Laurel Black~Piano, Voice, Marimba

M.M., Marimba Performance, The Boston Conservatory. B.M., Percussion Performance with Minor in Theatre, Summa cum Laude, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, named a Distinguished Graduate. As a marimbist, percussionist, pianist and singer Laurel is active in the Boston music scene, collaborating with the East Coast Contemporary Ensemble, the Equilibrium Concert Series, and is a founding member of Balletik Duo with violinist Natalie Calma, which will have its premiere concert in early November, 2011.
Laurel recently appeared as a Showcase Artist at the 2011 Zeltsman Marimba Festival, a two-week intensive festival held in Appleton, WI. In her hometown of Knoxville, TN, she presents clinics and masterclasses, and is a founding member of the Caritas Players, a non-profit theatre company which donates all proceeds to local charities.  Primary Teachers: Nancy Zeltsman, Sam Solomon, Dr. Karl Paulnack, and Mark and Emily Douglass (voice). Visit Laurel online at www.laurelblackmusic.com, or read her writings as a Boston Fine Arts examiner at www.examiner.com/ fine-arts-in-boston/laurel-black.

                                                                      

 Greg Silva~Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Guitar

Greg has been performing professionally since the age of 15.  His first year in Roomful of Blues, they were voted best live Blues Act by Downbeat Magazine.  Greg was voted Outstanding Bass Player 2007 by The Blues Audience.  Some of the artists Greg has performed with are Eric Burdon, Roomful of Blues, The Memphis Horns, Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard, James Montgomery and James Cotton.

 Greg's music education includes studies with Cecil McBee, John Lockwood, Rich Appleman, Jeff Covell, Oscar Stagnaro as well as the legendary Charlie Banacos.  Greg has been teaching for over 20 years and is the Private Electric & Upright Bass Instructor for MJ's Music School, and the Needham and Braintree Schools.

 Greg is currently performing with his Jazz Trio GST as well as doing studio and session work.  Greg is endorsed by Eden, Fishman Transducers and DR Strings. 

One of the most versatile singers living in Boston, Angela Rossi’s unique repertoire traverses traditional, classical and jazz genres and explores over five centuries of music. A native of Milan, Italy, Ms. Rossi has frequently performed with the renown Tiziano Tononi Jazz Trio as well as her own Angela Rossi Quartet, appearing in Jazz Festivals and clubs in Rome, Florence, Paris, Iseo, Locarno, and Lugano. She has been featured in a weekly radio program in Milan called “Sisters in Jazz” with her ensemble and has frequently been a soloist with Francesca Oliveri’s Gospel Choir in Milan, as well as with the Instabile Orchestra in Rome led by composer/conductor Giancarlo Schiaffini.

http://www.angelarossi.com

An Alum of Berklee College of Music, Andy has toured extensively across both the United States and Europe playing with Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, Gwar, White Zombie, and Nirvana.  His teaching experience covers a broad range of ages and styles, from beginners to advanced students.  In addition to years of private teaching, he has taught at White's Music Education Center and Doug's Musical Instrument.  Andy applies creative and inventive approaches to supply students with both the knowledge and skills for self-expression, and the mechanics of music.