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Dan Baker is a jazz guitarist that performs solo as well as with the Dan Baker Group. His credentials include: BFA in Jazz Performance from New School University, attended Masters in Music Program at New York University, was adjunct Professor of Music at Waynesburg University, performs throughout Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Mentor for Wyclef Jean Foundation in New York City, taught at Wash Arts, Washington, Pennsylvania, teaches private lessons. Dan is also the director of the Washington Jazz Society's After-School Music Program (AMP).

Well known to local jazz enthusiasts, guitarist and composer Eric Susoeff has been part of the Pittsburgh music scene since his debut with Harold Betters at the Encore in 1976. Offering a warm, bluesy, full-bodied sound, he has played with a long list of local and international luminaries including: Dizzy Gillespie, David Amram, Roger Williams, Airto, Ivan Lins, Romero Lubambo, Charo, Frankie Avalon, Marty Allen, Eric Kloss, Frank Cunimondo, Gene Ludwig, Pete Henderson, Dave & Maureen Budway, Sandy Staley, Kenia, Roger Humphreys, Erin Burkett, Kenny Blake, Walt Harper, Nathan Davis, Don Aliquo, John Wilson and many others. His primary focus continues to be his Latin jazz quintet Salsamba, founded in 1984, which has played to clubs, festivals and colleges throughout the U.S. The group recently released their sixth recording titled “Mojito Blues.” Past releases (MAMBO IN BLUE, MAMBO DEL SOL, LATINVENTIONS, THE TRAVELER, BRAZILIA) all received critical acclaim. Additional recording credits include musical artists: Kenia, Don Aliquo Jr., Sandy Staley, Mike Tomaro , Azucar and about 45 others. His flair for arranging the beautiful music of Antonio Carlos Jobim led to a 2005 CD with Soprano Lilly Abreu and Cuarteto Latinoamericano, an internationally known string quartet. Eric has been seen on stage and TV playing everything from nostalgic rock to show tunes and avant-garde chamber music, with groups as diverse as the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, The Marcels, Carnegie Mellon University Drama Department and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.

Tony Janflone. Jr. knew what he wanted to do with his life at the early age of 13. He wanted to be a guitarist. He had been playing since the age of 9 and having been influenced from his earliest days by his father, also a guitarist, and his exposure to all facets of music, Blues, Rock, R&B, Jazz, Country, and Classical, his love of music was inherent and not to be denied. Beginning with the proverbial garage band he progressed through his high school years garnering the Louis Armstrong Award and the National Association of Jazz Educators Award for outstanding musicianship. Secondary school years behind him, he decided to accept the opportunity to tour the country with a band playing dates in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City. After a year on the road, he linked up with a band with his father and brother. It was during this time while performing in New York, that Tony met famed guitarist Pat Metheny, who after listening to the band commented, “Tony is one burning guitar player… who I am confident will go on to greater fame”. Following a few years with the band, Tony lived in San Antonio, Texas, where he continued his schooling while teaching and playing in the San Antonio and Austin areas. His students included Henry Thomas, star of the movie “ET”. He worked with several groups in Texas including the famed drummer Louis Bellson, demonstrating his diversity by playing anything from jazz to mariachi to Texas swing. It was during this time too that he studied with Pat Martino , Jackie King and classical guitarist Terry Muska. Upon returning to Pittsburgh, Tony has found success in many areas of music being one of the most sought after guitarists in the area. He works at many of the local studios ( including his own KEY TONES STUDIO ) performing on CD’s, demos, jingles, etc. He has written and /or performed on commercials for Eat ‘n Park, Fisher’s Big Wheel, PPG Industries, The Gateway Clipper Fleet and Blattner/Brunner. Tony enjoys success with his group, “The Tony Janflone Jr Band “, capturing the nomination for five years for Pittsburgh’s Best Jazz/Blues Guitarist for the Stroh’s/In Pittsburgh Music Awards. He has also captured the 1995 award for the Best album for his CD Pieces, best vocalist and best band. Tony’s performing credits include opening for or performing with , B.B.King , The Fabulous Thunderbirds , George Thorogood, Joe Bonamassa ,Hiram Bullock, Reb Beach , Tommy Castro , Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Toninho Horta , Janis Siegel, Steely Dan, The Yellowjackets, David Sanborn, Joe Williams, Diane Reeves, The Manhattan Transfer, Larry Carlton, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, Donnie Iris , Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana ,Ted Nugent ,Jimmy Thackery , Richard Elliot , Brian Simpson , Rick Braun , Peabo Bryson , Gladys Knight , Sandi Patty , Chris Duarte, and Chicago. The Spring of 1991 brought the release of Kenny Blake’s Interior Design on Heads Up Records featuring Tony. The CD climbed quickly to #15 on the National and International Billboard Jazz charts. Promoting the effort took him to New York’s Bottom Line and Washington DC’s Blues Alley. While in DC. he and the group performed on BET and the Jazz on BET network television show that is broadcast nationwide. Tony has released four of his own projects as a leader . They are: “Profile” –1991 , “Pieces” –1994 “In Time” –1998 (Featuring Phil Madeira and John Sferra of the Phil Keaggy Band)and “Live At The Blues Café “- 2000 Tony joined the ranks of such guitarists as Alex Lifeson (RUSH), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), and Jeff Healey, to name a few, when he was chosen by Evans Guitar Products, based on Vancouver, Canada, to be a world-wide endorser of their guitar pickups. He has be acted as a clinician for Evans Pickups and has begun doing clinics at various universities including Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and the Guitar Workshop in San Antonio, Texas. In July 1994, Tony and his band were invited to perform at the 1994 Major League All-Star Pre-game Gala and for the Pittsburgh Pirates Organization at the All-Star Game. In addition, Tony was the featured guitarist on PBS’s “Heroes” documentary with Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.) His composition, “Hey, Wake Up!” from the Pieces CD was used in the Summer of 1995 as the opening theme song for the Molson 500 broadcast nationally on the ABC Television network . In 2002 ,Tony Janflone Jr. was one one of the featured performers on a tribute CD to guitar greats Joe Satriani and Steve Vai for Versailles Records ! “The Lords Of Karma A Tribute To Vai / Satriani is an international release and Tony is in the company of some of the best guitarists in the world ! Tony performed the Steve Vai song “Tender Surrender “. This is what Bob Keelaghan of “Guitar One” magazine had to say about Tony’s performance ! MOMENT OF TRUTH: “Tender Surrender” (1:56 – 3:48): “Tony Janflone Jr. passionately executes a wide range of Vai-inspired tricks including huge bends, smooth legato phrasing, wide interval jumps and blinding scalar runs.” Guitar One , May 2002 Tony’s aspiration is to perform music all over the world and to share his enthusiasm for music with people everywhere. Some people have already picked up his enthusiasm and here is what they had to say: The Gavin Report, (an international music trade publication) says,”One of our favorite undiscovered talents”. “A guitarist’s guitarist …….His playing is stellar. His voice is passionate. ” EarBuzz.com. “Really nice playing and fine compositions” Famed guitarist Eric Johnson

Tom Roberts is one of the leading exponents of early jazz piano in the world today (as stated by Ricardo Sciavales in The Heart and Soul of Stride, Blues, and Swing Piano). He has performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson The Statler Brothers Show on TNN , and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Kiellor. Tom arranged and performed the music for the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese’s film The Aviator, starring Leonardo di Caprio, as well as several titles for the film DeLovely. He has also arranged music for the syndicated PRI show Riverwalk Jazz, Live from the Landing with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, and a number of pieces for Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for a concert of the music of Louis Armstrong in October 2006. He was the featured pianist at the International Stride Piano Summit in Zurich, Switzerland 2001 and 2009. Tom was pianist for Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks in New York City and pianist and musical director for Leon Redbone for six years. Originally from Pittsburgh, Tom played in all the major jazz clubs in the French Quarter and on the riverboats of New Orleans when he lived there from 1989 to 1994. Tom has performed twice at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2003, once with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops. He was featured in 2003 in solo with Dick Hyman at the prestigious Jazz In July series at New York’s 92nd St. Y. Tom has recorded over 40 albums and has performed throughout the United States and Europe.

Jeff Lashway, pianist with the late Maynard Ferguson, originally from Pittsburgh, has performed all over the U.S, Canada, and Europe. Formal training consisted of 11 years of private, classical piano before branching out into jazz and pop music. Having lived also in Indianapolis and New Orleans, Jeff has incorporated many styles of playing into his own unique style. Jeff played on the album Maynard Ferguson MF Horn 6 (Live at Ronnie Scott’s), and on Maynard’s last album, The One and Only, which was completed in July of 2006. In addition, Jeff has played with Slide Hampton, guitarist Joe Negri, and legendary New Orleans cornetist Connie Jones, and has been a featured artist at the Texas Jazz Festival, performing with the great Latin jazz vocalist, Adela Daito. Other recording credits include “Swingin’ for Shuur” (Diane Shuur) and “Vistas” with Guitarist Royce Campbell, and “Likin It On Top” with trumpter Bill Carmichaels. 2009 saw the release of Jeff’s first recording project as a leader. “Reunion”, featuring such luminaries as Vinnie Colaiuta, Jim Rotondi, John Allred, and Todd Coolman, has been extremely well received with world wide sales and a place in the JazzWeek top 50 chart for several months. Jeff also regularly conducts High School and College level Clinics and master classes.

Mark Lucas is an American contemporary jazz guitarist who has performed and recorded with Ron Carter, Richie Cole, Hendrick Meurkens, Alex Bugnon,Rex Rideout, Ledisi, Maurice Brown and Don Bell, among others. He has released 2 solo guitar CD's; MYTH AND FEELING, and SOLO(S). He was a student of jazz educator Charlie Banacos. He is active in the quartet CrossCurrents, a contemporary fusion group, which he formed with bassist John Hall. He is also active with the Jevon Rushton Trio, with bassist Glyn Lloyd, playing jazz and pop standards and original music. He works also with vocalist Stacia Abbott.

David "Dave" Throckmorton, also referred to by the nickname "Throck", is an American drummer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is currently residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his children. Throckmorton has also played with famous Japanese guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei, and Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson.

Mark Strickland is an American guitarist influenced by Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass and Jazz and R&B legends. Mark began playing in 1963 in Pittsburgh, PA, mentored by the regional R&B and Jazz greats such as Luther Dejarunett (performed with Jimmy McGriff, Groove Holmes), Pete Henderson (performed with Stanley Turrentine, Ahmad Jamal), J. Spencer Bey (performed with Sonny Stitt) and the many others who performed in the renowned Jazz clubs of the region such as the Crawford Grill, the Hurricane, the Loendi and the Roosevelt Theatre. Some of the many singers and musicians that Mark has performed with over the years include Grady Tate, Groove Holmes, Michelle Benson, John Heard and Gene Ludwig. Also an accomplished sound engineer, Mark has produced and/or engineered projects for musicians both regionally and nationally, including Dizzy Gillespie, Dakota Staton, Tommy Flanagan, and Jimmy Smith. Currently, Mark maintains a full-time performance schedule as a Jazz guitarist, playing in Jazz Clubs, festivals, universities and theatres, and also is a dedicated music educator with a private guitar studio for motivated students.

Jessica Lee is an American jazz & blues vocalist, songwriter (ASCAP) and recording artist, born in Manassas, VA. Lee’s vocals reflect the influence of classic jazz, blues, rhythm & blues and gospel, but always with a heavy emphasis on the blues. Her musical motto is to study and perform “something old, something new, something borrowed . . . but always blue.” Lee performs at jazz and blues clubs, music festivals, charitable and private events, universities and concert halls throughout the U.S. She has performed at legendary clubs such as Antone’s in Austin, Texas and is featured frequently at major charitable events. For example, Jessica was the featured jazz & blues singer to perform a live, nationally-broadcasted concert benefiting the Make-a-Wish-Foundation from the WQED TV Studios in Pittsburgh and has also been a featured singer for the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure and other major charity events. In 2011-12, record label EQ Music selected three of Jessica’s recorded songs from her “Bluebird Fly” album for inclusion in three compilation albums, including two in their “Greatest Audiophile Voices” album series and one in “The Best Pop Jazz” album for international distribution. Since then, EQ Music has selected four more of Lee’s recorded songs to feature on four new international vocal compilation CDs, including “When Blues Meets Jazz,” and represents her solo albums internationally.