Cyrus Chestnut Trio with Special Guest Stefon Harris
Fri., May 31, 7:30 p.m. – TCA Main Stage

Virtuosic and playful, pianist Cyrus Chestnut's hard swinging, soulful sounds have become a staple in the world jazz community. Blending contemporary jazz, traditional jazz and gospel, plus the occasional seasonings of Latin and samba, Chestnut gives himself plenty of freedom to explore different emotions, while keeping his music in recognizable form. His "lush chords, playful grace notes, worshipful tremolos and effortless runs up and down the 88s" are sure to impress, but its his warm demeanor and irresistible sweetness that make him "one of jazz's most beloved ambassadors."

World-renowned special guest and multiple Grammy nominee, Stefon Harris, is one of the planet's preeminent vibraphonists and composers. His addition to this already stellar trio will make for a performance experience of a lifetime.
www.cyruschestnut.net.

The New West Guitar Trio
Sat., Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. -- Lakeside Room

In the years since New West's debut, the music press has raved. Acoustic Guitar Magazine praised the range of their music "from chamber-like elegance and fragile introspection to exhilarating swing and gritty blues," while All About Jazz called the group "…a fine showcase for the musicians, as well as a tribute to the endlessly fascinating and mutable instrument they play." The Seattle Times has declared that "the group's sense of time and their ability to interact are sharp and refined."
www.newwestguitar.com

Eddie Daniels & Roger Kellaway
Sat., Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m. – Lakeside Room

Both of these highly-respected musical icons are equally at home in the classical or jazz genres and most anything else. This unique duet of piano and clarinet was first performed at the Library of Congress in 2010. It was turned into a landmark album entitled Live at the Library of Congress.

Eddie Daniels and Roger Kellaway: two of the jazz world's finest virtuosi together for an evening of incredible music.
www.eddiedanielsclarinet.com.

Billy Childs Ensemble
Sat., Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. – TCA Main Stage

Most recently, Mr. Childs has recorded two volumes of jazz/chamber music – Lyric, Vol. 1 (2006) and Autumn: In Moving Pictures, Vol. 2 (2010) – music which is an amalgam of jazz and classical elements, developed with his ensemble through rehearsal, performance, and recording, over the course of ten years.

Thus far, in his career, Childs has garnered ten Grammy nominations and three Grammy awards: two for best instrumental composition ("Into the Light" from Lyric and "The Path Among The Trees" from Autumn: In Moving Pictures) and one for best arrangement accompanying a vocalist.
www.billychilds.com

Karrin Allyson Quartet with the Scottsdale Community College Jazz Orchestra
Sat., Mar. 9, 7:30 p.m. – TCA Main Stage

THIRTEEN ALBUMS!!! That's worth shouting about. And that's just what music lovers and critics around the world have been doing —marveling at Karrin Allyson, an extraordinary musician and multiple Grammy nominee, who moves with such ease and authority from the Great American Songbook of Gershwin and Porter to the Great American Jazz Songbook of Duke and Thelonius and Miles and Dizzy.

Under the direction of Eric Rasmussen, the Scottsdale Community College Jazz Band performs a broad variety of styles and genres of music from Early Jazz to Contemporary and Fusion Styles. This ensemble has completed five European tours: twice appearing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland.
www.Karrin.com

Dominick Farinacci Quartet
Sat., Mar, 23, 7:30 p.m. – TCA Studio

Upon the release of Dominick Farinacci's U.S. debut album Lovers, Tales and Dances, the great Quincy Jones popped by the hip Los Angeles club, Vibrato, to check out a show by the now 29 year old trumpeter. Farinacci had recorded an obscure Q composition, "The Theme From the Pawnbroker." Jones' classic response: "This kid is 360 degrees!"—a reference to the cosmopolitan, culturally expansive range of American and world music influences that Farinacci brings to his unique blend of traditional and contemporary jazz.
www.dominickfarinacci.com

Snarky Puppy
Fri., April 5, 7:30 p.m. – Lakeside Room

The 3-time Dallas Observer Music Award winning group ("Best Jazz Act" 2008, 2009, 2010) fuses a deep knowledge and respect for musical tradition with sonic and conceptual innovation in a way that is able to reach the most critical -- or most carefree -- of audiences. Cicily Janus, in her seminal 2010 book The New Face of Jazz, interviewed band leader Michael League about Snarky's adventurous, yet traditionally respective approach, called the group "one of the most inventive in sound and funk since Maynard Ferguson's fusion years."
http://bandframe.com/snarkypuppy/

David Friesen Circle 3 Trio with special guest, Larry Koonse
Sat., April 20, 7:30 p.m. – Lakeside Room

David Friesen has recorded over 65 CD's as a leader/ co-leader and appeared as a sideman or featured artist on more than 100 recordings. He has performed and/ or recorded with many of the great names and legends of jazz including: Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Sam Rivers, Michael Brecker, Bud Shank, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Freddy Hubbard, Art Farmer, Clark Terry, Joe Venuti, Mal Waldron, Jaki Byard, Kenny Drew Sr., Chick Corea, Milt Jackson, Slim Gaillard, John Scofield, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Paul Motian, Jack Dejohnette, Airto Moreira, and many others. Truly one of the most innovative bassists of our time.
www.davidfriesen.net.

Terell Stafford Quintet featuring This Side of Strayhorn
Fri., May 10, 7:30 p.m. – TCA Studio

Terell Stafford has been hailed as "one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player" by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Known for being a gifted and versatile player with a voice all his own, Stafford combines lyricism and a deep love of melody with a spirited, adventurous edge. This uniquely expressive, well-defined musical talent allows Stafford the ability to dance in and around the rich trumpet tradition of his predecessors while making his own inroads.
www.terellstafford.com.