Jazz on the Mountain

Ugonna Okegwo is one of the most distinctive and sought-after jazz bassists in the world. Critics across the globe have praised him for his rich tone, supple sense of swing, stylistic range and inventiveness. These qualities have not only earned him a place on the bandstand with jazz legends as diverse as Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Pharoah Sanders and Joseph Jarman – they have established him as one of the leading lights of a younger generation redefining jazz for the new century. Born 1962 in London to a German mother and Nigerian father, Okegwo was raised in Germany, studying with American expatriates, bassist Jay Oliver, and pianist Walter Norris. There Okegwo caught the attention of trombonist and Mingus alum, Lou Blackburn, who invited Okegwo to tour Europe with his Afro-Jazz group “Mombasa”. In 1989, Okegwo made the leap to Manhattan and began playing with musicians like saxophone legends Big Nick Nicholas, Junior Cook, and James Spaulding. Okegwo is also a bandleader taking his quartet to Europe and documented the group with a recording entitled “UOniverse” [Satchmo Jazz]. The material, which consists of his compositions and brilliantly arranged standards, draws from a wide range of influences, including jazz, African, funk, and classical music

Aaron Seeber, from Queens, NY is making his name as an emerging Jazz drummer in New York City. As a performer, Seeber has had the incredible opportunity to share the stage with greats Eric Reed, Pete Malinverni, Warren Wolf, Grant Stewart, Cyrille Aimée, Jeremy Pelt, Paul Bollenback, Tim Green, Ugonna Okegwo, Bruce Harris, Gary Smulyan, Mike Ledonne, Freddie Redd, Butch Warren, Chuck Redd, and many others. He has performed internationally with The Warren Wolf Trio and nationally with the GRAMMY award-winning group, The New York Voices. Aaron has played at many of the renowned venues and festivals around the world including Blues Alley, Marian’s Jazz Room (Switzerland), The Blue Note New York, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Birdland, The Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Twins Jazz, The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, The Caramoor Jazz Festival, The DC Jazz Festival and The Falcon. Seeber recently recorded his debut record “First Move” featuring Warren Wolf, Tim Green, Sullivan Fortner, and Ugonna Okegwo. It will be released May 13th, 2022 on Cellar Live Records.

Scott Robinson, one of today’s most wide-ranging instrumentalists, has been heard on tenor sax with Buck Clayton’s band, on trumpet with Lionel Hampton’s quintet, on alto clarinet with Paquito D’Rivera’s clarinet quartet, and on bass sax with the New York City Opera. On these and other instruments, he has been heard with a cross-section of jazz greats representing nearly every imaginable style of the music, from Braff to Braxton. His discography now includes more than 190 recordings. Scott has performed in some 30 nations, in such diverse venues as Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, the Library of Congress, and the Vienna Opera House. Scott’s group was selected to be the closing act at the Knitting Factory’s Sun Ra Festival in New York City. Scott has also written magazine articles and liner notes, and was an invited speaker at the Congressional Black Caucus Jazz Forum in Washington, D.C.

Helen Sung diverged from her classical roots after encountering jazz while a student at the University of Texas at Austin. She went on to graduate in the inaugural class of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance (renamed the Herbie Hancock Institute in 2019) at the New England Conservatory of Music, and win the Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition. With nine leader albums to her credit, she has also toured/recorded with such luminaries as Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Regina Carter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and the Mingus Big Band. A Steinway Artist and Guggenheim Fellow, “Sung plays with crisp swing and elegant invention, her rhythms drawing from the music’s blues roots – and setting listeners’ heads bobbing – while she explores her own fresh ideas, often inspired from her classical training.” (New York Times)

Bruce Harris, a Bronx-born trumpeter, is a dynamic force in contemporary jazz, fearlessly pushing boundaries in New York City’s vibrant scene. Discovering his love for the trumpet at 12, he honed his skills emulating legends like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. High school saw him perform with Wynton Marsalis, setting the stage for a journey into jazz education at SUNY Purchase College under Jon Faddis. Harris has graced renowned venues such as Smalls, Dizzy’s Club, and Rockwood Music Hall, alongside TV appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. His versatility extends to Broadway productions, collaborations with jazz icons, and recording contributions to albums like “Beginnings” and “The Lighting of The Lamp.” Currently signed with Equitone Records, Harris remains a fixture in NYC’s music scene, gearing up for a tribute album release and a performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. Grateful for his endorsement with Lotus Trumpets, Harris continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his contagious joy and unwavering passion for music.

John Ellis is one of New York’s premiere tenor saxophone voices. With more than 150 album credits as a sideman, John has recorded with a wide variety of artists such as Charlie Hunter, Robert Glasper, Darcy James Argue, Helen Sung, Kendrick Scott Oracle, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Sting. John was the 2nd place winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition in 2002, he was the recipient of three composition grants through The Jazz Gallery for the creation of new work (“Dreamscapes”, “The Ice Siren”, and “MOBRO”) and he was selected as the 2014 Make Jazz Fellow by the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica. John has released thirteen albums as a leader, three of those featuring his New Orleans-centered band Double-Wide, which has toured extensively and was featured on the Main Stage of the 2012 Newport Jazz Festival. He co-produced the music for the children’s book series “Baby Loves Jazz” with Aaron Goldberg, and he wrote the theme music for the NPR podcast, “Rough Translation.” “Say It Quiet”, his most recent album released on Sunnyside Records, is a collaboration with Glenn Patscha and Adam Levy.

Vicente Archer is a bassist, guitarist, composer and producer hailing from the culturally-rich Woodstock, New York. Having absorbed much of the historical town’s arts culture, this has made his work diverse ranging from folk to jazz to hip-hop. He attended New England Conservatory of Music and Northeastern University in Boston, where he earned a degree in business. While in college, he picked up the double bass with swiftness. Within 8 months, he was asked by great alto saxophonist, Donald Harrison, to join his group. Soon after he began recording/performing with a long list of luminaries including Pat Metheny, Norah Jones, Common, Terence Blanchard, Mary J Blige, Freddie Hubbard, Mingus Big Band, Wynton Marsalis, Amos Lee, Kenny Garrett, Willie Nelson and many more. Today, he’s as prolific as ever and has been hailed as one of the most sought bassist of his generation appearing on over 150 records. Currently he is touring with GRAMMY award winning artists: Robert Glasper, Nicholas Payton and John Scofield.

Ofri Nehemya is an Israeli jazz drummer and composer, known for his dynamic playing and versatility. As a prominent figure in the Israeli jazz scene, he has performed with top local and international musicians including Avishai Cohen, Shai Maestro, Ben Wendel, Omer Avital and many others.

Benjamin Rice has consistently proved himself to be one of the most skilled Jazz pianists of his generation. Since graduating from SUNY Purchase (BMus ’15), he has worked with some of the top names in Jazz performing at venues such as Smalls, Mezzrow, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, The Blue Note, Cafe Bohemia and more. He has worked with such names as Eric Alexander, Rodney Green, Steve Davis, Don Hahn, Doug Weiss, Ralph Lalama and others. Currently, he leads the Ben Rice Trio, which performs regularly in New York City, as well as working as a sidemen for various instrumentalists and vocalists. Ben is also a proficient arranger and composer, who is able to write for ensembles ranging from big band to orchestra. He is currently a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.

Michael Camacho is quickly making a name for himself in the NYC area. Since graduating from Purchase College with a BA in jazz performance, the Norwalk CT has performed and recorded with a wide range of the city’s top names in jazz. He has performed at some of the premier venues in the area, among them Smalls, Cellar Dog, Mezzrow, Smoke, ornithology, Zinc Bar, Newport Jazz Festival and has also been featured on WBGO Jazz radio.  In addition to performing Mike has had extensive teaching experience including lessons and college prep for Pelham music arts, Larchmont school of music, Bronx Charter school for the arts as well as jazz outreach concerts for the Newport festivals foundation.

Nathan Bellott has honed his craft under jazz legends Charli Persip and Hal Galper, performing with a tone and expression that captivates audiences worldwide. He performs regularly with his own bands and ensembles such as The Stan Rubin Orchestra, Alex Ayala, Steven Qquendo, The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and Birdland Big Band. He released his debut album way down east in March of 2024, available exclusively on Bandcamp. For nearly 2 years, he has performed on the Last Friday of the month at the Red Room in NYC. Other recent performances include Dizzy’s Club with legendary trumpeter Jon Faddis, Unsound NY Festival at Lincoln Center, and the Blackcat Jazz Club in San Francisco.

Alec Safy is a native of Buffalo, New York, and a current resident of the Bronx. After graduating from SUNY Purchase in 2014, he’s had the opportunity to perform with Gary Smulyan, Kenny Washington, Jon Faddis, Luis Perdomo, Eric Alexander, Ralph Lalama, Bobby Militello and more. He’s worked across the United States, in Canada, and Asia (including performances at the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival, Beishan Jazz Festival, and Hanoi Opera House) and has been heard around NYC at clubs such as Smalls, Mezzrow, Birland, Dizzy’s, Smoke, the Jazz Forum, the Django, and Fat Cat. Alec also enjoys a role as an educator, maintaining a private teaching studio and serving on faculty at Litchfield Jazz Camp. Away from the instrument he indulges in hiking, museums, and watering his plants.

Sage Myers, a 25-year-old vocalist and solo artist, draws her inspiration from a musical family, church choir, and a childhood filled with musical theatre. A graduate of SUNY Purchase’s jazz vocal program, she thrives using her experience to create genre-blending collaborations. Sage’s versatile voice defies convention, creating a unique sound that transcends boundaries. With her music, she aspires to pave the way for other unorthodox women of color like herself, breaking new ground in the industry.