Artists

KATHY KOSINS TRIO

A singular sound in the vocal world, Kosins exemplifies the intersection of jazz and soul. Steeped in the jazz tradition as well as all of the energy and intensity of soul, Kosins' most recent release, Uncovered Soul was the natural next step in Kosins' prolific career. The artist is currently gearing up for her appearance at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society's famed winter jazz series at Half Moon Bay's Douglas Beach House.

After successful engagements at the 2019 Blue Note at Sea Cruise and Blue Note Beijing, the Exit Zero Jazz Festival, and a supporting performance for Gregory Porter in Atlanta, Detroit Vocalist and ASCAP Award Winning composer Kathy Kosins is thrilled to celebrate the two year-long success that her sixth studio album, Uncovered Soul has gained across commercial radio. The driving, funk-tinged track "Put the Voodoo on Me," is Kosins' 4th consecutive Top 20 Smooth Jazz Single and topped the Indie Soul Chart at #1.

Kosins is the Highest Charting Vocalist for 2019 on the Smooth Jazz Network and to date has remained on their radio affiliates, including Billboard reporting stations, for 102 consecutive weeks. The vocalist reached #1 with " Uncovered Soul" and with "Can We Pretend". In addition, the album was A-Listed on Jazz FM, London and reached #13 on the Jazz Week Chart. Kosins was nominated by the Smooth Jazz Network for "Breakout Artist of the Year" for 2018 and 2019.

Uncovered Soul, released on Maristar, is a celebration of Kosins' soul-infused roots, tracing back to the artist's upbringing during the legendary Motown years in Detroit. Catering to both jazz and soul aficionados, Kosins delivers her most intense and intimate singing yet and wows audiences with her impeccable, flawless phrasing and a deep-rooted passion for telling the story. Her eclectic musical palette delves deep into the rich history of both Jazz and Soul. With Kamau Kenyatta, the stellar longtime producer of Gregory Porter, by her side, Kosins takes listeners on a dynamic musical journey through the sonic landscape of her native Detroit through the 1960's and 1970's. This soul-infused project made it to #1 on the Solar Radio Chart and sat at #1 on the Official Indie Soul Chart, where it was named Jazz Album of the Year.

Uncovered Soul, dubbed a "consummate work of art" by GinaLovesJazz, garnered international attention from publications including SoulTracks, Blues And Soul, Echoes Magazine, All About Jazz, Jazz Journal, Jazzwise and PopMatters. Kosins made her BBC Debut on the Robert Elms Show.

When not touring the USA or Europe, Kathy, a true renaissance woman, excels as a painter. Her abstract acrylics on canvas are influenced by the cubist paintings of the '50s. Commissioned paintings are held in private collections and Kosins continues to sell her work at both gallery shows and concert performances. Integrating her art of the visual and the aural nature, Kosins is bringing her painting to the stage, by incorporating live-painting at every

performance. Her work is currently being displayed and represented by a notable Detroit gallery.

A past recipient of the Michigan Council for the Arts (Jazz Composer of the Year), Kosins has received grants from Michigan's ArtServe advocacy group. Her clinics and workshops teach performance skills alongside business strategies for the independent artist and have been a success at over 200 colleges and universities across the USA.

Kosins has recorded, performed and/or shared the stage with many well known Jazz and R&B artists to include Gregory Porter, Terrance Blanchard, Gerald Clayton, Terell Stafford, Randy Brecker, Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland, Eric Marienthal, Matt Wilson, Peter Bernstein, Tamir Hendelman, Don Was, Michael Henderson, Peabo Bryson, Earl Klugh, The Rippingtons, Jonathon Butler, Cyrus Chestnut, Larry Goldings, James Moody, Kevin Mahogany, Bernard Purdie, Red Holloway, Mitch Ryder and Was/Not Was.
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BIJAN TAGHAVI TRIO

Bijan Taghavi, piano
Randy Napolean, guitar
Will Lyle, bass

Bijan Taghavi is a pianist, composer, and educator who is "able to adapt to any musical setting” (Brett Ecklund/KX 93.5 FM Jazz Quest Radio).

As a leader, the Bijan Taghavi Trio toured Japan in December 2018, including performances at Urayasu Concert Hall in Chiba, Live House ENN in Sendai, Live House ROXX in Aamori, and Nogata Kumin Hall in Tokyo. Bijan also leads a Duo Series at the National Arts Club in NYC, where he has performed concerts with Dick Oatts, Rich Perry, Jay Anderson, Ulysses Owens Jr., Roxy Coss, Giveton Gelin, and Kiyoshi Kitagawa.

As a sideman, Bijan has collaborated with Rodney Whitaker, Randy Napoleon, Ron Carter, Stefon Harris at the Apollo Theatre, and performed Coltrane’s A Love Supreme with Joe Lovano at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Bijan has also performed at venues such as: Blue Note Amsterdam, Beacon Theatre, 55 Bar, and Minton’s Playhouse Harlem.

A sought-after composer and arranger, Bijan has written works for studio orchestra, big band, string quartet, and small jazz ensembles, including performing his original music at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts a part of the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency.

Alongside a busy performing career, Bijan is very involved as an educator for JazzPianoSchool.com having written over twenty articles and produced instructional videos for their Artist Highlight and Gig Analysis series’. Currently a Graduate Assistant at Michigan State University, Bijan has developed the curriculum for Undergraduate Piano, teaches classes in Beginning Improvisation and Advanced Musicianship, and works with private students.

Bijan was inspired to play the piano at the age of three from a film entitled El Dorado, which featured Bijan's idol, Elton John. Growing up in Laguna Niguel, California, Bijan was classically trained under the mentorship of Robert Estrin, studying the monumental works of Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Chopin, Beethoven, and Bach.

Together, Bijan toured with Robert a part of Living Piano: Journey Through Time: Historic Concert Experience where they explored the history of the keyboard in musical performance, dressed up in period costumes. Bijan played the role of “Young Mozart” by performing Mozart's works on the forte piano. They performed at many venues across California, including: Schumacher Hall, Cal State Bakersfield, Hole Memorial Auditorium at La Sierra University, and Music Teachers’ Association California. Bijan also performed numerous classical solo piano recitals, accompanied Metropolitan Opera Singer Eric Jordan, and performed the Grieg Piano Concerto as a soloist with the South Coast Symphony as a first-prize winner of the Young Stars of the Future Competition.

Bijan’s foray into jazz began his junior year in high school after a performance with Grammy Latin jazz Artist Nestor Torres at SOKA Performing Arts Center. Aided by his perfect pitch, Bijan proved to be adept at assimilating new styles of music. Soon thereafter, Bijan discovered the music of Oscar Peterson and Kenny Barron. A recipient of the Presser Foundation Scholarship, Bijan then earned his Bachelors of Music in Jazz Piano Performance at the Manhattan School of Music and studied with Phil Markowitz and Fred Hersch. www.BijanJazz.com
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MAX COLLEY III

Max Colley III received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Michigan University. Max has studied with Tim Froncek, Ken Olson, Greg Alley, Daniel Kovats, Dennis Horton, Marcus Belgrave, Rob Smith, Bobby Shew, and Jon Faddis. Max has won numerous awards including outstanding soloist at the Aquinas College, Central Michigan, Sonny Stitt, and Montreaux-Detroit Jazz Festivals and won the Jimmy Forrest Memorial Scholarship. He was a member of the 1987 McDonalds All-American Band and Jazz Band. Max has performed for 3 presidents, many entertainers, and internationally acclaimed musicians including, Louis Bellson, John Pattitucci, Jon Faddis, Bobby Shew, Frank Mantooth, Maria Schneider, Wess Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Belgrave, Robin Eubanks, Marcus Printup, Todd Williams, Rodney Whitaker, Aaron Diehl, Sean Jones, Randy Brecker, Xavier and Quincy Davis, and Phil Woods. Max released a CD under his own name in 2010 entitled “My Father’s World” featuring some of today's greatest talent. In 2016, Max released "Jubilee" which includes NEA Jazz Master Mr. Jimmy Cobb, Mr. Jon Faddis, and many other jazz luminaries! Max Served on the Michigan State Board for IAJE. Max has been involved in the West Michigan jazz scene both teaching, giving clinics and workshops, and performing on trumpet and drums with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Bob Taylor’s Mid-Town Horns, The Truth in Jazz Orchestra, The Gull Lake Orchestra, Evidence, Gumbo Nuveau, and the Max Colley III Quartet.

ROBIN CONNELL TRIO

DJazz pianist (& vocalist), Robin Connell, the Artprize 2016 jazz music award recipient, was also the West Michigan Jazz Society’s pick for 2017 Musician of the Year. She performs regularly as bandleader or side-woman at concerts and clubs with bandleaders Randy Marsh, Kevin Jones, Jim Cooper, and others. The Robin Connell Jazz Trio, with bassist, Rob Hartman, and drummer, Keith Hall, is the ‘House Trio’ at Grand Rapids new music venue, the Listening Room, where they welcome a different guest musician to the stage each month.

She and husband, Paul Brewer (trombone/vocal) frequently appear as duo, or with their quartet, performing their original arrangements of time honored jazz standards. And Jazz in the Sanctuary at Fountain Street Church, which she has hosted since the concert series began in 2014, is another current endeavor.

Enthusiastic about jazz education, Robin’s teaching credits include twenty summers as jazz faculty at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. She currently teaches jazz studies at Aquinas College, and co-directs the St Cecilia Youth Jazz Ensembles, Robin was a presenter at the 2020 Jazz Education Network conference in New Orleans and her resume includes a long list of stints as guest artist/clinician/adjudicator and K-12 school performances.

With a Doctorate of Arts in Music Composition [University of Northern Colorado], and composer of many instrumental works, Robin is the winner of multiple arts grants at the national and state levels. Her several commissions include Derailed, a work for the 1998 Massachusetts All-State jazz band, for which she was also the conductor. The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra regularly performs her pieces, with Hip Hop Gidget, included on their recording, Jazz on Tap.

MICHAEL MALIS AND COMMON TONGUE

Michael Malis - piano
Jonathan Taylor — drums
Brian Juarez — bass

Michael Malis (b. 1988) is a composer, pianist, and music educator based in Detroit MI. A multi-faceted
musical artist, he performs as a jazz musician, composes for the concert stage, and contributes to
multidisciplinary collaborations. In 2018, his compositions were commissioned by organizations such as
Chamber Music Society of Detroit and the Great Lakes Music Festival. In 2017, he released an album of
duets with saxophonist Marcus Elliot, entitled “Balance.” The album was praised by the Detroit Metro
Times as “contemporary jazz of the highest order, a benchmark for where the genre can go.” He has been
lauded for his scores for film and theater, which have garnered awards, critical acclaim, and have reached
international audiences. He has shared the stage with such luminaries as Marcus Belgrave, Tyshawn
Sorey, William Hooker, Jaribu Shahid, John Lindberg, Dave Douglas, A. Spencer Barefield, Ken Filiano,
J.D. Allen, Andrew Bishop, Dennis Coffey, and Marion Hayden.

SABBATICAL BOB

Funk, Soul, Rock and Roll, Hip-Hop, Top 40, RnB, Blues

Band Members
David Ward - Drums
Jonathon Muir-Cotton - Bass
Ian Eylanbekov - Guitar
Jordan Anderson - Keys
Ben Green - Trumpet
Christopher Kelley - Trombone

Hometown Ann Arbor, MI

Sabbatical Bob is committed to returning the funk to the people. One thing the audience may not see is the way the funk takes over whenever and wherever it is played. People do some crazy things on the funk, but one thing remains the same, they have a good time. The party entertainment specialists have declared an emergency state of funk, and have promised that here-now and forevermore: things WILL be funky.

THE FERAL CATS

Feral Cats are coming to a place near you! Yes, we’ve been out in the shadows collecting a nice mix of early rock and blues. From Jimmy Reed to Elvis and much, much, more we want to bring our own picks and licks to you.

Monte Klein and Phil Coryell teamed up a couple of years ago with a shared love of harmonicas and the music produced by them. Himself an accomplished vocalist, guitarist, and harmonica player, Monte possesses a special sensitivity to wring out some of the best licks from Phil “harmonicas” in any given tune. If he’s not out howling at the moon Monte plays with “Bo White and the Bluezers” from Grand Rapids, and locally with “A Shore Thing”. Phil“harmonicas” Coryell also gets funky with “Lou Thunder Band” from the “left-coast” and in Benzie County with the indie-blues group “Barefoot”. The addition of the extraordinary styling of bassist Dave “the Professor” Grimes rounds out these cats as they “bring it” to you. Dave prefers building the bass as opposed to playing out so we’re lucky to be able to “un-domesticate” him for a while. Come and see for yourself, why these are the Feral Cats!