Matt Dwonszyk
Born in Hartford, CT, Dwonszyk started playing the electric bass at age eleven. His journey into the world of jazz began at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School where he began playing the upright bass. He also started attending the Artists Collective after school program playing in
David DeJesus
David DeJesus is a multiple Grammy Award winning saxophonist and bandleader from Brooklyn, NY who has established himself as a key player in numerous bands in various genres. In Jazz, David has performed with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, and Jimmy
Alec Safy
Alec Safy is a native of Buffalo, New York and a current resident of the Bronx. He attended SUNY Purchase where he studied privately with Doug Weiss, Scott Colley, and Todd Coolman. Alec has had the opportunity to perform with Gary Smulyan, Kenny Washington, Jon Faddis, Pete Malinverni, Eric Alexander,
Alex Ayala
ALEX “APOLO” AYALA Puerto Rican Bassist Alex “Apolo” Ayala-Berríos embodies the spirit of the multi-lingual musician. His vast knowledge of both Latin music and Jazz languages makes him one of the few Bi-lingual bassists in the music scene. A native from San Juan,Puerto Rico, he blends his Afro-Caribbean roots with
Will Evans
William Evans is a pianist and composer based in New York. From Providence, Rhode Island, Evans developed his love of music through a wide variety of recordings, from Bach to the Beatles. He received the George Wein Jazz Ambassador award in 2016 and graduated with highest honors from Brown University
Alejandra Williams-Maneri
Alejandra Williams-Maneri is a passionate and dedicated pianist and educator. She is also a former Litchfield Jazz Camper and has been studying piano for 19 years and is trained in both jazz and classical piano. Graduating with a degree in Jazz Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory, Alejandra was the recipient
Orrin Evans
BIOGRAPHY In the booklet notes for Orrin Evans’ second album, Captain Black, recorded in 1998, the pianist, then 23, made a remark that encapsulates the aesthetic he’s followed ever since on his kaleidoscopic artistic journey. “I go head-first for a lot of things,” Evans said. “I like to stretch out.
Dakota Austin
Saxophonist, composer, and producer, Dakota Austin, hailing from Burlington, Connecticut is a particularly profound, cultured, multi-faceted thinker, who applies his intelligence to all things musical that he takes on. He had the ambition to become a musician at a very young age which led him to attend The Artists Collective,
Dan Liparini
Dan Liparini is a guitarist, composer, and arranger based in Hartford, CT. As a student at the Hartt School of Music he had the opportunity to study with Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Rene McLean, Chris Casey, Rich Goldstein and other great musicians. Since graduating in 2013 he has stayed busy
Mike Godette
Mike Godette received a BM in Jazz Studies from Western Connecticut State University with a focus on jazz guitar. He has taught guitar for the past 14 years and performs regularly as a leader and sideman throughout the CT/NY area and he has played with artists such as Aaron Goldberg,