Glenn Zaleski + James Johnson III

Glenn Zaleski is one of the most in-demand pianists in New York City jazz. Originally from Massachusetts, Glenn has played with contemporary jazz greats likes of Ravi Coltrane, Lage Lund, and Ari Hoenig.

His debut album, “My Ideal”, was released in March of 2015 and received critical acclaim: Downbeat Magazine named it “sublime”, Jazz Times called it, “an engaging set by a talent worth watching,” and the New York Times named the record a “strong statement,” praising its “fluent but unhurried sense of phrase”.

James Johnson III is described as a musical chameleon with wide-ranging talents in a variety of genres. His father, Dr. James Johnson Jr., a nationally known pianist and educator, sparked his passion for music and James began playing drums at 5 years old. James has performed with jazz masters George Coleman, James Moody, Geri Allen, Bob James, Kenny Garrett, Benny Golson, Mulgrew Miller, Bob Mintzer and Kenny Werner. James serves as Artist in Residence at The University of Pittsburgh School of Music and is faculty at the Afro American Music Institute—a Pittsburgh institution that preserves the heritage of African American music.

Paul Thompson has been playing bass professionally for over 25 years, including recording and touring stints with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine.  Recent playing credits include Hubert Laws, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Michael Feinstein, and Bob James, among others.  Currently, he can be seen playing around the Pittsburgh area with Salsamba!, THOTH Trio, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, in pit orchestras at the Byham and New Hazlett Theaters. Paul also teaches Jazz Bass at West Virginia University, Duquesne University, and West Virginia Weslyan College.

Bobby Selvaggio is one of the leading alto saxophone voices on today’s jazz scene. Bobby, who grew up in the Cleveland area, earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from Kent State University. While in New York, Bobby studied with Joe Lovano, Bobby Watson, Dick Oatts, and Maria Schneider. Northeast Ohio has now become his home base where he has toured extensively throughout the US and Canada with various working ensembles and musicians. He has dedicated himself to keeping jazz alive in Cleveland and his passion for jazz education has led him to serve as Director of Jazz Studies at Kent State University.