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.”
Rich Hinman Vs Adam Levy
Rich Hinman vs Adam Levy is an instrumental quartet featuring Rich Hinman on pedal steel and lap steel, and Adam Levy on guitar. Having played together, on and off, for nearly 30 years, these two share a common musical language. Their repertoire of jazz, blues, country and soul songs ranges from standards to obscure numbers, and original tunes as well. Their New York-based rhythm section comprises Chris Morrissey on bass and Dan Rieser on drums. The quartet’s vibe is at once funky and atmospheric, festive and melancholy. Collectively, these four musicians have worked with k.d. lang, Norah Jones, Mark Guiliana, Allen Toussaint, Rosanne Cash, Sara Bareilles and many many others. They released a record in 2019 called ‘VS’, which is available exclusively on Bandcamp. Their second record, ‘Fan Favorites’, comes out May 17.
Eli Fribush Experiment feat. Ashlin Parker, Geoff Clapp, and Sam Fribush
You won’t see this anywhere else!
(EARLY SHOW) Sam Fribush, Charlie Hunter, & Calvin Napper: VIP Seated Show + Meet and Greet
(EARLY SHOW) Sam Fribush, Charlie Hunter, & Calvin Napper: VIP Seated Show + Meet and GreetJoin us for a very special VIP Early Show to celebrate Sam Fribush Organ Trio’s Album Release! Ticket holders will arrive early for a private cocktail hour and Meet & Greet with the band, followed by an intimate, seated show at 5:30pm.Tickets include entry to the VIP/seated Show, an exclusive Q&A, and $5 off all merch.This set will be completely different from the night show at 9pm***Cocktail Hour / Meet & Greet: 4:00 pmVIP Seated Show: 5:30 pm(Q&A to follow)
Icarus
Icarus evolved from the five member Larry Tate Quartet, formed through the auspices of the Greensboro Music Academy. Decades later after families, schooling, pandemic viruses and jobs imposed periodic hibernations, the members returned. Icarus launches improvisational melodies from jazz and funk classics by Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Marcus Miller. All members of Icarus call Greensboro home.Rob Hadgraft is the newest member of Icarus. Canadian borne and a successful businessman, he provides the percussive pulse on drums that unites all the other members. Tom Gresalfi once provided psychiatric care to folks in the community. He now is the heartbeat of the band on a Fender Fretless Jazz bass guitar. Ward Robinson was once an ID doc within the Greensboro medical community. Now in retirement and building on years of studying at the Berklee School of Music and the Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program at UNCG, he plays tenor and soprano saxophones. He is currently back in school in the Music Composition program at the UNCG School of Music. Paul Summerell was an executive and ICU nurse at Cone Health. He now finds fulfillment by playing a Fender Stratocaster guitar.
Echromatics
Echromatics is a band that aims to approach the modern soundscapes of today’s jazz with the timeless elements of funk, hip-hop, and RnB. The band name is a fusion of the words echo and chromatic: the group showcases a non-traditional approach to harmony (often chromatic or modal vs diatonic), while showing an echo of nods to the other listed styles of music. In its current iteration, Echromatics consists of saxophonist Sean Meade, guitarist Jay Killman, bassist Michael D’Angelo, and drummer Jon Hill. This powerhouse quartet debuted its first original in Jan 2023, and in Feb 2024 will be sponsored by UNCW to promote the jazz workshop programs the school offers to grade schools around the state of North Carolina. Join Echromatics at the Flat Iron for the debut of their upcoming album featuring original music.
Jazz Is Led
Jazz Is Led. The name says it all. The groundbreaking music of Led Zeppelin, reimagined with an entirely new approach; Jazz, Funk, Rock, Instrumental.Founded by Charlotte Drummer/Jazz composer, Curtis Wingfield, Jazz Is Led is mesmerizing audiences with its broad crossover appeal. With a wide range of styles, textures, and dynamics (just as Led Zeppelin had) these new takes on old favorites range from high energy, deep funk, Latin, and swing grooves to the most delicate ballads and dirty slow blues. Led Zeppelin‘s improvisational approach at their live shows is well documented, and, Jazz Is Led honors this in great supply with each show being a unique experience for the band and audience.
