Results for "Straight Ahead"

Straight Ahead

Out of Detroit's lively jazz scene, which has produced some of the best musicians in the world, comes the ground breaking all female jazz group, Straight Ahead. A group of strong, inventive instrumentalists and vocalists, they have shown themselves to be powerful and imaginative composers and arrangers.

Widely recognized for their eclectic and soulful approach to creating music, the Straight Ahead sound ranges comfortably from mainstream jazz R&B ballads, avant-garde to Brazilian funk. Their live performances are a dynamic celebration of power and joy. The ladies delight in changing textures, moods, and tempos and love to throw in the occasional musical joke!

Pete Kelly

Finn Yang

Finn Yang is a composer, arranger and jazz pianist working out of the Pacific Northwest. 

He has played at venues such as Salem’s Historic Grand Theater, studied with Steinway Artist Randy Porter and Grammy winner John Daversa, and worked under the PJCE Young Jazz Composers mentorship.

He is currently the regular pianist for Jon Deshler's "TUNE TOURS" group, the Salem Big Band, accompanist and pianist at Silverton United Methodist Church, leader of the Finn Yang Trio, and director of the PNW Jazz Project (@pnwlovesjazz).

Paul Silbergleit

Paul Silbergleit is a Milwaukee-based jazz guitarist, bandleader, composer, educator, and author. Straight-ahead in style, he bears the influence of figures such as Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Pat Martino, and Kenny Burrell.

Paul has performed with a wide array of jazz luminaries such as Melvin Rhyne, Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Tierney Sutton, Jon Faddis, Richie Cole, Brian Lynch, David Hazeltine, and Jack McDuff, to name just a few. A member of area jazz supergroup We Six, he has also worked with notable institutions like the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. His critically acclaimed albums Silberglicity, My New Attitude, and January all heavily feature his own compositions, while The Hidden Standard shows off his arranging skills with an amazing variety of reimagined familiar tunes in a sextet setting. His latest release, The Stillness of July (Calligram), presents a mix of unique originals and arrangements, and showcases the great chemistry of the long-running Paul Silbergleit Trio lineup with bassist Clay Schaub and drummer Devin Drobka.

Oscar Caucaly

Born: March 30, 1985

Oscar Caucaly’s musical story begins in Bogotá, where as a teenager he immersed himself in salsa and Latin jazz. Those early years—filled with clave, improvisation, and rhythmic exploration—became the foundation of his artistic identity. From there, he dove deeply into the jazz tradition, embracing bebop language, straight-ahead repertoire, and modern jazz concepts that would define his evolving voice.

After studying at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, he continued his formation in Barcelona at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu, supported by Fundación Carolina. He later completed a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at New York University, where he worked closely with masters such as Alan Broadbent and Ari Hoenig, and performed under the direction of Alan Ferber and Chris Potter at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.

Andrew Kushnir

Born: November 1, 1989

Andrew Kushnir is a Brooklyn-based jazz drummer and co-leader of the group Straight Up! alongside guitarist Reed Miller. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he began his musical studies with drummers Michel Berthiaume and Jim Doxas.

From 2012 to 2015, Andrew attended Berklee College of Music, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Performance. In 2017, he completed a Master of Music in Instrumental Performance with a focus on Jazz Studies at NYU. Since then, Andrew has become a staple of the New York City jazz scene, performing regularly as both a bandleader and sideman.

Rachel Spencer

Born: 1995

Rachel Spencer, a versatile and engaging trumpeter, is an in-demand trumpeter based in Austin, Texas. Her career thus far spans various genres and ensembles, including but not limited to: Straight-ahead jazz, funk, hip hop, commercial, and orchestral playing, as well as extensive experience in musical pit orchestras. Notable for her stylistic prowess and expressive tone, she has toured internationally and shared stages with renowned musicians like Graham Reynolds, Peggy Stern, Nikki Glaspie and Andre Hayward, to name a few. In Austin, she has regularly performed as a leader and a side musician in the cities top music venues including but not limited to: Monks Jazz Club, The Elephant Room, Parker Jazz Club, Antones, The 04 Center, Emo's The Continental Club, The Electric Church, Mohawk, Half Step, The Long Center, and SXSW showcases, among others.

Mitch Towne

Born: September 17

Ever since Jimmy Smith emerged on the national scene in 1956, performing exciting versions of blues, ballads and standards, the Hammond B-3 organ has been a major instrument in jazz. Scores of organists have emerged since then who play variations of the Jimmy Smith style.

Mitch Towne, while acknowledging his historic predecessors, sees the organ as much more than just being a soulful instrument used to play grease-filled blues. “I feel that the organ is somewhat marginalized in jazz and that there is so much more to the organ than being thought of as a bluesy r&b soul/jazz type of instrument. That is one of the reasons why I wanted to perform mostly originals on my new recording, Refuge. This record is in the jazz tradition rather than just the jazz organ tradition because, in addition to the great organ players, I’m also inspired by Kenny Garrett, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock.” On Refuge, his recording debut as a leader, Mitch Towne teams up with his regularly working trio (guitarist Tetsuya Nishiyama and drummer Jeffery Johnson) to perform six of his wide-ranging originals plus a Kenny Kirkland piece. Refuge introduces Towne’s creative talents to a wide audience and displays the great potential of the organ.

Kyle Cervantes

Kyle Cervantes resides in Denver, CO as a robust, active, saxophonist. He is both a bandleader, and has collaborated with many notable groups in Colorado, including: The Denver Jazz Orchestra, The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Sarah Mount & the Rushmores, and The Academy Jazz Ensemble. Currently, Kyle is touring with the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra as their baritone saxophonist. He has also had the pleasure of sharing the stage with musicians such as Adam Nussbaum, Randy Brecker, Bob Shephard, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Kyle is a former member of UNC's Downbeat award-winning Lab I, and travelled the world as a cruise ship musician before settling back down in the front range.

Jose Bevia

José Beviá graduated from the Valencia Conservatory of Music where he studied classical piano with José Luis de Prado; Berklee College of Music, and Florida State University, where he earned a Doctorate of Music Degree in Music Theory and Composition.

Mr. Beviá studied composition with Ladislav Kubík and Mark Wingate, and jazz piano with Marcus Roberts and Bill Peterson. He has also participated in composition seminars with Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Zwilich, jazz composer Bill Holman, and has been a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop (2006-2009), where he studied with jazz composers Michael Abene, Jim McNeely, and Mike Holober. He has also attended the 2012-2013 American Composers Orchestra Jazz Composers Institute at UCLA and Columbia University, directed by George Lewis.