Ben is a graduate of the Mason Gross School of the Arts (Rutgers) having received his MM in Jazz Performance in 2011. Ben has been a freelance trumpeter in the NYC area since the late 90’s. Having grown up in North Jersey, he had the opportunity to perform in such iconic jazz clubs as the Village Vanguard, Birdland, and the Blue Note while still a teenager. His career has included Broadway, jazz, and orchestral performances, as he currently subs in the orchestra of the hit Broadway show Chicago, leads his own jazz quintet, and performs with many of the best bands around including, the Joe Elefante Big Band, the Cecil’s Big Band, and the George Gee Big Band. He has traveled the world as lead trumpet for P&O, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean Cruises and throughout his career he has had the opportunity to perform and/ or record with such artists as Milt Hinton, Arturo Sandoval, Louie Bellson, Barry Manilow, Gladys Knight, The Osmonds, Phil Smith, John Hendricks, Tierney Sutton, Bob Mintzer, Charles McPherson, Rufus Reid, Slide Hampton, Wynton Marsalis, Boyz II Men, Roger Webster, Christian McBride, and Buddy DeFranco.

Growing up in the bustling suburbs of New York City, trumpeter Jon L was introduced to music at a very young age. Originally a classical player Jon began his studies in Nashville, TN where he attended Vanderbilt University.  While there Jon found his voice in jazz under the tutelage and support of studio musician and composer Billy Adair.  Jon then became a stalwart in the Blair Big Band as well as a huge proponent of the jazz program at the Blair School of Music. In 2008 Jon moved back to New York to attend New York University and to study full time with master pianist Mike Longo.  Since returning to New York Jon has had the opportunity to play at many of New York’s finest venues, such as The Blue Note Jazz Club, The Rockefeller Center Gardens, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, The Nokia Theater and BB Kings Blues Club.

Javi is a young, aspiring artist and visionary. Originally hailing from Minneapolis, MN, he grew up surrounded by strong artistic support. Not only was he influenced by his parents, who were jazz musicians, but also he was influenced by his own generation. His music is an eclectic blend of genres including jazz, hip hop, rock, R&B and others. Javi started playing piano at the age of 5, and was classically trained until he discovered his love of jazz music. In high school, he was a prominent player on the Twin Cities music scene and started his production career making tracks for Twin Cities hip hop artists. He won the Schubert Club Jazz Piano Scholarship Competition two years in a row (’06, ’07). He took the piano chair in the Minnesota Youth Jazz Band (’05-’07) and the Dakota Combo (’07 with Bobby Watson). In 2007, Javier was selected by the great Dave Brubeck and a panel of judges, in an international search, to be a part of the Brubeck Institute Fellowship program in California. Since then he has played at venues all across the nation and studied with some of the best instrumentalists in the world. The Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet (’08-’09) won Best College Group Of the Year in DownBeat Magazine two years in a row (2009 and 2010). Javi received his bachelor’s degree in piano performance in late 2011 at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC. Not only is Javi a virtuosic pianist, but also a producer, composer, arranger and educator as well.

I am a 20 year musician with 11 years teaching experience. Born and raised in New York City, I attended Laguardia high school for music and art and afterward Queens College majoring in music. My main instruments are Clarinet, Drums, and Saxophone, but i also have a strong background in Piano, Trumpet, and Flute. I enjoy writing music, writing books, and dancing.

Justin has been playing trumpet since he was 11 years old. He currently resides in New Jersey and spends a lot of time playing in the New Jersey/New York City metro area. Justin has spent years studying various genres of music including jazz, classical, blues, big band, contemporary, pop etc. His versatile and broad knowledge of music has allowed him the opportunities to perform at some of the top venues in the country, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Blue Note, Birdland, Smoke, Fatcat, Trumpets, and had the opportunity touring all over the country and parts of Canada with Vans International Warped Tour.