Duo Laroo-Byrd

About Duo Laroo/Byrd 

Experience the harmonious fusion of world-renowned trumpeter Saskia Laroo and international pianist/vocalist Warren Byrd. Together, they craft a musical tapestry that spans the spectrum of occasions, from grand gala-fests to intimate gatherings. 

Duo Laroo/Byrd's repertoire is as diverse as it is enchanting. Whether delivering captivating dance classics, interpreting the American songbook, igniting the stage with hot afro-Latin grooves, or sharing their own catchy and soulful originals, this dynamic duo effortlessly adapts to suit your musical desires. They can provide a soothing backdrop, set the stage for a lively party, or become the centerpiece of a grand showcase. 

Melanie Mitrano

Melanie Mitrano is a singer-songwriter whose vocal and compositional styles span many genres from jazz to classical, avante-garde, and Broadway. "All Things Gold," her most recent album, features "straight-up acoustic vocal jazz in a champagne glass – swinging, clean, cool and refined." To date, six of the songs on the disc have won compositional awards. Brazilian music also factors heavily into Melanie's artistic profile. Fluent in Portuguese, she performs Brazilian standards and also pens her own Portuguese-language songs. Melanie is a member of and three-time grant recipient from the New York Women’s Composers and a winner of numerous composition awards from the Songwriters Association of Washington, ASCAP, Billboard, and the Summit City Art Song Festival

Brian Clemens

Born: July, 1994

Brian Clemens is a Southern California-based pianist, arranger, composer, educator, and bandleader. Brian enjoys a career as a versatile pianist covering anything from Latin Jazz, Great American Songbook, R&B, and country-western music. After obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Chapman University in Orange, CA, Brian continued his education with a Master's Degree in Music Performance (Jazz and Commercial Music) from Cal State Fullerton where he was a two time winner of the "Friends of Jazz" Scholarship Award.

Brian has played at internationally and at well-known Orange and Los Angeles County venues such as Herb Albert's Vibrato Jazz Grille, The Coach House,  and more and has studied with world-class classical and jazz musicians such as the Grammy Award-winning pianist, Bill Cunliffe

Lisa B aka Lisa Bernstein

Born: September 28

Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) is a unique combination: award-winning literary poet and riveting singer, performer, and recording artist.

HER LITERARY POETRY is featured in her second book God in Her Ruffled Dress (10/23, What Books Press), her most recent full-length record "Reverberant" (Piece of Pie Records), her first book The Transparent Body (Wesleyan University Press), the chapbook Anorexia (Five Fingers Poetry), and 60+ literary magazines and anthologies, including Antaeus, Caliban, City Lights Review, Field, Kenyon Review, Lilith, Ploughshares, Poetry International, Tikkun, and Zyzzyva. 

Susanna Bartilla

Raised to the sounds of Ella, Billie, Frank and Peggy Lee singing the Great American Songbook, the Berlin born Parisian vocalist Susanna Bartilla always knew she would be a jazz singer.

She inherited an unconditional love for the genre from her father, a crooner and sax player, who regularly took her out to see live music from an early age on, and it has often been said that she owes her sure sense of timing and swing to her gypsy grandfather.

All through her childhood she sang the alto voice in a choir and after moving to Paris aged 18, quite naturally studied to be an opera singer. After spending some years touring and recording with a professional vocal baroque group and gaining valuable stage experience, she found her way back to her roots and studied vocal jazz at renowned EDIM Jazz school and with some of the best French and American vocalists.

Jordan von Haslow

Born: August 3

Jordan von Haslow is a cool jazz vocalist who was born in Chicago. He initially performed under the stage name KJ, but changed his name after marrying a New York financier.

Jordan's only jazz recording was entitled “This Could Be the Start of Something” which was recorded in Sydney, Australia at the historic Paradise Studios. The album featured Matt Baker on piano, Kory Horwood on bass, Even Mannell on drums, and Adrian Cunningham on flute/tenor saxophone. It was released by Voix Chic Records and distributed by Sony Music Entertainment, which led to a career-long recording contract with Sony.

Suzanna Ross

Born: December 14

Suzanna Ross is a singer-songwriter based in New York City. She writes and sings in both English and French. In April 2024 she is releasing her new song, Upstairs, along with a French version, a l'etage. She has also written Don't Like Cryin', After the Dancing Ends, Pour toi je chanterai, There's No Tellin', Change moi (Change Me) and Make a Brand-New Start. Her songs have been added to several This Is lists on Spotify, some 1,000 individual play lists, and have  700,000+ streams. She sings jazz, French chansons, pop, Bossa Nova, and American Songbook. Suzanna has performed  at  Metropolitan Room, Don't Tell Mama, Triad, Pangea, TOMI Jazz, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, and at famed jazz club, Trumpets. Her music has been played on radio stations in the U.S., France, Europe, UK, Australia, and Africa. She co-produced a CD, Bewitched - Not Bothered, Not Bewildered, and presented a show during the pandemic, Make a Brand-New Start. Suzanna has had the pleasure of recording and performing with top-tier musicians including,  Tedd Firth, Daryl Kojak, Gregory Toroian, Sean Harkness, Kevin Lutke, and many more. 

Liz Cracchiolo

ABOUT LIZ

Edit"about liz"

“If I’m not doing something that terrifies me, it’s not worth it.” Whether it’s headlining her first solo cabaret in New York City, crushing every conceivable fitness goal, baking a perfect batch of cranberry-white chocolate biscotti, or being the foremost authority of true crime podcasts, Liz Cracchiolo lives and breathes this mantra. 

Never one to take a conventional path, singer/actor/blogger/coach Liz Cracchiolo has relished challenges. She points to her acclaimed 2021 portrayal of Diana Goodman in Next to Normal as the (current) high point of her musical theatre career and how it exemplifies her ability to meet any obstacle head on. The show solidified her bond with her newfound vocal coach, Broadway star Ellyn Marsh. It challenged her vocally, technically, physically, and mentally. It engrained in her a sense of responsibility to be true to the subject matter and to deliver an honest performance. It bonded her to her fellow actors in a way that no other show had done. And, it terrified her. 

Lisa Kirchner

Lisa Kirchner is a singer, songwriter and actress who performs an eclectic, multi-lingual repertoire that includes gems from The Great American Songbook, contemporary and original jazz and blues tunes, the French songs of Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel and Poulenc, and Brazilian tunes from Gaetano Veloco, Luis Bonfa, Chico Buarque, as well as contemporary art and theatre songs. Lisa Kirchner has appeared at Foxwoods Casino, Ryles Jazz Club and is a regular on the New York City jazz club circuit, appearing at Iridium, Birdland, The Village Gate, 55 Bar, Maxime's, Porters NYC, Orbit, Tatou, Niagara, , Cleopatra's Needle, many other clubs in New York and in Paris

Patty Peterson

Born: November 8

Patty Peterson is a world class Jazz/ R&B vocalist, Jazz radio personality, and inspirational speaker. She is a mainstay in the jingle and voice over industry and is an inspiring presenter on the national speaking circuit. In addition to being an award winning vocalist both live and in studio, Patty has hosted radio talk shows, she's been an actress, a model, appeared in numerous commercial voice-overs and jingles, and has performed the national anthem at several major venues. Patty has performed the national anthem at several major venues. She is also a concert producer for shows like “Memories – The Music of Barbra Streisand,” “The Jazz Women All Stars” and for 25-plus years has produced the Peterson Family Christmas Shows, and Minnesota Jazz Legends for Jazz88 since its inception in 2014.