One of the most popular and highly regarded musicians in Chicago, percussionist/drummer Ernie Adams is an experienced, high profile all-styles drummer, who has performed and recorded with many of the world’s great musicians. Known for perfect timing, his solid groove, and brilliant technique, Ernie combines his percussion mastery with great musical taste and a wonderful personality. Having graduated as a jazz major from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Ernie has been a Jazz Mentor at Ravinia since 1995, tutoring young drummers and percussionists. He has performed, recorded, and toured with Ramsey Lewis, Al DiMiola, Joe Williams, Billy Dickens, Arturo Sandoval, Steve Cole, Dianne Reeves, Stanley Turrentine, Ahmad Jamal, Richie Cole, James Moody, Joe Zawinul, Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Orbert Davis, and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. Ernie has played on three CDs and a DVD with The Al DiMeola Electric Band, as well as world tours for that band from 1996 to 2006. He has also played for 12 years with Ramsey Lewis and is featured on two of his CDs.

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Born in France to a French father and Dominican mother, Cyrille’s vocal stylings combine the driving force of Dominican rhythms with her fascination for the swing of the French Gypsies.  She placed second in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition of 2010 and has already released 4 CDs, including 2 with Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo.  During her childhood, Cyrille was raised in France, Africa and Larchmont, NY.  When home in Fontainbleau, France, she became exposed to the gypsy’s jazz festival in honor of Django Reinhardt who lived there.  She later moved to her mother’s native Dominican Republic where she developed a strong following for her jazz singing.  Enrolling in SUNY Purchase Jazz Conservancy was a turning point for Cyrille, who continued to return to the Dominican Republic each chance she got to return to her loyal fans.  In 2006, she arranged a backpacking trip where she and her fellow musicians played their way through Spain, France and Italy as they travelled.  In 2007, Cyrille participated in the Montreux voice competition, winning both first prize and the special public prize.  Cyrille has become a regular in the New York jazz scene, appearing regularly at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Iridium, and Birdland with musicians including Joel Frahm, Steve Davis, Spike Wilner, Tom Kennedy and Anat Cohen.

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Heather Ballew & Stephen Newcomb are award-winning professional swing dancers and dance educators who have performed with a number of high caliber dance teams, including 23 Skidoo.  Heather keeps a busy schedule as performer, director and choreographer, having specialized in swing since 2000.  Heather competes internationally and when home in Denver, teaches ballroom, Latin and swing dance.  Stephen began dancing in 2005 and has distinguished himself on the national dance circuit for his mastery of technique and nuance, while pushing the boundaries of ballet, modern, hip hop, and African styles of movement and connection.  He is the co-owner of Boulder Swing Dance since 2011 and has taught there since 2009.  He taught at Lindy on the Rocks and Don’t Stop Workshop in 2011.  Stephen has taught swing dance at the Colorado School of Mines and has recently been a guest lecturer at the University of Colorado and Pikes Peak Community College.

Born in Orange, Texas to a family whose female members all played piano, Marcia grew up in the small town of Vinton, Louisiana, right across the border from Texas. She began taking piano lessons at age five, playing old Tin Pan Alley tunes from her grandmother's collection. From her aunt, Marcia heard more modern and popular music, but it wasn't until she was 13 that Marcia discovered the blues while watching the soulful and spirited Irma Thomas. Since those early days, Marcia has created her own music, mixed with equal parts of simmering soul fervor and two-fisted piano pounding. Her deeply emotive vocals and poignant songwriting make her a unique, wildly popular performer who combines groove-laden New Orleans R&B with driving Gulf Coast blues. A five-time Grammy® nominee, she knows how to raise roofs and tear down walls with her infectious, intelligent and deeply emotional brand of southern boogie, rollicking, roadhouse blues and heartfelt ballads. Over the course of her three-decade career, Marcia has earned a global, intensely loyal following. Her latest album, released in 2012, is Hot Tamale Baby, the follow up to her Grammy®-nominated Roadside Attractions. Don Bennett, bass/vocals, Mike Schermer, guitar/vocals, Damien Llanes, drums/vocals, Thad Scott, saxophone.

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Miche (“Mickey”) is a product of the rich musical heritage of her hometown, Detroit, where she was the founder and former lead singer of a women’s jazz band and was a protégé of several noted Motown musicians.  As a singer, she has worked with Milt Hinton, Lionel Hampton, Regina Carter, and James Carter.  As an actor, she has portrayed some of the greatest divas of the 20th Century including Billie Holiday, Valaida Snow, Ma Rainey, and Bessie Smith.   In addition to singing and acting, Miche is a songwriter, arranger and musical director.  She plays the lead and is the Musical Director for “The Devil’s Music:  The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith” which received rave reviews in Manhattan, West Palm Beach, FL and Hartford, CT.  It placed third in the Daily News Top Ten Off Broadway shows for 2011. Miche has recently recorded Divas Out of Bounds.  Miche Braden will perform with the Ken Walker Quartet which includes Jeff Jenkins, piano, Ken Walker, bass, Ricky Chiaraluce, tenor sax, and Chris Lee, drums.

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Hard swinging and uniquely inventive, The Brubeck Brothers Quartet is rooted in straight-ahead jazz, seasoned with explorations of unconventional time signatures while integrating the influences of funk, blues and world music.  Fondly referred to as BBQ, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet is an exciting jazz group featuring two members of one of America’s most accomplished musical families, Dan Brubeck (drums) and Chris Brubeck (bass & trombone). Guitarist Mike DeMicco, and pianist Chuck Lamb, complete this dynamic quartet. They are frequently heard on NPR and have performed at concert series, colleges, and jazz festivals across North America and Europe including the Newport, Detroit, Ravinia, Las Vegas, Sedona, Spokane & Monterey Jazz Festivals. The group’s creativity, technique and improvisation can be heard in their uncompromising music, which reflects their dedication to melody, rhythm, culture and the spontaneous spirit of jazz. Their latest release is Classified.

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Wilfredo Campa was born and raised in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, where he used to organize concerts by enlisting neighborhood kids and family musicians.  His early love for music, dance and songwriting flourished as he surrounded himself with remarkable musicians and embarked on international tours in Germany, Finland, Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands and Martinique.  Beginning in 1998, Wil became the lead singer of the Cuban band, Maraca, touring predominantly in the United States, Canada, and Latin America for seven years.  During that time, he shared the stage of major jazz festivals with Winton Marsalis, Poncho Sanchez, the Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Natalie Cole, Michael Miller, Joe Lovano, Govani Hidalgo, Jimmy Bosh, and Jose Alberto el Canario.  His remarkable stage presence and energy is at the front of his internationally acclaimed Cuban 13 piece orchestra, which he formed in 2005.  His Grammy®-nominated music is influenced by the styles of the ‘40s and ‘70s eras, creating a unique sound and rhythm that galvanizes audiences wherever the orchestra performs.  Wil Campa’s latest release is Todo Es Posible.

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Master of a family of reed instruments, from sopranino to contrabass saxophones, and contrabass and bass clarinets, Detroit native James Carter has electrified the jazz world. Although fueled by a deep respect and intimate knowledge of the traditions of jazz, James is playing a major role in keeping jazz fresh, relevant and with an eye on the future. He first toured Europe with the International Jazz Band at the age of 16. He has performed, toured and/or recorded with Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, DeeDee Bridgewater, Cyrus Chestnut, Regina Carter, and Kathleen Battle. James is also an authority on vintage horns, owning an extensive collection. Among his recent releases are At The Crossroads, and Caribbean Rhapsody.

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Born in Los Angeles, alto saxophonist Jeff Clayton cites the “emotional majesty” of his childhood Baptist church as a major musical inspiration. Jeff took a break from studying oboe at California State University Northridge to tour with Stevie Wonder. Jeff credits saxophonists Johnny Hodges and Cannonball Adderley as his most significant jazz influences, along with trumpeter Thad Jones and bassist Ray Brown. He co-leads the Grammy®-nominated Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with brother John and drummer Jeff Hamilton and is co-leader of the Clayton Brothers Quintet. In demand as a touring and studio musician, Jeff has recorded with Wonder, Kurt Elling, Gladys Knight, Kenny Rogers, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Michael Jackson, Patti Labelle, Madonna and Earth Wind & Fire. He has worked with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton and Lena Horne, and had a short stint with Count Basie & His Orchestra. Jeff has toured with Gene Harris, Dianne Reeves, Joe Cocker, B.B. King and Ray Charles and was a member of the Philip Morris Superband from 1989-91. He is featured on Ray Brown’s 1990 release Evergreen recorded with Milt Jackson and on all of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra releases as well as the Clayton Brothers Quartet/Quintet releases, including Grammy®-nominated Brother to Brother on the ArtistShare label and the recently released, Grammy®-nominated The New Song and Dance also on the ArtistShare label. This is Jeff’s 17^th year teaching at the Vail Jazz Workshop.

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Los Angeles native John Clayton began seriously studying the bass at 16 with Ray Brown. At 19, the Grammy® winner and eight-time Grammy® nominee became the bassist for Henry Mancini’s television series “The Mancini Generation.” After receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in double bass in 1975 from the University of Indiana, John toured with Monty Alexander and Count Basie & His Orchestra. He moved to Amsterdam and was principal bassist in the Amsterdam Philharmonic for five years. John’s work as a composer and arranger has been guided by, among others, Robert Farnon, Count Basie, Johnny Mandel, Mancini, Marty Paich and Frank Foster. He has written and arranged music for Diana Krall, Dee Dee Bridgewater (including her Grammy®-winning Dear Ella), Natalie Cole, Regina Carter, Milt Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones, George Benson, Paul McCartney and Dr. John. He has received commissions from the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, the American Jazz Philharmonic, the Iceland Symphony, the Metropole Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Big Band, the Richmond Symphony and the Amsterdam Philharmonic, among others. He is co-leader of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Clayton Brothers Quintet. He is president of the International Bassist Association and artistic director of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and Centrum Jazz Workshop. John is Director of Education and a Board member of the Vail Jazz Foundation and Director of the Vail Jazz Workshop for the past 17 years. Recent releases include the Grammy®-nominated albums Brother to Brother and The New Song and Dance, and he is featured on Paul McCartney’s latest project Kisses on the Bottom.

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