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Leon Anderson, Jr. – Drums

Leon is a very in-demand drummer, clinician, composer and music educator. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana to two music educators, Anderson was exposed to all kinds of music at a very young age through attending rehearsals and performances from his parents’ school ensembles. His musical influences range from Claude Debussy, Aaron Copeland, Gustav Holst, John Phillip Sousa, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, and Herbie Hancock… to that of Motown, James Brown, Earth Wind and Fire, Cameo, The Jacksons and Prince…continuing through the golden years of hip-hop. After completing his bachelor’s degree in Music Education, he went on to earn a master’s degree in Percussion Performance from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. After officially moving into New Orleans in 1996, Anderson began teaching part-time at the University of New Orleans, and was also hired as the drummer in the Ellis Marsalis Quartet.

In August of 1998, Anderson joined the Florida State University Jazz Faculty as Professor of Jazz Drumset, and also conducted big band two, and began teaching jazz history. He credits mentors Ellis Marsalis and Victor Goines of the New Orleans jazz scene, Willis Delony (former music professor), and bassist Ben Tucker (who he met when he first moved to Florida), as people who helped to shape and mold him as a professional musician.

Anderson has performed with a variety of musical aggregations and artists such as: The Dr. Phillips Jazz Orchestra, The Tallahassee Symphony Jazz Orchestra (as drummer and conductor), The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra, The Czech National Symphony Orchestra with the Ellis Marsalis Trio, The National Orchestra de France with the Marcus Roberts Trio conducted by Seiji Ozawa, Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia Italy, Ingolstadt Jazztage in Ingolstadt Bavaria, Jazztage Jazz Festival in Basel, Switzerland, The North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Ascona Jazz festival in Ascona, Switzerland. His professional collaborations also include performances with numerous artists such as: David Sanchez, Red Holloway, Donald Brown, Wynton Marsalis, Nathen Page, Stephanie Nakasien, Phyllis Hyman, Dianne Reeves, Harold Baptiste, Donald Harrison, Mary Stallings, Judy Collins, Wessell Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Kent Jordan, Oliver Lake, James Moody, Deborah Brown, Rufus Reid, Art Farmer, Jason Marsalis, Eric Reed, Sean Jones, Delfeayo Marsalis, Victor Goines, Ellis Marsalis, Lou Donaldson, Hank Jones, Ben Tucker, Terence Blanchard, Bunky Greene, Dr. John, Carmen Bradford, Jon Faddis, Rodney Whitaker, Terrell Stafford, Marcus Printup, Larry Panella, Melvin Jones, Nicholas Payton, Alvin Batiste, Bobby McFerrin, Rex Richardson, Tommy Flannagan, Rebecca Paris, and many others.

His professional recordings include Victor Goines Joe’s Blues (1998), Marcus Roberts Cole After Midnight Vol. 1 (1998); To Those We Love So Dearly (1999) with Victor Goines; Sunrise to Midnight (2000) with The Victor Goines Quartet; Five By Design’s Club Swing (2001); Richie Summa’s Tear It Down (2001); Etienne Charles Culture Shock (2006); David Detweiler’s New York Stories (2009); Melvin Jones (Grammy nominated) Pivot, (2011); Larry Panella The Gestures Project (2012); Joy Road Vol 2 (The Complete Works of Pepper Adams) with the Kevin Bales Quartet (2017); David Detweiler’s The Astoria Suite (2021); David Detweiler There Used to be Rain (2023); Leon Anderson: Live at Snug Harbor (2025) (Anderson’s debut recording as a bandleader and composer).

Leon Anderson continues to serve as a guest artist and clinician for public schools and colleges across the country. He always works to help extend the legacy of jazz and its history through performing, teaching, and appearing as a guest artist. Anderson continues to perform nationally and internationally at major festivals, concert halls, and jazz venues throughout the world.

Kalen Thompkins – Bass

Kaleb Thompkins is an emerging bassist from Tallahassee, Florida, whose musical journey began in his family’s church. His musical DNA is a fusion of jazz, R&B, funk, gospel, and hip-hop—each influenced by legends like B.B. King, James Brown, Donny Hathaway, Christian McBride, and Marvin Gaye. Currently pursuing a graduate degree in Jazz Performance at Florida State University, Kaleb has showcased his skills on stages around the world. He has performed with renowned artists, including Grammy-winning musicians such as The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon, Jason Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Herlin Riley, Ulysses Owens Jr., Dan Wilson, Scotty Barnhart, Brad Leali, Leon Anderson, The Four Freshmen, and Longineu Parsons. In 2024, he was selected for the prestigious donor-funded Jazz Aspen Academy under the artistic direction of Christian McBride. In 2025, Kaleb was selected for Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead residency program under the artistic direction of Jason Moran. Kaleb was also selected for the Ravinia Steans Institute under the artistic direction of Billy Childs, Steve Wilson, and John Clayton.

Louis Heriveaux – Piano

Louis Heriveaux is a distinguished jazz pianist, composer, and educator based in the vibrant Atlanta music scene. A master of "Straight Ahead Jazz," Louis is dedicated to the preservation of the acoustic tradition while pushing the boundaries of contemporary improvisation. With a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from 17c��ҳ�� State University, he brings a deep academic foundation to his soulful, virtuosic performances.

As the founder and representative of ASAP Live Music (All Star Atlanta Players), Louis serves as a pivotal figure in the regional music industry, connecting world-class talent with premier venues and events. Beyond the stage, he is a dedicated mentor to the next generation of jazz musicians and is currently authoring a comprehensive book series on jazz harmony methods. Whether performing in an intimate club or headlining a festival, Louis remains a steadfast advocate for the elegance and power of acoustic jazz.

Melvin Fowler – Trumpet

A trumpeter, composer, and multidimensional artist from New York City, Melvin embodies unfiltered musical truth and disciplined imagination. His journey began when his mother placed a trumpet in his hands to keep him focused and grounded, a decision that would shape his life’s work. That early devotion quickly placed him in rare rooms, including a formative lesson in Wynton Marsalis’s living room over Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk,” setting the foundation for a path that led to acceptance into The Juilliard School. There, he forged a singular artistic voice—one that seamlessly blends jazz with hip-hop, Afrobeat, gospel, funk, classical, and R&B—while performing alongside an expansive range of artists across genres and generations such as Jon Batiste, Ray Chew, Adam Blackstone and the late great Richard Smallwood.

Rooted in lineage and vision, Melvin founded The IAMKHEMESTRY Orchestra and the IAMKHEMESTRY small group as an homage to Duke Ellington and the Black brilliance of the Harlem Renaissance. Since relocating to the Atlanta area in 2020, Melvin has centered his life around family, faith, and service. Whether on tour, in the classroom, or guiding young musicians, he approaches education as an act of preservation and empowerment, ensuring that knowledge, history, and artistry are passed forward with intention. Alongside this work, he is developing a music mentorship program culminating in a summer music camp in Atlanta, designed to nurture young artists technically, creatively, and historically. Across every discipline he touches—performance, composition, education, writing, and painting—Melvin stands as an “old soul” and contemporary conduit, using sound as a compass and art as a living archive for future generations.

Mace Hibbard – Saxophone

Mace Hibbard is one of the most sought-after saxophonists in the southeast. In addition to his own band, The Mace Hibbard Quintet, he has shared the stage with Quincy Jones, The Derek Trucks Band, The Jerry Douglas Band, The Yonrico Scott Band, Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra , Jamie Cullum, Arturo Sandoval, James Moody, the Atlanta Symphony, the Austin Symphony, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The O’Jays, and many others. In 2010, Mace became a Grammy winner as the saxophonist and horn arranger on The Derek Trucks Band's album, "Already Free." Since 2017, Mace has been a member of Lyle Lovett and his Large Band.

Through interdisciplinary degree programs, outstanding performance ensembles, and innovative research endeavors, the 17c��ҳ�� Tech 17c��ҳ�� cultivates a rich legacy of musical traditions and develops cutting-edge technologies to help define music's future. The School serves students in bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs in music technology and offers innovative performance opportunities, courses, and cultural and artistic experiences for students throughout the Institute.