships to the Atlantic Center for the Arts in Florida, where he had the opportunity to work with Cecil Taylor and Ms. Brakeen, a Composer's Assistance Award from the American Music Center for his Suite for Dance, and a Lower Manhattan Cultural Council grant for his Cartologia Suite."

"Rod Williams. Born: Detroit, Michigan

Residence: New York, New York.

Pianist, Keyboardist, Composer, Arranger and Sound Designer. Performed and recorded with Cassandra Wilson, David Murray, James Newton, James Carter, Olu Dara, Lester Bowie, Dewey Redman, Greg Osby, Steve Coleman, Geri Allen, Marcus Belgrave, Bob Hurst, Danny Spencer, Sam Rivers, Henry Threadgill, Nasheet Waits, Ed Blackwell, Phil Ranelin, Osamu Koichi, Yasuhiro Yoshigaki, Jean-Paul Bourelly, Eddie Harris, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, Marty Ehrlich, Billy Hart, Billy Higgins,Bob Steward, Lonnie Plaxico, Paul Jackson, Duane Eubanks, Vincent Henry, Mor Thiam, Kazutoki Umezu, Kazuko Shiraishi, Dianne McIntyre's Dance in Motion, Deidre Murray, Opera and Theater Director Diane Paulus, etc.Bachelor of Science in Electronic Music/M.F.A.Performance and Interactive Media Arts - Brooklyn College - CUNY"

"Hilliard Greene has been studying music for more than 30 years and has been playing professionally over twenty. His emphasis is in classical, jazz, rock, blues, R&B, Tango as well as the music of other continents and US regions, and solo performances.

Greene studied at the University of Northern Iowa and at Berklee College of Music in Boston and has been teaching private students and classes for over 25 years. He is currently a faculty member at the Bass Collective in New York City. He continues to teach privately and to do workshops and master classes in upright and electric bass for both children and adults.

He performs widely in the New York City area: recitals, nightclubs, concert halls (including Carnegie Hall), recording studios, radio and television. Also performs in major cities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe east and west, Asia, the West Indies, and South America.Greene performed and recorded with Jimmy Scott for 20+ years, serving as his Musical Director from 1995 to 2013. Greene was also Cecil Taylor's Concert Master for his group "Phtongos". He was in residence at Minton's a.k.a. legendary Minton's Playhouse as the house bassist.

Greene works / worked with Rashied Ali, Barry Altschul, Lucian Ban, Billy Bang, Kenny Barron, David Berger, Karl Berger, Cindy Blackman, T.K. Blue, Dougie Bowen, Joanne Brackeen, Oscar Brown Jr., Uri Caine, Roy Campbell, Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Skin, Daniel Carter, Carla Cook, Akua Dixon, Dave Douglas, John Esposito, Bobby Few, Erik Friedlander, Camille Gainer, Eddie Gale, Charles Gayle, Eddie Gladden, Electric Symphony, Alex Harding, George Haslam, Jon Hendricks, John Hicks, Jason Kao Hwang, The Inkspots, Yoron Israel, Vijay Iyer, Klaus Kugel, Leroy Jenkins, Howard Johnson, Frank Lacy, Gloria Lynne, Michael Marcus, Sabir Mateen, Jason Moran, Bern Nix, Greg Osby, Jimmy Ponder, Don Pullen, Lenore Raphael, Matana Roberts, Perry Robinson, Josh Roseman, Vanessa Rubin, Nipsy Russell, Warren Smith, Steve Swell, Grady Tate, Jacky Terrasson, Gebhard Ullman, Marlene VerPlanck, Village Vanguard Orchestra, Petras Vysniauskas, Jack Walrath, Bobby Watson, Mars Williams...

Hilliard Greene has recently formed The In&Out Band, a trio using jazz standards as a vehicle for free improvisation. Also, he is co-leader of the classical crossover ensemble ZigZag Quartet. He produced three CD's with his own ensemble The Jazz Expressions, a solo bass CD entitled "Alone", and co-produced self-titled ZigZag Quartet CD."

Mike T.A. Thompson is a jazz drummer known for groups Dennis Gonzalez NY Quartet, Dennis Gonzalez's Inspiration Band, Dennis Gonzalez's Spirit Meridian, Ken Filiano & Quantum Entanglements, Matt Lavelle Trio, Sabir Mateen's Shapes, Texture And Sound Ensemble