Biography
CHUCK BERGERON
 Chuck Bergeron (jazz bass) is a lecturer in the Department of Studio Music & Jazz at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where he also is the faculty mentor for the Stamps Jazz Quintet. Bergeron teaches jazz history, conducts big bands and small jazz ensembles and is an active clinician at schools throughout the country. He is one of the most active and innovative musicians working in the field of jazz. Equally versatile on the acoustic and electric bass, his unique compositional style and approach to improvisation reflect a wide variety of musical influences. Chuck's newest CD, My Take - A Collection of Friends and Standards, is his fifth as a leader, and for the last five years he has been bassist and co-arranger for Kevin Mahogany. Born and raised in New Orleans, he earned a B.M. from Loyola University and a M.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of Miami. He then moved to New York, where he resided for 12 years while touring, performing, and recording with such jazz luminaries as Joe Williams, Stan Getz, Randy Brecker, Steve Gadd, Larry Coryell, John Fedchock, Dave Weckland many others - plus the big bands of Woody Herman and Buddy Rich. Never relinquishing his focus on performing, Chuck balances his educational endeavors with a continual schedule of touring, performing, and recording that keep him active year 'round.
JACKSON BUNN
 Jackson Bunn was born in Winston-Salem, NC November 27, 1962. He began learning songs from movies, tv, and radio on the piano at age six. He studied piano and viola through high school in the Chicago area and graduated from Illinois State University. Jackson moved back to Chicago and formed his own jazz fusion group called 'Wild Pitch' performing at the Park West theater opening for comedian Bernie Mack, and pre-game music at Wrigley Field home of the Chicago Cubs-whom I'm a hopelessly devoted fan...
After many years in Chicago, his family moved to Miami, Fl. Here he recorded his original jazz project 'The Jackson Bunn Group' Chosen Path playing clubs and festivals throughout South Florida opening for Bela Fleck at Sunfest 1998. The cd received airplay on WLVE Love 94, WDNA, and WLRN.
After a brief stint in Atlanta where he performed at the 2002 Atlanta jazz Festival, Jackson relocated back to Miami in early 2003 and joined the popular top 40 band Pangea whom he still currently performing with. He also began his teaching career at Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes, Florida teaching middle school keyboard, orchestra, and guitar for the past five years. Jackson also was thrilled to join the very talented staff at University of Miami's Young Musicians Camp last summer.
Jackson has recently reformed his own jazz project and has just released his first Holiday cd and 'Chosen Path' re-issue!Both available at www.jacksonbunn.com and www.myspace.com/jacksonbunngroup. Please visit Jackson Bunn's website for upcoming performances, videos, and additional information.
FELIX GOMEZ
After graduating with an Associate in Arts degree, Felix Gomez pursued my studies at the University of Miami, where he graduated with honors acquiring the degree of Bachelor of Music and thereafter, a Masters of Music. While he was a student at the University of Miami, Felix won several awards including The National Dean’s List. He also participated in the North Texas Jazz Festival, 2005 as a member of the University of Miami Sextet, where he was acknowledged as a double award winner for Best Soloist and Best Composition, and as a member of the University of Miami Jazz Concert Band, College Band Outstanding Performance in the Down Beat Student Music Award, 2006.
Moreover, for the last decade Felix Gomez have been able to work with numerous and famous artists from different parts of North America, Latin America and Europe, among them are Gloria Gaynor, Julio Iglesias, Camilo Sesto, Angela Carrasco, Nelson Ned, Maggie Carles, Maria Marta Serralima, Basilio, Maria Rivas and Meme Solis. In the jazz market, he has had the opportunity and pleasure to work with artists of such high acclaim as saxophonist Ed Calle, flutist Nestor Torres, violinist Federico Britos, saxophonist Carlos Averhoff, drummer Duffy Jackson, saxophonist Paquito D’ Rivera, saxophonist Ira Sullivan, guitarist Simon Salz, percussionist Sammy Figueroa, flutist Dave Valentin, and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.
Gomez has also taught at 3 major colleges and universities in South Florida. He taught jazz piano at Miami Dade Community College from 1994- 2004, Florida International University, from 1998-2004, and the University of Miami, from 2004- 2008.
GARY KELLER
 Gary Keller (jazz saxophone) is a lecturer in the Department of Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. A versatile saxophonist, Gary Keller has toured with the Woody Herman Thundering Herd and performed and/or recorded with such prominent jazz artists as Kenny Werner, Billy Hart, Maria Schneider, Jim McNeely, Ira Sullivan, and the late Jaco Pastorius. In the classical realm, Keller has performed and/or recorded with the Florida Philharmonic, New World Symphony, and others. His debut solo CD, Blues For An Old New Age, garnered widespread critical acclaim. He has appeared in clubs, jazz festivals, and presented guest lectures at universities throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. Keller is the founder of the Miami Saxophone Quartet and authored the The Jazz Chord/Scale Handbook (Advance Music). A long-time Miami freelance musician, Keller has played on numerous recordings, television shows, in Broadway pit orchestras, and backed scores of prominent entertainers including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, Lou Rawls, and Mel Torme. Prof. Keller earned a B.M. from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a M.M. from the University of Miami.
ANTOINE KHOURI
 Antoine Khouri is a graduate of the New World School of the Arts. His primary instruments are the piano and the double bass. He received his Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis in Strings Education from Florida State University. He holds Master degrees from FIU School of Music and is finishing his second Masters degree from The University of Miami Frost School of Music in Performing Arts Production and Media Writing and Production in which Raul Muarciano was his head professor. He has studied with Dr. Roby George, Gary Lindsay, Thomas Sleeper, Michael Allen, Robert Shaw, and Andrea Thomas. Mr. Khouri has worked for the Dade county public schools for the last seven years including The New World School of the Arts and is now an adjunct professor at Miami Dade College. Mr. Khouri has conducted Honors Orchestras throughout Florida and was selected to conduct the 2003 Florida All-State Honors Orchestra at the Florida Music Educators' Conference in Tampa. He is an adjudicator for the state of Florida and solo and ensemble and district MPA evaluations. Mr. Khouri has an extensive performing background. Mr. Antoine Khouri was the Music Director with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony for the 7 years. Mr. Khouri is now co-music director of the Miami String project a top level youth string chamber ensemble. Along with teaching private lessons in double bass, piano, music theory, sight singing, and music motivation Mr. Khouri works as a freelance producer/songwriter who produces his own music and works as a producer and music director for other artists. Mr. Khouri has also worked in the music business with Bobby McFerrin, Alicia Keys, Music Soul Child, Erikah Badu and the Isley Brothers and others doing backline gear for their concerts.
LISANNE LYONS
 Lisanne’s career began immediately following high school as the
featured vocalist for the Air Force Bands. During her years in the
service she performed and traveled worldwide with the "Norad Command Band", Travis AF "Band of the Golden Gate", and the U.S. Air Force Academy "Falconaires". Shortly after her service, she received a
scholarship to Berklee College of Music but transferred after one
semester to the University of Miami’s School of Music on a full
scholarship. During that time, she sang lead in the award winning
Jazz Vocal One ensemble and was the featured vocalist for the Concert
Jazz Band. She received her Bachelors, Master of Music, and Doctorate
from the University of Miami (Fl). As a student, she received the
Down Beat magazine ‘Dee Bee student’ award for Best Jazz Vocalist for two consecutive years.
As a student, she had the opportunity to continue her performing
career as a featured vocalist with the Woody Herman band, Maynard
Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau, and various South Florida big bands and
combos. She was invited to be a featured performer with Joel Grey on
the NBC televised Orange Bowl half-time show, "You'll Get a Kick Out
of Cole. Shortly after, Cy Coleman selected her to replace Monica
Mancini in the national touring company of his Tony award winning
“City of Angels.”
Lisanne finished the tour and was hired as an Assistant Professor of
music at Virginia Tech. She founded the vocal jazz program and
directed the New Virginians jazz vocal ensemble into winning two
consecutive Down Beat “Dee Bee” awards for Outstanding Performance.
During her tenure at VT, she was awarded Associate Professor and
received the Gamma Mu Chapter of Delta Omicron Music Professor of the
Year Award. She continued performing with various bands and as the
lead soprano with a D.C. based vocal jazz quartet, “Uptown Vocal Jazz
Quartet”. UVJQ soon became headline acts for the Ottawa Jazz
Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Festival, and La
Nuit du Jazz in Nantes, France. They shared the stage with Jazz
legends such as Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennet, Mingus Big Band, Terrance
Blanchard, Superband, Dr. John, Sonny Stitt, and received critical
acclaim for their two CD’s, “Half-Past Swing” and “When the Sun Goes
Down.”
While still teaching, Lisanne recorded two CD’s. “Right as the Rain,”
tribute to Harold Arlen, and “Smile” with the John Toomey Trio.
“Smile” was met with critical praise in the Washington Post and
Cadence magazine. After eight years, she resigned her position at VT
to accept an assistantship and work on her Doctorate in Jazz
Performance at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music
(renamed). It is then that she would receive another “Dee Bee” award,
this time for Best Jazz Arrangement.
Throughout her career, Lisanne has frequently performed at the famous
Blues Ally and the Kennedy Center. She has also performed with the
Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau, Arturo
Sandoval, Larry Elgart, the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band,
Roanoke Symphony, Palm Beach Pops, Las Olas Studio Orchestra, South
Florida Jazz Orchestra, Sunrise Pops Orchestra, Hallandale Pops
Orchestra, Ars Flores Orchestra, Gene Krupa Orchestra, Harry James
Orchestra, and various bands across the country. She has also
performed with many of the world's top jazz artists such as Maria
Schneider, Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Four Freshmen, Mose Allison,
Joe Kennedy Jr., Jon Hendricks, Royce Campbell, Darmon Meader, Don
Braden, Paul Bollenbach, Gary Campbell, Ted Rosenthal, Ira Sullivan,
Duffy Jackson, Jim Pugh, Harold Jones, Dave Berkman, Eiane Elias,
Michael Berkowitz, Claudia Acuna, Bucky Pizzerelli, Chip McNeill,
Dennis DiBlasio, John Fedchock, Walter White, Kevin Mahogany, Gary
Burton and many others.
ED MAINA
Mr. Maina is very active as a woodwind soloist and clinician as well as an educator. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Music and Jazz Studies and a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Miami. Currently he is the Associate Director of Bands, as well as the Orchestra Director at Flanagan High School in Broward County, Fl. Prior to teaching at Flanagan, Mr. Maina was the Director of Bands at Lawton Chiles Middle School for seven years and thirteen years at Westview Middle School, both in Miami-Dade County. While there, he earned the coveted "Louis Armstrong Fellowship Award", awarded by the International Association of Jazz Educators for excellence in Jazz Education (1992).
While fulfilling his duties as an educator, Mr. Maina travels several times a year performing concerts and conducting clinics. He also was one the coordinators of the Superintendent's Honors Jazz Band (Miami-Dade County), and has also been the guest conductor and soloist for Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade County's Honor bands. He was also a selection adjudicator for F.B.A., Middle School All-State bands for two years. Some of his performing and recording credits include Linda Eder, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Jon Secada, Chaka Khan, Pebo Bryson, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Charytin (Univision), Ednita Rosario, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Bob James, Chubby and Duffy Jackson, Jaco Pastorius, Louie Bellison, Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme and The Maynard Ferguson Orchestra.
Mr. Maina still performs, records, private teaches and resides in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He is happily married ( 26 years, now ) and is very proud his two children Justin (23), and Priscilla (21) who is an accomplished flute player with the United States Marine Corps Band (Okinawa). Priscilla is an All State Band and Young Musician's Camp Alumni . Priscilla will also be featured on her dad's upcoming CD/album..."In the Company of Brothers".
BRIAN MURPHY
 Brian Murphey is an internationally acclaimed pianist, composer and arranger who has recorded and performed extensively in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and the U.S.A. with many of the world’s most renowned Jazz artists including Wynton Marsalis, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Buddy DeFranco, Diana Krall, Paquito D’Rivera, Woody Shaw, Dave Liebman, Bob Berg, Wycliffe Gordon and Duffy Jackson and Blues greats Jimmy Witherspoon, Albert Collins and Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson.
Brian has collaborated with the great TITO PUENTE as arranger/keyboardist on a number of award winning Latin Jazz albums including Goza Mi Timbal a.k.a. Dig My Timbales (GRAMMY & AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS 1990), Out of This World (AFIM AWARD 1991), Mambo of the Times (AFIM AWARD 1992) along with Master Timbalero, The Billy Strayhorn Songbook and Hot Timbales. Their arrangement of Straight No Chaser appears in Rebeca Mauleon’s ‘SALSA GUIDEBOOK’ as a reference for converting a non-clave melody. You can click here to read more about Brian's association with Tito Puente.
Brian Murphy has appeared in Europe and Canada with ROB MCCONNELL AND THE BOSS BRASS. He was featured with flugelhorn virtuoso GUIDO BASSO (1987 - 1994) and is currently recording and performing with IRA SULLIVAN, flute/saxophone/trumpet master. Ira and Brian were featured at the 2002 JVC Jazz Festival in Toronto where they gained enthusiastic response and excellent reviews.
As Artist in Residence at the DuMaurier Jazz Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Brian conducted workshops on improvisation and performed solo and with his trio and quartet. He has received arts grants from the Canada Council for studies in electronic music and for studies with noted composer DOUG RILEY.
Brian’s compositions and arrangements have been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, National Public Radio, Radio Finland, Radio Brandenburg (Germany) and numerous Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) programs including Jazz Beat, Jazz Radio Canada, Identities (GABRIEL AWARD), Morningside, The Entertainers, Music Maritimes and various Jazz specials (1978 - present). Click here to view a list of Brian's notable engagements.
Brian is a practitioner of the art of spontaneous composition and he embraces the true exploratory spirit of Jazz.
SANDY POLTARACK
Sandy began guitar lessons at the age of nine and continued his studies with noted guitarists Leon Block, Don Demarco, jazz guitarist Ted Dunbar as well as classes at Brooklyn College, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and Sounds of Joy Jazz Workshops.
Since moving to Miami in 1978, Sandy has performed with South Florida's best musicians. "Jazz music became my passion and I've had the opportunity to work with the finest musicians. I've shared the stage with world class players like Pete Minger, Ira Sullivan, Vince Maggio, Steve Bagby, Gary Campbell, Eric Allison, Billy Marcus, Dolph and Tony Castelano, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Simon Salz to name just a few.
Sandy has played and recorded with the Boca Pops Orchestra, the Florida Classical Orchestra and has also performed live with such stars as Frank Sinatra Jr., Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Drifters, Michael Feinstein, Lannie Kazan, Jasmine Guy, Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Rosemary Clooney, Michael McDonald, Donna Summer, Kim Carnes, Trini Lopez, Robert Goulet, Al Martino, Donald O'Connor, Vic Damone and Diane Carol, The Fifth Dimension, Buddy Hacket, and Latin stars Nelson Ned, Paloma San Basilo and Raphael, etc.
He also has played in the orchestras for the national touring companies of "The Man of La Mancha", "Chicago", "A Chorus Line", "Sunset Boulevard", "Annie", “Joseph”, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “Spamalot”, “42nd Street”, “The Full Monty”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “All Shook Up”, “Rat Pack”, “The Lion King”, “Hairspray”, “Finian’s Rainbow”, “Aida”, “Urban Cowboy”, “Little Shop of Horrors”, "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris", "Personals" and “Legends", "Johnny Guitar", "Floyd Collins", “Grease”, “Legally Blonde”, etc.
Sandy is currently an adjunct professor at Miami-Dade College.
IRA SULLIVAN
 5 time Grammy-nominated, jazz legend Sullivan is that rare thing, a true multi-instrumentalist, capable of improvising statements of worth on all his instruments. He was taught trumpet by his father, saxophone by his mother and played both in 50s Chicago with such seminal figures as Charlie “Bird” Parker, Lester Young, Wardell Gray and Roy Eldridge, garnering a reputation as a fearsome bebop soloist. After playing briefly with Art Blakey (1956), and mastering alto and baritone saxophone, Sullivan moved south to Florida and out of the spotlight in the early 60s. His reluctance to travel limited his opportunities to play with musicians of the first rank, but Sullivan continued to play in the Miami area, often in schools and churches. Contact with local younger players, notably Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny led to teaching and to a broadening of his own musical roots to include the lessons of John Coltrane's music and elements of jazz rock. With the addition of flute and soprano saxophone to his armoury, Sullivan moved to New York and in 1980 formed a quintet with legendary bop trumpeter Red Rodney. Resisting the temptation to follow current trends and play the music of their youth, Sullivan and Rodney worked on new material and fostered young talent to produce some fresh and stimulating music.
see irasullivan.com
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