Results for "Composer/arranger"

Yelena Eckemoff

Yelena Eckemoff is an internationally renowned Russian-born pianist, composer, poet, and visual artist who organically blends classical elements with jazz improvisation in evocative and uniquely distinctive works that strike a delicate balance between through-composed frameworks and open-ended exploration and improvisation. Eckemoff is highly prolific composer and recording artist who produces the albums that are listed worldwide among the best releases of a year. Each release has its own charm and expression, involving the greatest celebrities of the world jazz scene, but always bears the personal signature of the composer/pianist. Yelena Eckemoff is a virtuoso pianist who played numerous piano solo recitals and lead her various all-star bands performing at prestigious venues, including Birdland NYC, Jazz Standard, Saint Peter’s Church, and Ronnie Scotts in London.

Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno

Born: June 2, 1967

Joey “G-Clef” Cavaseno (alto saxophone, clarinet, arranger, composer, producer)

Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno, aka G-Clef da Mad Komposa, was trained under the strict tutelage of some of the last living masters of Jazz Music, such as Doc Cheatham, Illinois Jacquet, Panama Francis, and Arvell Shaw. He stayed in these bands for over a twelve year period, studying, performing, observing, and paying dues, so that one day, he too might lead a great band. While many of his peers scrambled to acquire record contracts before even having played professionally as a sideman for any length of time, he followed the great example of so many reedmen in the orchestra of his idol, Duke Ellington, and stayed as long as he could, soaking up the experience and learning the craft first-hand, in a time where such experiences were all but gone away. In all three of these bands, his talent blossomed and he was given heavy responsibilities oftentimes as a featured soloist, lead alto, straw boss, and musical co-director; often called upon to write musical arrangements. Jazz Music brought him to over thirty countries before reaching the age of thirty.

Craig Roselieb

Born: September 3, 1961

Craig Roselieb, a 1979 graduate of Downers Grove South High School, completed his Bachelor of Music at Northern Illinois University in Music Education and Saxophone performance in 1984, where he was a 3-year member of the NIU Jazz Ensemble under Ron Modell, and was a winner in the 1983 Concerto Competition on Alto Saxophone as a student of Steve Duke.  He earned his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Northwestern University in 1988, where he directed the Symphonic Band and Concert Band under John P. Paynter, and directed Jazz Lab Band and played jazz tenor in the NU Jazz Ensemble with Don Owens.   Mr. Roselieb began his teaching career at Glenbrook North High School from 1984-87, continued teaching at Wheaton Central High School from 1988-90, and joined the District 99 music faculty in 1990. He was appointed Director of Bands at Downers Grove South High School in 1994, and retired in May, 2018 after a 33 year career.  His responsibilities at DGS included conducting the Wind Ensemble, Marching Mustangs, and Jazz Ensemble, as well as co-directing the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and Concert Band. 

Jimmy Farace

From an early age, Jimmy Farace has been captivated by the beauty and expressive power of the baritone saxophone. With an unwavering belief in the instrument’s ability to tell profound musical stories, Farace has already earned praise from some of jazz’s finest voices. "Jimmy Farace’s playing and writing are the mark of someone who demands the attention of a wide audience!" says saxophonist Walter Smith III, while baritone legend Gary Smulyan describes his tone as “deeply emotional, mature, and his sound simply gorgeous.” 

Based in Chicago, Farace is quickly becoming recognized as an up-and-coming voice in jazz. His upcoming debut album, Hours Fly, Flowers Die (Shifting Paradigm Records, April 2025), is a heartfelt exploration of nostalgia and time, inspired by Henry Van Dyke’s For Katrina’s Sundial. Featuring GRAMMY-winning bassist Clark Sommers, Dana Hall, Kenny Reichert, Julius Tucker, the KAIA String Quartet, and producer Greg Ward, the album showcases Farace’s original modern jazz compositions and arrangements.

Griffin Woodard

Born: September 27, 1998

Griffin Woodard is a composer, bass clarinetist, and bandleader who believes in the transformative power of music.

As an instrumentalist, Woodard’s primary focus is playing the bass clarinet in a jazz context. He has dedicated years of study to acquiring an in-depth understanding of the rich historical lineage of jazz clarinetists and bass clarinetists from Johnny Dodds to Eric Dolphy.

He hopes to honor the profound contributions of the masters by pushing his instrument to new frontiers of personal expression.

Woodard’s compositions have been performed by a variety of esteemed ensembles and soloists, including the New England Conservatory Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra, the Bach Festival Orchestra of Bethlehem, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, concert pianist Michelle Cann, and organist Stephen Williams. In 2022, Woodard was awarded the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award for his piece, “Kyrie”.

Arta Jekabsone

Born: May 29, 1995

New York City-based Latvian singer, composer, and arranger Arta Jēkabsone is recognized for her velvety tone. Arta engages listeners with an emotional and honest, adventurous, and joyful expression of music. Her awards include a 1st place win at the prestigious Montreux Shure Jazz Voice Competition 2016, 3rd place at the 10th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Voice Competition 2021, 2nd place at Mid- Atlantic Jazz Voice Competition 2017, and 3rd prize at Ella Fitzgerald International Vocal Competition 2019. Recently, Jēkabsone was awarded The Jazz Gallery Residency Commission Grant 2021/2022.  In 2023, Jēkabsone received the highest form of state recognition in the field of music, the Latvian Music Award “New Artist of the Year 2022”.  ASCAP Foundation recently recognized her with an honorable mention in the 2024 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards and in May 2024 she concluded her artist residency at The Church  in Sag Harbour.

Nick Stefanacci

Pop Fusion Saxophonist, Nick Stefanacci, has toured the world for over two decades. As a sideman, Nick, has shared the stage with legends such as Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Derek Trucks, and Hip-Hop Icons, Ja Rule and DMC (RunDMC) to highlight a few. As a leader, Nick has toured Europe and North America, bringing a new vision and swagger to the music industry.  Driven by passion, Sweet Lion Music Group brilliantly takes music to the next level.  Whether Nick is the producer, artist or philanthropist, it is clear that his vision is the same.  

Nick's passion is at the very heart of Sweet Lion Music Group.  Producer, Pop Fusion Saxophonist, Festival Developer and Philanthropist, Nick's endless pursuit to balance life and music is the roar behind Sweet Lion Music Group.  As a producer, bringing an artist's vision to sound and achieving the highest level of musicianship is what Nick strives to accomplish every time he steps behind the glass. 

Eric J. Richards

Born: October 7

Eric Richards LINKTREE

Eric Richards is a widely performed composer/arranger, conductor, trombonist and educator active in a wide range of musical media and genres. As a composer who defines himself as a “contemporary American eclectic”, he has written music for groups ranging from rural high school marching bands to chamber music ensembles to nationally recognized big bands and symphony orchestras. Eric’s music has been heard on six continents in performances and recordings by professional and academic ensembles in major concert venues across the United States, Europe, Australia, Asia and India to include:
• National Symphony Orchestra
• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
• Boston Pops Orchestra
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra
• New York Pops Orchestra
• Chiara String Quartet
• US Army Field Band and Jazz Ambassadors
• USAF Band and the Airmen of Note
• USAF Academy Falconaires
• US Army Band (Pershing's Own)
• US Marine Band (The President's Own)
• Sydney Jazz Orchestra (Australia)
• University of North Texas Wind Ensemble
• California State University – Long Beach Concert Jazz Orchestra
• University of Northern Colorado Jazz Lab Band I
• Shanghai Conservatory of Music Jazz Ensemble
• Carnegie Hall (New York)
• Midwest Clinic (Chicago)
• Montreux, North Sea, and Nice Jazz Festivals.

Ilario Ferrari

Greg Englert

Born: March, 1963

Greg is an award winning mutiple number 1 on-line jazz chart and top 20 rock/pop/easylistening on-line chart composer, musician and recording artist. He is based in Sydney Australia and performs with most of the top Jazz Bands and Sydney 80's covers band 'Glory Daze'.

From his beginning on Trumpet with Sydney Dixieland Jazz Bands and Swing Big Bands, Greg has gone on to work with most major jazz bands in Sydney including the legendary Ricky May, Bob Barnard and Dave Dallwitz. He has also supported and backed legends such as KC & the Sunshine Band, The Harlem Globetrotters, Jackie Trent & Tony Hatch (Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours....), The Deltones, Doug Parkinson, Brian Cadd, Jackie Love (legs!!!!) etc.