Lioness

Six talented female musicians join together to deliver an entertaining and melodically engaging debut as the new collective Lioness roars into action with "Pride & Joy." Carefully assembled by Posi-Tone producer Marc Free, it features a dazzling combination of talents and an evocative program of musical selections by female composers. The ear catching performances on "Pride & Joy" are sure to bring bright moments to jazz fans everywhere.

Lauren Sevian is one of the most in demand baritone saxophonist on the scene today. Sevian has two leader albums; “Blueprint” (2017 Inner Circle) and “Bliss” (2018 Posi-Tone). She is a frequent guest artist at many universities, high schools, middle schools, and jazz festivals across the country. Sevian can be seen performing as a bandleader around the NYC area with the LSQ (Lauren Sevian Quartet), and the band LSAT (Lauren Sevian Alexa Tarantino), her quintet co-led with alto saxophonist Alexa Tarantino. As a side musician, she plays regularly with the Mingus Big Band. As an educator, Sevian has been teaching privately for over 15 years and is faculty at Jazz at Lincoln Center as director of the “Young Women’s Jazz Orchestra” and instructor for the middle school jazz academy. 

Alexa Tarantino, alto saxophonist/flutist, is a rising star on the scene with chairs in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and the Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra. She co-leads the band LSAT with label-mate Lauren Sevian and will be releasing her debut album this year on Posi-Tone Records. Tarantino is currently on faculty for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Youth Education Programs and directs one of their High School Jazz Academy big bands. Tarantino founded and directs the Rockport Jazz Workshop

Jenny Hill, saxophonist and flautist, has a diverse resume that includes jazz, reggae, and global music.  A composer, arranger, and performer, she is currently working on her fourth CD, entitled Groove Garden. She is an original member of the Easy Star All Stars, tours with Denis Leary and the Enablers, and leads her own jazz group Liquid Horn. Her jazz credits include performing with Nancy Wilson, Dianne Schuur, Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck, Joe Williams, Cab Calloway and is a member of the DIVA jazz orchestra. Jenny is also active as a jazz and classical educator. She is a member of the woodwind faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. She is a featured artist in the books Practice Like The Pros by Sue Terry and Rock and Roll Saxophone by John Laughter.

Amanda Monaco, guitarist/composer, has released five albums to date and her current jazz projects include her eclectic quartet Deathblow, rambunctious organ quartet Glitter, chamber jazz trio Mo-Fi-Co, and The Pirkei Avot Project. An educator since 1990, Amanda is an Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music. Amanda’s book, Jazz Guitar for the Absolute Beginner (Alfred Publishing), is available worldwide. Amanda is the Artistic Director of Convergence Arts, Inc., a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to share the art and fun of improvisation with people of all ages. 

Akiko Tsuruga was raised in Osaka, Japan and began studying the organ at the age of three at the famed Yamaha Music School. After graduating from the Osaka College of Music, she moved to the mecca for jazz, New York City. She has flourished and continues to be a constant draw on the jazz scene. Her extraordinary musicianship and captivating stage presence ultimately drew Lou Donaldson’s attention, when he chose her in 2006 as his quartet’s organist. Akiko has ten albums as a leader to her credit, with her most recent recording titled “So Cute, So Bad.”

Allison Miller, drummer/composer/teacher, gathers inspiration from a wide array of genres. Coming from the Jazz tradition, she engages her deep roots in improvisation as a vehicle to explore all music. Her band, Boom Tic Boom, is currently celebrating it’s fourth release, Otis was a Polar Bear (2016, RPF). While breaking from band leading, Miller focuses on collaborations, co-directing Celebrate and Holler and Bam, Honey Ear Trio, Speak, And Still You Must Swing, and Ink. She is also a proud member of the Bessie award winning shows, The Blues Project and Big Lovely. Miller is a three time Jazz Ambassador of the US State Department and is on Yamaha’s Top 30 Clinicians List. She conducts clinics and master classes throughout the world and teaches at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Stanford Jazz Workshop, and Jazz Camp West.