Saxophonist James Mahone went to California State University
Northridge to study classical and jazz saxophone under Bill Caulkins, and
participated in the university's award-winning wind ensembles and jazz big bands
under Ladd Macintosh, Joel Leach, and Gary Pratt.
James then became a fixture on the Los
Angeles music scene and was a member of Black
Note, who recorded for the Columbia and GRP/Impulse record labels. He
has performed in many major jazz festivals (Montreal, North Sea, Pori, Umbria,
etc.)
James continued his musical studies at The New School, studying with Garry Dial,
Billy Harper, Benny Powell, and Charles Tolliver, and performing with
Tomas Fujiwara, Taylor Ho-Bynum,
Jaz Sawyer, Sasha Dobson, Danton Boller, and Arnie Lawrence.
Continuing his professional career in Tokyo, Japan allowed James more
opportunities to hone his skills as a performer, recording artist, and teacher.
James then relocated to the Bay
Area where he performs with Marcus Shelby,
Faye Carol, Mike Olmos, Erik Jekabson, Tiffany Austin, Akira Tana,
Glen Pearson, Josh Milgrom, Malachi Whitson, Grant Levin,
Giulio Xavier Cetto, David Ewell, Matt Clark, Eddie Mendenhall, Jaz Sawyer,
Mike Mitchell, Adam Gay, Hamir Atwal, Tim Angulo, and Leon Joyce.
He was was heard previously at Chez Hanny with Ian Carey.
Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Matt Clark
holds a BFA
in Jazz Studies from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Highly regarded as
a pianist and arranger, he has performed and/or recorded with such jazz
icons as Bobby
Hutcherson, Benny Golson, Eddie Marshall, Jon Faddis, David
“Fathead” Newman, Gene Bertoncini, Joshua Redman,
and Teddy Edwards,
as well as practically everyone who appeared at Jazz at Pearl's in it's
heyday.
He was here previously with Larry Schneider, Steve Heckman, Noel
Jewkes, Mitch Marcus, Mandala, Sheldon Brown, Harvey Wainapel, Karen & Norbert Stachel,
and the Robb Fisher - Matt Clark Trio.
Bassist Brian Juarez holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, where he studied under Grammy Award winning bassist, Robert Hurst III.
Brian has performed extensively throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and the Metro Detroit Area alongside jazz luminaries Tammy Hall,
Wendell Harrison, Regina Carter, J.D. Allen, Elena Pinderhughes, James Mahone, and Marcus Elliot.
He currently serves as Teaching Artist for SFJAZZ, providing instrumental jazz education to string players at Montera MS in Oakland, CA.
Drummer Sylvia Cuenca, originally from San Jose,
now living in New York, has performed for 17 years with trumpet legend
Clark Terry
at venues such as the Village Vanguard and Blue Note in New
York City.
She toured internationally for 4 years with saxophonist Joe
Henderson, including trio settings with Henderson and bassists Charlie
Haden or George Mraz.
Ms. Cuenca has performed with such jazz
luminaries as Billy Taylor, Eddie Henderson, Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron,
Ray Drummond, Frank Foster, Red Holloway, Jimmy Heath, Al Grey, Frank
Wess, Michael Brecker, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Jon Faddis, Dave
Stryker, Ed Cherry, Dianne Reeves, John Hicks, Geoff Keezer, John
Handy, Lew
Soloff, Marian McPartland, Hilton Ruiz, George Cables, James Spaulding,
Kenny Drew Jr., Frank Foster, Randy Brecker, Emily Remler, and Helen
Merrill.
She has appeared at Chez Hanny with Jared Gold and Ed Cherry, Jared
Gold and Brian Levy, Cuenca/Bollenback/Blades, the Peter Zak Trio, the
Roni Ben-Hur/Harvie S Trio, Peter Horvath, Harvey Wainapel, Charles McNeal,
David Janeway, and the Sylvia Cuenca Trio and Quartet.