Kenny Davis is a native of Chicago, Illinois. His career began by listening to such great R&B artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Brothers Johnson, and The Temptations, just to name a few. He studied music theory with David Holder Sr, then went on to Northeastern Illinois University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. At Northeastern University, Davis discovered jazz music and quickly became part of the Chicago jazz scene, playing with Von Freedman, Ari Brown, and Fred Anderson. Kenny moved to New York in 1986, where he played with Out of the Blue (OTB), and then quickly adapted to the New York scene. Davis quickly established himself as a versatile bassist, performing on many sessions and jingles. He began appearing with legendary jazz artists Freddie Hubbard, Cassandra Wilson, Abbey Lincoln, Diane Reeves, and Art Farmer. In May 2006, Kenny received his Master of Music (MA) from Rutgers University. Kenny’s been the bass professor of jazz bass at Rutgers University since 2011.
Michael Price, born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, is a promising young jazz alto saxophonist, educator, and composer. He holds a BMA from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville and an MMA from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Throughout his development, Michael has had the opportunity to be taught and mentored by jazz masters Gregory Tardy, Eric Reed, Donald Brown, Rodney Whitaker, Ralph Bowen, and Abraham Burton.
Matt Estabrook is a saxophonist, composer, and educator based in New York City. Matt has made a name for himself across the northeastern U.S., playing at legendary venues such as the Lilypad in Boston, the Django in New York City, and Mr. Henry’s in Washington, DC. Matt has performed with musical legends such as Dave Holland, Miguel Zenon, Conrad Herwig, and Taylor Dane. He has been featured as both a performer and a lecturer in major festivals across the world such as the Panamá Jazz Festival and the Jazz Education Network conference. Matt developed his musical skills under the mentorship of Jerry Bergonzi, Miguel Zenon, and Jason Moran while earning his Bachelor’s degree at the New England Conservatory of Music and Tufts University Dual Degree Program. His vision for music and education was further refined by studying with renowned educators Steve Seidel and Junlei Li while earning his Master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Matt currently teaches saxophone and aural skills at Rutgers University, where he is pursuing his second Master’s degree.
Tahj Walsh was born in Chicago, IL, and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been playing trumpet for 14 years. He received his undergraduate degree at University of Tennessee-Knoxville and his Master’s degree from Rutgers University in jazz performance. He has also taught at the Memphis Jazz Workshop.
Seraphina Taylor is a 20-year-old jazz pianist and vocalist based in New Jersey, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano Performance at Rutgers University. She is a current student of pianist Orrin Evans, alongside being mentored by pianists Caili O’Doherty, Kelly Green, and Kiefer Shackelford. Deeply influenced by jazz greats Mulgrew Miller and Cedar Walton, her playing also reflects the sounds she grew up with at home – R&B, jazz fusion, neo-soul, and funk. In addition to performing in the NJ/NYC area, Seraphina is deeply committed to music education. She began teaching piano in high school through the Newark non-profit Keys 2 Success and has continued to seek out opportunities to work with young musicians, including Jazz House Kids’ Summer Workshop and their CHiCA Power Residency. Whether on stage or in the classroom, she values connection, creativity, and helping others find their voice through music while still finding her own.
Logan Soltys is a drummer based in New Jersey. Growing up in a musical family, he has been surrounded by music his entire life, playing the drums for over 15 years. He performs frequently in the NJ/NYC area as both a leader and sideman, covering a wide variety of styles including jazz, funk, Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, and rock. Currently pursuing a degree in Jazz Performance at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, he studies privately with the great musicians Victor Lewis and Robby Ameen and in ensembles with the likes of Abraham Burton and Kenny Davis. Additionally, he is a student of renowned drummer and educator Joe Bergamini. In 2024, he was the runner-up recipient of the Sabian Education Network’s Dom Famularo Mentorship award. With his playing, he seeks to synthesize a strong foundation of many musical genres into a deeply individual sound.
