Award-winning jazz guitarist Paul Bollenbackdeveloped a taste for the exotic over the course of a three-year period when his family lived in India. He was 11 years old when the family traveled to New Delhi, and years later the sounds and experiences of that early journey found their way into his first album from Challenge Records, Original Visions. His next release, Double Gemini, continued to stir up a buzz among critics, and it drew honors as CD of the Month from both WBGO, a Newark jazz station, and 20th Century Jazz Magazine. Bollenback remained with Challenge for his next project, Soul Grooves.

In 2011 Paul garnered a Grammy nomination for co-production on Joey DeFrancesco’s Never Can Say Goodbye (Hi Note). His international and national touring schedule currently include appearances with Joey DeFrancesco, Mike LeDonne, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Gary Bartz, and Shunzo Ohno, as well as many appearances with his own trio.

 

David Kikowski, a highly regarded jazz pianist, Grammy award winner Dave Kikoski emerged in New York jazz scene in 1980s and quickly established himself as a go-to performer working with top players like Roy Haynes, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Bob Berg, Michael and Randy Brecker, Chris Potter and many others. Kikoski is known for his adept post-bop style and spontaneous swinging play.

Paul Bollenback- Guitar

David Kikowski- Piano

Essiet Essiet – Bass

Sylvia Cuenca – Drums

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miki Hayama – Piano

Matt Wilson – Drums

Harvie S – Bass

Greg Wall – Saxophones

Miki Hayama is a GRAMMY Nominated piano/keyboard player, arranger and musical director, born in Kyoto, Japan, and  lives in NYC. She graduated from Osaka College of Music where majored in classical piano, and studied jazz piano with renowned jazz pianist Sadayasu Fujii in Kyoto. After she graduated from College, she started to work at many Jazz clubs in Kansai area. Her ambition to pursue Jazz didn’t stop her but made her move to New York. Since 2003, Ms. Hayama has been busy making quite a respected name for herself on New York’s jazz scene. She has toured and shared the stage with many greats —Kenny Garrett, Ralph Peterson, Sean Jones, Tia Fuller, Michael Dease, Vincent Herring, Bruce Williams, Roy Hargrove, JD Allen, Greg Osby, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Nnenna Freelon, Jazzmeia Horn, Christian McBride, Eric Harland, Gary Thomas, and even the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin.

“Miki Hayama is an amazing young pianist with great chops, a great harmonic concept and a great imagination! ” piano master Kenny Barron recently observed. She also plays Hammond organ with the Gospel Choir at the Cathedral United Baptist Church in Bronx.”