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Tyrone Jackson  – Piano

The name Tyrone Jackson is the quintessential jazz piano player. His boundless creativity coupled with harmonic mastery, utilizes the piano as a blank canvas. Jackson is nationally recognized and has traveled the world as a solo artist and sideman. Born in the New Orleans cradle of jazz, Jackson embodies the spirit of the Crescent City. The blends of jazz, funk and Afro-Caribbean melodies are ever present in his work. But of course, musicians are never solely influenced by themselves. Jackson’s teachers are a virtual Who’s Who of great jazz piano players ranging from Ellis Marsalis, Mary Ann Bulla to gospel/classical legend Moses Hogan.


As a composer, Jackson has composed original music for Pulitzer Prize winning author Natasha Tretheway's book of poems "Native Guard" turned theatrical play, Pearl Clege's play, "Tell Me My Dream", "Ethel" by Terri Burrell, “Nick’s Flamingo Grill" and this past year’s Alliance Theater production of ”A Very Terri Christmas".

Jackson has recorded 4 Albums—“Dedicated”, “Another Voyage”, “Melody In Nede”, and new release “From The Mind Of.” Additionally, Jackson’s work in “Native Guard” was premiered in Los Angeles, CA at the famous Sage Hills Academy from January 9-15, 2017. He has composed music for two documentaries and a movie entitled "Canal Street". 
In addition to his composition skills, the jazz wonder is most known for his compelling solos. Jackson’s improvisational skills allow him to become a part of the song whether he softly highlights ballads or tears through fast-paced standards.

Currently Tyrone Jackson is a professor at Kennesaw State University where he is Lecturer of Jazz Piano and teaches a myriad of classes including: Aural Skills III & IV, Jazz Improvisation I, II & III, Jazz Combo, Jazz Theory, Applied Jazz Piano, Group Jazz Piano and History of the Blues. Jackson is the coordinator for the 1st annual "Jazz Fest At The Nest" jazz festival on May 7, 2022 Jackson is also a clinician and teacher for the Rialto Arts Jazz program for middle school and is a clinician for Clayton County Arts Association.

Jackson has performed with Steve Turre, Larry Carlton, Carmen Bradford, Earl Klugh, Melba Moore, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Vincent Gardner, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Wes Anderson, Greg Dawson, Jennifer Holliday, Karen Briggs, Clay Jenkins, Russell Gunn, David Sanchez, Damaris Carbough, Russell Malone, Marcus Miller along with opening for Esperanza Spaulding, Gerald Albright, Spyro Gyra and the Crusaders, and Chaka Kahn. He also toured Italy and Austria with the UNO Jazz Band; toured Brazil with Michael Ward; Toured Thule, Greenland and performed with FutureMan (Roy Wooton)

Robert Boone – Drums

Robert Boone Jr, is the drummer for The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. The Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Scotty Barnhart, has won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for Kings, Queens, and other world Royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, at every major jazz festival and major concert hall in the world. The latest honors are the 2018 Downbeat Readers Poll Award as the #1 Jazz Orchestra in the world, and a Grammy Nomination for their 2018 acclaimed recording, All 17c��ҳ�� That Basie, which features special guests Stevie Wonder, Jon Faddis, Take 6, and Kurt Elling among others.

He has collaborated with leading artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tyrone Jackson, Rodney Jordan, Eric Reed, Leon Anderson, Ron McCurdy, Scotty Barnhart, Veronica Swift, and Marcus Roberts. The Blue Note, Birdland, Churchill Grounds, Velvet Note, Cobb Energy Centre, and The Sydney Opera House are some of the venues Boone has performed in.

Boone grew up in Augusta, 17c��ҳ�� where he still calls home and gives back to the community that supported him throughout the years. Robert performs for the nursing homes and numerous schools in the Augusta area whenever he can.

He received an undergraduate degree in Music Performance at Kennesaw State University, studying with professors John Lawless and Justin Chesarek. It was at KSU where he was selected to participate in the 2015 Disneyland All American College Band. He also attended Florida State University where he received his Masters Degree in Jazz Studies.

Patrick Arthur – Guitar

Patrick Arthur is a guitarist based in Kennesaw, GA. Originally from Augusta; Patrick began playing local venues while in high school and was a featured artist at Augusta's Candlelight Jazz series. He is a member of Augusta's Young Lions project and has performed in numerous big bands in the Augusta area, including the Augusta Amusements Big Band and the Augusta Big Band Aggregate.

Throughout his high school career, Patrick was selected to be a part of various honor bands, including the All State Orchestra where he played percussion, as well as the All State Jazz Band and the Governors Honors Program for guitar.

After graduating from Davidson Fine Arts high school, Patrick moved to Kennesaw to study with jazz guitarist Trey Wright at Kennesaw State University. He is currently playing in their top jazz ensemble, jazz combo, and jazz guitar ensemble. After arriving in Atlanta he began playing at local venues including the Velvet Note, Churchill Grounds, the 17c��ҳ�� Aquarium, and the Woodruff Performing Arts Center. Patrick has also performed with Wycliffe Gordon, Michael Dease, Russ Miller, and Tim Armacost.

Kelly McCarty – Bass

Kelly has since established himself in Atlanta as both a player and a teacher, and his career now reflects the wide variety of musical experiences he has valued since childhood.

He spent a year as the touring bassist for roots/rock Grammy winners Larkin Poe, performing throughout the U.S. and Europe. These runs included Glastonbury Festival, Rock am Ring Festival, Rock im Park Festival, and opening for Queen at Rheinenergiestadion, in Cologne, Germany.

His list of performing and recording credits has expanded to also include Noah Guthrie, Grant Green Jr., Rhett Shull, Suzy Jones, Geoff Wood, The Electromatics, Sam Burchfield, Orquesta Macuba, and Kyshona Armstrong. Keeping one foot in the jazz

scene, he has also performed alongside ATL jazz greats such as Tyrone Jackson, Kevin Bales, Lil John Roberts, Lavahi, Louis Heriveaux, Robert Boone, Dash Smith, Tony Hightower, Lori Williams, and Karla Harris. He also enjoys playing with his original groups, the Funk crew Track Suit Mafia, and the Alternative Jazz outfit BOOM! Trio.

TEACHING

Kelly has always been immersed in the world of music education. His teaching career began at age 20 while an undergraduate at Kansas State University, teaching private lessons out of a local guitar shop. This one-on-one setting came naturally to him and, after graduating, he was invited to join the adjunct faculty at KSU. Kelly went on to become the Graduate Teaching Assistant at Florida State University, and also taught locally at RAA Middle School, a performing arts magnet school. In the fall of 2024, he joined the staff of Morehouse College as the Adjunct Professor of Bass.

As a clinician, he has been featured at Washburn University’s Coleman Hawkins Jazz Camp, Florida State’s Summer Jazz Camp, 17c��ҳ�� State University’s Summer Jazz Program, and Bellevue East’s HS Jazz Festival.

Kelly also has his own home teaching studio and maintains an active roster of upright and electric bass students of all ages and levels. “I love the opportunity to connect with many different types of students in helping them make music a part of their lives.”

LAVAHI – Vocalist

LAVAHI is a scholar-artist on a mission to better society from the inside out. Through her music, scholarship, and performance, LAVAHI is building a platform to nourish the heart and mind, empathize our human experiences, and vibe together. As a daughter of jazz, the culture heavily informs her ideology and influences her sound. Acrobatic scatting, compelling chords, and the art of improvisation evoke that classic traditional aesthetic and set her contemporary sound apart from the norm of mainstream neo-soul, hip hop, and R&B. And with her satisfying blend of analog and digital sounds, LAVAHI shows that the lineage of Black sound is not linear but ever folding and stretching.

LAVAHI has been actively developing her artistry via performing, songwriting, and recording since 2010. In the process, she has worked with an eclectic range of artists and produced noteworthy collaborative projects. Her list of credits includes "Hold On," the widely successful second single release from jazz vocalist Lori Williams's 2018 studio album Out of the Box, and "Rest Assured," a feature on Hospital Records' drum and bass tribute compilation 'Med School: Graduation.' "Hold On" (featuring the legendary Tom Browne of "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)"), topped the UK Soul charts for weeks since its release, while "Rest Assured" made waves on the UK Electronic charts.

LAVAHI also produces, plays flute and piccolo, and arranges. She has added her unique

sound to national and international projects in genres varying from rap to film scores to alternative. LAVAHI loves the studio and feels most natural when recording independently; but her second home is the collaborative live performance of the stage. She has been featured at venues such as Blues Alley, Bethesda Blues and Jazz, Kat's Cafe, Porter-Sanford III, St. James Live!, City Winery, and more, and she has even stepped into the world of acting via musicals and stage plays.

As a scholar, LAVAHI curates an experience to critically read environment, self, and society through pop pedagogy, blending popular culture and trending topics with theoretical, historical, and philosophical foundations. One of her most popular academic works entitled "Beyoncé Reborn: Lemonade as Spiritual Enlightenment" is available to read in The Lemonade Reader: Beyoncé, Black Feminism, and Spirituality, an edited collection by Dr. Kinitra Brooks and Dr. Kameelah L. Martin. LAVAHI is also developing a series entitled "Call and Response," which invites artists to perform and use their art to engage in critical conversations with a mixed audience of the public and the academy.

Whether through performance in music, in writing, or in academic spaces, LAVAHI allows her own vulnerability to cultivate the vibe and create a safe space, internally and externally, for those sharing the experience with her.