Cornetist Kirk Knuffke aims to make beautiful, emotionally resonant music—even in avant-garde settings. A prolific artist, he’s released about 20 albums as leader/co-leader. His 2022 album Gravity Without Airs, with Matthew Shipp and Michael Bisio, earned 4½ stars from DownBeat and praise from The New York Times. A sought-after sideman, he’s worked with Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mary Halvorson, Matt Wilson, and James Brandon Lewis. All About Jazz hails him as a master of balancing freedom and swing.

Harold Danko is a distinguished jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader whose career spans over 50 years. He has collaborated with iconic artists such as Chet Baker, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, and James Moody, performing at major jazz venues around the world. Danko’s artistry is well documented across numerous acclaimed recordings, television appearances, and popular video clips—including Baker’s 1987 Tokyo concert, which has garnered over five million views on YouTube. His legacy reflects both depth and versatility in jazz.

Ray Anderson, a leading voice in the proud Trombone Tribe, has innovated and honored jazz tradition for over four decades. With boundless creativity, he bridges swing, bop, free jazz, blues, gospel, and New Orleans funk, carrying forward the expressive legacy of trombone legends with flair and soul.