2021 Spotlight Instrumental Panel

Andy Langham is a longtime member of the multi Grammy-nominated Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band. He contributed to the current 2021 Grammy-nominated release, “Trane’s Delight” as a performer, , and arranger. Langham also currently tours with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Jane Monheit. He has toured with , , Christian McBride, New York Voices, Dewey Redman and Steve Tyrell. Langham has recorded with, or performed in concert with Terrance Blanchard, James Carter, The Four Freshman, Gerry Gibbs, , Christian Scott, and Bill Watrous. Langham teaches Jazz at the Bob Cole Conservatory at State University Long Beach.

Tom Luer is a D’Addario Woodwinds Performing Artist and is a member of John Beasley’s Grammy nominated ensemble the MONK’estra. Luer has also performed with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Poncho Sanchez, Queen Latifah, and Seth McFarlane. His album "Project Popular" was released in 2011 to critical acclaim. Television credits include “The Voice”, the NBC broadcast of “Sports Illustrated 50 Years of Beautiful” and the “X-Factor” on Fox, the American Music Awards, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the Ellen Degeneres Show. Luer is currently an adjunct faculty member at Cal Poly Pomona and College of Music.

Alexa Tarantino is an award-winning musician, composer, and educator. Recently named one of the “Top 5 Alto Saxophonists of 2019” by the JazzTimes Critics’ Poll, her debut album is Winds of Change. Performance highlights include Marciac Festival (with Wynton Marsalis and the Young Stars of Jazz), Umbria Jazz Festival (with Ryan Truesdell’s Project), the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the (with Sherrie Maricle & the DIVA Jazz ), the Rockport Jazz Festival (Alexa Tarantino Quintet), Rose Theater at Jazz at and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra), among others. Tarantino’s quartet was featured at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland Jazz Theater, Jazz Standard, and Times Square. Currently on faculty for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Youth Education Programs, she is the Founder/Director of Rockport Jazz Workshop.

Jamey Tate has performed with /winners and Billboard chart toppers including , Quincy Jones, The New York Voices, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, ’s , Ron King’s Big Band, Chris Walden, Renee Olstead, Patrick Williams, Russell Ferrante, Mindi Abair, Melissa Manchester, and . His playing has also been featured on albums by David Benoit and The Stan Kenton Band, to name a few. Tate has produced artists such as Selina Albright, The Edge Effect and Justin Ray. He is a regular clinician at the Crossroads School Summer Jazz Program, and served as an instructor at USC, Crossroads School, Don Bosco Technical Institute, and Warren High School. He is an artist/clinician with Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Gen-16 Acoustic/Electric Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, and Vic Firth drumsticks.