Jimmy’s Band

Jimmy’s Band is named in honor of NYC’s legendary jazz trombonist, James “Jimmy” Stowe, who succumbed to prostate cancer at the end of a five year battle at age 61. During his treatment, each of his brothers Phillip, Ralph, and Wendell, have undergone a successful prostatectomy, precipitated by the benefits of an early cancer screening. It was the untimely loss of Jimmy that was the impetus for the creation of Jazz4PCA. These featured musicians have donated their craftsmanship, creativity and favor to assist with accomplishing Jazz4PCA’s mission – advocating for men’s wellness and early detection for prostate cancer.

Nat Adderley Jr. – Composer

Born in jazz royalty as the son and nephew of jazz greats trumpeter Nat Adderley and saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Nat Adderley Jr. is perhaps best known for his composer/arranger/production work with Luther Vandross. Nat composed and arranged Luther’s first top 20 pop hit, “Stop to Love”, along with other popular Luther songs, including “Wait for Love”, the Grammy-nominated “Give me the Reason”, and “The Closer I Get To You”, Luther’s duet with Beyonce Knowles which won a Grammy in 2004 for best R&B performance by a duo or group. Nat was Luther’s close friend and his musical director from 1981 until his death. Nat recorded, performed, arranged, and produced successfully with many other artists including Kirk Whalum, Natalie Cole, Johnny Gill, Aretha Franklin, and the Temptations. Moreover, all the piano heard in the Broadway production of August Wilson’s Piano Lesson performed by Nat Adderley Jr. www.natadderleyjr.com

Bri Blvck – Afro-Hip-Hop Violinist/Vocalist

Bri Blvck is an Afro-futuristic Hip-hop Violinist/Vocalist. She began singing at a young age and later learned violin and music production in her hometown Charlotte, NC. She attended an arts school where she received classical training and went on study music education on the collegiate level at UNC Charlotte and Elizabeth City State University. She fuses elements of her southern roots, hip-hop, classical, jazz, and R&B into a stlye that is almost percussive and uniquely her own. After a viral video of Bri playing Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” was reposted on Lizzo’s instagram page, she became known for playing covers of her favorite hiphop and pop tracks. Bri was featured in the 2021 Netflix film “Bruised” directed by and starring Halle Berry. Her past clients include Lil kim, Cartoon Network, Essence Fest, Tina Knowles, Apple, Karen Civil, Def Jam, Prudential, NJPAC, WNBA. www.briblvck.com

Tom Browne – Trumpeter

Featured jazz trumpeter, Tom Browne was a familiar figure on the R&B charts during the 1979-1989 period when his jazz funk hit, “Funkin For Jamaica” and follow-up hit “Thigh’s High” reigned as the Number 1 and Number 4 on the US R&B charts respectively for GRP and Arista Records.

He worked with Sonny Fortune, recorded with Lonnie Smith, and then signed with GRP. Although influenced by Freddie Hubbard and occasionally recording a hard bop number, most of Browne’s output during that era was clearly geared toward the marketplace. A commercial pilot, Browne largely dropped out of music by the late ’80s, but came back in 1994 with a recording for Hip Bop in several settings that included the credible jazz date Another Shade of Browne. Tom dedicates his performance at Jazz4PCA’s 2nd Annual Holiday Jazz Gala in honor of James Stowe, his friend, college mate, and bandmate. www.tombrowne.org

Nicki Denner – Pianist

Pianist/composer Nicki Denner has worked with Sheila E., Savion Glover, Michele Lee, Doc Severinsen as well as other jazz and Latin artists in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Ms. Denner has released three critically acclaimed CDs under her own name. She is the Musical Director for the group Cocomama whose debut CD Quiero was included in the 2016 Grammy pre-nominations for Best Tropical Latin album.

She has performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the United Nations, Studio 54, the Apollo Theatre, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York City Marathon, the Michigan Womyn’s Festival, the Guatemala City International Jazz Festival and as a musical ambassador for the State Department in Central America. 

As a composer, she has written music for award-winning films as well as the New Jersey Tap Ensemble of which she is Musical Director. 

Nicki is a devoted educator having served on the faculty of the Stanford University Summer Jazz Workshop, Campamento Internacional de Jazz in Guatemala, the JazzCabaret Festival in Ketchikan Alaska, Jazzhouse Kids, the New York City Tap Festival and the New Jersey Tap Festival. She is also a contributor to Keyboard Magazine. nickidenner.com

James Gibbs III – Trumpeter

James Gibbs III known as King James III is a recording artist and the face for the new jazz record label Next Paradigm Records, trumpeter, producer, music director, arranger, engineer, educator, and founder of Brick City Entertainment NJ LLC. Born in Newark and raised in Irvington, NJ James has been playing since he was 9 and professionally since he was 14 years old. Star student of the New Brunswick Jazz Institute, James was sought out by the late great Betty Carter in 1994 and he has played and performed with her since her death in 1998. James was also mentored by the late great Donald Byrd while attending Delaware State University.

James has performed all over the world as a side man for several major industry artists and bands. He has played the theme music for a couple well known TV shows and TV soundtracks and has played on over 50 recordings during his career. James now embarks on his own journey recording and releasing his 4th album project as an artist (his 1st for Next Paradigm Records). In addition to his success as a side man, he is a successful band leader and the founder of Brick City Soul Collective. You can find their performances online via Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. 

James Gibbs III is a very hard working, relentless musician who is constantly pursuing greatness and happiness. He is consistently building his online following one fan at a time. James says “being a musician and a working musician is hard enough, now that I have to take time away from the music just to build an online following can become a little overwhelming, but I’m having fun and doing what I love, so it’s gonna build itself over time. I owe it to myself and my music lovers not to compromise my God-giving talent for superficial practices, but I do understand that it is a necessary practice in today’s society, but the poison I pick over anything will always be my music!” www.projectforemptyspace.org/james-gibbs

Mark Gross – Saxophonist

Mark Gross’ consistently professional musicianship has led to live and recorded efforts with many of his fellow pacesetters in jazz music. Mark has toured the world with the Mark Gross Quartet, Buster Williams ‘Something More’ Quartet, Delfeayo Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Philip Harper, Nat Adderley, Dave Holland, Mulgrew Miller, Nicholas Payton, Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, John Lee, Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Tom Harrell Big Band, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Frank Foster and the Loud Minority, Charles Mingus Big Band, Freddie Hubbard, Donald Harrison, Mark Whitfield, Joe Dukes, Captain Jack McDuff, Joe Chambers, Neal Smith, Cyrus Chestnut, Regina Carter, Lionel Hampton, Stephon Harris, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb, Don Braden, Vincent Gardner, Lenora ‘Zenzalai’ Helm, Marlon Saunders, SEPIA, Jann Parker to name a few. 

Mark credits his prolific sound to the rich appreciation for Gospel music that resounded through his parent’s Baltimore home. Mark’s father was the Pastor of his hometown church Mt. Zion C.O.G.I.C. up until his passing February 1, 2007. After developing his interests in classical music at the Baltimore School for the Arts, Mark studied four years at Berklee College of Music and got his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance. www.markgrossmusic.com

Bryan Hansen Band

Bryan Hansen Band is an award-winning ‘blue eyed funk’ band located in New Jersey. 

Averaging, 125 gigs per year, Bryan Hansen Band has performed at notable venues all through the East and West Coasts, including Winter NAMM 2020, House of Blues Anaheim, The Troubadour in WEHO, So Far Sounds NYC & DC, Asbury Lanes, The Wonder Bar Asbury Park, Hamilton Stage at UCPAC, Maplewood Stock, Bowery Electric, West End Lounge NYC, Pattenburg House NJ and Beneduce Winery NJ. 

Bryan Hansen Band’s sound is a mix of funk, rock, soul and R&B with music influences from Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Al Green and Victor Wooten. They’re proudly endorsed by Godin Guitars & BG France.

Singer songwriter Bryan Hansen has been performing since the age of 15. He learned how to play the guitar at 11 when his father re-strung his Fender Stratocaster that had been collecting dust under the bed for over 10 years. In 2009, Hansen recorded his first solo EP called “Ebb & Flow.” Produced by Sean Baker in Hansen’s home studio, ‘Ebb & Flow’ was a concept record about a relationship from beginning to end. www.bryanhansenband.com/bio

Kim Maiden – Guitarist

Kim Maiden was born and raised in Jamaica, NY (along with lifelong friend and founder of Jazz4PCA, Ralph Stowe) – we were often playing R&B, jazz, and pop around New York City.  Currently residing in Columbia, MD, he continues to gig across the Washington DC area (DMV). www.KimMaiden.net

Travis Meade – Infinite T Rapper

Rapper and lyricist featured on the Jazz4PCA.org theme song “Monster Groove” composed by Ralph Stowe.

William G. McLeod – Featured Vocalist

McDonald’s Gospelfest 2004 Winner and 2005 & 2008 Runner-up in the Male Soloist category; performed many venues including the Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention in Chicago, the Statue of Liberty 100th Birthday Salute at Giants Stadium, the Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, and numerous churches throughout the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area; ministering vocalist at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens’ (Somerset, NJ), as member of the Higher Calling Praise Team, the Voices of Praise (VOP) adult choir, and the Music and Arts Ministry Mass Choir. www.wgmcleodmusic.com

Charisa Rouse – The Violinist Diva

A progressive jazz artist and in-demand innovator, Charisa Rouse has collaborated with some dynamic artists across the musical borders, including Wynton Marsalis, Savion Glover, Quincy Jones, Kim Burrell, Common, Diana Krall, Musiq Soulchild and William McDowell, to name a few. As an opening act, she has set the stage ahead of Melissa Morgan and Freddie Jackson. And in the summer of 2011, Charisa won grand prizes in both the McDonald’s Gospelfest Competition in Newark and the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival Competition in Philadelphia, as well as winning a semi-finalist place in the Apollo Competition in front of an audience of 10,000. Her other festival performances include the Baltimore African American Heritage Festival (Baltimore), the Lincoln Park Music Festival (Newark, NJ), JVC Jazz Festival,  (NYC, NY), Soul of Brooklyn (Brooklyn, NY), and the Fall for Dance Festival in collaboration with the Ailey Dance Company (NYC, NY), and many more cultural organizations around the world. She and her music director/drummer husband James “Biscuit” Rouse [of the Ms. Lauryn Hill band, and Kindred and the Family Soul], are both regular fixtures at New York City clubs and festivals. www.theviolindiva.com/

James White – Saxophonist

The James White Band is the consummate conversationalist. From live gigs to studio sessions, The James White Band continues to capture broad audiences around the world with their distinctive and undeniable musical style.

New Jersey native James E. White is a skilled saxophonist who has traveled internationally dazzling crowds and mesmerizing audiences.    A prolific and inspirational artist, James White has maintained the reputation of a versatile musician and a passionate performer. James plays the soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, the clarinet, and the flute and possesses over 30 years of experience as a Jazz, Blues, Classical, Gospel and R&B musician.

In addition to performing in various venues abroad, James is a gifted minister of music who directs and performs regularly at churches throughout the New York Metropolitan area. ‘Closer than a Brother’, Mr. White’s debut CD, is played worldwide on Sirius/XM radio and on various U.S. and international stations. www.saxophied.com

Reggie Woodside – Bassist, Sound Engineer

Since the age of 5 Reggie Woodside has been drawn to music beating on his mother’s pots and pans to become a aspiring drummer. Then later became a Bass Player.

By the time he was in Jr. High he was performing on the Today Show and the Kennedy estate with his school’s jazz band and played on a recording project.

By the time he was in High School he had played artist such as Cheryl Pepsi Riley and Will Downing just to name a few.

After High School he began touring with varies artist in countries such as Italy, Germany and Japan Just to name a few.

Later in life he began touring with artist like Gloria Gainer and a world beat music group called Mecca Bodega. This enabled him to tour countries such as; Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Tokyo. Just to name a few.

He now runs his own production company called; RAW Power Production which handles music productions, Sound, lighting and video installations.