Riley Rae & The Carolina Jazz Ensemble
Show description: Fresh off a six-month residency at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, Riley Rae & The Carolina Jazz Ensemble return home for their first North Carolina performance. Riley Rae is a jazz and R&B vocalist from Raleigh whose sound fuses elements of jazz, soul, and funk. The group will perform their full EP Forever in the Making for the first time in the United States, alongside a selection of R&B and jazz covers. Join us for an intimate evening of smooth grooves, good vibes, and special guests.
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.