Results for "Composer"

Floriaan Wempe

Born: December 4, 1989

With a unique sound and signature Floriaan Wempe (1989) is known as an adventurous, swinging and elegant saxophonist and improviser. In his quest for touching melodies and the magic of the moment he captivates listeners with a story that flows from the tradition but that is unmistakably his own.

That he was taken under the wing by the late, great Roy Hargrove speaks to his potential and musical affections. He grew up hearing bebop and hardbop and soaked up the entire jazz history during his studies at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and trips to New York City. He deeply immersed himself into the music and lyrics of the great American songwriters and vocalists but also found inspiration in the versatility of artists like Joe Henderson, David ‘Fathead’ Newman, Cedar Walton, Ahmad Jamal, Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, Michael Brecker and Kenny Garrett.

Dan Fiori

Born: March 13

Dan Fiori has played piano for most of his life. His earliest influence was his first jazz piano teacher, Laurie Altman. At Brown University and Berklee College of Music, he studied with Joanne Brackeen, Frank Carlberg, Ed Tomassi, Greg Hopkins, and Herb Pomeroy. Dan draws inspiration from these dynamic teachers, his family, and the support of his wife, Margery, and his children, Eli and Alma.

Kenny Reichert

Born: November 12, 1992

Kenny Reichert is a Chicago-based guitarist, composer, and bandleader. An active presence in the Midwest jazz scene, he leads his own ensembles and is a founding member of the organ trio Righteous Rooster.

Reichert has released four albums as a leader: Live In Chicago (Shifting Paradigm Records, 2026), Switch (Calligram Records, 2024), Deep Breath (Shifting Paradigm Records, 2023), and Interpretations (2015). His work emphasizes long-running musical relationships, original composition, and the space for a band to develop its own sound through performance.

Dan Webb

Born: August 13, 1989

Dan Webb is a psychedelic fusionist, blending jazz, rock, and electronic music into kaleidoscopic, ever-shifting sonic journeys. Since 2008, he's moved from progressive keyboard-driven rock to experimental post-punk, electro-jazz, and audacious genre-bending sounds. His 2023 release, Sunshine​/​Dialogue, received universal critical acclaim and a nomination for Self-Producing Artist of the Year at the 2024 Music Producer & Engineers' Guild of Australia Awards. Now entering his most ambitious era, marked by high-calibre collaborations and bold new directions, Webb continues to refine a sound that follows no trends and answers only to curiosity

Edward W. Hardy

Born: January 12, 1992

Praised for “composing the omnipresent music and playing the violin superbly” (The New York Times) and recognized as a DownBeat Award–winning composer, violinist, and violist, Dr. Edward W. Hardy is a Black and Puerto Rican artist whose work bridges classical, contemporary, and Black musical traditions. For Hardy, music is a language of human experience — a way to communicate, connect, and transform. Best known for bringing the solo violin to the Off-Broadway stage in the Obie Award–winning production "The Woodsman," Hardy has become one of the foremost voices redefining contemporary violin performance through storytelling, genre fusion, and cultural reflection.

Wayne Wilentz

Wayne has performed with such famous R&B acts as Carl Gardner's Coasters, The Shirelles, The Moments, The Marvellettes, and Jimmy Norman. He was a keyboardist and composer for the '80's funk band "SKYY" from 1981 to 1989, and possesses a gold record commemorating their chart-topping Album "Skyy Line" on Salsoul Records. Born in New York City, Wayne moved to Washington in 1989, and has played Brazilian and American Jazz in the nation's capitol since then. Wayne has a B.S. in Speech from Northwestern University, and produced the nightly jazz program on the school's radio station, WNUR.
Wayne has been performing all over the DC area since his arrival, starting Brazil night at the now defunct Cafe Lautrec, working Thursdays and Sundays at U-topia for 19 years, and also playing the brunch at the world famous restaurant, Georgia Brown's

Lucas Martinez

Born: October 22, 1994

Lucas Martínez (Blanes, 1994) is a saxophonist and composer active between Spain and Mexico. Having performed in 27 countries and contributed to more than 50 recordings, he has established himself as an internationally active artist within the contemporary jazz scene. In 2025, he was recognized as Young Talent of the Year by the AMJM (Catalan Jazz Musicians Association).

For Martínez, the saxophone is more than an instrument—it is a medium to explore emotions and human connection, a voice of courage: to speak, to be heard, and to stand for one’s beliefs. His music balances lyricism with intensity, moving naturally between intimacy and openness. With four albums as a leader and two as a co-leader, he has developed a personal artistic language while remaining an active collaborator across a wide range of projects.

Andrea Ruocco

Born: February 26, 1991

Andrea Ruocco is an Italian bassist, composer, music therapist, and researcher active in

jazz, improvised music, sound art, and interdisciplinary artistic research. His work combines

performance, composition, ethnomusicology, sound studies, and experimental sonic

practices, with particular attention to Gnawa musical traditions, sound identity, and situated

forms of knowledge.

He is currently pursuing a PhD in Sound Studies and Sonic Art at the Conservatory of Music

“F. A. Bonporti” of Trento and Riva del Garda. His research project, Sound and Identity in

Adithya Vaidhyan

Born: January 2, 2002

Ross Margitza

Dr. Ross Margitza is a distinguished pianist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator. He resides in Austin, TX where he serves as a Lecturer in Jazz Studies/Jazz Piano at the University of Texas at Austin. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, he began his musical journey under the guidance of his father and grandfather, both professional pianists. He started playing piano at age six and trumpet at age ten. Inspired by Oscar Peterson's recording of “West Side Story,” Ross pursued a career in jazz.

An award-winning pianist, Dr. Margitza clinched first place in the 2024 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and second place in the 2009 Phillips Jazz Piano Competition. He has performed alongside acclaimed musicians such as Russell Malone, Jon Faddis, Phil Woods, Patti Austin, Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson, Roy McCurdy, Antonio Hart, Lynn Roberts, and Christian McBride. His credits also include performances with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Detroit Jazz Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.