Andrei Matorin (violin)
Andrei Matorin has performed and recorded with world-renowned musicians including Rosa Passos, Claudio Roditi, Tiger Okoshi, Nilson Matta, Oscar Stagnaro, and Christian Scott, among others. Beginning his violin studies at the age of six, this contemporary virtuoso spent his early years studying classical technique in Italy and Switzerland, before moving to the United States and committing himself to jazz. In 2003 Matorin became the first violinist to graduate from the jazz program at the New England Conservatory's Preparatory School and that same year was awarded a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where he went on to receive two Achievement Awards. Matorin's Opus was rereleased in 2013 following rave reviews including Editor's Picks from DownBeat. He is currently collaborating with Paquito D'Rivera on his Charlie Parker with Strings project produced by The Lincoln Center.
Ricardo Vogt (guitar)
With a Brazilian groove that will catch anyone’s attention, Ricardo Vogt is grabbing everyone’s ears. Born in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil, Vogt was fortunate to grow up surrounded by music. Enthralled by the sounds of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Elis Regina, it wan’t any surprise at all that this young talent took a liking to Bossa Nova, samba, and the guitar.
During his time at Berklee, Ricardo became an endorser for Godin guitars and has had the honor of performing with incredible musicians, including Rosa Passos and Eliane Elias. Upon hearing Ricardo, Eliane Elias hired him on the spot. Now as a member of her quartet, Ricardo tours around the world and has performed at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Madrid Jazz Festival and the Dinant Jazz Festival along side Toots Thielemans. Ricardo has also recorded on Eliane’s recent album 'Bossa Nova Stories', on Blue Note Records. Another venture for Vogt is his new role as guitar player for Esperanza Spalding's Quartet.
Apart from his roles with Eliane and Esperanza, Vogt’s main project is a duet with jazz vocalist and trumpet player Leala Cyr. A unique combination of voices, guitar and trumpet create their rare duet. Together since 2002, Vogt and Cyr have been arranging everything from Duke Ellington, to Antonio Carlos Jobim, to Guinga.
Takeshi Ohbayashi (piano)
A native of Hiroshima, Japan, Takeshi Ohbayashi began playing piano at the age of two. He picked up trumpet at age twelve, which became his focus while attending Hiroshima Music High School, along with conducting and composition. Ohbayashi went on to study film scoring and composition at Tokyo College of Music, but it wasn’t until he attended a jazz piano clinic in his freshman year that he found his calling to jazz. After applying and receiving scholarship to the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ohbayashi began his studies in the States in the Spring of 2007.
While in school, Ohbayashi was awarded the Best Player and Audience’s Favorite awards in the 2009 Yokohama Jazz Competition, was a semi-finalist in Montreux Jazz Piano Competition 2007, and placed in the top three at the 2009 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. In Fall 2009, Ohbayashi was selected to be a part of the opening class of the honorable Berklee Global Jazz Institute, led by Danilo Perez. During his time in Global Jazz, Ohbayashi studied, performed, and taught clinics all around the globe with world class musicians.
Ohbayashi has had the privilege to perform with McCoy Tyner, Terri Lyne Carrington, Joe Lovano, Jamey Haddad, John Pattitucci, Tiger Okoshi, Greg Osby, Dave Santoro, Tim Miller, Gary Thomas, Darren Barrett, Hal Crook, and more.
Having graduated from Berklee in 2011, Ohbayashi currently resides in New York and leads his own group, as well as tours as a sideman around the world.