2025 Artists
Ken Peplowski – Music Director, Clarinet, Sax
Our illustrious music director is BACK and ready once again to mix and match magnificent musicians, making marvelous magic happen on stage.
Bruce Harris (Trumpet) is an exceptional musician and trumpet player who fearlessly explores the boundaries of contemporary music within the legendary jazz scene of New York City. With a deep-rooted appreciation for tradition and a penchant for innovative ideas, Harris effortlessly juggles multiple roles as a musician, trumpeter, curator, mentor, and educator.
Scott Hamilton (Sax) is a true living legend and one of the all-time great American Tenor Saxophone players. His big, warm, golden tone and perfect sense of swing carry on the tradition of the classic jazz tenor masters . Hamilton bridges the gap between swing and bop with a fluency and elegance that not many players achieve. He has recorded with some of the best in the business (Tommy Flanagan, Gene Harris, John Bunch, Norman Simmons) and played with Benny Goodman and Rosemary Clooney.
Downbeat Magazine calls New York City-based jazz trombonist Mariel Bildsten (Trombone) “irrepressibly spontaneous.” She has earned global distinction through her performances with Jon Batiste, Roy Hargrove, Jennifer Hudson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and the Mingus Big Band at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival, and the Apollo Theater. Her lyrical and swinging style thrills audiences around the world.
Mark Feinman (Drums) is a drummer, composer, and educator who is inspired by individual human experiences and a diverse range of musical influences. He has extensive performance experience, playing with many wonderful musicians, including the trio La Lucha. Mark was awarded an Emerging Artist Grant from Creative Pinellas, the Think Small to Think Big Grant, a Jazz on Edge 13-in-13 commission, and a Project GenYes! residency to present a multi-media project raising awareness for Alzheimer’s disease at The Studio @ 620. He is a Drum Set Instructor at St. Petersburg College and one half of the songwriting team moonlit música.
Alejandro Arenas (Bass) is a versatile musician, composer, producer, and educator. Born in Medellin, Colombia he began his musical path playing Flamenco and Classical guitar. He picked up the electric bass while he attended the Colegio Andino/Deutsche Schule in Bogota where he performed in the Salsa and Andean Music ensembles as well as the school’s orchestra. In 2006, he co-founded La Lucha, an award-winning jazz ensemble based in the Tampa Bay area. Alejandro has performed countless concerts and numerous Jazz festivals backing artists like Ken Peplowski, Randy Brecker, Roxy Coss, Diego Figueiredo, Mary Stallings, Russell Malone, Renee Fleming, Terell Stafford, Houston Person, and many more.
Pianist and neuroscientist John C. O’Leary III (Piano) has recorded extensively with La Lucha, and as a solo artist and sideman. He has performed with Randy Brecker, Dick Hyman, Houston Person, Melissa Aldana, Camila Meza, Wycliffe Gordon, Adrian Cunningham, Jason Marsalis, Charles McPherson, Russell Malone, Ken Peplowski, Diego Figueiredo, Chuck Redd, Marty Morell, Jeff Rupert, Shaun Martin, The Florida Orchestra, and many more.
Rossano Sportiello (piano) is one of the world’s leading jazz pianists, specializing in styles from Harlem Stride Piano to Bebop to Contemporary Jazz. Based in New York City, Sportiello is a classically trained Italian pianist who transitioned to Jazz at a very young age. He is a master of both styles, and his classical skills frequently come to the fore. He plays with a relaxed swing, paying respect to the original melodies while also adding something of his own to each performance.
Lucy Yeghiazaryan (vocals) is an American Armenian vocalist who has become a leading voice in American straight-ahead jazz by bringing the richness of her heritage together with her love for the ultimate American art form. She has shared the stage with greats such as Harold Mabern, Houston Person, Grant Stewart, Terell Stafford, Bernadette Peters, and Arto Tuncboyaijian; regularly works with the Emmet Cohen trio; and can be found performing in and outside of The United States with regular appearances at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Mezzrow, Symphony Space, and more.
When Quincy Jones exclaimed “This girl is IT!” he was speaking of Los Angeles-based bassist Katie Thiroux. A triple-threat talent, Thiroux has garnered considerable attention for her bravura bass playing, assured singing, and compelling compositions. Lending contemporary flair to mainstream stylings, she carries on the hard swinging tradition of such bass masters as Ray Brown and John Clayton, while channeling the buoyant vocal finesse of iconic singers including Anita O’Day, Chet Baker and Ella Fitzgerald. Thiroux offers in-the-moment jazz that draws upon the rich history of the music, from swing to bebop and beyond. Her unique gift of simultaneously balancing sultry vocals and virtuosic bass playing leaves audiences worldwide in awe.
Known for his big warm swing sound, Greg Williamson, drummer, is a musician’s musician. His musical highlights include stints with Woody Herman’s Young Thundering Herd, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and The Harry James Orchestra, tours with Steve Allen alongside classic entertainers like Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Paul Smith, contracts with icons like Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, and Joan Rivers, and a long association with Grammy nominated vocalist Ernestine Anderson. Currently, he’s leader of The Pony Boy All-Star Big Band and also spends time with the group Brushes & Bass.
Grammy-nominated guitarist Diego Figueiredo is an extraordinary star among the world’s greatest jazz guitarists — and a fan-favorite from the 2024 and 2023 Oregon Coast Jazz Parties. His superb technique, timing, and imagination have made him one of today’s hottest names in the industry, with successful concerts spanning more than 60 countries around the globe.
Please note: All artists, session lineups subject to change.
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