KATHLEEN JACKSON BERTRAND is a well-known performer, jazz recording artist and songwriter. She has performed at two Olympic Games, before two presidents and appeared at jazz festivals around the world including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland (1999 and 2002), the Atlanta Jazz Festival and the Nuremberg Meets Atlanta Festival in Germany. In addition, she sang at the inauguration of Mayor Shirley Franklin and opened for Ray Charles at Chastain Park. She is the recipient of numerous honors including the Spelman College Alumnae Achievement Award for Arts and Entertainment, the UNCF Atlanta Legend Award, and most recently the ITC 2004 James Costen Award for the Arts the Spel-Angel Nia Award by the Decatur Chapter of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College. As a songwriter, she has written the national theme song for the 100 Black Men of America, as well as several songs on her recorded projects. Her discography includes CDs All of Me, No Regrets, and Reasons for the Season. Her latest CD, New Standards, has been well received and is available for purchase. Kathleen is an active member of Cascade United Methodist Church and the mother of four.

GARY MOTLEY is Director of Jazz Studies at Emory

University and a prolific composer in his own right.

Recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the

Great American Jazz Piano Competition, and the American

Composers Forum, he has also been featured in Downbeat

Magazine and on Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland. His

recording credits range from Russell Malones Black Butterfly

CD to his own trio recording, Keypers. Recent engagements
include concerts with Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Dave

Brubeck, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker and Kenny Garrett.

Motley is the recipient of Creative Loafing Magazines 2003

Critics Choice Award for Best Local Jazz Pianist. An active

member of the International Association of Jazz Educators

(IAJE), he holds a Bachelors Degree in Music from the

University of Montevallo and a Masters Degree in Jazz
Studies from Georgia State University.

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CHE MARSHALL began his musical career performing in his fathers church. While studying at Morris Brown College, he was a part of the renowned percussion line featured in the movie, Drumline. A versatile young drummer, Marshall is comfortable in a variety of musical settings from jazz to hip hop to rock. He has played around the world with artists such as Deborah Brown, U.K. Queen of Soul Julie Dexter, Mikki Howard, four-time Grammy nominee trumpeter Russell Gunn, Phillip Harper, Grammy award-winning India Arie, and hip hop icon Doug e. Fresh and Hidden Beach artist Mike Phillips.

 

MELVIN JONES jazz trumpeter began his musical journey in 1998

while attending Morehouse College when he made an appearance on TLC's triple platinum hit album "Fanmail".

Since then, this Memphis Tennesse native has shared the stage with a diverse range of musical giants such as Quincy Jones, Jon Faddis, Antonio Hart, Jennifer Lopez, Carmen Lundy, Kirk Whalum, Ray Charles, Erykah BAdu, Clark Terry, and Illinois Jacquet to name a few, Jones received a Master's Degree in Music at the Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Jersey under the tutelage of renowned trumpeter  and teacher William "Prof" Fielder, Melvin joined the faculty of Morehouse College in 2004 as director of Bads and Instrumental Studies. Upon returning to his alma mater he became the youngest Director of the Bands in the college's history.

MOFFETT MORRIS bassist, originally from Rochester, NY, began playing the electric bass at age 13. He soon began performing with local R&B groups and joined the high school jazz ensemble under the direction of Dr. Roger Eckers, doubling on the bass and trombone. He also studied with Bill Dobbins and Ray Ricker at jazz workshops t the Eastman School of Music. He began performing wit local musicians in 1989 in southwest Atlanta at Markos, with the Milkshake Quartet and the Modern Jazz Septet under the direction of Bill Brannon.

Morris brings a dedication and tenacity to his work which are evident in everything he does. He has serves as sideman with Kim Rushing, Gary Motley, and at several local institutionsof the Atlanta Jazz scene, including and Cap e Sambuca Jazz Caf and Churchill Grounds. He has also performed at the Atlanta Chamber Music Society and the Gary Motley Quartet.

DAVE FRACKENPOHL is an active jazz guitar performer, composer, and arranger. Collaborating with such jazz artists as Michael Brecker, Hank Crawford, Bobby Watson, Chris Vadala, and Bill Cunliff, Dave has performed at such venues as Spivey Hall, Fox Theatre and the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to his Apr's Diem jazz quartet, Frack & Friends, Dave performs with touring Broadway shows and artists such as Chicago, 42nd Street, Tommy Tune, and Bernadette Peters, as well as, Big Bands such as Moments Notice and Les Elgars. Dave has contributed to several recent jazz guitar books/recordings with Mel Bay Publications, including Jazz Standards for Guitar I & II. His original tunes have been recorded with local Atlanta artists such as Sam Skelton and Ike Stubblefield, as well as at recital performances at Georgia State University He has held faculty positions at Ithaca College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Monroe Community College in western New York. Dave begins his 14th season at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan as Director of the Jazz Guitar Ensemble and Instructor of Jazz Guitar.