Bios
Jennifer Vincent/Bassist
Sarah Jane Cion has appeared with Clark Terry, Etta Jones, Anita O’Day, Della Griffin, Ralph Lalama, Alan Harris, Carmen Leggio, Dr. Lyn Christie, Bucky Pizzarelli, Don Braden, bestselling author/saxophonist James McBride and many other jazz greats. She has played at Birdland, Fukuoka Blue Note in japan. and many other jazz venues. Sarah was the First Place Winner of the 17th Annual Great American Jazz Piano Competition, judged by Horace Silver, Kenny Barron, Ellis Marsalis, Benny Green and Bill Charlap. She appeared on the nationally syndicated NPR radio show “Piano Jazz“ with Marian McPartland. Her original songs “Cat in the Hat” and “Golden Song” were featured in Warner Bros. "The Mule" and Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Golden Song in "Thor: The Dark World." CD "Moon Song", released on the Naxos Jazz label and the 4th best selling Modern Jazz album in Japan.
Jenny Hill has performed at the Blue Note, CIVEBRA music conference in Brazil, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, The Whitney Museum of American Art, Brooklyn’s Ethical Cultural Society, the Metrotech concert series, Urban League of Cincinnati Gala, Club Infinu, Clube do Choro, Gates Pub in Brasilia, and many New York jazz venues.
A Berklee graduate, jenny is the recipient of multiple honors including a 2023 "Performance Plus" grant from Chamber Music America, National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Studies grant with Joe Lovano, the 2023 Arts Alive grant from Westchester Arts Council. Jenny was winner of the JAZZIZ Woodwinds On Fire competition and the Lennie Johnson Outstanding Musician scholarship from Berklee College. Her own group, "Liquid horn" has 5 Cd releases: "Floating," "Groove Garden," "The Chill Factor," "Planet Sax" and "Liquid Horn. "
Kate Anderson has performed throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe. She has appeard alongside jazz legends Phil Woods, Randy Brecker, Arturo Sandoval, Slide Hampton, Joe Lovano, Marquis Hill, Delfeayo Marsalis, Bob Dorough, Orrin Evans and Motown icons The Temptations and The Four Tops.
Other notable credits include country singer-songwriter Morgan Myles, R&B/gospel vocalist Barbara Walker, polka king Jimmy Sturr, actress/vocalist Linda Purl and the producer of The Band, John Simon. She holds a degree in Music Performance from Penn State University and a Masters in Music Jazz Studies from Northern Illinois University. Kate teaches masterclasses and workshops and pursues an active performance schedule.
Mary Ann McSweeney has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Joanne Brackeen, Lee Konitz, Gil Goldstein, Bucky Pizzarelli , and has played for conductors Leonard Bernstein, Lalo Schifrin and John Williams. Other notable credits include a european tour with David Krakauer’s "Klezmer Madness" and five-time Tony award winning vocalist Audra McDonald, the White House with the Eli Yamin Quintet and the Kennedy Center with Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra. Mary Ann was musical director/arranger for three shows at Birdland, and has appeared on more than 45 Broadway shows.
Rachel Thierrien 's credits include a GRAMMY nomination for Virtual Birdland (2021) with Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. three ADISQ nominations (Mi Hogar (2023), production work on Noé Lira’s Latiendo la Tierra (2022) and VENA (2021), three JUNO nominations (for VENA (2021) and The Ostara Project (2022)).
Rachel was Winner of the TD Grand Prize Jazz Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Stingray Rising Star Award. She has played on recording sessions in Montreal, Toronto and New York City with 25 world-class musicians. and released the internationally acclaimed eighth album "Mi Hogar II" in 2025.
Kelly Green has performed at the Kennedy Center, Blue Note, DC Jazz Festival, Bahrain International Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland Theater, Timucua Arts Center. She has accompanied Rich Perry, Steve Wilson, Scott Robinson, Christian McBride, George Coleman, Billy Hart and has received support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation..
International tours include Slovenia, Czechia, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, many appearances throughout the U.S.
2025 recipient of the South Arts/Jazz Roads Touring Grant, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Janice Friedman has been performing, accompanying and teaching since her early teens. Credits include the Buddy Rich Big Band, Slide Hampton, Billy Higgins, Ray Drummond and countless others.
Janice graduated with honors in jazz studies from Indiana University and toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra. She is an established New York City jazz pianist who has performed in many famed jazz clubs and venues and maintains a non-stop busy schedule throughout the year.
Maria Lazzaro/sax
A graduate of New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, Maria studied under sax greats Joe Allard, Joe Viola, Jerry Bergonzi, Bill Pierce and George Garzone. She is a recipient of teh National Endowment for the Arts grant and performs in a wide variety of genres. Maria has shared the stage with Pianist/composer Bruce Barth, guitarist James Chirillo, trumpeter/arranger Bill Mobley and singer/songwriter Jon Davis. She has also done many performances with artists in the WomenJazz collective.
Heather Bennett is an educator, music director and accomplished pianist with a full vocal album,“Lazy Afternoon” released on Summit Records, various original Gospel tracks on Spotify, two instrumental CD’s of original material and three recordings for Apria Records.
Heather studied in NYC under Richie Beirach and Sal Mosca. She has been a teaching artist in NYC schools for over 20 years and is music director at various churches of different faiths since 1999. Currently she is the music director/organist at Presbyterian Church in Teaneck, New Jersey.
