Walter Blanding (Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Clarinet) was born on August 14, 1971 in Cleveland, Ohio to a musical family and began playing the saxophone at age six. In 1981, he moved with his family to New York City, and by age 16, he was performing regularly with his parents at the Village Gate. Mr. Blanding attended LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and the Performing Arts and continued his studies at the New School for Social Research. Mr. Blanding lived in Israel for four years, where he had a major impact on the music scene, inviting great artists such as Louis Hayes, Eric Reed and others to perform. He also taught in several Israeli schools and toured the country with his ensemble. During this period, Newsweek described him as “Jazz’s Ambassador to Israel.” His first recording, Tough Young Tenors, was acclaimed as one of the best jazz albums of 1991. Since then, he has performed or recorded with many artists, including Cab Calloway, the Wynton Marsalis Septet, Marcus Roberts, Illinois Jacquet, Eric Reed, Roy Hargrove and others. His latest release, The Olive Tree, features fellow members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Chris Crenshaw (Trombone) was born on December 20, 1982. He is originally from Thomson, Georgia and currently resides in Saint Albans, New York. Ever since he was born, music has been his driving force. His mother Jeanette says that he did not speak a word until his sister Christian was born. He grew up with music all around him and of various influences and started playing piano on his own at the age of three. Teachers and students noticed his gift throughout his schooling. His first gig was as a keyboardist in his father, Casper’s, gospel group called the Echoes of Joy. Chris Crenshaw picked up trombone at 11 years old and hasn't let go of it since. Receiving top honors along the way, he graduated from Thomson High School in 2001 and from Valdosta State University with a bachelor's degree in jazz performance in 2005. He received top honors at VSU including Most Outstanding Student in the VSU Music Department and College of the Arts. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in jazz studies at The Juilliard School. Mr. Crenshaw was the 2004 Eastern Trombone Workshop National Jazz Solo Competition winner. His teachers include Dr. Douglas Farwell and Mr. Wycliffe Gordon and he has worked with the likes of Gerald Wilson, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Printup, Vincent Gardner, Wycliffe Gordon, Jiggs Whigham, Carl Allen, Victor Goines, Marc Cary, Walter Blanding, Wessell Anderson, Cassandra Wilson, Eric Reed, and many others.

Vincent R. Gardner (Trombone) was born in Chicago in 1972 and raised in Virginia. His family had a strong musical background, including his mother, his brother, and his father, Burgess Gardner, a trumpeter and music educator who has been very active on the Chicago music scene since the 1960s. Singing in church from an early age, he began playing piano when he was six, and soon switched to the violin, saxophone, and French horn before finally deciding on the trombone at age 12. Mr. Gardner became interested in jazz while attending high school and upon graduating went on to Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, Florida and the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. In college, he took a summer job performing with a jazz band at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, where he caught the ear of Mercer Ellington, who hired him on his first professional job. After graduating in 1996, he moved to New York to pursue his professional career. Mr. Gardner has performed, toured, and/or recorded with The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Bobby McFerrin, The Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Foster, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Chaka Kahn, A Tribe Called Quest, Nancy Wilson, McCoy Tyner, Nicholas Payton, Illinois Jacquet, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Flanagan, Marcus Roberts, Matchbox 20, Jimmy Heath, Lauryn Hill and others. He has been a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since 2000.

Victor Goines (Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Bb Clarinet and Bass Clarinet) Clarinetist, saxophonist and educator, Victor L. Goines is Juilliard’s first director of Jazz Studies, and conductor of the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, an integral part of Juilliard’s two jazz programs: the Institute for Jazz Studies and the new bachelor of music degree in jazz studies. Mr. Goines has been a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and The Wynton Marsalis Septet since 1993, touring throughout the world and recording over 20 releases including Wynton Marsalis’ Pulitzer Prize winning recording Blood on the Fields (Columbia Records, 1997), and Ken Burns’ acclaimed documentaries, Jazz and Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. He is an acclaimed solo artist and leads his own quartet and quintet. As a leader, Mr. Goines has five recordings, the latest being New Adventures. In 2000, Mr. Goines was commissioned by Juilliard’s Dance Division to compose a musical work in celebration of their 50th Anniversary. The composition Base Line was premiered in 2002 to support the original choreography by Juilliard alumni Robert Battle. Born in 1961 and raised in New Orleans, he began studying clarinet at age eight. He received a bachelor of music education degree from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1984, and a master of music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia in 1990. In addition to performing and recording, Mr. Goines is deeply committed to his work in jazz education, and became an education consultant for Jazz at Lincoln Center in 1998 and is a member of Juilliard’s jazz studies faculty. He has been a member of the faculties of Florida A & M University, University of New Orleans, Loyola University and Xavier University, and has conducted clinics and workshops around the world. Mr. Goines has recorded and/or performed with Terence Blanchard, Ellis Marsalis, Bo Diddley, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Green, Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Diana Ross, Branford Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Ray Charles, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bob Dylan, James Moody, Dianne Reeves and a host of other renowned musicians and ensembles.

Carlos Henriquez (Bass) was born in 1979 in the Bronx, New York. After having studied classical guitar in junior high school, he started playing bass at The Juilliard School’s Music Advancement Program. Mr. Henriquez entered LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he performed in the LaGuardia Concert Jazz Ensemble, which earned first place in the Jazz at Lincoln Center First Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival in 1996, and second place the following year. Mr. Henriquez has performed with artists as diverse as Steve Turre, Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente, Carlos Santana, and George Benson. He traveled with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra during its 20-city Summer 1998 tour through the United States, Canada and Japan. Mr. Henriquez was also featured on the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Fall 1998 World Tour, which traveled to 33 cities in Europe, South America, and the U.S. Since then, he has recorded, toured, and performed with artists including Wynton Marsalis, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Danilo Perez and Celia Cruz.

Sherman Irby (Saxophone) was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and chose the viola as his first instrument. Encouraged by his mother to explore music, Mr. Irby later studied the guitar and piano, which he played in church. Although he was studying classical music in school, playing gospel music in church, and R&B at dances, he was influenced by listening to Charlie Parker to turn to jazz. At Clark-Atlanta University, he played in the school jazz orchestra and performed with Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Rouse and Kenny Burrell. In 1994, he moved to New York and played with the Boys Choir of Harlem and the following year he landed the second alto chair with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. In 1996 and 1997, he participated in Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program. He has toured with Marcus Roberts and worked with Ann Hampton-Callaway, the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York City Ballet. Also in 1997 Mr. Irby joined Roy Hargrove’s band, performing with the Grammy award-winning “Crisol” project. Mr. Irby stayed in Hargrove’s group for the following three years touring. Mr. Irby has recorded three records to date: Full Circle (Blue Note), Big Mama’s Biscuits (Blue Note), and Black Warrior (BWR). The New York Times voted his record, Big Mama’s Biscuits, as one of the top 10 records of 1998. He continues to tour with his own group and promote Black Warrior.

Ali Jackson Jr. (Drums) developed his talent on drums at an early age. In 1993, he graduated from Cass Tech High School and was the recipient of Michigan’s prestigious Artserv “Emerging Artist” award in 1998. As a child, he was selected as the soloist for the “Beacons Of Jazz” concert that honored legend Max Roach at New School University. After earning an undergraduate degree in music composition at the New School University for Contemporary Music, he studied under Elvin Jones and Max Roach. Mr. Jackson has been part of Young Audiences, a program that educates New York City youth about jazz. He has performed and recorded with artists including Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Harry Connick, Jr., KRS-1, Marcus Roberts, Joshua Redman, Vinx, Seito Kinen Orchestra conductor Seiji Ozawa, Diana Krall and the New York City Ballet. Most recently his production skills can be heard on George Benson’s GRP release Irreplaceable. Mr. Jackson is also featured on the Wynton Marsalis Quartet The Magic Hour (Blue Note, 2004). Mr. Jackson collaborated with jazz greats Cyrus Chestnut, Reginald Veal and James Carter on Gold Sounds (Brown Brothers, 2005) that transformed indie alternative rock band Pavement songs into unique virtuosic interpretations, with the attitude of the church and juke joint. Mr. Jackson currently performs with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis Quintet, “phenom ensemble,” Horns in the Hood and leads his own Ali Jackson Quartet. He also hosts “Jammin’ with Jackson” a series for young musicians at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy Club Coca-Cola. He is also the voice of “Duck Ellington,” a character in the Penguin book series Baby Loves Jazz released last year.

Sean Jones (Trumpet) earned a degree in classical trumpet performance from Youngstown State University then went on to earn a master's degree from Rutgers University. He teaches at Duquesne University. In his young career, Mr. Jones has worked with the Chico O'Farrill Orchestra, the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, the Louis Armstrong Legacy Band, Charles Fambrough (was featured on Mr. Fambrough’s release Live At Zanzibar Blue), Joe Lovano, and the International Jazz Quintet, in addition to leading his own groups. He has released a debut album, Eternal Journey, on Marck Avenue records.

Ryan Kisor (Trumpet) was born on April 12, 1973, in Sioux City, Iowa and began playing trumpet at age four. In 1990, he won first prize at the Thelonious Monk Institute’s first annual Louis Armstrong Trumpet Competition. Mr. Kisor enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music in 1991, where he studied with trumpeter Lew Soloff. He has performed and/or recorded with the Mingus Big Band, the Gil Evans Orchestra, Horace Silver, Gerry Mulligan, Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Philip Morris Jazz All-Stars, and others. As well as being an active sideman, Mr. Kisor has recorded several albums as a leader, including Battle Cry (1997), The Usual Suspects (1998), and Point of Arrival (2000). He has been a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since 1994.

Ted Nash (saxophones, clarinets, and flutes) was born in Los Angeles into a musical family—his father, Dick Nash, and uncle, Ted Nash, were well-known jazz and studio musicians. He first came to New York at the age of 18 and soon after, released his first album, Conception, as a leader. During his first three years in New York he became a regular member of the Gerry Mulligan Big Band, the National Jazz Ensemble, and the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, the latter an association that would last for more than ten years. It was in this fertile environment that Mr. Nash began to write his first arrangements. In 1994, Nash was commissioned by the Davos Musik Festival (Switzerland) to compose for a string quartet in a jazz setting. This commission was the inspiration for Nash’s CD Rhyme and Reason, which was voted one of the top five CDs of 1999 by Jazz Times magazine. Currently, Mr. Nash is a member of both the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the Jazz Composers Collective, a musician-run, non-profit organization dedicated to presenting the original works of composers who are pushing the boundaries of their self-expression. His CDs have received many awards, including top ten CD lists in The New York Times, Village Voice, Boston Globe, New York Newsday, The New Yorker, Downbeat, and Jazz Times magazine. Mr. Nash has been cited as a “rising star” in the tenor sax category of the 2003 Downbeat critics poll. His most recent release (March 2005), La Espada de la Noche, featuring his band Odeon, has received much critical acclaim, and quickly moved to the #1 position on the CMJ radio chart.

Dan Nimmer (piano) was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1982. He began playing the piano at age 10. His family inherited a piano and he started playing by ear; he was, if you will, “called” by the instrument. Soon, Mr. Nimmer was given classical lessons and at the age of 15 he began to study jazz at the Milwaukee Conservatory of Music. His parents took him to local jazz clubs so that he could hear the music and also eventually get opportunities to sit in and meet people. It wasn’t too long before he started working with Milwaukee legend, saxophonist and his mentor, Berkley Fudge. Upon graduation from high school, Mr. Nimmer studied music at Northern Illinois University for two years. He was working in Chicago clubs nightly and expanding his contacts and repertoire. Soon, he joined guitarist Fareed Haque’s band, with whom he has been touring and recording every since. Mr. Nimmer made the move to New York City in January of 2004. He was quickly discovered in New York. He began working with Wynton Marsalis in March of 2005. Mr. Nimmer has appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Vienne Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson, Larry Ridley, Ed Thigpen, Frank Wess, Fareed Haque, Wess Anderson, Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Elling and Carl Allen.

Marcus Printup (Trumpet) was born and raised in Conyers, Georgia. He had his first musical experiences hearing the fiery gospel music his parents sang in church, and he later discovered jazz as a senior in high school. While attending the University of North Florida on a music scholarship, he won the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Trumpet competition. In 1991, Mr. Printup’s life changed drastically when he met his mentor to this day, the great pianist Marcus Roberts. Mr. Roberts introduced him to Wynton Marsalis, which led to his induction into the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in 1993. Mr. Printup has performed and/or recorded with Betty Carter, Dianne Reeves, Eric Reed, Cyrus Chestnut, Wycliffe Gordon and Mr. Roberts among others. Mr. Printup has several records as a leader, Song for the Beautiful Woman, Unveiled, Hub Songs, Nocturnal Traces and his most recent, The New Boogaloo. He made his screen debut in the 1999 movie Playing by Heart and recorded on the film’s soundtrack.

Joe Temperley (Baritone and Soprano Saxophones, Bass Clarinet) was born in Scotland and first achieved prominence in the United Kingdom as a member of Humphrey Lyttelton’s band from 1958 to 1965, which toured the U.S. in 1959. In 1965, he came to New York City, where he performed and/or recorded with Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Joe Henderson, Duke Pearson, the Jazz Composer’s Orchestra, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra and Clark Terry, among many others. In October 1974, he toured and recorded with The Duke Ellington Orchestra as a replacement for Harry Carney. Mr. Temperley played in the Broadway show Sophisticated Ladies in the 1980s, and his film soundtrack credits include the Cotton Club, Biloxi Blues, Brighton Beach Memoirs, When Harry Met Sally and Tune In Tomorrow, composed by Wynton Marsalis. Mr. Temperley is a mentor and a cofounder of the FIFE Youth Jazz Orchestra program in Scotland, which now enrolls 70 young musicians ages seven to 17 playing in three full-size bands. Mr. Temperley has released several albums as a leader, including Nightingale (1991), Sunbeam and Thundercloud with pianist Dave McKenna (1996), With Every Breath (1998) and Double Duke (1999) with several fellow Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra members. He is an original member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and serves on the faculty of the Juilliard Institute for Jazz Studies.