Results for "Composer"

Ian Torres

Born: December 15, 1976

Ian Torres is a Chicago-based trumpeter, composer, and producer whose music lives at the crossroads of composition and improvisation. A veteran of Chicago’s vibrant jazz scene, Torres has spent years developing a voice that blends the expressive freedom of live performance with the craft and precision of modern studio production.

After leading the Ian Torres Big Band from 2008–2014 — culminating in the release of the acclaimed album January (2013) — Torres expanded his creative vision through his personal studio, Sótano Creativo Studios, where he writes, records, and produces his projects from the ground up. His approach reflects a lifelong curiosity about sound: horns and synths converse freely, rhythm and harmony evolve organically, and every layer contributes to a sense of motion and immediacy.

Matt Panayides

Matt Panayides is a jazz guitarist and composer based in the New York City area whose music blends lyrical improvisation, dynamic interplay, and deeply expressive original compositions. Drawing inspiration from guitar greats like Jim Hall, John Scofield, Wes Montgomery, and Joni Mitchell, he has developed a distinctive voice that balances melodic sensitivity with harmonic sophistication. Panayides is a regular presence on the New York jazz scene, leading his own groups and collaborating with many of the city’s top musicians.

His discography includes several acclaimed recordings on the Pacific Coast Jazz label, including Field Theory (2021), Conduits (2015), and Tapestries of Song (2011), as well as the trio album With Eyes Closed (2024) featuring bassist Steve LaSpina and drummer Anthony Pinciotti. His latest project, Present Echoes (forthcoming in 2026), showcases new original music for quartet with Rich Perry on tenor saxophone, Steve LaSpina on bass, and Mark Ferber on drums, exploring themes of reflection, resistance, and renewal.

Santo Florelli

Born: April 24, 1976

Santo Florelli

He was born in Sicily (Italy) in 1976, spent part of his childhood in New Jersey (USA), where he still lives. Periodically, he travels to Genoa (Italy), where he lived 27 years (1983 to 2010).His music career began studying with the composer and drummer Max Biaselli (1992), and he graduated art (Artistic lyceum P. Klee). In 2000, Santo continued his studies at the Modern Music Academy in Milan (AMM) and privately with the Italian famous drummer Agostino Marangolo. In 2010, Florelli completed his studies by attending the “Collective Music college” in New York City for an intensive course.

Stefan Lovin

Born: February 21, 1980

Stefan Lovin is a Romanian pianist and composer whose music lies at the crossroads of free improvisation, classical tradition, and folk roots. Trained in the European classical school, he gradually expanded his artistic language towards jazz improvisation and avant-garde experimentation, often drawing comparisons with Keith Jarrett’s lyrical freedom.

His work explores the dialogue between Romanian folk melodies and the contemplative spirit of modern jazz, creating soundscapes that are both intimate and expansive. Lovin frequently employs techniques such as prepared piano to broaden the instrument’s expressive palette.

Lee Hogans

Born: June 16, 1977

 Lee Hogans' performance career gained notoriety by working with giants in the entertainment industry. He is the trumpeter for comedian Dave Chapelle as a member of the group Fred Yonnet and The Band With No Name. Their performances include Radio City Music Hall and theSNLAfterParty. LeerecentlytouredwithGrammy-winningbassist Marcus Miller on his Renaissance Tour in the US, Europe and Africa. He’s also toured with Funk legend Maceo Parker – where school is always in session! In 2009, he was the trumpeter for Jay-Z’s Blueprint III tour, which included playing at President Barak Obama’s Inaugural Ball. He was a member of legendary pop icon Prince and The NPG from 2007-2009. Other tours include Jill Scott, Sean “Diddy” Combs and The Jonas Brothers. TV performances include Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, The Today Show, Ellen DeGeneres, Kelly and Michael, and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.

Sacha Boutros

Born: August 3, 1989

Jazz Virtuosa, Opera Muse. Supper Club Queen. The Voice
of Peace that Transcends Borders

Sacha Boutros is an acclaimed jazz singer,  producer and composer, celebrated for performing in 14 languages. As a global peace ambassador of goodwill, she uses music as a bridge to foster community and designs peace murals that unite bordering nations.

A former semi-professional soccer and tennis player, Sacha attended one of the top business schools in the U.S., graduating with honors in Marketing and International Business. She later founded a record label, production, and publishing company, establishing herself as one of the few female producers in jazz. Her production company Hear me Roar curates entertainment across all genres for Fortune 500 companies major festivals, and bespoke artistic programs championing women and minorities in the arts; her programs are diverse and inclusive and create a sense of belonging to artists and audiences alike.

Camara Kambon

Born: February 4, 1973

Camara Kambon is an American film composer, songwriter, pianist, music producer and educator. 

Camara Kambon grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. Starting at the age of 4, Kambon developed an interest in piano, composing his first original riffs at age 6. At 10, Kambon received the Jacques Kahn scholarship to attend the Peabody Preparatory School of the Johns Hopkins University, to study jazz, classical piano, and musicianship.

Later at 14, he performed with jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. In the same year, he met Bill Cosby collaborator, Stu Gardner, which led to an interest in composing for TV and film.

Anders Holst

Danish guitarist and composer Anders Holst (b. 1979), based in Copenhagen, has been an integral part of the music scene in Denmark for the last 20 years, working in the field of bridging composition with improvisation. He has performed all over Europe and US with his bands and as a soloist. Besides his work in his own name he is also a founding member of the groups Cirklen (six guitar ensemble, established 2009), Bog Bodies (with Robert Stillman and Sean Carpio, established 2010) and Ektoplasma (with Nils Gröndahl, established 2010). He has released albums on esteemed labels such as Morningside Records, Scissor Tail Records, Tompkins Square Records, Barkhausen Recordings, Blackout, Clang, Kornmod, MIC, Trestle Records, Migro Records and Flydende Rum.

Nathan Douds

Nathan Douds is a freelance percussionist, pianist, andeducator. He is a graduate of Youngstown State Universitywhere he earned a Bachelor's Degree in percussionperformance and a graduate of Bowling Green StateUniversity where he earned a Master's Degree in JazzStudies, applied piano.

Nathan has has been playing professionally since the age offourteen, and since then, he has played in a variety of genresincluding: jazz, pop, R&B, brazillian, afro-cuban, 50s,progressive rock, orchestral, chamber music, musicaltheater, elctronic, electro-acoustic, and many others. He hasworked with many diverse artists and groups including JoeLovano, John Hollenbeck, Kenny Werner, the Cleveland JazzOrchestra, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Bobby Selvaggio,and Sean Jones.

Sean Jefferson

Born: November 25, 1981

Jazz history isn't exactly short on drummers who’ve pushed the artform to new heights. Some of them, as we all know,managed to do it on a nightly basis. For today’s jazzdrummer, that means one thing: if you want to leave your mark, relying on chops and technique just isn’t going to do. You have to have a voice...

Though Sean Jefferson has certainly made it his life’s work to try and master the vast traditions set forth by drummers before him, he never set out to make music strictly for drummers. Or musicians. Or even jazz fans. Yes, he has studied rigorously. Yes, he has a knack for putting a fresh, cerebral spin on meter. Yes, he grooves hard and swings tight. But Jefferson has always, from day one, been in search of his own voice. And, though he is already pushing toward new horizons in jazz drumming, as a composer he points theway to a vision of jazz’s future as a language, and is never content to fall into the role of pedestrian beat-supplier. As faras Sean is concerned, drums must always fit into the greater whole of the music.