On The Count of Two

On The Count of Two is a musical conglomerate of promising young musicians across the East Coast. Recently, they have played at The Milestone in Georgetown, Connecticut, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Westport, Connecticut, and Jazz On Main in Mt Kisco, New York.

On The Count of Two consists of several promising young musicians who have studied and played with many prominent figures in the jazz scene:

Ikutaro Matsuki (Bass):

Ikutaro Matsuki is a bassist from Tenafly, New Jersey. He finished in 5th place in the Litchfield Jazz Camp Talent Search, a country-wide music competition judged by esteemed musicians including Albert Rivera, Don Braden, and Grammy award-winning pianist Zaccai Curtis. He is currently studying with 3-time Grammy award winning bassist Ron Carter, and has had the opportunity to play with esteemed jazz musicians including Winard Harper, Ron Carter, and George Coleman. He has attended Litchfield Jazz Camp for the past several years.

Saul Hirshberg (Drum Set):

Saul Hirshberg is a drummer from Amherst, Massachusetts. He was, for two consecutive years, a finalist in the Litchfield Jazz Camp Talent Search. He is currently studying with local drummer Jimmy Robitaille, but has studied with Winard Harper, Steve Johns, Earl MacDonald, and Wayne Escoffery in the past. He also played in the Massachusetts Senior Western District Jazz Band, picked from a collection of several top drummers in the Western Mass area. He has had the opportunity to play with musicians including Steve Davis, Mike DiRubbo, local jazz pianist Paul Arslanian, and Luques Curtis. He attended Litchfield Jazz Camp and Jazz In July at UMASS in the summer of 2025.

Hudson Paul (Alto/Soprano Saxophone & Clarinet):

Hudson Paul is a saxophonist from Weston, Connecticut. He is currently studying with David DeJesus, an acclaimed saxophonist and the current leader of the Birdland Big Band, the house band of the eminent Birdland Jazz Club. He has had the opportunity to play with musicians including Nathan Childers, Mike Migliori, & Don Braden. He attended Litchfield Jazz Camp in the summer of 2025.

Ahan Ghosh Rao (Piano and Keyboard):

Ahan Ghosh Rao is a pianist from Weston, Connecticut. He was a finalist in the Litchfield Jazz Camp Talent Search, and he won the Deborah Kahan Piano Competition and the Schubert Club Awards Competition for Classical Piano. He has had the opportunity to play with musicians including Luques Curtis & Ian Carroll. He attended the Fordham University Summer Jazz Worship in New York and the Rider University High School Solo Pianist Week.

On The Count of Two draws from numerous Jazz subgenres, including Postbop, Hardbop, and Be-bop, to form an eclectic repertoire that encompasses the broad and complex history of Jazz.