Auditorium.  Kush performed with the Tootsie Gripper Ensemble in aAt only 15 years old, Kush Abadey is an accomplished drummer & bandleader.  A sophomore at Suitland Senior High School in the Visual and Performing Arts Contextual Learning Program in Forestville, MD.  He is a piano major, and a member of both the Concert Choir, and the Jazz Band. Kush opened the All-Star concert in celebration of Duke Wellington's birthday at the Lincoln Theatre and performed at a tribute for Dr. Billy Taylor at the Mellon nd around the Washington metropolitan area. In July 2005 Kush led a jazz quartet at the Public Playhouse in Cheverly, MD, in a program entitled “Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon” for an educational fundraiser.  Kush studied piano with Harlan Jones at the New Sewell Music Academy, and soon afterwards began playing percussion in the Fred Foss Jazz Youth Orchestra.  He also studied jazz improvisation with Jeffrey Chappelle and percussion with Tom Teasley at the Levine School of Music.  Kush has been a recipient of the Laurel Fund, where he has performed various community service projects taking the music to those who don't necessarily have the opportunity to go to live concerts.  Kush has a tremendous passion for music, especially African American Classical music, more known as Jazz.  His desire is to be a professional musician, composer, arranger and producer in the future.

Bio - Caleb Lopez (tenor saxophonist)
Caleb Lopez, 15, is a Northwest High School sophomore from Germantown,
Maryland. Beginning on the clarinet at age 9, he soon added the tenor
saxophone. While in middle school his studies took off when he began taking
lessons with saxophonist Paul Carr.  Caleb was selected as the Lead Tenor Saxophonist for the Maryland All-State Jazz Ensemble. Also 2006-2007 academic year he has been selected as the Lead Tenor Saxophonist for the Montgomery County Senior Honors Jazz Ensemble. Caleb has been a member of the Montgomery County Jr. Honors Jazz Ensemble during 2004-2006.  Caleb has performed at many of the Washington DC area most prominent jazz venues: Twins Jazz, Bohemian Caverns, Cada Vez and Sabang as well as performing at the East Coast Jazz Festival in Rockville, Maryland.  Most recently he has performed at the Strathmore Music Center in Bethesda, MD.  He also has played with jazz masters Branford Marsalis, Tim Warfield,
and Marcus Roberts

Bio - Jaron Lopez (guitarist)
Jaron Lopez, 18, is a freshman at UMBC in Baltimore, Maryland and is a
student of Tom Lagana.  Jaron began his guitar study while in middle school
with Gerald Kunkel.  Jaron was honored as a Maryland Distinguished Scholar
in the Arts in 2006.  Also during the year 2005-2006 he was selected as the
guitarist for the Maryland All-State Jazz Ensemble.  He was also chosen as
the guitarist for the Montgomery County Senior Honors Jazz Ensemble during
the years 2003-2006.  Jaron is also interested in the study of both the
Piano and Bass.  He has performed at many of the Washington DC area Jazz
venues; Twins, Cada Vez, Bohemian Caverns and Sabang as well as performing
at the East Coast Jazz Festival in Rockville, MD.  Most recently he has
performed at the Strathmore Music Center in Bethesda, MD.

Bio - Eric Wheeler (bassist)

Eric Wheeler is currently a graduate student in the Department of Music at Howard University.  Eric is a native of Washington DC and he plays the stings bass or contra bass as well as the electric bass.  He divides his time between Howard and freelancing with bands in Washington, DC; Philadelphia and New York City.  Eric is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts in WDC, where he developed an appreciation for Jazz however, he also plays classical music.  In addition to traveling up and down the east coast performing with various bands he as traveled to Japan, Venezuela, London and Paris for music festivals

Bio - Noble Jolley (pianist)

Noble Jolley, Jr., is a sophomore at Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University majoring in Jazz Studies/Performance. Noble was nominated to the 2005/2006 National Dean's List, and the 2004/2005 Who's Who Among America's High School Students. He currently performs with the Peabody Conservatory Jazz Band and the Washington Jazz Arts Institute Orchestra. A home schooled student, Noble was a guest member of the Howard University Jazz Orchestra in his senior year in high school. Noble has performed at the 2006 International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, 2000 Havana Jazz Festival in Havana, Cuba with the Fred Foss Youth Orchestra, the East Coast Jazz Festival, American University Blues & Jazz Festival, Maryland Youth Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Theater, Blues Alley, Blue Note, and Zanzibar Blue. He has performed with his father, the late Noble Jolley, Sr., jazz guitarist, Gary Thomas, Davey Yarborough, Esther Williams, Heidi Martin, Dr. William Smith, and has opened for James Moody and Ron Carter, and many others. A composer, producer, songwriter and arranger, Noble, Jr. and performs with his twin brother, jazz percussionist Nathan Jolley. Noble, Jr. has studied with Tim Murphy, Janelle Gill, and Jon Ozment.