Summer 2018

Michael Philip Mossman has been active on the international scene since the age of 17. And has recorded with his own groups and with a virtual "who's who" of the music industry.

Michael was nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award for "Best Instrumental Arrangement" for his "Afro-Latin Ellington Suite." Michael has composed and arranged music for the films "Bossa Nova" and "Chico and Rita," which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2012. His ballet "Beneath the Mask" was performed by Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra with the Deeply Rooted Dance Company (choreographed by Mayte Vicens.) His ballet, La Cova do Rey Cintolo was premiered in 2010 in Mondoñedo, Spain.

Mr. Mossman has conducted the Bilbao Symphonic Orchestra in Spain, and has composed and arranged scores for the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Tri-Cities Symphony, Joe Henderson's Grammy winning Big Band album, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, The Charles Mingus Orchestra, Tito Puente, Mario Bauza, Slide Hampton and the Jazz Masters Orchestra, Paquito D'Rivera, the UMO Orchestra of Finland, the NDR Big Band of Hamburg, WDR of Cologne, HR Bigband of Frankfurt, HGM Bigband of Zagreb, Danish Radio Big Band, the Andalucia Latin Jazz Big Band, Heineken Jazz Festival Orchestra in Puerto Rico, Granada Bigband, Sedajazz Latin Jazz Ensemble, and Ray Barretto's New World Spirit.

Following stints as lead trumpet with the Machito Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Michael became the musical director of Blue Note Record's "young lion" group, Out of the Blue. He recorded four albums for Blue Note with this group before joining the Horace Silver Quintet. Michael has toured and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Joe Henderson, McKoy Tyner, Gerry Mulligan, Joe Zawinul, Slide Hampton, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Jon Faddis, George Gruntz, Bob Mintzer, Steve Turre, Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, Tom Pierson, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Charles Mingus Orchestra, Benny Carter, the Gil Evans Orchestra, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Michael has played lead trumpet with the Michel Camilo Bigband, the Jon Faddis Orchestra, the Chico O'Farrill Orchestra and the Jimmy Heath Bigband among many others.

Michael has also been a key performer in Latin Jazz since his days with Machito. Mr. Mossman has performed and recorded with Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Chico O'Farrill, Ray Barretto, Daniel Ponce, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Paquito D'Rivera, Bebo Valdez and Michel Camilo (including a screen appearance in the motion picture "Two Much"). Michael is featured in director Fernando Trueba's highly acclaimed documentary on contemporary Latin Jazz, "Calle 54" as both performer and commentator. He also served as arranger and trumpet soloist for the legendary innovator of Latin Jazz, Mario Bauza and his Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra.

Michael is featured as lead trumpet and arranger on their Grammy winning album, "Song for Chico," as well as on "Un Noche Inolvidable" and "40 Acres and a Burro." Solo releases by Michael Philip Mossman include "Springdance," "Mama Soho," "The Orisha Suite," "Missa Afro-Cubana," "Soul con Timba Live at Bohemian Cavern," and "Mambo Nights," with guest.

Michael Mossman has performed classical and contemporary classical pieces with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Naumburg Orchestra, the Jupiter Symphony Orchestra, the New Jersey Composer's Guild, the Garden State Chamber Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony, the National Symphony of the Dominican Republic, and the contemporary classical ensemble Secret Cosmos. He has recorded the Daniel Schnyder Trumpet Sonata and has recorded two solo classical albums for MM1.

Michael, a Yamaha Artist, is currently Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in New York City. Michael's music is published by the Hal Leonard Corporation.

Spring 2018

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Summer 2017

Emerging jazz trombonist Melissa Gardiner has been described by Curtis Fuller as technically creative and emotionally powerful. Her improvisation is inspiring and motivating for the listener, and she draws you in with a raw expression that directly relates to life experience.

Gardiner is the jazz trombone instructor at Cornell and Syracuse University. As a bandleader, she performs regularly with her jazz organ trio, MG3, and has an album entitled Transitions. 
 

Most notably, she has shared the stage with several legendary musicians including Aretha Franklin, Geri Allen, Wycliffe Gordon, Steve Turre, Gerald Wilson, and Patti Austin.

Embodying the concept of artist as citizen, Gardiner aims to re-connect jazz music to the community, and create an environment of mentorship where students and professionals can make music together.  In just one year of existence, Second Line Syracuse has built an impressive resume so far, working with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, gaining grant funding for community and educational events, and winning the 2015 Syracuse New Times award for Best Jazz Band.

Gardiner received her master’s degree in jazz performance at The Juilliard School where she studied with Steve Turre. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree at The University of Michigan where she studied with Dennis Wilson(jazz) and David Jackson(classical). Former teachers also include Bill Harris, Curtis Fuller and Wycliffe Gordon.

Summer 2016

hailed as “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player” by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Stafford is recognized as an incredibly gifted and versatile player. He combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism. Stafford’s exceptionally expressive and well defined musical talent allows him to dance in and around the rich trumpet tradition of his predecessors while making his own inroads.  
Since the mid-1990’s, Stafford has performed with groups such as Benny Golson’s Sextet, McCoy Tyner’s Sextet, Kenny Barron Quintet, Frank Wess Quintet, Jimmy Heath Quintet and Big Band, Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Band. Stafford, with the HamiltonClayton Jazz Orchestra, performed on Diana Krall’s GRAMMY nominated "From this Moment On" (2006). As a member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Stafford was awarded a GRAMMY in 2009. Stafford can be heard on over 130 albums. His latest recording, "This Side of Strayhorn" has been hailed as “the first must have album of 2011” and “genius”.   

Stafford is the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University, founder and band leader of the Terell Stafford Quintet, and Managing and Artistic Director of the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia (JOP). Stafford is renowned in the jazz world as an educator, performer and leader and has received countless award nominations and accolades

Summer 2015

Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Maryland. Vadala's performing career has been highlighted by a long tenure as standout woodwind artist with the internationally recognized Chuck Mangione Quartet. He has performed on five gold and two platinum albums, and has received  two Grammys, two Emmys and one Golden Globe. 

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Summer 2014

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Hudson Valley Jazz Invitational

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Hudson Valley Jazz Invitational

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