Greg Abate

Monty Alexander

Paul Alberta

Mr. Alberta began his musicial career in a small suburban community near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For five years he was a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, a member of the Pittsburgh Junior Orchestra, and was twice a guest soloist with The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Howard Alden

Rich Ardizzone

A veteran of numerous Bay State big bands and Latin ensembles, this trombonist is also a highly regarded educator. He is the Associate Director at the Joy of Music Program (JOMP), where he teaches trombone, jazz ensemble and Afro-Caribbean drumming classes.

Al Arsenault

Known as the "Jimmy Smith of Worcester," Arsenault was a azz organist who, for more than 50 years, brought joy to countless listeners. In the early '60s, venues were known to procure Hammond organs just to entice Arsenault to grace the place with his keyboard wizardry.

Billie Bang

Don Bastarache

Trumpeter, bandleader, and former Chair of Music Department, Westfield State College, Bastarache is a pioneer in jazz education. The process of analysis and study has remained a constant throughout his career. The Don Bastarache Big Band has become a New England institution.

Jane Ira Bloom

Roscoe "Rocky" Blunt

Author, journalist, drummer, and bandleader, Blunt formed one of the first racially integrated jazz ensembles in Central MA. The Rocky Blunt All Stars, featuring Howie Jefferson and Barney Price, is documented on a 1948 recording that can be heard here.

Ruby Braff

Dee Dee Bridgewater

Paul Broadnax

The product of two well-known and influential Boston-area musicians, pianist, arranger, and singer Paul Broadnax was born a child of destiny. His own successful life in music has proven to be a dream fulfilled.

Ralph Burns

Gary Burton

Steve Cancelli

A player of impeccable sound and taste, Cncelli has been playing guitar for more than half a century. Throughout the 1950s and '60s he was one of the more in-demand players on the local scene. Today, he remains a working jaz musician who gigs regularly with Joe Holovnia, Chet Williamson, and Dick Odrgen, among others.

Frank Capp

As a drummer, Capp can be best be described as melodic. Music critic Charles Champlin of the L.A. Times put it this way: Like his idol and friend Buddy Rich, Frank Capp can fancifully be said to play Melody Drums, laying down a solid beat but also accenting the tune almost note for note to generate even more excitement.

Harry Carney

Regina Carter

Gene Carrescia

When you need a trumpeter to blow the bats out of your belfry, Carrescia is the man. Even now, in his late '70s, he can still hit the high notes. For years he held the lead trumpet chair in the stage band at Caesar's Monticello in Framingham, a showcase for such traveling stars as Marlene Dietrich. Still active, he appears locally with the Worcester Jazz Orchestra and the Blackstone Valley Big Band.

Barbara Carroll

Born Barbara Carole Coppersmith at 25 Standish Street and raised at 43 June Street in Worcester, Carroll began playing piano as a child. While she studied classical music throughout her academic career, Carroll simultaneously nurtured an abiding love...

Ted Casher

Ted Casher is a well known clarinet and saxophone player who is a "first call player" for ensembles throughout New England. Casher was born in 1937 in Waterbury CN and brought up in Skowhegan, Maine. He currently resides in Mansfield, Massachusetts. He is from an ethnically grounded Jewish Family, which Ted says "resulted in my parents expecting me to become a doctor or business man", but he was drawn to music from an early age.

Serge Chaloff

Paul Clemente

Bassist and banjo player, Clemente was active at an early age. Born in 1910, he formed his first band, Clem's Commodores in 1927. He is undoubtedly one of the first white jazz musicians to come out of Worcester.

Pete Clemente

There is not a person in Central Massachusetts who has had a greater impact on the guitar playing community than Pete Clemente. The second son of Italian immigrants Matteo Clemente and Raffaela (Tomaiolo) Clemente, Peter Clemente was born on November 22, 1914, on Lyon Street in the Italian district in Worcester, MA. From an early age he had musicial influences.

Jeff Colella

One of LA's busiest jazz pianists, Colella has appeared in concert as a solo artist and with his Trio, and maintains a busy freelance schedule as a pianist, arranger, composer and clinician. In addition to his professional schedule, he recently completed graduate work at the University of the Southern California in Los Angeles and is currently on the faculty at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood.

Paul Combs

A prominent voice in the New England jazz scene, saxophonist Paul Combs is an active performer and educator. He has recently authored the definitive book about the life and music of Tadd Dameron.

Chick Corea

Philippe Crettien

Philippe Crettien, born in the South of France and son of French diplomats, grew up mostly in North Africa, USA and England. Raised in a musical family, he was exposed at a young age to an eclectic style of music. He studied piano and settled on the alto saxophone in high school while attending the French Lycee in London.

Mike Crowley

Michael Crowley was born in 1949 and grew up in Milford, Massachusetts. He began playing clarinet at the age of ten and proceeded to study Tenor Saxophone under Jazz Musician Boots Mussulli and his high school band leader Lou Lombardi.

Wendell Culley

During his career, Wendell Culley was a featured soloist on such jazz classics such as "Lil Darlin'" with Count Basie, as well as "Airmail Special" and Midnight Sun with Lionel Hampton. He also appeared on radio, television and on film including: That's the Spirit, Murder with Music, Count Basie at Birdland, Count Basie on the Kraft Music Hall and Count Basie in Zurich.

Leo Curran

Former Jazz Historian for the New England Jazz Alliance and known by virtually everyone in the jazz world, Leo Curran was intimately connected to the international jazz scene.

Tony D'Angelo

Hailing from the swing and dance band era, local jazz musician Anthony Tony D'Angelo fell in love with jazz at an early age. Born in 1926 in Worcester, Tony came from a musical family. His ear was accustomed to the smooth rhythms played by his father on the guitar and mandolin. Both born in Italy, Tony's parents, Gioachino D'Angelo and Annina Forcucci, loved to entertain at the family home. Tony was one of ten brothers and sisters, all of whom were in some way musically-inclined.

Linda Dagnello

Vocalist Linda Dagnello is a fixture in the Central Mass jazz scene. She is not only an accomplished jazz performer, but also a gifted visual artist whose work reflects her passion for the language and colors of jazz.

Alan Dawson

Jack Donahue

Dean Earl

Peter Eldridge

Ron Ernst

Vibraphonist and bassist Ron Ernst has been a part of the New England jazz scene for decades.

Booker Ervin

Don Fagerquist

Trumpeter Fagerquist was one of the brightest stars ever to come out of Worcester. At 17, he was recruited by Gene Krupa. He went on to become lead soloist with Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and Les Brown. His recorded output includes session work with Hoagy Charmichael, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald.

Bill Fanning

Trumpeter, composer and teacher Bill Fanning performs concerts and conducts clinics both in the U.S. and internationally as a member of the Jeff Coffin Mu'tet. He also leads his own quintet and performs his original compositions.

Maynard Ferguson

Dan Gabel

Dan Gabel studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, triple-majoring in Political Science, Legal Studies and Jazz History. Dan recently completed a year-long world tour with the GLEN MILLER ORCHESTRA!...

Errol Garner

Giacomo Gates

J. Geils

Terry Gibbs

Dizzy Gillespie

Paul Gonsalves

Joe Gordon

Boston-based jazz trumpeter and composer Gordon first made his indelible mark with the Sabby Lewis Orchestra. In 1952 he landed a dream gig with the legendary Charlie Parker. Recorded at the Hi Hat in Boston, the live performance also features Dick Twardzik, Charles Mingus and Roy Haynes.

Norm Grant

Norm Grant is a videographer in the CCRI Marketing and Communications Department at the Community College of Rhode Island. He oversees video production across all campuses. His duties include digital video production for marketing purposes, training and instruction.

Gigi Gryce

Bobby Hackett

Edmond Hall

Tom Herbert

Saxophonist, composer and arranger Tom Herbert has toured nationally with Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders, The Drifters, The Temptations, and Wayne Newton. He has also led many ensembles under his own name, including the Tom Herbert Big Band.

Woody Herman

Fred Hersch

Pamela Hines

Pamela Hines has been a prolific and consistent presence in American jazz as a pianist and composer. She has received national and international critical acclaim for edgy instrumental compositions that contribute to the jazz history and art of the trio, quarter and quintet and for jazz originals for vocalists that are more at home in the American Songbook.

Johnny Hodges

Joe Holovnia

Pianist, composer, arranger and educator, Holovnia is best known as a premier bassist. This fact is evidenced in the calls he received from the caliber of artists requesting his services including Serge Chaloff and Boots Mussulli. Holovnia is also a skilled double bass luthier.

Bobby Holt

His dynamic barrelhouse style was quickly recognized by Worcester musicians and while still a teenager, Holt was quickly enlisted into the ban of drummer Eddie Dolbare, a band that also featured guitarist Lou Mercuri, who would later tour with Claude Thornhill.

Clarence Jackson

Boston-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist (drums and vibraphone, most especially), Jackson is best remembered as the founder of the famed Four Notes of Rhythm, Critic George A. Moonoogian described the band as "great entertainers". Focusing on Jackson, he writes, "Clarence did a little of everything well..."

Javon Jackson

Howard "Howie" Jefferson

Saxophonist Jefferson was a founding father of the Saxtrum Club, one of the earliest known artist-managed jazz collectives and session halls in New England. A robust player whose sound was inspired by the tenor titans of Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, Jefferson carried that majesty to local audiences.

David Jost

David N. Jost has recently retired after 14 years as the Coordinator of Fine Arts for the Westborough Public Schools. He hs been a professional music educator for the past 36 years. During this time, he taught at the elementary, high school and collegiate level in a wide variety of areas...