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Jeff Chang grew up in Taipei, Taiwan.  He moved to the bay area in his teens with his family and continued his musical studies with saxophone virtuoso William Trimble, jazz composer/performer Dave Eshelman and Dann Zinn in California State University, Hayward.  Chang continued his graduate studies at the New England Conservatory of music in Boston, MA with jazz legends such as George Garzone, George Russell, Steve Lacy, Jerry Bergonzi, Frank Tiberi, Cecil McBee, Allan Chase and Branford Marsalis. 

Mr. Chang had performed with jazz greats such as Matt Wilson, Carman Staaf, Bob Berg, Tom Harrell, George Garzone, Gerald Wilson, Anthony Wilson, Louie Bellson, Conrad Herwig, Joe Henderson and Kenny Wheeler.  Concert performances at Lincoln Center in New York City, Berklee Performance Center and Jordan Hall in Boston, MA, Yoshi’s in Oakland California, and many local jazz clubs in the Washington area, Boston, Italy, Switzerland and Taiwan.  His debut album, It’s Not What You Think, was the number one selling Jazz CD in Taiwan in 2009.

Jim Sisko, trumpeter and educator, has become one of the most sought after teachers and performers in the Northwest.  Jim received his Masters of Music in Trumpet Performance from Central Washington University in 1997.  While at CWU, he served as a teaching assistant in Trumpet, Jazz Improvisation, and Jazz History. 

In 1997 Jim returned to Seattle to continue his career as a performer and educator. The Jim Sisko Quintet has been featured in countless festival and concert venues, including the “Art of Jazz Series” sponsored by the Seattle Art Museum and KPLU, the “Bumbershoot Music Festival,” the “Port Townsend Jazz Festival,” and “Jazz Under the Stars”.  In 2011 & 2012 He was a mentor for the KPLU’s award winning “School of Jazz” program.  Jim’s performances are not limited to jazz as he has performed with The Seattle Symphony, and has served as the principal trumpet for the Yakima Symphony. 

As an active studio musician, Jim has recorded over 30 soundtracks for video games, television, and motion pictures, including The Matrix and Lake Placid.  He has performed with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow, The Manhattan Transfer, and the rock band Yes to name a few. In 1996, Jim created and organized the first Ellensburg Jazz Festival, which would later become “Jazz in the Valley,” one of the most popular music events in Eastern Washington. 

Jim Sisko’s private trumpet studio is a direct reflection of his playing experiences.  His students are well-versed in both classical and jazz styles, and are consistently recognized as some of the strongest players in the region.  Known for his supportive enthusiasm, and his ability to motivate, Jim is a favorite clinician at festivals throughout the U.S.  Currently, Jim is the Director of Jazz for the Northwest School, a liberal arts high school in Seattle.  He also teaches trumpet for Shoreline Community College and at his home studio in Seattle.  Jim is also the director of the Shoreline Jazz Camp. Jim Sisko plays Kanstul trumpets and Yamaha flugelhorns.

Transplanted to New York City from Seattle, Chris Stover is a trombonist, composer, theorist, and teacher. He has performed recently with Eddie Palmieri, Pablo Menendez, Charlie Hunter, Slavic Soul Party, Bobby Sanabria, Fred Ho, Ingrid Jensen, Samir Chatterjee, Tiago Machado, Richard Boukas, Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, Tom Varner, Jovino Santos Neto, Michael Spiro, and Annea Lockwood, and his own solo and group projects have taken him across the US, Canada, and Europe and to Israel, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia.

Chris spent many years as the go-to trombone player in the jazz, Afro-Cuban, and new music scenes in Seattle, and he appears on over sixty recordings, including critically acclaimed releases on OmniTone, Origin, and Sub Pop. A CD with the Q.E.D. Trio is available on Origin Records, and new CDs with his quartet and More Zero were released by More Zero Music in 2012, and a new CD with the Danish-based Art Ensemble Syd will be released this summer.

Chris is an Assistant Professor at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he teaches Music Theory, Composition, and World Music and coordinates the Music Theory curriculum. Prior to arriving at the New School, he taught at the University of Puget Sound, the University of Washington, and Green River Community College. He received his PhD in Music Theory and DMA in Trombone Performance from the University of Washington, and holds an MA in Music Theory from the Eastman School of Music.

Photo: Filip Wolak

Guitarist and Educator Frank Seeberger has been performing and teaching professionally for over 30 years.  Frank holds a Bachelor’s degree in both Classical Guitar Performance and Education from CWU.  He’s also a graduate of the internationally recognized New England Conservatory of Music, where he earned his Master’s degree in Jazz Studies.  He served on the jazz faculty of Pacific Lutheran University for 10 years as a lecturer in Jazz Guitar, and is currently an instrumental music teacher for the Seattle Schools. Frank has studied with jazz guitarists Mick Goodrick and Gene Bertoncini, composer George Russell, and pianist/educator Charlie Banacos. 

A versatile player, he’s also a favorite Seattle area studio musician, with many movie scores, commercials, video games, and albums to his credit.  Frank has performed live with numerous jazz legends such as Gunther Schuller, Curtis Fuller, Sam Rivers, Ernestine Anderson, as well as national smooth jazz artists Jackiem Joyner, Dominic Amato, and Darren Motamedy.   Frank is also a member of the Full Circle Jazz Ensemble, performing the arrangements of jazz pianist/composer Bob Hammer.

Pianist Dan Kramlich has established himself as one of Seattle’s most sought after performers, educators, and adjudicators. His style was informed by jazz legends Fred Hersch and Billy Hart, with whom he worked extensively while studying at Western Michigan University.

Dan can be heard on many recordings by local musicians, including Steve Treseler’s “Inner Sounds,” the Vern Sielert Dektet’s “From There to Here,” and Bernie Jacob’s “One by One.”

He currently performs with his own group, the Dan Kramlich Grunge Trio, as well as the Javatown Swing Orchestra, Gail Pettis, and many others.

Dan also maintains a busy teaching studio. He is currently the jazz piano instructor at Pacific Lutheran University and Seattle Pacific University, and teaches privately at Creative Music Adventures in Seattle.

Chuck Kistler is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music where he studied with Garrision Fewell, Donny Nolan, Mitch Haupers & Phil Wilson. He's played bass professionally in the Northwest since the late 90’s, working with many notable musicians including Hadley Caliman, Jay Thomas, Bob Nixon, Eric Alexander, Phil Markowitz, Dee Daniels, Kevin Mahogany, Ernestine Anderson, Eartha Kitt, Petula Clark, Kurt Elling, Ernie Watts, Geoff Keezer, Lew Tabackin, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Vincent Herring, Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Gary Smulyan, Pete Christlieb, Gerald Clayton, Mike Allen, Miles Black & Peter Bernstein. In Seattle he works regularly with Milo Petersen, Greg Williamson, Jay Thomas, Bernie Jacobs, Eric Verlinde, Andre Thomas, John Hansen, Kelley Johnson, Dan Kramlich, Alexey Nikolaev, Clarence Acox, Michael Brockman, Chris Spencer, Jose Martinez, Brad Boal, Julian MacDonough, Josh Cook, Saul Cline, D’Vonne Lewis, Jake Bergevin, Cocoa Martini, Brian Kirk, Adam Kessler & Bill Anschell, as well as most of the other stars of the local scene. Chuck has given clinics at high schools and colleges throughout the Northwest. His personal philosophy about learning music is that anyone with patience and determination who works hard can improve by focusing on specific goals.

Garey Williams has steadily built a reputation as both a world-class drummer and uniquely gifted educator. Modern Drummer wrote, “Garey Williams displays a beautiful touch and emotion in his drumming...” and that he “possesses noteworthy chops.” Garey currently has endorsements with and is a clinician for DW drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo drumheads and Latin Percussion.

With a Masters degree in Percussion Performance and Jazz Studies from Central Washington University, drummer Williams has been a fixture in the Northwest scene, having performed with such musicians as Diana Krall, Kristin Korb, Bud Shank, Barney McClure, Howard Roberts, Joe Williams and Dizzy Gillespie. In 2001 he re-formed Ecstasy In Numbers with guitarist Mike Mattingly and bassist Rick White, the band quickly becoming a hit on the underground scene, performing in Seattle and the Northwest to standing-room-only crowds. The band’s CDs have been gaining the attention of clubs and promoters, as well as the ears of a small but growing European fan base.

With over twenty-five years of experience, Garey teaches private lessons, master classes and clinics throughout the Northwest. He has served on the music faculties at Central Washington University, Yakima Valley Community College and Olympic College where he has taught Applied Lessons in Drumset, Percussion Methods, Jazz Ensemble and History of Jazz. A published author, Garey Williams’ articles have been seen in Rhythm Magazine, Modern Drummer, Percussive Notes and Band World. With his own publishing company, Drumset Artistry, Garey has released two method books and three educational DVDs.

Chris Bruya, Jazz Camp Director, has been at the forefront of jazz education for over 26 years at multiple levels in the jazz ecosystem. In his current position as Director of Jazz Studies at Central Washington University, he has pioneered a hybrid improvisation sequence that develops a student’s ear and inner voice, has developed the small group program in both traditional and creative genres, and has succeeded in placing the big band program on the same level as many of the most prestigious programs in the country, performing at the Montreux, North Sea and Next Generation (Monterey) jazz festivals, and at the 2012 Jazz Educators Network (JEN) Conference in Kentucky. His Combo was a 2013 selection to the JEN Conference in Atlanta as well.

A 2008 CWU Jazz Band CD In A Mellow Tone (SeaBreeze Records) was cited by Jazz Times critic Scott Yanow as “consistently impressive and well worth hearing”. Chris has served on the state music educator boards and was an IAJE president of both Washington State and Oregon and has organized state and Northwest jazz ensembles numerous times. Chris’ presentations at state and Northwest conventions have brought numerous accolades and he is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Northwest and beyond. He has shared the stage with some true heavyweights of today, including Terell Stafford, Gary Hobbs, Ingrid Jensen, Bobby Shew, Eddie Daniels, Nancy King, Dave Pietro, David Friesen, and more.