Born May 13 1975, in Geneva, Switzerland to a Swiss father and American mother, Grégoire Maret began his musical career as a harmonica player at age 17. He earned his high school diploma in 1994 from the Collège de Saussure, in Geneva. Grégoire attended the Superior Conservatory of Music in Geneva following high school. Upon completion, he made the critical decision to move and subsequently pursue his study of the harmonica in the Jazz Department of New School University in 1995. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 1998 and has been on the move ever since.

Grégoire's concert experience weaves a phenomenal tale, aglow with characters. He has shared the concert stage with well known artists including Reggie Workman, Charles Tolliver, Charles Fambrough, Patato Valdez, Max Roach, Tito Puente, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Pete la Roca, and Ray Brown to name but a few. These days, though he resides in New York, he can either be seen on the road, or performing and recording with renowned jazz artists such as Cassandra Wilson, Charlie Hunter, Steve Coleman, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Ravi Coltrane.

Remarkably, Grégoire's list of recordings is quite extensive.It includes such masters as David Sanborn, Steve Coleman, Jimmy Scot,t Jacky Terrasson, John Hicks, Idris Muhammad, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Mino Cinelu, Anita Baker, Bebel Giberto,Leon Parker,Bruce Cockburn and George Benson. His 2002 recordings find him in the company of Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Eric Revis.In 2003, he recorded with Charlie Hunter and Cassandra Wilson.In 2004 Gregoire joined the Pat Metheny Group.Most recently he joined the Marcus Miller band.

New Orleans native Michael “Patches” Stewart plays his trumpet the way he makes a gumbo — blending myriad influences and making it his own. A perennial member of the Marcus Miller Band, Patches’ career also includes performances and studio recording sessions with Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, The Brothers Johnson, George Duke, Lenny White, Babyface, Ken Hicks, Anita Baker, Earth Wind & Fire, Diana Ross, Johnnie Taylor, Whitney Houston, Rickie Lee Jones, The O’Jays, Soul II Soul, LaBelle, and more.

As a solo artist, Patches has released three albums to date. The most recent, BLOW (2004, 3 Deuces Records), was produced by Marcus Miller. His 1997 debut, Blue Patches, was followed by Penetration in 1998. Patches is currently developing music for his next solo project. “My joy in music, especially jazz, is that it’s a constant challenge — you never know what’s going to happen.”

www.patchesstewart.com

A very versatile musician, Bobby plays and loves all kinds of music. He has worked with everyone in the gospel industry…Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McKlurkin, Ce Ce Winans and Kurt Carr. He also has toured and recorded with top jazz artists and musical giants including Roy Hargrove, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Kirk Whalum, the legendary Les McCann, Wayman Tisdale and Nancy Wilson among others. Bobby has recently expanded his horizons by becoming a writer. He has co-written a piece called “Changed” for Paul Jackson Jr., a giant in the world of jazz. He has provided music for radio and television commercials. In 2002, he served as assistant to Kirk Franklin in producing the soundtrack for the movie “Kingdom Come”. He also is a gifted producer with many songs to his credit, including Nu Nation, by Kirk Franklin for which he received a Grammy Award. Sparks is a true artist consumed by his work.

www.bobbysparksmusic.com

A native of New York and a second generation musician he has been immersed in music since he was born. Taking cues from his father, a jazz musician and professor of music, Poogie has always had an
inherent connection to music. As hard as it may be to believe, he started playing at the age of ten months old and made his concert debut when he was two and half at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Hall with his
father. By the ripe old age of five he'd already appeared on The Mike Douglas Show with Pearl Bailey.

As a kid it wasn't unusual for Poogie to see the likes of drummer Max Roach, saxophonist Ornette Coleman, pianist Marylou Williams, bassists, Paul Chambers, Ron Carter and Richard Davis in his living
room jammin' with his father. Growing up he hung out with fellow musicians Bobby Broom, Omar Hakim, Marcus Miller, Lenny White, Bernard Wright and Weldon Irvine all of whom supported and influenced
each other musically.

Poogie's first "real" gig was with Tom brown, Weldon Irvine and Hugh Masakela. Then came a tour with one of the creators of what we know as hip-hop, Afrika Bambaata and the Soulsonic Force and then with the Force MD's, a Temptations-style vocal group who were the first to incorporate R&B and hip-hop. "Touch and Go", a song written by Poogie for the Force MD's, won him the ASCAP Writer's Award for Top 10 Singles in 1988. Poogie broke into the traditional R&B world touring and recording with artists FreddieJackson, Phyllis Hyman and Chaka Khan. He came into the New Jack Swingera working with Keith Sweat, Teddy Riley, SWV and New Edition. He continues to tour and record with Marcus Miller,Victor Bailey,Bill Evans, Soul Bop and Erykah Badu, among others. He's also making music with his own project, The Poogie Bell Band!