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, and the James Mahone Quartet.
Bay Area first call pianist Grant Levin has
performed with Terence
Blanchard, Bob Berg, Richard Stoltzman, Madeline Eastman,
Bobby Shew, Ingrid Jensen, Ravi Coltrane, Robin Eubanks, Pete Yellin,
Jerry Dodgion, Dayna Stephens, Noel Jewkes, John Santos, Howard Wiley,
Ray Obiedo, Dean Reilly, Melecio Magdaluyo, Marcus Shelby, and Little
Anthony and the Imperials.
Venues include SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco Conservatory of Music,
Yoshi’s Oakland, The Legion of Honor Museum, Fillmore Street Jazz
Festival, Cafe Stritch, and Mildred Owen Concert Hall in Pacifica.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Chris Amberger, Homespun
Trio, Noel Jewkes/Steve Heckman, Noel Jewkes/Harvey Wainapel, Peter Barshay, and the Grant Levin
Quartet.
Giulio Xavier Cetto is an acoustic and electric bassist
currently living in San Francisco, California. Raised in a musical
family, he has played music all of his life. Giulio performs nationally
and internationally. He teaches master classes and private lessons and
for the past 4 years has been faculty at the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
Giulio has performed with Grammy award winning artists such as Lawrence
Hobgood, Johnathan Hoard, Fantastic Negrito and Thomas Pridgen.
Giulio’s recordings include several albums with artists such as Aaron
Janik, Javier Santiago, Justin Rock, Omree Gal-Oz, Arlyn Anderson,
Spellling, and Kev Choice.
He has also shared the stage with Dayna
Stephens, Theo Croker, Eric Lewis, Johnny O’Neal, Kassa Overall,
Yosvany Terry, Eric Harland, Ben Wendel, Eric Reed, The Le
Boeuf Brothers, Steve Turre, Carl Allen, Vincent
Herring, James Carter, Matt Clark, Roy McCurdy, Matt Wilson, Joe
Gilman, Stacy Dillard, Eric Wyatt, Akira Tana, Faye Carol, Ernie Watts,
Warren Wolf, and Joel Ross.
He has performed at Chez Hanny with the Jacam
Manricks Quartet, Jacam Manricks/Giulio Cetto/Mike Quigg/Justin
Rock, Marrs/Cherner/Cetto, Giulio Xavier's GX3, and the Marina Albero Trio.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Michael Mitchell has been behind the drums since the age of 8.
Michael soon began studying with NYC session-drummers Mike Mechem and
Geoff Clapp, and started playing professionally at the age of 13, in
and around the New York City area. Those relationships provided
opportunities to study with Greg Hutchinson, Damion Reid, and Rodney
Green, and after graduating from Edward R. Murrow High School in
Brooklyn, Michael went on to Manhattan School of Music, where he
studied with Justin Dicioccio, and earned a Bachelors Degree in Drumset
Performance.
Michael teaches at the Stanford Jazz Workshop during the summer
as well as coaching in SJW’s Giant Steps program, a middle school big band initiative that runs during the school year.
He performed previously at Chez Hanny with Steven Lugerner's Jacknife, Raffi Garabedian Quartet,
and the Marina Albero Trio.