Since moving from Canada to get his master’s degree at UNT, Peter Rioux has become one of the most sought-after musicians in North Texas. A dynamic pianist and expert on the roots of jazz and blues piano, Peter draws on that rich lineage to permeate his playing every time he touches the keyboard. Called a “piano phenom,” he leads his own trio at various venues like The Balcony Club and The Free Man and often accompanies Tatiana Mayfield on her own group projects.

Music, being an integral part of her being, was her choice of study at the University of North Texas from which she received a degree in music. Armed with her degree, talent, and zeal, she lived an adventurous life as a freelance saxophonist. Her travels led her abroad to Europe extensively. In addition to traveling as a successful musician and working for people like the Sheila Jordan, Billy Preston and etc.also she worked as a substitute teacher for the Fort Worth Independent School District.

She treasured becoming a finalist on a BET Jazz Artists show and the friendships she made along the way. The internationally renowned jazz legend, drummer Ronald Jackson, with whom she had been collaborating off and on since she appeared on his album Shannon’s House, influenced her greatly.

Rebecca Cordes is a classically trained pianist, jazz musician, composer/arranger, teacher, and band leader who has been active on the Dallas music scene for over 10 years. Uniquely skilled to play both classical literature and contemporary styles, Rebecca performs in a variety of settings throughout the Dallas area with her quartet, The Plus One Jazz Group. Her artistic approach reflects her love of all types of music and the correlation of seemingly different styles. This often results in eclectic programming and distinctive compositions and arrangements, but always with the same result — good music. As a composer, Rebecca has collaborated with writer/lyricist David Parr on two original works for theater and participated in a showcase that programmed original choreography to two of her jazz compositions. Along with performances at the Sammons Center, she often works as a classical accompanist and chamber musician.

World percussionist Ricardo Bozas was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, home of Tango and Candombe. His influences are vast, shaping his virtuosic playing on a wide variety of world instruments and styles, and he specializes in music from Uruguay, Brazil, Cuba, Spain, the Caribbean Islands, and numerous other Latin American countries. A sought-after live and studio percussionist, Ricardo has had opportunities to perform with many high-profile artists, including Aretha Franklin, Al DiMeola, Alex Acuña, Luis Conte, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Steve Smith, and Dave Weckl. He also spent time touring Uruguay and Argentina with Vinicius de Moraes, the famous Brazilian composer and bossa nova pioneer most known as the lyricist for the eternal “Garota de Ipanema” (Girl from Ipanema). In addition to his many travels performing in Latin America, Ricardo spent four years in Spain touring with the “Samba Trio” and “The Peter Pan Band,” and he participated in the “500 years of Carnaval” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2000, parading through the Sambodromo with “Boi da Ilha do Governador” escola de samba. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas College of Music where he played in many notable ensembles, including the Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band as well as the 1987 World Champion PASIC Drumline.

Robin Hackett is a singer and songwriter. She is a transplant from New York City. Her song "Hard Left" appeared on the CBS Hit Comedy "How I Met Your Mother".  She is a 1st round Grammy nominee with her song "More" which was the title track on jazz singer Bregette Rideau's Album. Ms. Hackett has recorded 6 cds. She has opened up for Woodstock Legend Richie Havens. She appeared in the Mondavi Wine Concert series in Napa Valley as the opening act for John Ondrasik and his band Five for Fighting. Ms. Hackett also appeared in the world renowned JVC Jazz Festival while living in New York City. She now resides here in Dallas, Texas where she performs locally as well as worldwide.