Music on the Mountain

Sivan Arbel is a critically acclaimed Israeli vocalist, composer, arranger, and worldwide performer, and an effervescent talent on the international jazz scene. Some of her recent performances have taken place at the Minsk Jazz Festival, Bratislava Jazz Days Festival, Lincoln Center in NYC, Boston Jazz Festival, and 4020 Festival in Austria, to name a few. Since moving to NYC in 2014, Sivan has put out two albums: “Broken Lines” (2016) and “Change of Light” (2019), which was selected by Jazz2K as Best Vocal Disc of 2019. Sivan has collaborated with a wide array of musicians such as Japanese band Ichimujin, Pandero player Tuliio Araujo, Groove it Forward Project pianist Guy Mintus, as well as several dance projects. Sivan holds a B.A. with high honors in Jazz Performance from the Newpark Music Centre (Dublin, Ireland) and is a graduate of the Jazz Performance program at the acclaimed Rimon School of Music (Israel).

Vinnie Martucci has toured extensively on the international jazz festival circuit as co-leader of the Jazz Fusion Quartet “The Dolphins” with Dan Brubeck and Mike DeMicco. As an arranger, and accompanist he’s performed with Laurel Masse (Manhattan Transfer), Eileen Fulton (Award-winning star of As the World Turns), Blues artist Rory Block and many others. As a composer, Vinnie co-wrote the music for the off-Broadway play “Clue, The Musical” with Galen Blum. Vinnie has composed and produced numerous cable network TV themes for Lifetime, the Travel Channel, and CNN, as well as daytime TV dramas “As the World Turns” and “Guiding Light”. As a producer, engineer, and studio musician, he worked with composer Baikida Carroll on numerous productions such as WGBH and the Tony award-winning play “Having Our Say”. Vinnie is an educator, teacher, and clinician, giving master classes across the US, Europe, South America, and China. During his time as Professor of Jazz Studies and chair of the Music Department at SUNY New Paltz, Vinnie developed a broad range of courses and programs in Jazz, improvisation, recording technology, and music industry studies. Vinnie also teaches at summer festivals and camps, especially at the Ashokan Center, where he has taught swing piano every summer for over 20 years.

Jeff “Siege” Siegel is a veteran of the New York Jazz scene and has worked with a virtual “who’s who” of artists. A member of the Sir Roland Hanna Trio from 1994-’99, Siegel’s diverse career has also led him to perform and/or record with legends such as Ron Carter, Kenny Burrell, Jack DeJohnette, Benny Golson, Sheila Jordan, and many others. The Jeff “Siege” Siegel Sextet performed a 3-week tour of Africa in the summer of 2019 including clinics for the US State Department and a featured appearance at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival in Makhanda, South Africa. His most recent release with his quartet is the 2018 release on ARC entitled “London Live” and “When You Were There” (2019) with Hetko, Syracuse & Siegel. Siegel teaches Jazz drumming and jazz ensembles at The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music, SUNY at New Paltz as well as at Western Connecticut State University. He has performed clinics throughout Europe, the United States, China, South America, and South Africa. He holds a Master’s Degree in Jazz from Queens College where he studied Composition with Jimmy Heath. He has been the recipient of several grants from Meet the Composer as well as United States Artists International (USAI). He is endorsed by Canopus Drums, Beato Bags, and Vic Firth Drum Sticks. Legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath noted: “Jeff’s musicality is incredible. He is as tasty as a percussionist and he has become a fine composer/arranger with a good melodic concept and harmonic depth.”

Rich Syracuse has been a mainstay on the New York area scene for more than four decades. He began his performing career at an early age in New York City and then went on to become the winner of the prestigious Congress of Strings Award. Not long after he received a Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Rich performed with The Group for Contemporary Music under the Conductors Charles Wournin and Harvey Solberger, The Hartford Ballet, and the New Jersey Lyric Opera Company. Early jazz groups included work with John Mehegan, Joey Calderazzo, Ted Rosenthal, and Bruce Barth. In addition, he has performed with an array of artists including Mose Allison, Kurt Elling, Brubeck Brothers, Michael and Randy Brecker, Warren Bernhardt, Vinnie Martucci, Sumi Tonooka, David Torn, Mike DeMicco, Mark Dziuba, Pete Levin, Sam Morrison, Jimmy Cobb, Bernard Purdy, Adam Nussbaum, Jeff “Siege” Siegel, Eddie Henderson, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Dena DeRose, John Medeski, Michael Musillami and Ale DeMogli. For over 22 years, Rich was the bassist for legendary pianist Lee Shaw. He is the Professor for String and Electric Bass Studies at Skidmore College in Saratoga, New York, Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, and SUNY at New Paltz. Rich is a member of the International Association of Schools of Jazz. He has toured throughout Europe, South America, and Southern Africa. Richsyracusebass.us

Danny Lipsitz is one of the top established bandleaders, musicians, and entertainers on the scene today in New York City. He leads his swing, jump blues, klezmer, and early rock ‘n’ roll band, The Brass Tacks, in captivating, feel-good music for people from all walks of life, performed by some of the top musical talents in the world. In 2021, they signed on with Midori and Friends to present in six public schools around NYC a new curriculum about the saxophone in rock ‘n’ roll music. In 2022, they headlined the inaugural Swing On the Sound swing dance weekend at Sound View Greenport. In the fall of 2022, they headlined four sold-out events on their first Asian tour. Danny has performed in over 15 countries and worked with artists like Julian Lennon, Bernie Williams, Harry Nilsson, Ronnie Spector, Jon Batiste, Dr. Demento, Mark Hudson, Denny Laine, Brian Ray, Carmine Appice, The Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, Billy Vera, Alphonso Horne, Maria Muldaur, The Avalon Jazz Band, The Hot Sardines, Brian Newman, Murray Hill, Lucky Chops Brass Band, The Losers Lounge, The Gordon Webster Swing Band, and many, many more.

Jonah Smith is a critically acclaimed American artist based in Brooklyn, NY. He has released several records and has performed around the world at places like Bonnaroo, BAM Festival in Barcelona, The Bowery Ballroom in NYC, Ronnie Scotts in London, SXSW, and countless others. He was a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent, where he received a standing ovation from Howard Stern. He went on to perform four times on national television from Radio City Music Hall wowing the judges and audiences with his big soulful voice and considerable keyboard chops. Smith has had the pleasure of recording and performing with several of his influences over the years including Garth Hudson (of the Band), Bill Frisell, Los Lobos, Little Feat, Taj Mahal, Martin Sexton, and others. His 2016 record, Easy Prey featured guests like Ruthie Foster, Lucius, and David Hidalgo.

David M. Lutken is originally from Dallas, Texas, and graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Classics. He completed his Acting Degree at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The 92^nd St Y, Cooper Union (with Ted Sperling’s ‘Master Voices’), Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, with the North Carolina Symphony and the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, on NPR, Polskie Radio, the BBC, Voice Of America, and The Louisiana Hayride. With his original show, “Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie”, he and his company have toured Europe, the British Isles, the US, the Middle East, and China. David won the Helen Hayes and the Joseph Jefferson Best Actor award for his portrayal of Woody Guthrie.

The Big Takeover encompasses vocalist Nee Nee Rushie, bassist Rob Kissner, trombonist Andrew Vogt, saxophonist Chas Montrose, percussionist Manuel Quintana, guitarist Guthrie Lord, and drummer Roger LaRochelle. Devotees of Desmond Dekker, that rich sound, along with their rigorous performing schedule and studio work, has garnished media attention. In 2018, the Big Takeover completed a successful 12-state tour, including Omaha’s Jazz on the Green festival, and reggae-centric Sugarshack Sessions. Meanwhile, their current standalone single “Rainboots” has scored big with the discerning tastes at National Public Radio. The Big Takeover has appeared live in studio on several NPR stations, while “Rainboots” is in rotation on all of them.

Rhett Miller is perhaps best known as the frontman of the Dallas-based alt-country band the Old 97’s, although he has also pursued a critically acclaimed solo career. Formed in 1993, the Old 97’s built a devoted following with their brash blend of country and power pop influences, making a splash with 1995’s Wreck Your Life, which won the group a brief stay on the roster of Elektra Records, a period kicked off with one of their finest hours, 1997’s Too Far to Care. In his solo career, Rhett has captured attention, as a literate songwriter training his eye on such subjects as fatherhood, sex, and love.

Stephanie Torns was born and raised right in New York, quickly falling in love with Broadway at an early age. Her love of Broadway paved the way right to the stage in 2008. She is an original Broadway cast member and was last seen as Jenna Hunterson in the Tony Award Nominated Musical WAITRESS. Other previous credits include the Broadway hit musical WICKED, where she performed the lead role of Elphaba in New York as well as the national tour. Regional credits include 9 to 5, LES MISERABLES, THE PRODUCERS, and more. She looks forward to educating and teaching the future artists of the Broadway community.

Natalie Merchant has toured extensively and collaborated with a diverse array of artists on stage and in the studio including Billy Bragg, Philip Glass, David Byrne, The Chieftains, Tracy Chapman, Mavis Staples, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Throughout her entire career Merchant has been dedicated to supporting a variety of non-profit organizations by lending both financial support and raising public awareness. Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, Association to Benefit Children, The Fresh Air Fund, The Center for Constitutional Rights, Doctors Without Borders, Tibet House, Greenpeace, and Planned Parenthood are among the social justice groups to which she has been devoted. In 2007, Merchant served a five-year term on New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). In 2013, she spearheaded an effort to stop the advance of hydraulic fracturing in New York State with a concert-protest film, Dear Governor Cuomo. Merchant used the same format to address the domestic violence crisis in the Hudson Valley with Shelter (2014). She is currently artist-in-residence with Head Start, developing a music and movement curriculum for preschool-aged children in The Hudson Valley.

Hudson Valley String Quartet encompasses violinists Marka Young and David Fiedler, violist Lauren Byrne, and cellist Jeanne Fox. Originating in Warwick NY in 2012, the Quartet was formed with the immediate goal of performing for community-based events, but quickly found there was a need for more chamber music performances in every community. The Hudson Valley String Quartet is dedicated to bringing great string quartet literature to concert scenes in the greater Hudson Valley region and beyond – performing in concert series, fundraising events, house concerts, and sometimes in venues where you’d least expect them.