Eric started piano lessons at the age of six, took up the clarinet three years later and switched to alto sax three years after that. The tenor sax became his obsession while studying in college with Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, Rufus Reid, and others. In 1991, Eric placed second in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, helping to launch his career as a professional jazz musician, playing with a variety of organ trios on Chicago’s South Side. That same year, he released his first album as a leader, while also appearing on numerous releases as a sideman, eventually adding producer and composer credits to his résumé. He appears on upwards of a hundred albums. Among his influences are Charlie Parker, George Coleman, and John Coltrane. Living in NYC, Eric is active in the club scene there, while also continuing to tour internationally. His latest CD is Touching.

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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Shelly was born in Cleveland, son of trumpet player Jay Berg. At 6, he entered the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied classical piano. He earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Houston School of Music. He has recorded a number of critically acclaimed albums. His CD Blackbird (2005) was jazz radio’s most-played CD of the year and garnered “Record of the Year” and “Artist of the Year” nominations. In 2013, Shelly was a Grammy® nominee for Best Instrumental Arrangement for his work with Lorraine Feather and, in fact, Shelly is widely recognized for his collaborations with jazz vocalists, having recorded and arranged for Patti Austin, Nancy Wilson, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, Monica Mancini, Dionne Warwick, Tierney Sutton and many others. He maintains a busy, worldwide schedule of jazz festival and club performances, having appeared with Ray Brown, Louie Bellson, Eddie Daniels, Woody Herman, Arturo Sandoval, Clark Terry and many others. In addition to composing and orchestrating for jazz, pop, film & TV, and performing in both jazz and classical genres, Shelly is also Dean and Professor at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he is the architect of an innovative curriculum and educational vision that are attracting wide attention. Shelly’s latest CD is The Music of Gershwin – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Among our most frequently reinvited musical guests, Ann continues to delight Vail audiences with her gorgeous voice, musical wit and iconic selections from the American Songbook. Her performances showcase her warmth, spontaneous creativity and passionate delivery of standards, jazz classics and originals. Ann has been a special guest performer with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood and has sung with many of the world's top orchestras and big bands. Ann recently debuted her latest symphony show "The Streisand Songbook" with The Boston Pops and is currently touring with them. Ann is joined by Eric Gunnison (piano), Ken Walker (bass) and Paul Romaine (drums). Ann’s latest CD is At Last.

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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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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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Jazz pianist, composer and Grammy®-winning arranger Bill Cunliffe is known for his innovative and swinging recordings and compositions. Bill began his career as pianist and arranger with the Buddy Rich Big Band and worked with Frank Sinatra, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson and James Moody. He has since established himself as a solo artist and bandleader, with more than a dozen albums under his name. Bill’s recordings show his affinity for Latin rhythms while paying homage to some of his musical heroes including Paul Simon, Bud Powell and Oliver Nelson. Master of multiple musical genres, a recent film project was the score for “On the Shoulders of Giants”, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 2011 documentary. Bill currently plays with his trio, his big band and his Latin band, Imaginación, and performs in the US and around the world as a leader and sideman. Bill has received four Grammy® nominations and two Emmy® nominations. He was awarded a Grammy® for Best Instrumental Arrangement for “West Side Story Medley,” on the album Resonance Big Band Plays Tribute to Oscar Peterson (Resonance Records). He was nominated for a Grammy® again in 2010 for Best Instrumental Composition for his concerto for trumpet and orchestra, fourth stream … La Banda, performed by Terell Stafford and the Temple University Symphony Orchestra. Born in Andover, MA, Bill earned a Master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music. Bill also composes classical music, having written and recorded many compositions including a three-movement “Romantic” Fantasy for piano and orchestra and “Viva Mexico” for orchestra. He performs his own distinctive arrangement of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” with orchestras and plays with his group, Trimotif. Bill is a winner of the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition and is a jazz studies professor at Cal State Fullerton. This is Bill’s 17^th year teaching at the Vail Jazz Workshop. Recent albums include The Blues and the Abstract Truth, Take 2, and That Time of Year.

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SaRon Crenshaw, a powerful and commanding entertainer, has a large East Coast following where he performs regularly at a wide variety of jazz and blues festivals and venues, and in many of New York’s best jazz and blues clubs. In 2010 and 2011, SaRon had the honor of opening up for Robert Cray and B.B. King and quickly won over audiences with his soulful acoustic performances. SaRon’s first love is the Blues and he has been inspired by some of the greatest singers and players of all time; B.B. King, Albert King, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Buddy Guy to name a few. He is a powerful entertainer and is never afraid to venture out into the audience during his performance. SaRon’s latest release is Tight, Cranky & Loose.

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