Singer/Songwriter Ola Onabulé, is one of the finest vocalists and contemporary artists of our time, and as a performer, he has gained worldwide critical acclaim as a singer, songwriter and producer, He truly understands that the modern musician and artist is faced with many opportunities arising from the digital world and many challenges from these new frontiers. Creatives are required to be masters of social media platforms, become content creators and yet at the same time create music that is authentic and original. A very tall order indeed! With diminishing revenue from the infrastructure that the music industry now relies upon, artists have to find a way to create unique careers that build year upon year. Invest in their live shows, their recordings, their songwriting and build tangible assets with their catalogue. If an artist is true to their original intentions and is willing to put their life and soul into their music then their live career remains the best way of creating a sustainable income. With the right vision, planning and team it is possible to build a long-lasting and fulfilling career. To this end, university students, performance arts institutions, music colleges, jazz instrumentalists, vocalists and songwriters are the perfect target audience for Ola’s classes. The purpose of his masterclasses is to illustrate to artists and performers that there are many ways to have a career. To provide them with real examples of how it is possible to have ideals, dreams and goals that are less mainstream and more independent thinking. Ola will discuss how to build a team around the artist - including a designer, a photographer, a social media person, an agent and a manager. In days gone by 'the team' would most certainly have included a record label plus a top lawyer and accountant. These may not feature at the top of a modern artist’s list now. However what was true then and is still true today is that the artist must have something to say in their music and have a sense of how they wish to say it. Additionally, Ola can be accompanied by a pianist and describe his writing process and show the process of taking an idea through to the recording process and finally the performance in different settings - from a small band to a larger ensemble with two or three different bands performing alongside Ola. Moderated discussion with a student and faculty audience is also a popular option, focussing not just on Ola's music but on his cultural life journey, with one foot in the UK and the other in Africa. Masterclasses can culminate in a concert performance at the end of the week in the theatre of the university with a big band or orchestra, featuring musicians studying at the university performing arrangements from Ola’s catalogue. Over the years, Ola has forged an international career via his relentless program of recordings and concerts. Ola’s music has been synchronised to film, and arrangements of his songs have been performed all over the world with Big Bands, orchestras and choirs. Ola appears with quartets, quintets, large ensembles and sometimes even acapella. These wide-ranging live opportunities have introduced his music to audiences around the world who enjoy a wide range of genres including world, jazz, soul and even classical music lovers.

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Grammy-winning guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale exploded on the L.A. scene in the early ‘80s. His meteoric rise to fame is a testament to his passion-powered playing - a style Rolling Stone magazine called “ferocious!" As an inspired songwriter with more than 300 songs published on 20+ albums, his music touches on many styles from rock, funk and jazz to R&B and some Latin and Brazilian influences. As a legendary guitarist, Grammy Award winner, and three-time Grammy nominee, Gambale is an undisputed genius who originated the "Gambale Sweep Picking Technique" and his revolutionary “Gambale Tuning”, both of which continue to inspire generations of musicians. As a jazz legend, Frank was a member of Chick Corea’s Elektric Band for over 36 years, playing with Eric Marienthal, John Patitucci, and Dave Weckl. He spent twelve years as a member of Vital Information, led by Steve Smith, and joined Return to Forever IV with Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Lenny White. A musician’s musician, a gifted composer, and a brilliant innovator and author of numerous instructional books and DVDs, Frank continues to reach unprecedented sonic and technical heights. His instructional materials are used in many schools and universities throughout the world. His mystifying Gambale Sweep Picking Technique, featured in his first instructional book and masterfully demonstrated in the Monster Licks & Speed Picking video, continues to amaze and inspire guitarists. Frank generously conducts master classes and clinics around the world and can be tailored to suit, including artist-in-residence-type events covering the following: · MODES: NO MORE MYSTERY · INTERVALS & CHORD CONSTRUCTION AND CHORD PROGRESSION ANALYSIS · GAMBALE SWEEP PICKING TECHNIQUE · SONGWRITING – COMPOSITION Whether Gambale is touring the world with his All-Star band, the Natural High Trio, his cool new vocal group, 'Frank Gambale Soulmine’; or joining forces in an iconic jazz supergroup, Frank continues to amaze audiences around the world. Frank plays ‘Frank Gambale Signature’ guitars by Kiesel, Cort Acoustic Guitars, and D'Addario strings.

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The Paul Reed Smith Band offer an 'all-ages' masterclass with instruction on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals. Featuring members of Paul's 'Eightlock' project -The Paul Reed Smith Band can perform in the evening and in the afternoon, take over your classrooms and deliver Masterclass experiences for concertgoers. Attendees are invited to bring their instruments to play and learn with the band in the afternoon then come back in the evening to kick back and enjoy an amazing show! Choose From: - Guitar Master Class with Paul Reed Smith, Bill Nelson and Michael Ault - Vocals Master Class with Mia Samone Davis - Drums Master Class with Greg Grainger - Bass Guitar with Gary Grainger A video outlining the band’s live talents is complete and displayed on a John Mayer song, “Last Train Home.” Paul Reed Smith Eightlock and team are excited as the recordings “jump out of the speakers” and live sounds like guns/fireworks going off. By the way, if you haven’t had the chance to see Mia sing live, she’s a must-have. Funkgurus are delighted to represent the Paul Reed Smith tour during their planned tour of Europe in 2025.

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Josh Dion is a Brooklyn based drummer, singer, songwriter and producer. He is one half of the synth duo paris_monster, which features a unique setup incorporating drums and synth while singing. “Beyond this visual impossibility is a careful and deliberate balance of frequencies, colors, and textures. Melodies to serve a story. Chaos to destroy preciousness.” Aside from paris_monster, Dion’s solo performances have been featured in online videos such as Tam Tam Drum Festival, Little Big Beat and Drumeo. He has also performed and/or recorded with John Scofield, Jim Campilongo, Wayne Krantz, Esperanza Spalding, Bill Evans, Lucius, NPR’s “Live from Here” featuring Chris Thile, and has been a guest drummer on Late Night with Seth Myers. In addition to Dion’s performances and session work, he has given masterclasses and workshops at a number of schools and drum festivals including the UK Drum Festival, BIMM Dublin, Bell Studios in London, Halifax RAW studios, Lavra festival in Portugal, Silesian Drum Center, Chorzow, Poland, and JazzOnze+ masterclass in Lausanne, CH, to name a few. Funkgurus are delighted to present Josh Dion for public and educational masterclasses and clinics internationally. “The work of a highly-skilled, soulful and rare musical voice” Modern Drummer

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Cédric Hanriot is a pianist, composer, arranger, sound designer and music producer. Winner of prestigious scholarships and international awards, Cédric is known worldwide for his collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Terri Lyne Carrington, Donny McClaslin, and other prominent names in the jazz world. He served as pianist and sound designer on Dianne Reeves’s album Beautiful Life alongside Robert Glasper and Esperanza Spalding, which won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2015 and is currently Grammy nominated for his work in 2023 with Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-nominated vocalist and composer Maria Mendes, with whom he has played for 5 years, touring alongside John Beasley and the Metropole Orchestra. In 2022 Cedric released Time is Color, a surprisingly powerful hip-hop/jazz album, which he toured at concerts in France (Jazz à Vienne, Jazz in Marciac, Marly Jazz Festival, Festival Puy En Velay, la Gare/le Gore, Sunside, Conservatoire de Malakoff, les Trinitaires, Lavoir Théâtre, le Solar), Eastern Europe (Poland, Macedonia, Romania, Greece) and across Europe (England, Scotland, Germany, Luxembourg) as well as a tour in Mexico. Further tours are planned for 2024 in China, South America, Africa, India and the UK to launch Time is Color Volume 2. With Time is Color, the second album under his own name, Cédric Hanriot engaged in a living creation that is resolutely personal - a powerful mixture of jazz, hip-hop, and urban music which has been the subject of several glowing reviews (Le Monde, Blues and Soul Magazine, The Jazz Shows with Jamie Cullum, among others). The album was quickly voted CHOC by Jazz Magazine, '5-stars' by BBC Magazine, and ranked among the 'ten best albums of the year 2022' by the English magazine MOJO. Cédric Hanriot aims to consider and approach crossovers differently because he is curious, drawn to surprising combinations, and fond of new openings. To breathe freshness into his creations, he draws inspiration from great classical composers (Fauré, Ravel, Messiaen, Chopin), but he also draws equally from electronic music, hip-hop (Common, Kendrick Lamar), neo-soul (Angelo, Erykah Badu), and pop, all while linking it to his profound jazz identity (Bud Powell, Errol Garner, George Duke, Brad Mehldau). Cedric also performs his French Stories album with John Patitucci and Terri Lyne Carrington - acoustic jazz performing songs from Chanson Française, and a tribute to Gabriel Fauré with Jimmie Herrod. This project is a classical jazz crossover of piano and voice, performing songs from Gabriel Fauré and will tour in the US in early April. Funkgurus are delighted to represent Cédric Hanriot internationally for 2024/25 with very special guest Soweto Kinch.

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The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) is considered by many to be one of Europe’s foremost contemporary big bands. Founder/Director Tommy Smith established the SNJO in 1995 as a not-for-profit organisation with a crystal clear artistic vision and core values of versatility, discipline and expression. It should therefore come as no surprise that many of the leading lights in world jazz have enthusiastically shared the stage with the SNJO. People like Jazzmeia Horn, Cleo Laine, Jacqui Dankworth, John Scofield, Gary Burton, Bobby Watson, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Bill Evans, Mike Stern, Bob Mintzer, Keith Tippett, Branford Marsalis, Joe Locke and many more have all joined the orchestra to explore virtually every room in the house of the jazz. The SNJO repertoire has included re-imaginings of works by the great, the good and the gigantic, including Weather Report, Herman, Rich, Carter, Strayhorn, Goodman, Kenton, Basie, Gillespie, Mingus, Jaco, Corea, Monk, Metheny, Shorter, Miles and Coltrane. They have also recorded vivid interpretations of Mozart, Prokofiev, Piazzolla, Gershwin and Ellington to rave reviews and have built a growing library of original compositions underpinned by a deep understanding and appreciation of improvisation. The mission of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra is to cultivate and expand the community for orchestral jazz, through creative performance and education, inspiring and growing audiences, enhancing the reputation of jazz from Scotland on the world stage. Please get in touch below to learn more about booking opportunities for the following SNJO touring shows. Apr 2024 RSNO Collaboration - RHAPSODY IN BLUE with Makoto Ozone Sep 2024 Kurt Elling Swings The Classics Nov 2024 New Perspectives of Ellingtonia (new commissions) Jan 2025 Discovering The Genius of Dundee’s Jimmy Duechar Mar 2025 ‘21 SPICES’ featuring Indian Percussionist Trilok Gurtu

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Exceptional pianist/composer and long-term Kyle Eastwood Band member Andrew McCormack has built a diverse international career with many appearances at major festivals and concert halls all over the globe. His latest trio album, 'Terra Firma,' was released in October 2022, with highly successful follow-up UK and Europe tours in 2023. The first single received a positive response, with over 150k streams in the first month alone, and Jazz FM's Dinner Jazz show naming 'Fragile' their track of the week. A new album entitled 'Luminosity' will be released in Spring 2025.  Andrew has toured, recorded and collaborated with an impressive array of internationally established musicians, including Randy Brecker, Quincy Jones, Jamie Cullum, Jean Toussaint, Jason Yarde and most recently Kyle Eastwood, which has seen him contribute to the scores and orchestrations of several Clint Eastwood films. As a leader, his debut album Telescope in 2005 received universal acclaim and earned him a BBC jazz award for rising star the following year, with the pianist later returning to the trio format with a series of critically acclaimed albums including Live In London in 2012 and First Light in 2014. The latter includes a New York rhythm section as evidence of his three-year stay in the city. The pianist teamed up with composer/saxophonist Jason Yarde to form the McCormack & Yarde Duo with their first album release together, MY DUO in 2009. The duo has since gone on to firmly establish itself with international tours and further album releases that have garnered widespread critical recognition for their developments in the genre. Places And Other Spaces was released in 2011 and they followed up in 2013 to feature the Elysian String Quartet on the eclectic, Juntos. In 2020, he released SOLO to across-the-board 4/5 star reviews, adding another strength to his already diverse portfolio. Using a mixture of originals, standard and not-so-standard repertoire, the pianist demonstrates his compelling ideas, composing, and thrilling performances in the stripped-down intimate setting of solo piano. Andrew McCormack has consistently demonstrated a compelling setting for his musical ideas, a platform for virtuosic improvisation, and a constant revivifying and adaptive embodiment of the jazz tradition. Award-winning UK saxophonist Denys Baptiste joined Andrew's trio as a special guest for a series of live shows in 2023, recapturing some of the magic of Denys' epic "Let Freedom Ring" project and his ‘Be where you are’ album, which won two of the UK music industry's most prestigious awards in 1999: a Mercury Music Prize Award for An Album Of The Year plus the MOBO Award for Best Jazz Act. Andrew will perform a run of shows with his trio in 2024/25 with Kyle Eastwood as special guest and a UK/European tour in 2025 to support his new album entitled Luminosity.

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Throughout an international career starting in the late 1980’s, Grammy-winning saxophonist Tim Garland has become known as a unique polymath in the UK’s music scene. His first break as a saxophonist was joining Ronnie Scott's band at age 23. Later he was to join Chick Corea as a regular member of several globe-trotting projects over a seventeen-year period including The Vigil. Playing tenor and soprano saxes, bass clarinet, and flute, he also won a Grammy for his symphonic orchestrations on Corea’s “The New Crystal Silence” album from 2007. Garland has fulfilled commissions from several of the world's top orchestras, including a double concerto from the LSO, a piano concerto for Gwilym Simcock from The Royal Northern Sinfonia, with whom he went on to record three CDs, a cello and sax concerto from the CBSO, and a sax concerto from the BBC Concert Orchestra. His concert works continue to celebrate the fertile ground between modern composition and jazz. His creative arranging skills have won much praise from such diverse artists as Jean Luc Ponty, John Patitucci, The Royal Holloway and Westminster Choirs, the Catalan National Cobla Group, the LPO, the London Session Orchestra, NYJO as well as Chick Corea. His work is often inspired by, but not limited to, the jazz idiom, whilst his celebrated virtuosity as a saxophonist maintains his position as one of the UK’s most unique and authentic jazz voices. In 2016 he premiered “Re: Focus” (a reimagining of the Getz /Sauter project of 1962 ‘Focus’) to a full house at London’s Wigmore Hall, which in 2020 has been released for public purchase. “Luca’s Winter”, a 100-minute work for big band, was performed at Manchester’s Royal Northern College Of Music (where he held an international post as a research fellow) in which he acted as conductor and narrator. As a band leader and co-leader, he is responsible for much of the output of the groups; Lammas, The Underground Orchestra, Storms / Nocturnes (feat. Joe Locke and Geoffrey Keezer), Acoustic Triangle, the last few years of Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, and Lighthouse, (feat; Gwilym Simcock and Asaf Sirkis). He has won awards and nominations from The Parliamentary Jazz Awards, The Worshipful Company Of Musicians, BASCA’s British Composer Awards, and won CD of the year in 2016 from Jazzwise for his album ONE.

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Tommy Smith, OBE is one of the world’s leading saxophonists.  A presence on the global jazz scene since his teenage years, when he toured internationally with vibes virtuoso Gary Burton’s Whiz Kids quintet, Smith has gone on to record with the definitive jazz label, Blue Note and work with myriad jazz greats, including Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius, Dame Cleo Laine, John Scofield, Randy Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Arild Andersen, Dizzy Gillespie and Trilok Gurtu to name but a few. Since leaving Berklee College of Music, an experience that shaped his affirmative approach to jazz, he has recorded over thirty solo albums for Blue Note, Linn, ECM and his own Spartacus Record label, toured 50+ countries and performed with many influential figures in modern twentieth-century jazz.  Tommy’s current live projects include spectacular solo acoustic concerts in churches and cathedrals, where he performs a repertoire of jazz ballads, folk tunes, classical themes and Gregorian chants, combined with lively conversation with the audience. His KARMA project with keyboardist Steve Hamilton, six-string bass guitar sensation Kevin Glasgow and jet-powered drummer Alyn Cosker will be back in action for 2024. His excellent duos with pianists Gwilym Simcock, Pete Johnstone and Makoto Ozone, whom Tommy first met as members of Gary Burton’s quartet in the 1980s, perform at festivals worldwide and his Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) is available for larger festivals and events both at home and abroad. Tommy is also available as part of a trio with Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen and drummer Thomas Strønen, which has performed at a number of international festivals, including the North Sea Jazz Festival. Although he is primarily a jazz composer, noted for assertive large-scale pieces such as Torah, World of the Gods, Spirit of Light and Beauty and the Beast, Smith’s work has frequently taken him into other spheres such as classical composition and poetry. He released his symphonic work Modern Jacobite, recorded in Glasgow with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and worked extensively with Glasgow’s inaugural poet laureate, Edwin Morgan to create 55 works of poetry and music. Tommy is founder of the SNJO and Head of Jazz and Professor at Scotland’s Royal Conservatoire. In 2019, he received an Order of the British Empire from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh and in addition to his BBC Heart of Jazz Award, he received two Parliamentary Jazz Awards, and nine Scottish Jazz Awards.

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MOBO and Mercury award-winning UK saxophonist Denys Baptiste has a colossal talent - based on a powerful technique and an ability to improvise fluently and effortlessly across a wide range of musical styles. From the moment he joined the London jazz circuit, Denys displayed extraordinary talent, energy and commitment. Spotted by veteran Jazz Warriors double bassist, Gary Crosby at the bassist’s regular Tomorrow’s Warriors jam sessions, Denys was immediately invited to join Crosby’s new band, Nu Troop. Since then, Denys has soared in his development as a soloist and bandleader, earning enormous respect from his peers. Over the years, Denys has evolved into what Time Magazine describes as “the icon of British jazz”, with a most distinctive and immediately recognisable sound. A much sought-after soloist, Denys has played/recorded with some of the biggest names in jazz and other genres including McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Ernest Ranglin, Bheki Mseleku, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Michael Bowie, Courtney Pine, Manu Dibango, Gary Crosby, Steve Williamson, Julian Joseph, Jason Rebello, Martin Taylor, Lonnie Plaxico, Ralph Moore, Billy Higgins, Jerry Dammers, Sean Oliver, Jean Carne, Marlena Shaw, Noel McCoy, Juliet Roberts, Incognito, Jazz Jamaica, and others of distinction. Denys is also an enormously talented composer/arranger, whose brilliant compositions have already earned him immense critical acclaim. Be Where You Are – his 1999 debut album on independent jazz label, Dune Records – earned him a Mercury Music Prize for An Album Of The Year and a MOBO award for Best Jazz Act. He followed this in 2001 with his second album, Alternating Currents (Dune Records DUNECD05) also receiving great critical acclaim. 2003 saw the release of his third, and perhaps most ambitious, recording/touring project to date: Commissioned by the Cheltenham Jazz Festival/Jerwood Foundation ‘Let Freedom Ring!’ is an inspirational, uplifting suite combining contemporary jazz, gospel, blues and was nominated for Best Album and Best New Work in the BBC Jazz Awards, for Best Jazz Act in the MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) Awards, and Best Album in the UK Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Denys’ current touring projects include;- - Late Trane – a powerful and commanding new reimagining and reworking of ten carefully chosen compositions from John Coltrane’s late music (from 1963 - 1967) with a fresh and modern new interpretation. - A special tribute to American legend Joe Henderson’s Blue Note albums featuring Byron Wallen, Bruno Heinen, Larry Bartley and Winston Clifford. - Triumvirate sees Denys team up with Larry Bartley and Cassius Cobbson as they take quality songs of the recent past and reinterpret them in trio format to ‘present familiar material in an unfamiliar way’. The arrangements are fluid improvised pieces that from such diverse artists as Gnarls Barkley, Cindy Lauper, Bill Withers and many others. 2023 saw Denys join The Andrew McCormack Trio as a special guest for a series of live shows, recapturing some of the magic of Denys' epic "Let Freedom Ring" project and his ‘Be where you are’ albums.

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London-born, US-based bass player and record producer Janek Gwizdala is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after jazz bassists of our time. Janek has been on the international music scene for over twenty years, touring as a band leader and working as a musical director or sideman with some of the most respected names in the industry. These include Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Carlos Santana, Hiram Bullock, John Mayer, Airto Moreira, Chuck Loeb, Peter Erskine, Flora Purim, Pat Metheny, Eric Marienthal, Billy Cobham, Chad Wackerman, Bob James, John Patitucci, Rick Margitza, Bob Mintzer, Bob Reynolds, Mitch Forman, Bob Sheppard, Mark Turner, Tosin Abasi, Aaron Parks, Marcus Miller, Jojo Mayer, Paul Shafer, Delta Goodrem, Adam Rogers, Gregoire Maret, Clarence Penn, Gretchen Parlato, Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Donny McCaslin, Lenny Castro, Kazumi Watanabe, Brandon Fields, Mark Guiliana, Ronny Jordan, Luis Conte, Dennis Chambers, Lionel Loueke, Kenny Werner, Eric Harland, Steve Smith, Vital Information, Benny Greb, Kenwood Dennard, and Wayne Krantz. As a recording artist, Janek has released twelve albums as a band leader; as an author, has published thirteen critically acclaimed books; and has toured the world extensively as both a musician and a lecturer & clinician at the world’s leading educational establishments. In addition to live appearances with The Janek Gwizdala Trio, which includes pianist Tom Cawley (Peter Gabriel, Trudy Kerr, Acoustic Ladyland) and drummer Cliff Almond (Patti Labelle, Chris Potter, Michel Camilo, Tito Puente, Wayne Krantz, Eddie Palmieri, Chuck Loeb, Tom Scott, Michael Brecker), Janek will be performing internationally in projects with Bob Reynolds and Steve Smith throughout the rest of 2023. . Janek will undoubtedly have a stellar year in 2023, appearing at the world's leading festivals and clubs, both with his own projects and alongside other celebrated artists. STOP PRESS: The European November 2023 tour will include the launch of the trio’s new album (Working title; TIME & SOUND), which will be recorded in August during their South American Tour in Chile, Montevideo and Buenos Aires. “There is no limit to how epic this project could become between now and the recording sessions. Conceptually I’m writing far more music this time around, and plan to orchestrate elements of the album with two of my big compositional loves: choir and strings” (Janek Gwizdala) Early booking is advised!

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Joe Locke is widely considered to be one of the major voices of his instrument. He has performed and recorded with a diverse range of notable musicians, including Grover Washington Jr, Raul Midón, Kenny Barron, Eddie Henderson, Cecil Taylor, Dianne Reeves, Eddie Palmieri, Ron Carter, Bobby Hutcherson, The Beastie Boys, the Münster Symphony Orchestra, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the Orchestra da Camera della Sardegna and the Lincoln, Nebraska Symphony. Long known to be a soloist capable of stunning physical power and broad emotional range, it was not until the last decades that he emerged as the composer, bandleader and conceptualist that he is considered today. This is in no small part due to his solo projects since the beginning of the 2000s: ‘Four Walls of Freedom’, the EarShot award-winning ‘Live in Seattle’ with its 2012 successor ‘Signing’, and the chamber trio release ‘VIA’ can be attributed to the talents of Locke’s exceptional collaborators and to the leader’s musical philosophy which is to honor tradition while keeping both feet planted in the present and future. The foundation of Locke’s vast spectrum is his immense stylistic versatility and ability to create artistic depth in a variety of contexts, having performed in an array of projects from symphonic recordings and poetry-inspired suites, to jazz radio chart-topping blues and ballads collections and high-energy, rock-like fusion. His newest release, ‘Makram’, is a deeply emotive work and focuses largely on original music, with classics by Cole Porter and Billy Strayhorn bookending the recording, celebrating Locke’s unique ability to marry the complex with the familiar. Locke is a six-time recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association’s Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year Award, has received two Earshot Golden Ear Awards for Concert of the Year and the 2013 Hot House NYC Jazz Awards for Best Vibes Player, and keeps topping critics and readers polls. He holds the title of Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy Of Music (Hon ARAM), London, and is an active clinician and educator in the United States and in Europe. In 2016 Joe was honoured with induction into the Music Hall of Fame of his hometown Rochester, NY. Joe will tour Europe in 2024, supporting the release of Makram, his latest album featuring a selection of new compositions and a return to his celebrated quartet with pianist Jim Ridl, bassist Lorin Cohen, and drummer Samvel Sarkisyan.

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Legendary American funk and soul jazz organist Ronnie Foster recorded his much-sampled Blue Note Records in the 1970s and has gained a cult following with the emergence of acid jazz. After moving to New York City, Ronnie performed as a sideman with a wide range of musicians and frequently worked with guitarist George Benson, Grant Green, Grover Washington, Jr., Stanley Turrentine, Roberta Flack, Earl Klugh, Harvey Mason, Jimmy Smith, and Stevie Wonder. The 2022 return of Ronnie Foster to Blue Note Records is an event of synergistic quintessence, completeness, and cool. The organ great’s dynamic new album, Reboot, arrives upon the 50th anniversary of his 1972 Blue Note debut, Two Headed Freap, which is also being reissued this year as part of the label’s Classic Vinyl Series. The first in a run of five stellar early-70s albums, Two Headed Freap featured Foster’s memorable tune “Mystic Brew,” which would later reach the ears of hip-hop fans around the world when A Tribe Called Quest sampled the track as the foundation of “Electric Relaxation” on their 1994 album Midnight Marauders. Listeners the world over have heard Foster’s soulful playing, whether from his standout performance on “Summer Soft” from Stevie Wonder’s 1976 masterwork Songs In The Key Of Life, best-selling George Benson albums including Breezin’, or A Tribe Called Quest’s classic hip-hop track “Electric Relaxation,” which sampled Foster’s “Mystic Brew” from Two Headed Freap. There’s so much synergy in the circuitry surrounding Ronnie’s return to Blue Note. The master recorded over two days at the fabled Capitol Studio in Hollywood, where he first set foot in 1976, recording the multiplatinum-selling Breezin’ LP (to which he contributed the song “Lady”) as a member of George Benson’s band. “Blue Note has always stood for The Art of Jazz,” Foster marvels. “I grew up on Blue Note, listening to all the greats.” Mightily hoisting the Blue Note organ torch, Ronnie Foster is the last of the Mohicans yet, ever the youngest and oldest man in that room, thanks to the musical osmosis that was poured into him by all of the greats that preceded him and his relentless curious spirit that keeps him giant steps ahead perched, head-bowed, before his sleek, custom hummin’ Hammond XK-5. Ronnie will tour the UK and Europe in the autumn of 2024 with his trio, which features his son Chris Foster on drums and guitarist Michael O’Neill.

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Linn recording artist Claire Martin has to worldwide critical acclaim, established herself as a tour de force on the UK jazz scene gaining many awards, including winning the British Jazz Awards eight times during her career which spans over three decades. In 2018 she was the proud recipient of the BASCA Gold Badge Award for her contribution to jazz. Claire became a professional singer at 19 and two years later realised her dream of singing at Ronnie Scott’s legendary jazz club in London Soho. Signed to the prestigious Glasgow based Linn Records in 1990, Claire has since released 18 CDs with the label, collaborating with musical luminaries including Martin Taylor, John Martyn, Stephane Grappelli, Kenny Barron, Richard Rodney Bennett and Jim Mullen on many of these recordings. Claire has performed worldwide with her trio and, until his death in 2012, worked extensively with the celebrated composer and pianist Sir Richard Rodney Bennett in a cabaret duo setting both in England and the US where they played to sell-out houses at venues including the prestigious Algonquin Hotel in New York City. Claire will release her new album ‘I Watch You Sleep’ which is a collaboration with the American conductor and pianist Scott Dunn and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in March 2023. On this they pay homage to their dear friend Sir Richard by recording his songs alongside songs that Richard loved to perform. Claire will also be performing with her trio of Rob Barron on piano, Jeremy Brown on bass and Mark Taylor on drums recreating the songs from the album and touring the UK throughout the year. Claire appears as a featured soloist with the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the BBC Big Band and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Claire co-presented BBC Radio 3’s flagship jazz program ‘Jazz Line Up’ from 2000 to 2017 and interviewed many of her musical heroes such as Pat Metheny and the late Michael Brecker. At the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2011 Claire was delighted to be awarded an OBE for her Services to Jazz. Claire was thrilled to win both the 2009 and 2010 ‘Best Vocalist’ category at the British Jazz Awards and toured extensively throughout the UK, Scandinavia, Russia and China, appearing with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and her world-class trio. Claire’s live projects for 2025 include;- The continuation of her 2024 tour of Europe with her accomplished Swedish trio, led by the exceptional pianist and arranger Martin Sjöstedt, for their latest collaborative endeavor - 'Almost in Your Arms' (Stunt Records). Uppsala-born pianist/arranger Martin Sjöstedt leads the trio comprising bassist Niklas Fernqvist and drummer Daniel Fredriksson. Sjöstedt, one of Sweden’s most gifted and talked about jazz musicians, has created imaginative new arrangements of contemporary material exclusively for this exciting project. iG4 is a new intergenerational band of four of the UK's finest jazz talent sharing their love of great songs and composers. Vocalist Claire Martin OBE joins multi-award-winning pianist and composer Nikki Iles, much-in-demand saxophonist Karen Sharp, and rising star bassist Ewan Hastie, who won the BBC's Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 2022. Brand new arrangements written for this project by Nikki will shine a light on classic repertoire from Tom Waits to Burch Bacharach, Anthony Newly, and Joni Mitchell, as well as stylish reworkings from the great writers of the American songbook, including Cole Porter and Johnny Mandel. Claire also continues to team up with the legendary Scottish guitarist Jim Mullen for an intimate night of great American songbook classics and other lesser-known gems. Joined by in-demand bassist Adam King offering a swinging and soulful night of classic songs celebrating songwriters from Cole Porter to Donald Fagan. Claire's Duo with Ian Shaw - 'A Century Of Song' brings these two award-winning jazz singers together after their initial meeting over 25 years ago. Alongside their highly successful solo careers, they have forged a musical partnership that has performed from New York to Vietnam and celebrates a hundred years of popular song - from the songs of hope written during The First World War to the American Songbook and Beatles, Bowie and Joni Mitchell. With just Ian's piano as accompaniment, this will be a musical evening to be remembered for a long time.

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Bassist Reggie Washington was a key participant in the Modern Jazz revolution of the ’80s and ’90s. He became known touring, recording, and performing with Steve Coleman, Branford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Chico Hamilton, Oliver Lake, Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron, Jean-Paul Bourelly, Lester Bowie, and Ronald Shannon Jackson. In 2005, Reggie began successfully touring with his own bands. They were a mix of American & European musicians such as Ravi Coltrane, Gene Lake, Stéphane Galland, Jef Lee Johnson, Erwin Vann, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, E.J Strickland, Jozef Dumoulin, Skoota Warner, Matthew Garrison, Marcus Strickland, Jason Lindner, Poogie Bell, and Ronny Drayton. A versatile, 360-degree musician, Reggie plays Jazz, Funk, R&B, Blues, World, and Experimental music with a natural and contagious energy. His bass lines are both sophisticated and explicit. He is diligent in his work and enjoys mixing people of different cultures as a way to enhance music by learning from others and sharing ideas. 
 Reggie is currently touring with Archie Shepp, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, The Headhunters, Alex Tassel, Dana Leong, Hervé Samb, Brian Jackson’s New Midnight Band “Tribute to Gil Scott Heron”, Rokia Traoré, Randy Brecker, Stanley Jordan, and gospel diva Liz McComb. Reggie Washington is available for workshops/masterclasses and private lessons all over the world. He will discuss styles and techniques to small or medium size groups and also perform pieces from his repertoire for students to observe and analyze. This kind of intensive educational exchange is always an interesting and rewarding experience for musicians and students alike.

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Legendary multi-Grammy and Emmy award-winning bassist Robert Hurst has a career spanning more than 30 years. He has played a key role in the music of artists including Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Harry Connick Jr., Terence Blanchard, Tony Williams, Nicholas Payton, Sting, Carl Allen, and the legendary Pharaoh Sanders. Currently on stage with Ravi Coltrane, Orrin Evans, Chris Davis, and Diana Krall, Robert is also a highly respected and well-recognized composer, having produced seven acclaimed albums as a leader as well as composing for and appearing on over 30 major motion film and video soundtracks, including “Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen” and “Good Night and Good Luck.” You may also recognize Robert Hurst as the inaugural bassist in the house band of “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno for eight seasons, from 1992 to 1999. In late 2024, Robert's 'BeBob' Records will release an archival studio recording of the "This That and the Third" project with Robert, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. To continue this project, 30 years on, Robert returns to the studio to record new music with the quartet, adding renowned pianist Orrin Evans, with the album set for release in early 2025 and touring the USA and Europe soon after. As a recording musician and producer, Robert has contributed as a performer and/or producer on over 250 diverse and critically acclaimed recordings. A select group of these productions have garnered seven GRAMMY® Awards, several RIAA ® certified-Multi-Platinum and Gold recordings, while his own seven recordings as a Bandleader have all generated Top Ten and Five Star recognition around the Globe. In addition to his work as a performer, Robert is also a highly respected and well-recognized composer, having produced seven acclaimed albums as a leader as well as composing the original music scores for several films, including: “The Wood”- MTV/Paramount Productions, “Brown Sugar”- Fox Films. Hurst appears on over 30 Major Motion Film & Video Soundtracks and has featured solos and performances captured on Blockbusters: “Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen,” and “Good Night, and Good Luck,” the soundtrack featuring Dianne Reeves. You may also recognize Robert Hurst as the inaugural bassist in the house band of “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno for eight seasons, from 1992 to 1999. His work in performing, directing, arranging, and composing on the NBC program was highlighted with four EMMY® Awards in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1999. Universally recognized as an authoritative presence in today's industry, Robert's reach of influence has led to his position on the ISIM Advisory Council and since 2002, serving on the Board of Directors for The John and Alice Coltrane Foundation. As an educator, Robert currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Music, with Tenure, and the Director of Small Jazz Ensembles in the Department of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance in Ann Arbor. Keen to maintain agency of his recorded music and with a strong desire to curate music of the next generation, Robert established his own label, BeBob Records, which will be fully launched internationally in 2024. Not only serving as a vehicle for his current recording projects, in the summer of this year, BeBob Records will release a number of archival recordings, including among others, a trio album, featuring Elvin Jones and Kenny Kirkland. Robert also has a number of recordings featuring new music for his current projects in production and set for release over the next 12 months. Robert's current projects include "Black Current Jam," an eclectic project at the intersection of jazz and beyond, a Duo and Trio project featuring pianist Ian Finkelstein and drummer Karriem Riggins, continuing the D3 tradition that featured the late iconic pianist Geri Allen. In late 2024, BeBob Records will release an archival studio recording of the 'This That and the Third' project featuring Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. To continue this project, 30 years on, Robert returns to the studio to record new music with this quartet adding in Orrin Evans with the album set for release in early 2025. This Quartet will be touring the USA and Europe in 2025.

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Born in Israel, Asaf started his professional career as a drummer in the late 80's and played with some of Israel's Jazz luminaries such at Harold Rubin and Alber Beger. A few years after the recording of his first solo album 'One Step Closer' Asaf relocated to the Netherlands, France and finally settled in London around 1999 where he soon became one of the most active Jazz drummers around. During that time Asaf became a founder member of Gilad Atzmon's ‘Orient House Ensemble’ and started his long-time collaborations with renowned saxophonist Tim Garland and pianist Gwilym Simcock. Asaf has been leading his own bands and projects such as 'Asaf Sirkis & the Inner Noise' and since 2016, Asaf has been collaborating and performing with artists such as Makus Reuter, Gary Husband, Dave Holland, Jacob Collier, Tim Garland, Gwilym Simcock, Larry Coryell, Jeff Berlin, John Abercrombie, Bob Sheppard, Norman Watt-Roy (off the Blockheads), Wilco Johnson, Robert Wyatt, Natacha Atlas, Dave Liebman, David Binney, pianist John Taylor, Norma Winstone, Kenny Wheeler, Andy Sheppard and many more. Asaf enjoys a variety of educational work; private lessons, lectures, workshops, seminars, and online teaching as well as being a principal lecturer at the Leeds College of Music and Trinity Laban College of Music (London). In the last decade, he has been studying the art of Konnakol - the South Indian Vocal percussion under master mridangamist Paramasamy Kirupakaran and various other teachers. Asaf has found an easy and clear, step-by-step method of teaching this complex art in a Western context helping many students and professionals overcome rhythmic challenges and develop a strong awareness for rhythm. What is Konnakol? Konnakol - the South Indian vocal-percussion system is a 5000-year-old rhythmic language. It is one of the most effective, direct, and quick ways to understand, internalize, and master rhythm. Konnakol opens a door to another dimension in rhythmic thinking. This amazing technique uses a natural and clear approach to the perception of subdivisions. It will greatly improve physical-mental focus and coordination for any instrumentalist or singer. The rhythmic concept of Konnakol exercises can be practiced anywhere and anytime with or without an instrument: whether you`re touring with your band, traveling by bus or train, or sitting on a bench in the park. “Listening to Asaf at work, two things are immediately obvious: passion and commitment. Blessed with technical skills that are disarmingly under-played, his Middle-Eastern sensibility balances the potentially volcanic with the meditative and reflective. A master of creative surprise, it’s on the edge of your seat listening when Asaf’s in town.” Bill Bruford“ Asaf Sirkis endorses: Istanbul Agop cymbals / Vic Firth sticks / Remo drum heads / Protection Racket cases

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Snake Davis is one of the most in-demand rock jazz and soul sax players in the world, widely known for his solos on tracks such as Lisa Stansfield’s ‘Change’, M-People’s ‘Search For A Hero’ and ‘Moving On Up’ and Take That’s ‘Million Love Songs’. He has played and recorded with artists ranging from James Brown, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney to The Eurythmics and Amy Winehouse. He is a saxophonist of almost unparalleled gifts who has played with the best in the business through a career spanning three decades. To date, Snake Davis has recorded on more than 400 tracks for over 60 artists and the list keeps growing. That’s not even counting all of the live performances! More recently Snake featured on Klingande's Number 1 dance chart hit 'Jubel' - a huge dance tune across the world. Snake also performs with Japan's biggest rock star Eikichi Yazawa and recently played Tokyo Dome and 5 sold out nights at the famous Budokan arena. The hugely popular Snake Davis Classic Sax Solos touring band is now in its third year and see’s Snake Davis step into a 5 piece band performing a myriad of classics, including Baker Street, Careless Whisper, Still Crazy after all these Years, Respect, Yakety Yak, and his own solos from Million Love Songs, Moving on Up, Search for the Hero, and Lisa Stansfields "Change". What’s more, he also tells you a bit more about them, fascinating facts and insights into the music we already love. Imagine a room full of the saxophone greats; Junior Walker, King Curtis, Clarence Clemmons, Charlie Parker, Michael Brecker and more. Snake can deliver them all; challenging – yes, but he completely nails it. Sultry sax, searing sax, screaming sax, sexy sax, soulful sax, this show has it all. Snake is also available with:- The Snake Davis Band - Snake's 4-piece band, which includes some of the Classic Sax Solos show material along with classic, soul funk and ambient music. The Snake Davis Trio - teaming up with long time cohort , best buddy and session trumpeter extraordinaire Johnny Thirkell and their mutual friend, guitarist Mark Creswell, for an evening of gorgeous mellow music infused with jazz soul and pop. The Snake Davis & Gareth Moulton Duo - Snake teams up with long-time cohort and best buddy Gareth Moulton from Cutting Crew & Wang Chung for an evening of gorgeous mellow music infused with pop, rock, jazz and soul.

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The Grainger Brothers’ talent and prowess in the world of music and rhythm are unparalleled. Between the two of them, Gary Grainger on bass and Greg on drums have recorded or performed with the likes of Whitney Houston, Earth Wind & Fire, Lonnie Liston Smith, John Schofield, Maysa, Pure Soul, Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Robben Ford, Nancy Wilson, Dennis Chambers, George Duke, Eric Marienthal, Slim Man, Bill Evans and Nelson Rangell to name but a few, which in part explains why they are so damn good! Additionally, Gary created the seminal ‘Pick Hits Live’ and ‘In the Pocket’ video series with Dennis Chambers and together they created the iconic bass and drum grooves from the two albums, Blue Matter and Loud Jazz with John Schofield. There’s a certain musical chemistry that develops between great musicians who play together all the time. The Graingers have been playing together all their lives, and the chemistry they have developed is simply astounding. This is why the Grainger brothers have become one of the most sought after and respected rhythm sections in the world. Growing up in a musical family in Baltimore, MD they have been collaborating and playing together for over four decades, as well as lending their musical talents to numerous world class musicians and building a reputation as the best of the best among both fans and fellow musicians. Their live shows are spectacular, appealing to both audiences who just want to dance the night away and those who appreciate the incredible musicality of the groups they play in. As well as lending their talents to other people’s projects as session musicians, they have also released two highly acclaimed albums, Phase I and Phase II, featuring their signature sound of tight grooves, funky licks and catchy melodies. Following the release of Phase I and Phase II, Grainger has just released Phase III on GBM Records to critical acclaim. The album features guest appearances by Kim Waters and Grammy nominated Jazz pianist Jim Beard, as well as the radio hits “You Never” and “Watch Me Now”. The purpose of their workshop is to demonstrate the key elements of playing together as a rhythm section, with a key focus on the lock between the drummer and bassists. They will demonstrate their approach to different time signatures and various grooves will be demonstrated and explained. Greg and Gary will both explain and discuss the importance of their respective instruments and the role they play in music performance. They will explain in detail how they approach their music and look at the key role and significance of listening to and interacting with other musicians in a group setting. They will also talk about their individual instruments, give a brief history, and explain why they use the brands they currently use. Greg and Gary will then play various songs and have a question-and-answer session with audience members in what is guaranteed to be a lively and entertaining class with two of the US’s most respected performers.

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Funkgurus proudly presents a rare masterclass with drum legend Dennis Chambers and bass icon Gary Grainger. Dennis Chambers & Gary Grainger from The John Scofield Group present the rhythm master class! They will perform and demonstrate how the iconic bass and drum grooves from the two albums, Blue Matter and Loud Jazz, were created. They will also go over the creation of the Pick Hits Live and In The Pocket Video/DVD. Following the demonstration, there will be time for questions and answers in the clinic. Dennis joined Parliament/Funkadelic at 18 and stayed with them until until 1986 when he joined the John Scofield band. Since then he has played with most of the major figures in jazz fusion music. He has recorded and performed with Tom Coster, John Scofield, George Duke, Victor Wooten, Brecker Brothers, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, CAB, Greg Howe, and many others. He has toured extensively with Carlos Santana and makes appearances with his band Niacin. In December 2004, Chambers was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music. Gary Grainger began playing bass with his older brother, drummer Gregory Grainger. In the late 70s the pair joined Pockets, recording for Columbia Records, and toured extensively with a package headlined by Earth, Wind And Fire. He first attracted wide attention in the late 80s, playing electric bass with John Scofield on tour and on several recording sessions, including two late 80s Gramavision albums, Blue Matter and Loud Jazz. After leaving Scofield he teamed up with the band’s drummer, Dennis Chambers, forming the funk band, Graffiti. He has also recorded with Carl Filipiak and Haakon Graf. More recently he's been on tour with Acoustic Alchemy, Mike Stern, Robben Ford and Bill Evans.

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Carlos Santana, Tower of Power, Aretha Franklin and Rick James are just a few of the Soul/R&B legends that Ray Greene has lent his silky-smooth vocals to. Ray Greene is a singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist living in Boston, Massachusetts. He received a degree in Music Performance at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music. Being brought up in the shadows of the great Soul/R&B legends of our time, Ray is equally adept at the traditions of Gospel, Jazz and Blues. Ray was selected from among several candidates around the country to serve as lead singer/trombonist for legendary Soul band Tower of Power, where he served for two years traveling throughout the US and Canada, as well as performances in Europe and Japan. He was then asked to join famed guitarist and Woodstock performer Carlos Santana, where he currently travels extensively to places all over the world; from Dubai, Singapore and Australia, to Monaco, Mexico and South Africa. Santana’s music has been a tremendous showcase for Greene’s abilities as a vocalist, trombonist and percussionist. With his brand new album called "Stay", he effortlessly blends Soul, R&B and Jazz, making it obvious why these greats have wanted to work with him. Apart from being an outstanding singer, Ray is also an accomplished trombonist, as he's proven by appearing alongside the Tower of Power horn section on their last two releases, in addition to Santana's album entitled "Africa Speaks.” "Stay" is a Soul/R&B album that hearkens back to the days of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, who delivered such power and determination in their approach to singing their classic material. This project begs the question, “what would these gentlemen be doing if they were still with us today?” or, more specifically, “what type of music would Bobby Womack or Jackie Wilson be listening to?” The album features an exceptional array of talent, including Santana guitarist and vocalist Tommy Anthony, Tower of Power guitarist Jerry Cortez, along with bassist Ray McKinley, who performs and tours with Sheila E. Greene has most recently signed a licensing and recording deal with Ubuntu Records in the UK to release 'Stay' in the Spring of 2023, where he embarked on his first-ever solo tour to Europe with his band. Funkgurus are delighted to offer Ray Greene for bookings for 2024 and 2025.

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