The Brass Cat Quartet
Led by multi-instrumentalist Solomon Wylds, the Brass Cat Quartet is an ode to the height of jazz. Capturing sounds from days of Coltrane and Davis, the group aims to both honor and innovate jazz tradition. The group has featured many talented instrumentalist based in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina.
Aaron Irwin Trio
The Aaron Irwin Trio is an exploratory and dynamic ensemble featuring Aaron Irwin(saxophones, clarinets), Mike Baggetta (guitar), and Bill Campbell (drums). The groupthrives on pushing the boundaries of structure, form, and improvisation, creating music thatis both deeply interactive and texturally rich. With a focus on group interplay, the trio craftsnon-conventional song forms that evolve organically in performance, blurring the linesbetween composition and spontaneous creation. Each member brings a distinctive voice shaped by years of collaboration and work withsome of the most forward-thinking artists in jazz and beyond. Baggetta (mssv, Jim Keltner,David Torn) is known for his atmospheric yet raw approach to the guitar, while Campbell(Breastfist, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Madison Cunningham, Andrew Bird) provides a fluid andexpressive rhythmic foundation. Irwin (Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Jamie Baum’sSeptet +, Gabe Kahane) ties it together with a melodic sensibility that embraces both clarityand abstraction. The trio first made its mark with Wobegon (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2018), an album thatestablished their distinctive aesthetic. Their latest release, (After) (Adhyâropa Records,2024), further refines their approach, earning critical praise for its expansive compositionsand immersive sound. With years of collaboration behind them, the Aaron Irwin Triocontinues to evolve, creating music that is unpredictable, expressive, and deeply connected.
Proto Giraffe
Proto Giraffe is a jazz fusion band that blends the improvisational spirit of jam bands with the precision and sophistication of jazz, creating a sound reminiscent of iconic 70s legends like Steely Dan. Proto Giraffe brings a unique style that’s both smooth and intricate, with a groove that’s hard to forget.Their music combines tight arrangements with free-flowing improvisation, offering a refreshing take on fusion that keeps audiences coming back for more. With a nod to the past and a vision for the future, Proto Giraffe is carving its own path in the world of jazz and beyond.
Juneteenth at Flat Iron ft. Leroy Pridgen IV
Hailing from the soulful southern state of North Carolina, Leroy Pridgen IV is a rising trombonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. leroypmusic.com
ANDMOREAGAIN PRESENTS: Ninja Brian and “Friends”
Ninja Brian from Ninja Sex Party presents an evening of comedy, smooth jazz, and thinly veiled threats from him and some of his closest “friends”.
Jazzicana Blue ft: Carrie Marshall & Carter Minor
With a style rooted in jazz phrasing and soulful, organic instrumentation, Carrie Marshall performs a genre-bending blend of pop, soul, folk and jazz with strong singer- songwriter sensibilities. Known for expressive, warm vocals, piano-driven melodies and emotionally rich storytelling, Carrie is known for her authentic connection with broad audiences. Jazzicana Blue features song stylist and blues harpist, Carter Minor and actor/director/singer Estes Tarver. The trio serve up a potluck of blues, Americana and soul with a side of jazz!
ICARUS
Kai Lance & George MacLaurin Duo
Hailing from central North Carolina, performer and educator Kai Lance brings together his love for American roots music, jazz, and improvisation to create a unique compositional and improvisatory language. Kai is currently a student at the New England Conservatory of Music, in Boston, where he is studying with Jerry Bergonzi and Ran Blake, among others. George Maclaurin is a jazz pianist and composer hailing from Dunedin, New Zealand. He completed a Bachelors in Jazz Performance with Honors, at the New Zealand School of Music Te Kōkī at Victoria University of Wellington, and a Master’s of Music from The New England Conservatory in Boston. While living in Wellington, he gigged regularly, both with his own groups and as a sideman for great New Zealand jazz artists such as Brad Kang and Umar Zakaria. Maclaurin is now based in Boston, and has performed throughout the US with several different artists including: Lauren Henderson, The Kira Daglio Fine Big Band, The Social Animals Big Band, and Mark Tipton, amongst others.
Starsapien, Unheard Project GSO, and GrayScale Whale
Starsapien is a jazz-Americana recording group led by Los Angeles songwriter & producer Jay Siebold. The band has released two full-length albums, including last year’s country-western steeped Apes Scrapes and Bandages, and a handful of singles going back to 2016. The Starsapien soundscape is best defined by its punchy bass & drum interplay, bittersweet melodies, and obtuse lyrical storytelling. The band’s rotating cast of players includes North Carolina jazz virtuosos Dwayne Jordan (drums), Kevin Beardsley (bass), Logan Butler (guitar), David Siebold (guitar), and Brandon Shamar (keys). Unheard Project GSO Unheard Project GSO is a creative platform that has curated ideas and performances for some of the Piedmont Triad’s best musicians. The platform was born out of hundreds of hours of practice and gigging together in the bourgeoning Greensboro scene, and while many of the members are graduates of UNCG’s acclaimed Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program, the platform has incorporated in-demand players from diverse genres to form a powerhouse of composition, offering both original and familiar musical stylings. GrayScale Whale A body of fluid, focused sound refined from a sea of raw, relentless energy: GrayScale Whale takes its players and listeners on a sonic voyage. Seamlessly transitioning between highs and lows, the group performs energetic, eclectic, and tastefully spontaneous modern fusion.
Brad Walker Quartet with Mixed Bag (ft. Geoff Clapp)
Brad Walker is one of the most active and sought-after performers in the city of New Orleans. Perhaps best known for his “soaring” (Rolling Stone), “energetic” (NPR), and “tasteful” (Relix) solos on Saturday Night Live, the Grammys, and the Tonight Show with Nashville mega-star Sturgill Simpson, Brad Walker is an active and compelling artist in his own right, with five full-length releases under his own name and a decade of music-making in the Crescent City under his belt. His 2014 debut, ‘Quintet’, received a 4-**** review in DownBeat magazine, and his playing has received praise in Variety, OffBeat Magazine, Gambit Weekly, Dig!, and many others.Since 2011 Walker has performed or recorded with such luminaries as Bernard Purdie, George Porter, Jr., Anders Osborne, Marcia Ball, Rickie Lee Jones, Valerie June, Better than Ezra, Zigaboo Modeliste and countless others, and has led the horn sections for Blues Award-winner Ana Popovic and OffBeat Award winners Eric Lindell, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Honey Island Swamp Band, and Colin Lake. ‘Live at Snug Harbor’, recorded 2 years ago at the renowned club, represents one of the finest performances of a group that worked together steadily for over 5 years, and features virtuosic performances from local stars Oscar Rossignoli, Nathan Lambertson, and AJ Hall across a mix of the group’s original compositions and creative adaptations. It was mixed by multiple Grammy-winner David Farrell. Geoff Clapp is a drummer whose feel and style are only matched by his kind and generous spirit. He plays what he describes as a mix of the “heady New York and soulful New Orleans” drum styles. The music of Geoff Clapp and his virtuoso collaborators is a joyful and uplifting testimony. “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.” Psalm 107:2 “ Brian Blade “Mr. Clapp has been a joy to work and tour with along the years. He also is one of the finest Brush players I’ve ever heard and a true master of his craft.” “ Ellis Marsalis Over his 37 year career, Geoff has toured, recorded and performed with some of todays modern music giants: Delfeayo Marsalis and The Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet, Peter Martin Trio, Reuben Rogers, Nick Payton, Khari Allen Lee, Charlie Hunter, Christian McBride with Melissa Walker, Rale Micic, Wessell “Warm Daddy” Anderson, Dianne Reeves, The NOLA PLAYERS, Benny Green Trio, John Cowherd, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Eric Reed, Peter Bernstein, Ted Ludwig, Michael Pellera Trio, Ron Blake, Frank Wess, J@LC with Wynton Marsalis, Geoff Clapp Trio, Oscar Perez, Jeremy Davenport, Duane Eubanks, Dr. Brad Lieli, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Jamil Shariff, The Sam Fribush Organ Trio, Aaron Goldberg, LOUQUE, and Petr Cancura, James Tealy and Michael Kaeshammer as well as starring in several episodes of NCIS New Orleans as a performer and composer. He has been featuring on over 500 recordings. Currently, Mr Clapps album, REDEEMED, is now out, features Peter Martin, Reuben Rogers and Nick Payton. Geoff continues to tour and share his musical gifts to the world. “Music is the eternal inspirer and healer. I am honored and grateful to God whom gave me this journey to take, playing VIC FIRTH instruments just makes the journey that much more enjoyable.”
