Hailing from Fort Worth, TX, Ginny Mac fronts a dynamic group that brings a fresh and exciting twist to vocal and instrumental stylings in the Country & Western Swing, Americana, Hot Jazz, and International music genres. Ginny is also a former member of the two-time Grammy Award winning group Brave Combo based in Denton, TX. She endorses Menghini s.r.l. Scandalli Accordions based in Castelfidardo, Italy.
Ginny has recorded four albums; the newest release in Spring 2014, “On The Street Where You Live,” is a collection of classic tunes and originals, featuring many of her friends and greatest musical heroes. The project includes Grammy Award winners Woody Paul and Joey Miskulin (Riders In The Sky), legendary Nashville fiddler Buddy Spicher, the great bassist Bob Moore (Roy Orbison), and several of Nashville’s premier musicians. “It was an unforgettable experience,” she says, “I was fortunate to learn so much and make music with these wonderful people.”
When she is not busy with an active touring schedule, Ginny is writing and arranging new original music for an upcoming album and collaborating on multiple musical projects. Her other passions include blogging, painting, and recently, exploring the world of photography. "I find inspiration in the world around me," she says. "Whether it is a stranger sitting on a park bench, or the shadow a broken chair makes on the sidewalk, there is beauty in ordinary, everyday things. And I love the way inspiration from my other interests finds its way into my music."
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.
Julie Bonk is one of those rare musicians who expresses from deep within her soul, giving unique life and color to everything she plays. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy where she developed her love for Jazz and Blues. Her studies continued at UNT where she received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Performance. Currently living in Texas, Ms. Bonk is a well-respected and accomplished piano teacher in Jazz and Blues improvisation, composition, music theory, performance techniques and vocal styling. Some of her better-known students have included Grammy Award Winner Norah Jones, Scott Hoying from Pentatonix (The Sing Off Winner) Matt Johnson, Claire Fowler EMI Records and Amy Abbott Owsley (American Chills). Julie remains in high demand for performing. The CD 'Different Shades of Blue' features songs closest to her heart as well as some examples of her soulful originals.
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.
Kent Ellingson has been a part of the North Texas music scene since arriving to the area in the early 1980’s. A graduate of the University of North Texas, Kent has performed in jazz groups for years and played in concert with many jazz greats, including Randy Brecker, Kevin Mahogany, Clark Terry, and Greg Bissonett. Kent is a full-time music instructor at Dallas ISD’s famed Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTWHS), teaching AP music theory and jazz piano and leading the jazz singers group. He headed BTWHS’s music department from 2004 to 2009 and also taught at Woodrow Wilson High School. Today, in addition to grooming future jazz stars at BTWHS, Kent teaches jazz piano at Collin College in Plano and Eastfield College in Mesquite, where he was featured in a solo jazz piano concert last summer.
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.
LINNY NANCE is…
The youngest of 4 brothers,
He was born into a family rich in music: Trombone, acoustic bass, congas and drums. Taking up piano at 8 years old and trumpet at 11, MUSIC has always given Linny's creativity and passion a way around cerebral palsy.
"I thrive on what differences bring."
Linny began his professional career with Little Joe Blue; Since then, he has shared the stage and/or studio with Universal Music recording artist Lucky Peterson, Yarborough and Peoples, James Ingram (on a Patti LaBelle tour), Grammy nominated Breggett Rideau, blues artist Tutu Jones, Shanachie Entertainment recording artist Pamela Williams,Concord Records Artist Ashleigh Smith, Rendezvous recording artist Tom Braxton, Bernard Wright, Bobby Sparks and a variety of other talented acts. Linny has played all over Europe, Japan, Canada, and the Caribbean: his performance credits include the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Jazzhaus, the Montreal Jazz festival...
Linny stays very busy. He likes it that way.
As a professional musician, Linny Nance works out of his Dallas studio, writing, composing and producing for R&B groups, jazz, rap and gospel artists
Recently, Linny did showcased his talents in “The look of Love” & “Elixir”, albums of Shanachie Entertainment recording artist Saxtress Pamela Williams; also in “Darling Forever” JSP recording artist Tamara Peterson's first solo release.
Last but not least, Linny Nance leads his own band, Network.
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.
Berklee College of Music graduate Michael Adam Palma is a powerhouse pianist, composer, educator and producer living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Palma has played with heavy hitters such as Wynton Marsalis, Greg Osby, Mark Turner, Jimmy Cobb, Tootie Health, George Garzone, Roy Hargrove, Jason Palmer, Jiggs Whigman, Paquito D'Rivera, Ralph Peterson, Rich Perry and Hal Crook. He has toured the United States as well as Japan, Spain, and France. Palma spent one year in Brooklyn, New York where he performed at iconic venues including The Blue Note, Cafe Vivaldi, and Kitano. He has been a featured artist at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Beantown Jazz Festival, Gene Harris Jazz Festival, and Denton Arts and Jazz Festival as well as several international jazz festivals in both France and Japan. In 2011, Palma served as a faculty member at the prestigious University of North Texas in their Jazz Studies Department
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.
