Marisa Balistreri

Born: July 26, 1972

Marisa Balistreri is a Madison, Wisconsin-based vocalist. A former professional Italian opera singer with an international career, Marisa currently collaborates with her songwriter-guitarist husband, Stefan Hall on original jazz tunes inspired by music from around the world. Marisa's group performs as a duo, trio or quartet and plays jazz standards, Latin jazz and originals in several languages. They play music to make people feel hopeful about humanity.

In the Madison Area, The Marisa Balistreri Quartet recently played at Festa Italia and for a Jazz at Five fundraiser. Additionally, The Marisa Balistreri Trio has had a months-long residency at Cafe Coda, and have played as either a duo, trio or quartet at The Cave of the Mounds, Harmony Bar and Grill, North Street Cabaret, Pyramid Event Venue and many other great venues. Marisa and Stefan have also played at the Weidner Center 6:30 Concert Series, Art Street and Blue Opus in Green Bay, DeJaVu and Gibson Music Hall in Appleton and the Bremen Cafe in Milwaukee with various jazz ensembles. The Marisa Balistreri Duo was recently featured on Channel 3000, Neon Jazz, and Live in the Lair on Max Inc, Radio

Amine Dhouibi

Born: October 17, 1990

Amine Dhouibi is an independent musician and composer dedicated to exploring and shaping a personal voice within the expansive world of contemporary music. Born in Sousse, Tunisia, he developed an early connection to music and the guitar during a period of introspection, using sound as a medium to translate his inner perceptions and imaginative visions. This search for expression continues to define his artistic path. His work reflects a deeply personal perspective, engaging with the evolving language of contemporary and experimental music while pushing beyond conventional boundaries. Drawing from a wide range of musical influences, Dhouibi's approach is both exploratory and transformative, contributing to new directions in modern sound

Kyle Green

Born: January 16, 1986

Kyle Green is an American jazz guitarist, composer, and educator based in Portugal. Through his work as a performer, conductor, festival founder, and arts leader, he has built an international career dedicated to performance, music education, and the advancement of jazz culture.

Green received his formal musical education at Grand Valley State University in Michigan and The City University of New York, where he studied while simultaneously building a career as a guitar instructor. His playing draws from the post-bop tradition, balancing expressive improvisation with a strong commitment to melody, interaction, and swing.

David Laborier

Born: April 17, 1975

David Laborier is an accomplished guitarist, composer, and arranger whose career spans performance, education, and recording. He studied jazz guitar at the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, Berklee College of Music, and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.

Currently, David serves as Professor of Jazz Studies and Head of the Jazz and Pop-Rock Department at the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg. His contributions to jazz education include the publication of his two-part jazz theory method Cogs and Wheels (2021).

As a recording artist and bandleader, David has released five albums under the WPR Jazz label. His big band project Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Band earned top honors in the Jazz category at the 2010 International Songwriting Competition. His album NE:X:T received two nominations at the 17th Independent Music Awards.

Joan Fort

Born: June 24, 1997

Joan Fort (1997) is a Spanish guitarist and composer based in Amsterdam (NL). He holds a Master’s degree in Jazz Guitar from the prestigious Conservatorium van Amsterdam and Temple University in Philadelphia.

Throughout his career, Joan has had the privilege of touring, performing and collaborating with renowned musicians such as Dick Oatts, Jeremy Pelt, Vincent Herring, Grant Stewart, Sarah Hanahan, Jorge Rossy, Bill McHenry, Jesse Davis, Benjamin Herman, Michael Weiss, Jasper Blom, Rita Payés, and Virginia MacDonald.

His latest acclaimed record, Hangin' In (2026), was recorded in New York among a stellar line-up: Grant Stewart on tenor sax, Michael Weiss on piano, David Wong on bass, and Aaron Kimmel on drums.

One of his co-led projects, The Dam Jawn, has released two critically acclaimed albums: Master St (2023) and Forward (2024), both featuring the legendary New York saxophonist Dick Oatts

Danny Gatton

Born: September 4, 1945

Danny Gatton (full name Daniel Wood Gatton Jr.) was an American virtuoso guitarist renowned for his extraordinary technical skill and his ability to seamlessly blend multiple genres, including blues, rockabilly, jazz, country, and more. He often described his style as "redneck jazz," a term reflecting his fusion of country roots with jazz improvisation and other influences.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Washington, D.C., Gatton began playing guitar at age nine, influenced by his father (a rhythm guitarist) and early exposure to legends like Les Paul. Largely self-taught after brief lessons, he developed an incredible ear and technique. By his teens, he was performing in bands like the Offbeats (1960–1964), playing jazz and other styles. He later worked as a session musician in Nashville, returned to the D.C. area, and built a reputation through local clubs and bands.

Bertrand

Edwin Corne

Born: July 8, 1999

Edwin Corne is an Australian-Chinese jazz guitarist based in New York City. Born in 1999 and raised in Shanghai, he moved to New York to pursue a Bachelor of Music at The New School of Jazz, where he earned a spot in Hal Galper’s Rhythm Section Workshop. In 2025, he received his Master of Music in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School. His playing draws influence from Charlie Parker, Ahmad Jamal, Erroll Garner, Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, Django Reinhardt, and more. 

Edwin's debut album, Spruce and Maple, was released in November, 2025. It features some of his favorite melodies, including seldom-heard gems like Jubilation by Junior Mance, The Mooche by Duke Ellington, and Lotus Blossom by Billy Strayhorn

Tom, Dick & Harry Soul and Jazz

Tom, Dick & Harry

Giving every song a new life

Harry and Dick play soul and jazz songs together with the guitar named Tom. A song drifts in from somewhere. It can be a big band classic or a wall of sound hit. We pick it up, shake off all the feathers and make it our own. The two of us play the song with just the old jazz-guitar. We enjoy the discoveries, the collaboration. Feeling the rhythm. Playing with the words and the sounds. Trying to surprise each other. That's fun. We give every song we play a new life. That's what we do. It can be recognizable to the audience, but also very surprising.

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.