For the past 25 years, bassist David Ambrosio has been one of New York City’s finest
freelance musicians and educators. His current working projects as a leader are
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: Blue Note Records in the Progressive ‘60s, featuring
Donny McCaslin and Victor
Lewis, and the David Ambrosio Trio, featuring Loren Stillman.
In addition to his own ensembles, he is the co-leader of the David Ambrosio/Russ
Meissner Sextet, 40Twenty, and Grupo Los Santos, as well as being a part of many
other groups including George Schuller’s Circle Wide, the Matt Renzi Trio, Eri
Yamamoto Trio, and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra led
by Ted Nash and Andy Farber.
He has performed with such jazz greats as Kenny
Werner, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, George Garzone, Joseph Jarman, and Ralph Alessi.
He appeared here previously with Matt Renzi, the David Ambrosio/Russ Meissner Sextet, Dave Scott, and Loren Stillman.
New York drummer/composer Russ Meissner is
currently involved with several projects, including Jim Campilongo and
Honeyfingers, the Sean Smith Quartet, the Matt Renzi Trio, the Kenny
Wessel Group, the JC Sanford Quartet, the Pre-War Ponies, the Jack
Grace Band, and the Silos.
Russ grew up in Toronto Canada and attended William Paterson University
in New Jersey where he studied with John Riley and Rufus Reid,
graduating with a BA in jazz performance.
As a vital part of the New York music scene, Russ has performed with
diverse artists including John Abercrombie, Bill Charlap, Norah Jones,
and Lucy Wainwright Roche. He can be heard on more than thirty albums
and has performed throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Israel and Japan.
He appeared here previously with the Matt Renzi Trio, and the David Ambrosio/Russ Meissner Sextet.
Nate Radley is a guitarist and composer who leads his own group, can be heard with a variety of collaborative projects, and works as a sideman in numerous bands both in the New York area and around the world.
Nate’s most recent release is “Puzzle People” on Steeplechase Records (2021) and features a trio setting with Adam Nussbaum on drums, and Jay Anderson on bass.
In 2019 Nate release a series of through-composed guitar duets entitled “Eight Guitar Duets” with Ben Monder.
Nate’s previous releases are 2014’s “Morphoses” on Fresh Sound/New Talent with Loren Stillman on saxophones, Matt Pavolka on bass, and Ted Poor on drums;
2013’s “Carillon” on Steeplechase with Chris Cheek on saxophone, Matt Clohesy on bass, and Ted Poor drums;
and 2012’s “The Big Eyes” on Fresh Sound/New Talent with Loren Stillman, Pete Rende on keyboards, Matt Pavolka, and Ted Poor.
Nate performs with Loren Stillman Quartet, Alan Ferber nonet, Sean Smith trio, Behn Gillece quartet, Chuck Braman trio,
Marc Mommaas’ Landmarc, Kris Davis’ Infrasound, the Jon Gordon group, Akiko Pavolka’s House of Illusion, and the Dave Smith Quintet.
Other bandleaders he has performed with include Chris Cheek, Ingrid Jensen, Adam Nussbaum, John O’Gallagher, Shane Endsley, Chris Speed,
Maria Schneider, Andy Statman, Darcy James Argue, Cecile Mclorin Salvant, and Andrew Rathbun.
Nate has recorded for labels such as Fresh Sound/New Talent, Sunnyside, Steeplechase, Artistshare, Pirouette, Clean Feed, New Amsterdam, and Tone of a Pitch.
He has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and at jazz festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival.
Nate studied jazz guitar and composition at New England Conservatory in Boston, MA where he received a Master’s in Music.
He studied with John Abercrombie, Bob Brookmeyer, Jerry Bergonzi, and George Russell.
Nate is currently an Associate Professor in the guitar department at Berklee College of Music.
Multi-reedist (tenor saxophone, oboe and English
horn) and composer Matt Renzi has been performing
professionally for the past 20 years at international jazz festivals
and music venues worldwide.
He holds a Bachelor’s in Music (Performance) from the Berklee
College of Music and Master’s in Arts (Classical Composition)
from San Francisco State University. Some of his teachers include Joe
Henderson and South Indian Vocalist R.A. Ramamani.
Matt can be heard on a variety of recordings including the award
winning “Lines and Ballads” (Fresh Sound Records)
as well as his latest release entitled “Lunch
Special” (Three P’s Records).
Matt has performed and recorded with Marc Johnson, Michael Formanek,
Eddie Marshall, Herbie Lewis, Ben Monder, Eberhard Weber, Bob Moses,
Ralph Alessi, Bobo Stenson, and
the Berlin Philharmanic Quintet.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Eddie Marshall, David
Ambrosio/Russ Meissner, Shoebox Orchestra, Dahveed Behroozi, MCH
Quartet, Gatekeeper, Alon Nechushtan, and Matt Renzi.
Renowned saxophonist and composer, Loren Stillman, has garnered widespread acclaim for his contributions to the realm of modern jazz,
earning praise from esteemed publications such as The New York Times, Downbeat Magazine, Jazziz, Jazz Times, and National Public Radio.
Trained under the tutelage of jazz luminaries Lee Konitz, David Liebman, and Ted Nash, Stillman has established himself as an innovative and influential voice in the genre.
With an extensive performance history spanning the United States, Europe, and Japan, hs impressive portfolio includes collaborations with
The Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra, Paul Motian Trio 2000+2, Carla Bley, John Abercrombie, and Michael Formanek: Ensemble Kolassus, among others.
Early in his musical journey, Stillman received accolades such as two Outstanding Performance Awards (1996 & 1998) and the Rising Star Jazz Artist Award (2004) from Down Beat Magazine.
A scholarship recipient at both the Manhattan School of Music (1998) and The New School (2002), Stillman further solidified his standing by reaching the semifinals of the 2002 Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition.
In recognition of his compositions, Stillman was honored with the CMA/ASCAP Award in 2005, followed by the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award.
His original recordings, including "Going Public" (Fresh Sound 2013), "Winter Fruits" (Pirouet 2008), and "It Could Be Anything" (Fresh Sound, 2005),
have received critical acclaim from prestigious outlets like The New York Times, New Yorker, BBC Jazz Review, Jazz Man Magazine, and Downbeat Magazine.
He appeared here previously with the David Ambrosio/Russ Meissner Sextet, and the Loren Stillman Trio.
Leonard Thompson is a second generation jazz pianist, raised in Capistrano Beach, California,
and currently active in Los Angeles after a period in New York. Over the past twenty years he has lent a unique voice as an accompanist,
composer and soloist to a diverse array of bandleaders and vocalists, including recordings or performances
with Donald Bailey, Jamie Baum, Vicki Burns, Sasha Dobson, Madeline Eastman, Stephanie Haynes, Cleo Laine,
Eddie Marshall, Justin Morell, Matt Otto, Madeleine Peyroux, Jack Prather, Jackie Ryan, Dave Scott, Marlena Shaw,
Sonny Simmons, Mary Stallings, Jacob Varmus, Patty Waters, and Paula West.
His debut release as a leader, "Wayfare", is a piano trio set of
original material, with bassist Ryan McGillicuddy and drummer Mark
Ferber.
Leonard was heard here previously
with Mitch Marcus, Charlie McCarthy,
Dave Scott, Eddie Marshall, and David Ambrosio/Russ Meissner.