MICHAEL ZAPORSKI
Michael Zaporski creates astonishing music that merges American jazz traditions with a West-African-influenced rhythmic dialogue. Serving as the pianist for the late Detroit saxophonist Sam Sanders, Zaporski traveled to West Africa, playing and teaching jazz through the U.S. State Department.
PAUL KELLER QUARTET
Paul is well known for his associations with pianist/vocalist Diana Krall and guitarist Russell
Malone. Paul has performed with jazz greats Joe Williams, Cab Calloway, Marian McPartland,
Barry Harris, Jeff Hamilton, Benny Golson, Benny Green, Jon Hendricks, Wycliff Gordon,
Mulgrew Miller, Jay McShann and James Moody. He has played on over 50 CDs with artists
such as Larry Vuckovich, Eddie Higgins, and Marcus Belgrave.
Paul was honored by the West Michigan Jazz Society as their 2001 Jazz Musician of the Year
and by the Detroit Music Awards as the 2002 Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist. Keller is on the
faculty of the Wayne State University jazz department in Detroit. He travels frequently, giving
jazz concerts, workshops and clinics and is well-respected as an innovative and enthusiastic
jazz educator.
JOHN T-BONE PAXTON QUARTET
John “Tbone” Paxton is a veteran trombonist and vocalist professionally active in Southeastern Michigan for many years. He is the featured singer and trombone soloist with the award-winning jazz ensemble...
RYAN DeHUES QUARTET
Ryan DeHues is a serious contender in the field of male singers to fill vacancies left by
Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Johnny Hartman and Billy Eckstine.”
-Late legendary Jazz critic, Herb Wong
Ryan DeHues, a crooner who came of age with the Buble/Robbie Williams crowd (signed to Pat Boone – yes, that Pat Boone’s label – at age 16) has come a long way from NY Fox & Friends and Branson/L.A. appearances, said acclaimed Jazz producer, educator and critic Dr. Herb Wong, “Ryan DeHues’ voice is one of a kind—a voice you cannot and will not ignore, and one you will want to hear again and again!” Ryan DeHues is one of today’s new breed of great singers who give the old music new style with a modern flair and dynamic delivery. DeHues puts modal groove versions of Sublime into his act, right next to a Sinatra standard, followed by a gem resurrected from the back pages of Suzanne Vega. Ryan is the epitome of suave yet exciting new artists that are giving new meaning to the classic songs of yesterday. Ryan DeHues has taken an interesting path into the bossa, with a new collaborative album featuring a young French duo, Maxence and Elisabeth Jutel, who call Freaksville Records their home, and have received substantial airplay on French radio, along with music programs/formats around the world. This spring, Ryan's new album Private Parlour (Bossa Vibes) will be featured in JAZZIZ Magazine.
CHRIS CODISH
Keyboard specialist Chris Codish has steadily made himself a vital part of the Detroit musical community. A perennial winner at the Detroit Music Awards over the past fourteen years, he has received multiple honors for his vocal and songwriting skills as well as his keyboard mastery...
DUNCAN McMILLAN
Duncan Williamson McMillan began studying piano at age 5. His musical studies con-tinued with Frederic Dehaven at Christ Church in Grosse Ponte, singing in the boys choir (1980-1987). From 1989-1992, Duncan studied jazz piano and music theory with James Hohmeyer, Bess Bonnier and Matt Michaels. Upon graduation from Western Michigan University in 1997 (B.M. piano/jazz studies), Duncan has established a reputation as a versatile musician, working with such diverse artists as Jon Hendricks, Aretha Franklin, Rodney Whitaker, Ira Sullivan, Marcus Belgrave, Eric Marienthal, Nelson Rangell, Chris Standring, and The Four Freshman. In demand as both a pianist and organist,
PAUL KELLER QUARTET
Paul is well known for his associations with pianist/vocalist Diana Krall and guitarist Russell
Malone. Paul has performed with jazz greats Joe Williams, Cab Calloway, Marian McPartland,
Barry Harris, Jeff Hamilton, Benny Golson, Benny Green, Jon Hendricks, Wycliff Gordon,
Mulgrew Miller, Jay McShann and James Moody. He has played on over 50 CDs with artists
such as Larry Vuckovich, Eddie Higgins, and Marcus Belgrave.
Paul was honored by the West Michigan Jazz Society as their 2001 Jazz Musician of the Year
and by the Detroit Music Awards as the 2002 Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist. Keller is on the
faculty of the Wayne State University jazz department in Detroit. He travels frequently, giving
jazz concerts, workshops and clinics and is well-respected as an innovative and enthusiastic
jazz educator.