Johnny Case had become a pianist playing country swing in various dance bands until mid 1966, when a jazz trio gig gave him his first opportunity to publicly perform the music that had inspired him to become a pianist. In 1969, Johnny Case began to issue his own recordings of modern jazz and related genres. Johnny Case has played club dates and concerts with such name jazz artists as James Clay, Billy Hart, Dewey Redman, Colin Bailey, Marchel Ivery, David Newman and Randy Brecker. He performed a reception for Ornette Coleman at the opening of Fort Worth’s best-known jazz venue, the Caravan of Dreams. Most remarkable is his 28-year stint as house pianist at Sardines Italian restaurant where he provided live jazz six nights a week. Johnny Case has been inducted into three halls of fame related to Texas music.

Kelly Durbin brings 30 years of performing experience to his teaching. He currently remains active as a jazz pianist performing at local and regional festivals and venues, often with international jazz artists. He was a long-time member of the Marchel Ivery Quintet, as well as ensembles led by bassist James Gilyard and saxophonist Wayne DeLano. Durbin directs the Jazz Ensemble at UTD and teaches classes in music theory, MIDI, jazz history and jazz keyboard. Kelly received his master of music degree from The University of North Texas and has enjoyed long tenures with the Marchel Ivery Quintet and the James Gilyard Ensemble. His professional credits include work with David "Fathead" Newman, James Clay, Chuck Rainey, Billy Hart, Cornell Dupree, Ed Soph, Lynn Seaton, Hank Crawford, Sebastian Whittaker and Roseanne Vitro.

Len Barnett began creating sounds with his hands – beating boxes, furniture or whatever he could get his hands on – when he was 13 years old. Since then, he has developed a repertoire of percussional rhythms that include not only jazz, funk, and R&B, but also the styles indigenous to Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and the Middle East. He invites his audiences to travel on a journey filled with these exotic rhythms.

Len’s most recent musical endeavor was the creation of the Modern Cajon Jazz Ensemble, introducing this versatile instrument to local and touring audiences. Len plays a variety of professionally hand-crafted Cajuns as the foundation for concerts featuring percussion-driven jazz, entertaining audiences with new music and standard repertoire re-imagined with percussion inspired arrangements.

Barnett currently serves as staff percussionist for the Brookhaven Community College Dance Department and is blessed to work with the talented musicians and singers on Daystar Television’s acclaimed “Celebration” program. Barnett also served as dance percussionist at the famed Booker T. Washington School of the Performing and Visual Arts for eleven years and dance accompanist at Mountain View Community College.

Barnett has performed with such noted musicians as Waymon Tisdale, Roy Ayers, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight, Tom Braxton, Kirk Whalum, Philip Bailey, the Rippingtons, Fingerprints and the late Cab Calloway. He has also performed with such noted dance luminaries as Judith Jamison, Twyla Tharp, Alvin Ailey, Milton Myers and Ron Brown. He has accompanied acclaimed dance organizations including Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive Workshop and the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico. He appeared with Kirk Franklin on the Grammy-winning “Prince of Egypt” gospel CD, and on the platinum “Nu Nation” CD. He also toured with Kirk Franklin and Cece Winans and has toured extensively in Europe and Brazil performing jazz and gospel.

As a passionate believer in Christ, Len dedicates his musical gifts the Source of those gifts, and endeavors to use the to His Glory.

Melani Skybell is a vocalist and classically trained pianist, who began her musical journey at age 5. Her formal education includes classical piano and vocal performance at Boston University, and a jazz studies degree from University of Texas/Arlington. Her on stage experience blossomed when she joined an alternative pop/rock group, Innocent Bystander, who frequently backed up headliners, and became a regular act in Austin’s Sixth Street Clubs. Either solo or with an ensemble, Melani has performed at all of the top venues in Dallas, and has a performance almost every night of the week. Some evenings there is a line to get into clubs to hear her play – not an easy task in a city dominated by country and pop.

In order to refine her jazz style, Melani’s piano studies led her to the University of North Texas, UTA and prominent North Texas piano professors. She quickly built a reputation with her voice and style. Her solid performances and warm, inviting vocal delivery set her apart immediately. Melani rapidly became a first call vocalist amongst many of the area’s jazz orchestras.

Melani’s repertoire includes traditional jazz standards, sultry ballads, Latin rhythms, and her original jazz-pop compositions. She regularly entertained at Dallas’ most popular nightspots, including years at the Four Seasons Resort, the Warwick-Melrose, The Mansion, the Dallas Petroleum Club and Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille. In her early jazz years, Melani was the featured artist at a sold out performance at the Sammons Center program “Women in Jazz,” and also appeared on several local television spots. Melani Skybell is in demand outside of Dallas, and has performed at events in Atlanta, Georgia, Kingston, Jamaica, and the Chautauqua Institute of New York, to name a few.

A versatile and dynamic musician Mike Bogle was nominated for a Grammy Award for his arrangement of Chick Corea's composition Got A Match? recorded by the University of North Texas (UNT) One O’Clock Lab Band. He wrote his first big band chart at age 14, graduated from high school at age 16, and entered the University of Miami School of Studio Music and Jazz on a performance scholarship that same year. By age 18, Mike had already performed with Tom Jones, Burt Bacharach, Diana Ross, Linda Carter, and others. Dr. Bogle’s performance credits now include: Doc Severinsen, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Jaco Pastorius, Ira Sullivan, Pete Christlieb, Duffy Jackson, Bobby Caldwell, Mark Morganelli and the Jazz Forum All- Stars, The UTA Jazz Orchestra, The University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, The UNT One O’Clock Lab Band, and the Mike Bogle Orchestra. Mike recorded with many latin music artists and organizations in Miami including Willie Chirino and Lissette, Tania Records, Gustavo Rojas, and El Grupo Chequere.