"Kevin Mahogany is fabulous. He’s got great ease on the stage and a great, great voice and a great presentation. It’s kind of like the older type guys. It’s sort of reminiscent of the Johnny Hartmans and people of the 40s, when there were a lot of great singers around." - Clint Eastwood

Born in 1958 in Kansas City, Missouri, Mahogany grew up listening to the richly diverse musical sounds of his hometown. Mahogany initially studied clarinet and piano, was working regularly in the Eddie Baker New Breed Orchestra in Kansas City at the age of 12, and by 14 was teaching clarinet lessons.

When Mahogany arrived on the international jazz scene, it was with a sound that was both traditionally grounded and boldly innovative. Over the course of Mahogany’s extraordinary career, he has made significant breakthroughs in style and sounds that redirected, redefined and even reinvented jazz music.

In 2003, Mahogany, along with Kurt Elling, Jon Hendricks and Mark Murphy toured extensively as The Four Brothers. 2004 was a year of worldwide touring. Mahogany brought his big band program to South Africa, Russia, the Caribbean and selected US venues.

His 2005 release, Kevin Mahogany Big Band hit #3 on the charts, making him the #1 male vocalist on jazz radio during that year.

In November, Mahogany brings a Johnny Hartman tribute program to the Orpheum Theater, making for an intimate night of music with a wonderful jazz vocal trio.

A legend in every sense of the word, Paquito D'Rivera's 50-year career has spanned 30 albums, four Grammy awards and countless collaborations with some of the biggest names in jazz. The key to Paquito's success can be found in his versatility as a musician and composer.

Performing since the age of 10, Paquito first made a name for himself performing with the Cuban National Symphony at the age of 17. After co-founding the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna, Paquito co-founded Irakere, a highly popular ensemble whose explosive mixture of jazz, rock, classical, and traditional Cuban music had never before been heard.

Most recently, D'Rivera was named Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Throughout his career Paquito has become a multi-national ambassador, creating and promoting a cross-culture of jazz, Latin and classical music across the globe.

Described by critics as "a breath of fresh air," Jolie Holland combines elements of folk, jazz, blues, and pop to create a truly innovative sound.

At the age of six, armed with nothing but a toy piano, Holland began writing music. In her early teens, she added the guitar and fiddle to her portfolio of instruments. The self-trained artist teamed up with a group of musicians and traveled between Austin and New Orleans, playing whenever and wherever they could. They eventually co-founded the folk group the Be Good Tanyas.

Even though it was never intended for public release, Holland’s first album, Catalpa made a big impression on critics and fans alike. The album was named one of the top ten albums of 2003 by the San Francisco Chronicle. Holland’s first “official” studio album, Escondida, was released in 2004 - also to much critical acclaim.

Holland released her most recent work, Springtime Can Kill You, earlier this year. And like previous albums, Holland again brings out her haunting, ageless sound. Critics say Springtime Can Kill You “feels better than a good cry” (Rolling Stone), as her unique voice is reminiscent of “a ‘30s diva, breathlessly melding swing, jazz and folk…gorgeous, ghostly and weird.” (Time Out London)

Known by many as the former bandleader from the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Grammy-Award winner Doc Severinsen has made more than 30 albums in his career, ranging from big band to jazz-fusion to classical. His repertoire includes Ellington and the Basic standards, pop, jazz, ballads, big band classics and, of course, the Tonight Show theme.

Severinsen's musical career began at the age of seven when he, against his initial wishes, was forced to settle on the only horn available in his local music store, a trumpet. Severinsen was a natural and quickly joined the school band. While still in high school, he was asked to tour with the famous Ted Fio Rito Orchestra. Years later, Severinsen joined NBC as a studio musician and eventually found himself as the music director of the highly regarded "Tonight Show Band."

Today, Severinsen continues to be a favorite of audiences across America. He is regarded as a proficient trumpeter, a genuinely funny man and a fashion fiend.

Maria Muldaur's musical roots run as deep and varied as Greenwich Village, the place she was born and raised. In high school she started a doo-wop group and soon found herself hanging out and joining in on nightly jams and song swaps called hootenannies. She joined the Even Dozen Jug Band with David Grisman and in 1964 the Jim Kweskin Jug Band where she met Geoff Muldaur, her musical and life partner until 1972. The couple moved to Woodstock, NY where they became involved in the electric folk scene with Bob Dylan, The Band and Janis Joplin. Throughout the years, Maria's solo career has kept her in close company with Dr. John, Taj Mahal and Bonnie Raitt. She continues to do 200 nights a year on the road all over the world. Her performances are infectious -- part down-home revival, part sophisticated and joyful sensuality, and all a celebration of her total nature -- strong independence and loving openness.