Composer and saxophonist Caroline Davis lives in Brooklyn, New
York. In 2018, she won the
Downbeat Critic’s Poll “rising star” in the alto saxophone category.
Her debut album, "Live Work & Play", was featured on All About
Jazz’s best releases, and she was named one of JazzTimes’ Best New
Artists in 2012. Her second album, "Doors: Chicago Storylines", is an
audio documentary that uniquely sets stories from Chicago's jazz scene
from the 80s and 90s alongside her original music. Caroline’s third
album, "Heart Tonic", was released on Sunnyside
Records to much acclaim in NPR, the New York Times, and DownBeat.
Davis’ "Alula", featuring Matt Mitchell and Greg Saunier, was released
on New Amsterdam Records in 2019, and Persona's "Anthems", a
collaboration with pianist Rob Clearfield, was released later that
year.
Since living in New York, Davis has shared musical moments with Lee
Konitz, Angelica Sanchez, Matt Mitchell, Terry Riley (alongside Travis
Laplante, Scott Robinson, and Dan Blake), Miles Okazaki, Matt Wilson,
Rachel Therrien, Thana Alexa, and Billy Kaye. Her collaborations
include Maitri (with Ben Hoffmann) and Persona (with Rob Clearfield).
In March of 2019, Davis was a composer-in-residence at the esteemed
MacDowell Colony and in the same year, was awarded the Jerome Hill
Artist Fellowship for her work between 2019-21.
She has been on the faculty at Litchfield Jazz Camp for 15 years,
Stanford Jazz Institute for 5 years, and an educator at The New School,
Northwestern University, Harvard University, DePaul University,
Columbia College, University of Texas at Arlington, and Jazz at Lincoln
Center, to name a few.
Pianist Julian Shore began studies with famed educator Hal
Crook as a teenager. Shortly thereafter Shore was awarded a full
scholarship to Berklee College of Music. During his time there, under
the mentorship of Danilo Perez, he performed in the Panama Jazz
Festival, learning from Wayne Shorter, Brian Blade, and John Patitucci
while there.
He moved to New York shortly after graduating, and had his first
serious performing experience with acclaimed singer Gretchen Parlato-
touring the US and internationally with her band, including the
Stockholm Jazz Festival. Since then he has appeared as both leader and
sideman at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center,
the Blue Note, and jazz festivals around the globe.
He has had the opportunity to perform, tour and record with musicians
such as Theo Bleckmann, Gretchen Parlato, Chico Pinheiro, Don Braden,
Sara Gazarek, Ferenc Nemeth, Chris Speed, Gilad Hekselman, Dayna
Stephens, Noah Preminger, Ben Monder, John Hollenbeck, Mark Giuliana,
and Petros Klampanis.
As an educator Shore was an artistic consultant for Herbie Hancock’s
Master Class for masterclass.com, as well as transcribing and notating
hundreds of pages of Herbie’s piano performance for the course. His
teaching credits include New School University, Litchfield Jazz Camp,
and Samba Meets Jazz.
His most recent release "Which Way Now" features Gilad Hekselman and
Dayna Stephens.
Chris Tordini is an in-demand bassist on the New York City music
scene. He has toured and recorded with Andy Milne’s Dapp Theory, Greg
Osby, Jeremy Pelt, Ari Hoenig, the Becca Stevens Band, Tyshawn Sorey,
and Michael Dessen.
A graduate of the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, he
continues to collaborate with faculty members Rory Stuart and George
Garzone.
Recently, Tordini has performed and recorded with bandleaders Chris
Speed, John Hollenbeck, Steve Lehman, Tigran Hamasyan, Andrew D’Angelo,
Jim Black, and Yaron Herman.
He has played at New York City’s most prestigious jazz venues,
including the Blue Note, the Village Vanguard, the Iridium, the Jazz
Standard, Smalls, the Jazz Gallery and the Stone.
Allan Mednard was born and raised in Queens, New York. His
early
musical experiences involved New York City's All-City High School Music
program, Bayside High School's Academy of Music, and Queens College's
Center for Preparatory Studies in Music program. He
graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in jazz performance from
the City College of New York, where he studied with Carl Allen.
He has shared the stage with ensembles led by Kurt Rosenwinkel, Aaron
Parks, Ben Street, Ben Allison, Godwin Louis, Andrew D'Angelo, Jaleel
Shaw, Le Boeuf Brothers, Melissa Aldana, and many more.