Joe Natale (Saxophone) was born in Syracuse, NY and raised in Yorktown Heights. Joe developed an interest in music at an early age and started playing clarinet in elementary school band. He discovered the saxophone and his passion for jazz, and at 13, he enrolled at Lagond Music School in Elmsford, NY where he had the privilege to study with such luminaries as Charlie Lagond, Jon Irabagon and Kris Allen. Joe has a undergraduate degree from The Hartt School of Music and a Masters degree from The State University of NY at Purchase.
Alex Smith, a pianist, organist, composer, and arranger, is most widely known for his work accompanying Lady Gaga on her much heralded performance of the Star-Spangled for Super Bowl 50 (2016). He is the keyboardist and arranger for Lady Gaga’s jazz quintet and was featured on the Grammy winning album with Tony Bennett “Cheek to Cheek” and on their PBS Special “Cheek to Cheek – Live!” which aired on October 24th, 2014. In 2015, he toured across North America and Europe with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga playing storied venues from the Hollywood Bowl to the Royal Albert Hall in London and performing at festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He has performed with a diverse array of musicians from jazz greats Tony Bennett, Louie Bellson, Terence Blanchard, Buddy DeFranco, Carl Allen, Lynn Seaton, Slide Hampton, Maria Schneider, Jerry Weldon and Randy Johnston to stars such as Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Emily King, Molly Ringwald, Ashanti and Max Weinberg, the drummer from Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band. Alex is the music director for the Verve recording artist, Brian Newman, and is currently a featured performer for Lady Gaga’s Jazz and Piano residency in Las Vegas at the Park MGM Theater for 2019 and 2020.
Sam Wagner aka Sammy Wags is a Hudson Valley, NY based performing and composing instrumentalist. Steadily making his mark as a leader, and a unique voice in modern World/Jazz/Groove based music, there is a remarkable diversity in his offerings to the current creative musical landscape. He is the Composer/Producer/Drummer of the critically acclaimed Afrobeat/Jazz group; The Brighton Beat, the Composer/Producer/Keyboardist for the modern Soul/Funk quartet; Mr. Clifford and leads an ever-evolving group under his own name in which he performs on a hybrid Guitar/Bass instrument of his own creation. An accomplished educator, with roots in the Hudson Valley, Sam has a passion for music education, and has extensive experience working with students of all ages. Both alone, and with a variety of ensembles he has given clinics, workshops, and master-classes on rhythm, improvisation, creativity, composition and Jazz history. The home of Sam’s original projects, and the many up-and-coming artists he works with is The Koop Studio, a professional recording and music production facility in Westchester County, NY. A personally curated blend of vintage and modern equipment mixed with an eclectic recording approach and ideology provide for a truly unique recording experience tailored for freedom of expression and creativity. Sam’s recording and production work has been featured on commercial and independent radio, network television, major studio films and large market video game releases. Regardless of challenge, risk and reward, Sam is determined to make his, and his peers voices heard in the ever-changing landscape of creative music. His consistent, overarching goal in all musical pursuits is to encourage thoughtfulness, to provoke emotion, and to lift the spirits of all who he interacts with.
An impressive guitarist, Jeff Barone has developed a strong reputation with his recordings (Crazy Talk and Open Up), live performances, and record producing. His playing invigorates the modern mainstream of jazz, swinging hard while looking forward. He was born in Syracuse, New York. Exposed to jazz by an uncle who was a bassist and a cousin who played jazz piano, he developed quickly. At 16, Jeff was working in local jazz clubs and being hired to play with touring shows that visited Syracuse. He also performed with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and worked with singer Al Martino under the direction of Tony Riposo. At Ithaca College where he earned a Bachelors in Music Education, Jeff studied classical guitar with a minor in classical percussion. He focused on the guitar at the Manhattan School Of Music where he received a Masters degree in Jazz Performance. During that period he also worked in small clubs in the Village including with singer Evelyn Blakey (Art Blakey’s daughter), Hershel Dwellingham’s group (Weather Report and Stuff) and trumpeter Charles McGee (who had played with Archie Shepp and Rahsaan Roland Kirk). For over ten years Jeff has had the guitar chair for the Big Apple Circus in NYC. In addition he has been an active session guitarist as well as working on Broadway shows such as CATS, Wicked, Seussical, James Joyce’s The Dead(featuring Christopher Walken and Blair Brown) and Dear Evan Hansen. Lately he can be heard on stage or recording with actress/vocalists such as Melissa Manchester, Kathleen Turner, Linda Lavin, Joely Fischer and Lucie Arnaz. Jeff is also featured in Scott Yanow’s book entitled “The Great Jazz Guitarists: the Ultimate Guide (Hal Leonard Publishing 2013).”