6 PM Tuesday, January 24, 2023
654 Main St., Winsted, CT
The American Museum of Tort Law
Reception w/ Light Refreshments, Live Jazz / R&B: Jen Allen, Matt Dwonszyk, Linda Ransom, Josh Bruneau, Jonathan Barber, Kris Jensen, Jeremy Galloway
Short Presentation and Q&A Follow
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The Cool Justice Band
Jen Allen is a pianist, composer, author and educator. She frequently performs in New York, the Northeast US and in venues throughout the world, as the leader of her own groups or as a member of other creative music ensembles.
Notable appearances include the Winnipeg Jazz Festival, Cambridge Festival of the Arts, Greater Hartford Monday Night Jazz Series and Wexford Performing Arts Centre (Ireland). Jen has performed with many notable artists, including Don Braden, Jimmy Greene, Kendrick Oliver, Sarah Caswell, Camille Thurman, Freddie Hendrix, Nat Reeves, Kris Allen, Ike Sturm and Antoinette Montague.
In 2011, Jen was chosen as one of only eight pianists from around the world to participate in the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Workshop at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C, presenting a trio concert and working with Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lynne Arriale and Sherrie Maricle.
An active recording artist, Jen is featured on many albums including her debut, Pieces of Myself, Raise Up by collaboratively led Trio 149 as well as many albums as a sideman. Jen composes music for big bands, studio orchestras, string quartet and other smaller ensembles.
She has been commissioned to compose music for several universities and grade schools. She was a member of the prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in New York City, a colloquium of the foremost up-and-coming writers of large ensemble jazz music today.
In November of 2018 Jen was a composer-in-residence for St. Peter’s Church (NYC) Jazz Lauds and received a commission from Spark and Echo for her piece “Kurinji.” Starting in 2018 Jen has curated and produced a concert series in West Hartford, CT called “Bring It Home” that features musicians from all over the world, including Brazil, Romania and Italy in the company of local Connecticut musicians, all in collaboration with local visual artists.
In 2017, Jen was the music director and arranger for the Litchfield Jazz Festival Orchestra where she arranged seven pieces of music for a 10-piece ensemble. Jen has received degrees in performance and composition from The Hartt School and UMASS Amherst. She is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Trinity College in Hartford where she directs the Jazz Ensemble and teaches jazz history and music business. Jen is also Visiting Faculty at Bennington College where she directs the jazz ensemble, teaches jazz arranging and piano lessons.
Jen has also held positions at The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and the University of Hartford, and has presented master classes, clinics and served as a guest conductor at schools throughout the U.S. and world. Jen has been a senior teaching artist for Litchfield Performing Arts since 2010. Her first jazz piano method book was published through Alfred's Publishing entitled Sitting In: Jazz Piano (co-authored with Noah Baerman). The book was the recipient of Music Inc.Magazine's Editor's Choice Award 2015.
Born in Hartford, CT, Matt Dwonszyk started playing the electric bass at age 11. His journey into the world of jazz began at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School where he began playing the upright bass.
He also started attending the Artists Collective after school program playing in the Youth Jazz Orchestra. The Artist Collective, founded by jazz saxophone legend Jackie McLean, propelled Dwonszyk to continue his studies at the The Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at The University of Hartford. Dwonszyk quickly developed an exceptionally strong rapport with Professor Nat Reeves and Professor Steve Davis. Reeves instilled a strong sense of swing, conviction and vocabulary upon Dwonszyk while Davis would hire Dwonszyk for gigs at local venues around the Hartford area. This schooling inside and outside of the classroom helped Dwonszyk become one of the top call bassists in Connecticut.
After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies in 2013, Dwonszyk went on to obtain a Master’s of Music at SUNY Purchase College in New York where he studied with Professor's Todd Coolman, Doug Weiss, John Faddis and John Abercrombie. With the SUNY Purchase Big Band, Dwonszyk performed at the Blue Note featuring Terell Stafford and at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola featuring Steve Turee.
Dwonszyk would soon become a resident of Brooklyn, NY performing in some of New York's top jazz venues including Smalls, Smoke, Minton’s, Zinc Bar, Birdland and the Jazz Standard.
In 2015, Dwonszyk was accepted into the Bosyie Lowery Jazz Living Residency for his original compositions and was awarded in Down Beat Magazine for his arrangement of the jazz classic, “What A Wonderful World.” In 2018, Dwonszyk went on to record his debut record as a leader, entitled "Wonderful World," featuring the awarded arrangement as well as nine of his original compositions. He continues to perform and record with his group the "Dwonztet."
In 2018, Dwonszyk toured through Russia apart of the Rainy Days Jazz Festival and in 2019 he toured through Canada with the Oleg Butman Trio. His last tour was in 2020 with Jonathan Barber and Vision Ahead through the West Coast of the U.S.
Dwonszyk has performed at many well known festivals including the NYC Winter Jazz Festival, BRIC Jazz festival, Clifford Brown Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, the Jazz & Colors Festival at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, D.C Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Saskatoon Jazz Festival, Edmonton Jazz Festival, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Hartford Jazz Festival, Hartford Baby Grand Jazz Series, New Haven Jazz Festival and the Baikal Jazz Festival in Yakutsk, Siberia.
He has performed with numerous contemporaries as well as legendary jazz artists including Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, David Hazeltine, Anthony Wonsey, Rick Germanson, Hal Galper, Dave Kikoski, Donald Vega, Pete Malinverni, Steve Wilson, Abraham Burton, Javon Jackson, Gary Smulyan, Bill Saxton, Bennie Wallace, Wayne Escoffery, Mike Diruboo, Myron Walden, J.D. Allen, John Farnsworth, Steve Davis, Steve Turre, Joe Farnsworth, Carl Allen, Winard Harper, Herlin Riley, Willie Jones III, Joe Strasser, Dr. Eddie Henderson, Joe Magnarelli, Jeremy Pelt, Jumaane Smith, Wallace Roney, Freddie Hendrix and Duane Eubanks.
When Dwonszyk is not performing, he teaches Jazz Bass at Manchester Community College in Connecticut. He is called into coach ensembles at the University of Hartford Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and also teaches in the summer at Litchfield Jazz Camp and Bennie Wallace’s Back Country Jazz Program.
A native of New London, Connecticut, jazz vocalist Linda Ransom moved to Atlanta where she lived for over 20 years. In 2011, Jen was chosen as one of only eight pianists from around the world to participate in the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Workshop at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C, presenting a trio concert and working with Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lynne Arriale and Sherrie Maricle.
An active recording artist, Jen is featured on many albums including her debut, Pieces of Myself, Raise Up by collaboratively led Trio 149 as well as many albums as a sideman. Jen composes music for big bands, studio orchestras, string quartet and other smaller ensembles.
She has been commissioned to compose music for several universities and grade schools. She was a member of the prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in New York City, a colloquium of the foremost up-and-coming writers of large ensemble jazz music today.
In November of 2018 Jen was a composer-in-residence for St. Peter’s Church (NYC) Jazz Lauds and received a commission from Spark and Echo for her piece “Kurinji.” Starting in 2018 Jen has curated and produced a concert series in West Hartford, CT called “Bring It Home” that features musicians from all over the world, including Brazil, Romania and Italy in the company of local Connecticut musicians, all in collaboration with local visual artists.
In 2017, Jen was the music director and arranger for the Litchfield Jazz Festival Orchestra where she arranged seven pieces of music for a 10-piece ensemble. Jen has received degrees in performance and composition from The Hartt School and UMASS Amherst. She is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Trinity College in Hartford where she directs the Jazz Ensemble and teaches jazz history and music business. Jen is also Visiting Faculty at Bennington College where she directs the jazz ensemble, teaches jazz arranging and piano lessons.
Jen has also held positions at The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and the University of Hartford, and has presented master classes, clinics and served as a guest conductor at schools throughout the U.S. and world. Jen has been a senior teaching artist for Litchfield Performing Arts since 2010. Her first jazz piano method book was published through Alfred's Publishing entitled Sitting In: Jazz Piano (co-authored with Noah Baerman). The book was the recipient of Music Inc.Magazine's Editor's Choice Award 2015.
He also started attending the Artists Collective after school program playing in the Youth Jazz Orchestra. The Artist Collective, founded by jazz saxophone legend Jackie McLean, propelled Dwonszyk to continue his studies at the The Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at The University of Hartford. Dwonszyk quickly developed an exceptionally strong rapport with Professor Nat Reeves and Professor Steve Davis. Reeves instilled a strong sense of swing, conviction and vocabulary upon Dwonszyk while Davis would hire Dwonszyk for gigs at local venues around the Hartford area. This schooling inside and outside of the classroom helped Dwonszyk become one of the top call bassists in Connecticut.
After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies in 2013, Dwonszyk went on to obtain a Master’s of Music at SUNY Purchase College in New York where he studied with Professor's Todd Coolman, Doug Weiss, John Faddis and John Abercrombie. With the SUNY Purchase Big Band, Dwonszyk performed at the Blue Note featuring Terell Stafford and at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola featuring Steve Turee.
Dwonszyk would soon become a resident of Brooklyn, NY performing in some of New York's top jazz venues including Smalls, Smoke, Minton’s, Zinc Bar, Birdland and the Jazz Standard.
In 2015, Dwonszyk was accepted into the Bosyie Lowery Jazz Living Residency for his original compositions and was awarded in Down Beat Magazine for his arrangement of the jazz classic, “What A Wonderful World.” In 2018, Dwonszyk went on to record his debut record as a leader, entitled "Wonderful World," featuring the awarded arrangement as well as nine of his original compositions. He continues to perform and record with his group the "Dwonztet."
In 2018, Dwonszyk toured through Russia apart of the Rainy Days Jazz Festival and in 2019 he toured through Canada with the Oleg Butman Trio. His last tour was in 2020 with Jonathan Barber and Vision Ahead through the West Coast of the U.S.
Dwonszyk has performed at many well known festivals including the NYC Winter Jazz Festival, BRIC Jazz festival, Clifford Brown Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, the Jazz & Colors Festival at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, D.C Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Saskatoon Jazz Festival, Edmonton Jazz Festival, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Hartford Jazz Festival, Hartford Baby Grand Jazz Series, New Haven Jazz Festival and the Baikal Jazz Festival in Yakutsk, Siberia.
He has performed with numerous contemporaries as well as legendary jazz artists including Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, David Hazeltine, Anthony Wonsey, Rick Germanson, Hal Galper, Dave Kikoski, Donald Vega, Pete Malinverni, Steve Wilson, Abraham Burton, Javon Jackson, Gary Smulyan, Bill Saxton, Bennie Wallace, Wayne Escoffery, Mike Diruboo, Myron Walden, J.D. Allen, John Farnsworth, Steve Davis, Steve Turre, Joe Farnsworth, Carl Allen, Winard Harper, Herlin Riley, Willie Jones III, Joe Strasser, Dr. Eddie Henderson, Joe Magnarelli, Jeremy Pelt, Jumaane Smith, Wallace Roney, Freddie Hendrix and Duane Eubanks.
When Dwonszyk is not performing, he teaches Jazz Bass at Manchester Community College in Connecticut. He is called into coach ensembles at the University of Hartford Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and also teaches in the summer at Litchfield Jazz Camp and Bennie Wallace’s Back Country Jazz Program.
In Atlanta, her career spanned a variety of talents - she was a Director at Kid's Choice Early Childcare and the Director of the summer program for The Love of My Child Foundation.
Ransom started singing professionally in the 60s, with The Peter Deutchen Orchestra and the Artie Lee Orchestra of New York. She has recorded three albums throughout her career. She now resides in Hartford and performs with her own group, as well as with with Larry Willis, Steve Davis, and Ed Fast among others. Ransom has performed in around the United States and Europe, Japan, and the Caribbean.
While she considers herself a jazz vocalist, Ransom is known for her versions of Aretha Franklin compositions as well as soothing audiences with a Judy Garland-like approach. Whatever the occasion or song, Ransom masterfully floats through her performances all the while keeping the audience totally engaged.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESn3laFn6mI
Joshua Bruneau was born in Waterbury Center, Vermont. While growing up, Josh was frequently found on the baseball field.
After seeing a Time Life commercial, he was instantly drawn to classical music. Josh asked for classical tapes and records by composers like Bach, Mozart, and Chopin. His life took a dramatic turn when he was introduced to the trumpet and subsequently, jazz.
Josh began to study the art of music and taking trumpet lessons when he 10 years old. These formative years proved very important as Josh discovered many recordings of musicians such as John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. He immediately fell in love with these musicians and made a conscious decision to try to emulate these people’s playing.
He started forming his own groups and playing locally from a young age. He was soon traveling with a local big band. He honed his skills all through high school at Harwood Union High School in Duxbury, Vermont.
In the fall of 2006, Josh began his studies at the Jackie McLean Institute at the Hartt School. Josh was introduced to his two most important mentors, Nat Reeves and Steve Davis. He immediately started gigging around the Hartford area with local musicians and fellow students.
Josh received the opportunity to travel to Ireland with Nat in his freshman year. Ever since, Josh has been playing with his instructors, Nat and Steve, on a regular basis. That same year he played with Nat, Steve, Eric McPherson, Alan Palmer, and Jovan Alexandre opening for Dionne Warwick.
Because of his established relationship with his two mentors, Josh now frequents New York City to perform at world famous Jazz clubs such as Smoke and Smalls. September 2011 he played at the Detroit Jazz festival with another of his great mentors, Curtis Fuller. He has also shared the stage with artists such as Harold Mabern, Mike LeDonne, Eric Alexander, Joe Farnsworth, Carl Allen, John Webber, Ken Fowser, and Larry Willis to name a few. Now with the 2014 release of his debut album as a leader, Bright Idea (Cellar Live), Josh continues to look forward musically and push himself and his colleagues further.
New York City-based Jonathan Barber was voted the #1 Up-and-Coming Drummer of 2018 in Modern Drummer. Only 29 years old, he has already recorded and toured worldwide with such artists as Pat Metheny, Nicholas Payton, Buster Williams, Jeremy Pelt, Wallace Roney, Terrace Martin, Jennifer Holiday, Harold Mabern, Steve Davis, Stefon Harris and many more. Barber has also been called on for such significant performances as Jimmy Greene’s Ana Grace Project – with an all-star band comprised of Greene, Kenny Barron, John Patitucci, and Kurt Elling – and back-to-back sold-out concerts with the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Erykah Badu at the BAM Opera House.
In addition to his first-call status as a sideman, Barber has recently stepped forth as a composer and leader with his Vision Ahead band, featuring saxophonist Godwin Louis, guitarist Andrew Renfroe, bassist Matt Dwonszyk, and pianist Taber Gable.
In addition to his first-call status as a sideman, Barber has recently stepped forth as a composer and leader with his Vision Ahead band, featuring saxophonist Godwin Louis, guitarist Andrew Renfroe, bassist Matt Dwonszyk, and pianist Taber Gable.
Even with Barber’s history of high-profile gigs and recordings taken into consideration, DownBeat magazine calls Vision Ahead’s self-titled debut album his “greatest accomplishment to date.” Released on Rockwood Music Hall’s largest stage in May 2018, Vision Ahead is a powerful declaration of intent for a band that’s been making waves on the modern jazz scene since its debut performance at Smalls Jazz Club. The group’s blend of classic, swinging jazz with elements of gospel, rock, soul, and fusion is a compelling showcase of Barber’s broad stylistic range as a composer and performer. Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead was featured and headline the 2018 Rainy Days Jazz Festival held in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia.
http://www.themusic-shop.com/kris-jensen.html
Saxophonist and multi-wind artist, composer and arranger Kris Jensen is a versatile musician who has forged a diverse musical career. A veteran sideman to legends for nearly two decades now, Jensen has performed throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Bangkok, Thailand, and Switzerland. Kris is associated with many prominent artists in jazz and rock including the Allman Brothers Band – as well as the individual members’ bands (Gregg Allman and Friends, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, Dickey Betts and Great Southern)- trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson, and a host of others.
In 1996, Jensen was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. He has studied Jazz and African-American music at the University of Hartford, where he would later teach under the auspices of jazz saxophone legend Jackie McLean. Jensen continues to carry on the great tradition as both a performer and educator. Recent performances of particular note have included concerts or appearances with jazz legends such as trombonist Curtis Fuller, alto saxophonist Phil Woods, and pianist Larry Willis. He has appeared on New Jersey Public Television with Maynard Ferguson, on “Late Night with David Letterman” with Gregg Allman & Friends, and on stage with The Allman Brothers Band, The Dave Matthews Band, and with Warren Haynes and Govt. Mule.
Jensen keeps an active freelance performing schedule in addition to touring regularly with Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band with whom he can be seen monthly at the famous Iridium jazz club in New York City and at festivals and venues across the U.S. and beyond. He also serves on the music faculties of the Indian Mountain School, The Salisbury School, The Millbrook School, and in Hartford with the Bushnell “Jazzicians” student scholar program.
https://www.jeremygallowayguitar.com/about
Jeremy finished his master’s degree at the Hartt School of Music in May 2021, where he has studied under virtuosic musicians Nat Reeves, Rich Goldstein, Abraham Burton and many more. Coming out of the academic world as a young and ambitious guitarist and composer, he has only one goal when performing: to make people feel as happy and excited by listening to my music as he feels playing it.
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