VIOLINIST KAREN BRIGGS
Ballroom Performance:
Friday Evening, October 12
Born in Manhattan but raised in Portsmouth, Virginia before attending Norfolk State University. 1992 and 1996 saw her first solo releases. Her most recent: 2009’s “Soulchestral Groove”.
GUITARIST AND VOCALIST
NICK COLIONNE
Ballroom Performance:
Friday Evening, October 12
VIOLINIST KAREN BRIGGS
Ballroom Performance:
Friday Evening, October 12
Born in Manhattan but raised in Portsmouth, Virginia before attending Norfolk State University. 1992 and 1996 saw her first solo releases. Her most recent: 2009’s “Soulchestral Groove”.
GUITARIST AND VOCALIST
NICK COLIONNE
Ballroom Performance:
Friday Evening, October 12
He is The Big Windy Cat. Chicago Bornand Brewed and close to his Fishing Holes on the Northern Illinois lakes. He just waits to get that call he’s been booked again by JazzTrax as he always arrives on the Island several days before performance to get in some Ocean Fishing.
GUITARIST ROB TARDICK
Ballroom Appearance:
Saturday Evening, October 13
The Newest International Newcomer to the Scene he watched his first U.S. Hit, “Shakin’ the House” go Top 20 on the Smooth Jazz Charts this Spring. He is Canadian and resides near Toronto, Canada.
SAXOPHONIST JACKIE M JOYNER
Ballroom Performance:
Sunday Afternoon, October 14
Born in Norfolk, but graduated from high school in Rochester, New York. He came back to Virginia briefly where at age 21 Keyboardist Marcus Johnson hired him on as saxman in his band, 2001-2004. Jackiem and his new bride Lola then migrated to Los Angeles in 2003, to see if he could make it in the West Coast Smooth Jazz scene.
KEYBOARDIST NICHOLAS COLE
Ballroom Performance:
Sunday Afternoon, October 14
A year ago at age 17, this native North Carolinian, from Goldsboro, made his solo debut with ‘A Journey of One.’ He became a Trippin ‘N Rhythm recording artist with ‘Endless Possibilities,’ released in late Summer. This is his JazzTrax Festival debut. At home he performs at Mt. Zion Church Ministries where he’s played piano and organ since age 4.
DOTSERO (BAND)
Ballroom Performance:
Saturday Afternoon, August 13
Having taken their name from a smallRocky Mountain town. DOTSERO means ‘something unique’ according to Ute Native American legend. It was spelled DOTZERO on earliest geographical railroad maps. Led by 2 brothers, Stephen Watts on Saxophone.David Watts on Guitar.
SAXOPHONIST EUGE GROOVE
Ballroom Performance:
Saturday Afternoon, October 13
Steven Eugene Grove is a native of Hagerstown, Maryland, and a graduate of University of Miami School of Music in 1984. His first hit single “Vinyl” launched a string of hits to today, “Sneak A Peak” garnered a Song of the Year award at the 2001 Oasis/Smooth Jazz Award. In September he released Album No. 8 ‘The House of Groove.’
SAXOPHONIST NAJEE
Ballroom Performance:
Saturday Evening, October 13
Born in the Greenwich Village of New York City and raised in Jamaica, Queens. He has toured and recorded with Ben E. King, Chaka Khan, and Freddie Jackson and a over his solo career achieved 2 Platinum and 4 Gold Albums. His newest album “The Smooth Side of Soul” was released in January.
KEYBOARDIST/ TROMBONIST
BRIAN CULBERTSON
Ballroom Performance:
Sunday Evening, October 14
His latest No. 1 Song, “Your Smile” (his 13th No. 1 hit) raced to the Top of the Smooth Jazz Charts, as he shared Stages across America this past summer with David Sanborn, on The Dream Tour. A year ago he earned six Oasis Jazz Awards including Best Entertainer, Best Keyboardist, Best Song, Best Album, Best Collaboration, and Best Male Artist of the Year.
BASSIST JULIAN VAUGHN
Ballroom Appearance:
Sunday Evening October 14
A resident of Kansas City with its Historical Jazz heritage his influence came from the late basketball and Bass playing Wayman Tisdale. He is Gospel, and he is Jazz and he is R&B. His 2nd solo album “Breakthrough” was released this summer on the Trippin ‘N Rhythm Records label.
