Oregon Coast Jazz Party

Musician, composer, bandleader, recording artist, educator and activist Roxy Coss has become one of the most unique and innovative saxophonists on the scene. Originally from Seattle, and a fixture on the New York scene for over ten years, she has headlined extensively around the world, including major festivals and venues like the Newport Jazz Festival, Melbourne Big Band Festival, Earshot Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Summerfest, Ballard Jazz Festival, The Jazz Standard, and Jazz Showcase, among others. Her band, the Roxy Coss Quintet, has held residencies at New York City clubs including SMOKE Jazz Club and Club Bonafide, appears frequently around NYC, and tours nationally. She is also the founder of Women In Jazz Organization (WIJO), and serves on the board of of the Jazz Education Network (JEN). More about Roxy

It’s no small accomplishment to be thought of as “the most creative and compelling singer-pianist since Shirley Horn,” but that’s exactly how Joel Siegel of the Washington City Paper described Dena DeRose. She awes her audiences and music critics with her facility on the piano and her swinging, soothing vocal style – and is also the professor of jazz voice at the Jazz Institute of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria. She frequently leads clinics and workshops at such prestigious schools and festivals such as the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Centrum-Port Townsend Jazz, the Dave Brubeck Institute in Oakland, Calif., The Jazz School in Berkeley, CA, Taller de Musics in Barcelona-Spain, the JEN, NJPAC Jazz for Teen Program, Litchfield Summer Jazz Camp, the Rotterdam Summer Jazz School, and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Den Haag, among others. More about Dena

Holly Hofmann’s first memories as a musician are some of her fondest. At age 5 she would spend evenings playing a child’s flutophone, accompanying her father, a jazz guitarist, on standards from the Great American Songbook. It was an auspicious beginning for the woman who, after years of studying her instrument and performing in classical ensembles, would find equally satisfying partnerships with such renowned jazzmen as Ray Brown, Frank Wess, Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron and many of other top names in the music. Today, she’s taken the flute from its middle-of-the-orchestra origins and made it a front-line instrument in jazz – known for her bluesy, bebop-based improvisations and technical prowess on an instrument that many once regarded as definitely not a jazz horn. Beloved by OCJP fans, she’s been the music director since 2007, and shares the title with Ken Peplowski this year. More about Holly

Born into a musical family, Larry has been playing the guitar since he was seven years old. In his early years he studied with legendary guitar master Jimmy Wyble, and at the age of fifteen he recorded an album with his father, guitarist Dave Koonse. Having been featured on over 300 albums since then, jazz has taken him all over the world, touring with John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Billy Child, and hundreds of others. His solo guitar work was featured throughout “Crazy,” a feature film chronicling the life of the great guitarist Hank Garland. He has five critically acclaimed releases to his name, and has been on the faculty of the California Institute of the Arts since 1990. More about Larry

“Rhythm Is My Business” is the title of his debut recording as a leader, and rhythm is a booming business as far as Lewis Nash is concerned. He is the drummer of choice for an incredible array of artists – from the masters of the music to the hottest young players of today – and is equally in demand as a clinician and educator. A longtime OCJP favorite, and one of the busiest drummers in the world, Nash appears on hundreds of recordings with the very best in jazz. Also a leader of his own band, he is known for his deep understanding of the music and for all the energy (and humor) he brings to each performance. More about Lewis

The late Mel Tormé said, “Since the advent of Benny Goodman, there have been too few clarinetists to fill the void that Goodman left. Ken Peplowski is most certainly one of those few. The man is magic.” He’s been delighting audiences – most certainly OCJP ones – for over 30 years with his warmth, wit, and virtuosic musicianship in all styles of jazz. Ken’s newest CD, released in May, is a duo record with Brazilian guitarist Diego Figuereido entitled “Amizade.” “I love all kinds of music, andI’d like to find more opportunities to bridge the gaps between different musical styles,” says Ken. “Basically, I like a challenge, I’m a sucker for a good melody, and I love playing for audiences, big or small.” He is currently the artistic director of the Sarasota Jazz Festival and the Newport Beach Jazz Party – and OCJP warmly welcomes him as co-music director this year. More about Ken

A South Carolina native, Houston’s big soulful tenor sound has given him legendary status all over the world in a career spanning five decades – and 75 albums. He first became known for a series of albums for Prestige Records in the 1960s. Contrary to popular belief, he was never married to the vocalist Etta Jones (they first met playing in organist Johnny Hammond’s band), but did spend many years as her musical partner, recording, performing and touring, and for much of his career this association was what he was best known for. Known for his unique selections from the Great American Songbook – and his incredible OCJP dance parties – Houston is a Newport favorite. View clip of Houston performing at the 2017 Oregon Coast Jazz Party

Hailed as “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player” by piano legend McCoy Tyner, Stafford is known for being a gifted and versatile player with a voice all his own, combining lyricism and a deep love of melody with a spirited, adventurous edge. Renowned in the jazz world as an educator, performer and leader, Terell has countless award nominations, accolades and associated acts, including the Clayton Brothers, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie All Stars, and the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, among many others. He’s also the director of jazz studies and chair of instrumental studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. More about Terell

Having appeared on over 150 recordings as a sideman and numerous recordings as a leader, Wofford is known for his elegant and unique harmonic approach to jazz piano. Jazz legend Benny Golson calls him “a quintessential musician [who] inspires as he plays.” Wofford now works primarily with his own trio and quintet, as well as with his wife, noted jazz flutist Holly Hofmann, in duo, quartet and string orchestra settings. OCJP fans have long admired his journeys through the American Songbook, and his inspiration in the jazz party format. More about Mike

This Australian-born, NYC-based bassist singer brings clear articulation, beautiful tone, a sense of rhythmic assuredness and a touch of allure to inventive arrangements. Born in Newcastle, Nicki started her musical training at age four with the piano, followed by the flute, soon after. Nicki switched to double bass at the age of 15. She appears at jazz festivals all over the world, including the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz in July at the 92nd Street Y, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and the Newport Beach Jazz Party, Jazz Ascona and Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland and many others. She enjoys a full schedule of workshops and clinics, as well as a successful recording career. More about Nicki

A pianist, composer and arranger, Porter has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication between musicians. A teacher and recording artist living in Portland, Randy is a revered talent in the Northwest, and has toured extensively in the US, Europe and China. Currently, Porter performs with Charles McPherson, Madeline Eastman, the New York Voices, Rebecca Kilgore and Nancy King; he also teaches jazz piano and jazz theory at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. More about Randy

Veronica grew up on tour with her parents, renowned jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and celebrated jazz singer and educator/author Stephanie Nakasian; it was with them where she first appeared at The Jazz Standard, and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. In addition to performing the Great American Songbook, bebop and vocalese classics, she’s also a passionate devotee of 1920s and ’30s music and has sung with Vince Giordano, Terry Waldo, and Drew Nugent. Veronica plans to release her next album on Mac Avenue Records this year, which will feature the great pianist Benny Green and his trio as well the Emmet Cohen Trio. More about Veronica

Few musicians embody the spontaneous energy of jazz quite like Matt Wilson, who was recently named 2018 Musician of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. The New York-based drummer combines buoyant zeal, idiosyncratic style, infectious humor, joyous swing and an indomitable spirit of surprise, making him one of the most in-demand players and educators on the modern jazz scene. Whether anchoring an all-star group at the White House, juggling tricky rhythmic swerves with his own quartets, celebrating the holidays with his Christmas Tree-O, exploring the poetry of Carl Sandburg, sensitively supporting vocalists such as Dena DeRose, presenting concerts at a neighborhood church or donning a superhero cape to inspire young musicians to embrace their individuality, Wilson approaches music as a man on a mission: fostering a lively and passionate connection between music and people, whether they be playing or listening to it. More about Matt

Bassist and composer Martin Wind was born in Flensburg, Germany and moved to New York in 1996 to study at New York University (NYU). Since his move to New York Martin has become a regular at all major jazz clubs and is also in demand as a session player. With 10 albums as leader or co-leader to his name, he’s currently a member of the trios of Bill Mays, Dena DeRose, Bill Cunliffe, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Ted Rosenthal, as well as of Matt Wilson’s acclaimed quartet Arts and Crafts. He maintains faculty positions at NYU and Hofstra University and has taught at the National Youth Jazz Orchestra Germany and the Centrum, Stanford and Litchfield Jazz Camps, among others. More about Martin

An accomplished performer on both string bass and bass guitar, Captein’s career spans over 35 years in the Pacific Northwest. He’s performed in a broad range of situations, from symphonic performances to studio and club work, as well as many jazz concerts and festivals around the country and in Europe. He freelances in the Portland area, frequently appearing in the city’s many clubs and concert venues, as well as recording studios. He is a favorite choice for the region’s many bandleaders and always in demand for his solid sound, time and feel, as well as his soloing abilities. More about Dave

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Hobbs lives in Vancouver, Wash. He has played professionally for over four decades – including a 1975-1977 stint right out of high school with the Stan Kenton Orchestra – and appears on over 60 recordings. Hobbs is very active in jazz education, teaching at the University of Oregon and conducting clinics, concerts and jazz camps all over the nation. More about Gary