Don Vappie
Thursday, February 2, 7:00 p.m

Banjo virtuoso Don Vappie is descended from a long line of New Orleans musicians that go back to the nineteenth century, including early jazz greats Papa John Joseph and Willie "Kaiser" Joseph. Vappie leads and tours with his Creole Jazz Serenaders, whose music incorporates the musical legacy of his own heritage of New Orleans Creole culture, a society that sprang from the mixture of French, Spanish, African and American Indian people with strong ties to the Caribbean islands.  A frequent performer with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center, member of the Four String Banjo Hall of Fame, former member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and recipient of the Louisiana Creole Society Award, Vappie also plays mandolin, guitar, tuba, bass violin, string bass, and is a vocalist as well.

Rex Gregory
Thursday, March 1, 7:00 p.m.

Since moving to New Orleans in 2002, saxophonist and composer Rex Gregory has performed with some of the city’s finest musicians, including Germaine Bazzle, Simon Lott, James Singleton, and many others. While he is a staple in the local jazz community, Gregory is equally comfortable expressing himself in other genres of music, much like the keyboard work he’s done for the rock band Bionica. He also recently released a CD of original compositions, An End to Oblivion.

Steve McKie
Thursday, March 8, 7:00 p.m.

Steve McKie is one of the most influential forces in Philadelphia's rich, contemporary music scene. He has successfully made the transition from respected drummer, having shared the stage with Joss Stone,Common, Jazmine Sullivan, Robert Glasper, and many others, to pop and R&B producer for heavyweights such as Jill Scott, Estelle, John Legend and Bilal, while racking up scores of Gold records as he goes.

Stephanie Jordan
Thursday, March 29, 7:00 p.m.

Vocalist Stephanie Jordan is the fifth performer to emerge from a family of New Orleans bred musicians. The daughter of renowned saxophonist and educator Edward “Kidd” Jordan, Stephanie's lyrical style has been compared to that of Norah Jones and Cassandra Wilson.  All About Jazz writes, “Her tone is crisp, perfect, but not in that polished way that sounds like an opera singer attempting jazz.  She is more like a master of technique, yet with plenty of soul.”