Jay Leonhart is a noted jazz bassist and songwriter with a long and noted career in jazz music. He has performed with Judy Garland, Carly Simon, Bucky Pizzarelli, Blossom Dearie, Lee Konitz, Gary Burton, Sting, and Frank Sinatra, among many others. Leonhart is known for his album recordings, loved by fans worldwide, described as clever original music and songwriting often laced with dry humor.

By the age of 21, Jay Leonhart moved to NYC to begin his lifelong music career, and performed live with musicians such as Tony Bennett, Lou Marini, Marian McPartland, Jim Hall, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, and others.  He also became a very busy studio musician, recording with James Taylor, Ozzy Osbourne, and Queen Latifah.  Between 1975 and 1995 he was named The Most Valuable Bassist in the recording industry three times by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

To date, Jay Leonhart has recorded fifteen solo albums and is also performing a one-man show called "The Bass Lesson" about his life in the music business. He has toured worldwide for more than forty years.

Some of Jay’s albums include: Five for Freddie with Bucky Pizzarelli (Arbor Records), Skitch Henderson & Bucky Pizzarelli: Legends (Arbor Records), Guess Who’s in Town with Daryl Sherman (Arbor Records), Donnie O’Brien Meets Manhattan Swing: In a Bassie Mood (Arbor Records), Salamander Pie with Mike Renzi (DMP Digital Music Products), Bluesiana Triangle and Bluesiana Triangle II

TOMOKO OHNO, JAZZ PIANO

Japanese pianist Tomoko Ohno has performed at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Sweet Basil and The Lenox Lounge in Harlem. She has performed radio broadcasts by WBGO, WNYC, and ABC’s Good Morning America. She has performed and/or recorded with Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi, James Spaulding, Rufus Reid, The John Lee Quartet, The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band and Sherry Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra, as well as working as a side musician with such diverse musical ensembles as the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble and The Spirit of Life Ensemble.

Miss Ohno also leads her own group, and has released five CDs:  Powder Blue (1997), Affirmation (1999), Natural Woman (2000), Shadows of Spring (2005), Tomoko Ohno in Buenos Aires (2007). Miss Ohno is an active composer and is a recipient of a Meet the Composer Foundation grant.

AVI ROTHBARD, JAZZ GUITAR

Avi Rothbard is a NYC-based, Israeli-born jazz guitarist who works as an unaccompanied soloist.  But he also leads his own jazz trio, and co-leads the Uptown Quartet with Wayne Escoffery.  His guitar style displays an outstanding technique and a broad knowledge of jazz, funk, world music, Latin and R&B repertoire.

Rothbard has performed with the world’s notable musicians, including Boris Gamer, Avishai Cohen, Amikam Kimelman, Jean Claude Jones, Jess Koren, Arnie Lawrence, Mamelo, Emil Ram, Shay Zelman, Avi Adrian, Jeremy Pelt, Andy McGhee, Bob Moses, Phil Wilson, Ben Riley, Richie Cole, Richie Vitaley, Ali Jackson, Ted Rosenthal, Carolyn Leonhart, Wayne Escoffery, Jay Leonhart, Warren Vach'e, Mike Clark, Ari Roland, Ray Drummond, Herb Pomroy, Chihiro Yamanaka and Uri Caine. His performances at jazz festivals include JVC Jazz Festival, Red Sea Jazz Festival in Israel, Harlem Festival, Jazz at Aspen Snow-mass, Juan Le Penn, Cape May Jazz Festival, Hartford Jazz Festival and many more. As a side man, Mr. Rothbard is a very sought after guitarist, and has been featured on numerous CDs by others. Rothbard has played in clubs such as Saint Nicks, Dizzy's Coca Cola club, Rose Hall, Lenox Lounge, Blue Note, Bitter End, CBGB’s, Showman's, Fat Cat, Smalls, Sweet Rhythm, Minton's Playhouse and Smoke. 

Rothbard has won the Jimmy Hendrix Award, the Boston Jazz Society Award, the Guitar Dpt. Achievement Award and the William Leavitt Award.