Cincinnati-born guitarist GREG CHAKO took his first music lessons at age 9, and since then has reached many heights in a professional career that has spanned more than four decades, five countries, and numerous cultural diasporas. At the outset of his musical life, he played with top artists like: Slide Hampton, Junior Cook, Bill Hardman, Othello Molineaux, Bobby Watson, Herb Ellis, Jimmy Raney, and many others. He gained “hands-on” experience as a jazz promoter and organizer by founding a non-profit Jazz Society and running jazz concerts series in Cincinnati and Amherst, MA, one of which won him a grant from the Massachusetts State Council of the Arts. He formalized those activities under the name Chako Productions, thereby starting a music business career that coincided alongside his personal performances.

Chako’s most prolific period occurred after a move to the Far East in 1992, starting in Hong Kong where he played with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra; in jazz clubs with the likes of Curtis Fuller and Richie Cole; and booked ongoing concert series for top-tier clients including The Oriental, Hong Kong, where in 1994 he recorded his first album, Everything I Love, The Greg Chako Trio Live at the Captain’s Bar.

Moving to Singapore in 1994, he incorporated his entertainment business, Chako Productions Pte. Ltd., which quickly became one of the regional “players” of the entertainment industry. He established himself as a first-rate soloist, bandleader, composer, and recording artist by regularly leading 12 jobs a week; making multiple videos, including a full-length documentary movie called, An American Cat in the Lion City; appearing on TV and in other media forums; playing jazz festivals; and producing 4 albums: Live at Raffles; Sudden Impact; Integration; and Integration II.

Greg’s upward trend in Singapore suffered a downturn due to life’s tragic events. In 2003, after leading a steady jazz gig in China with a band the local media called, “The finest jazz act to ever play in the PRC,” Greg moved to Japan with his Japanese wife (of 2 years) to start a new life. However, shortly after arriving in Japan, his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The all-consuming cancer fight that followed resulted in a 2-year playing and recording hiatus. To make steady income during those difficult times, Greg began teaching English as a Second language (ESL) full-time for Berlitz, Japan, a 100+ year old language school.

After his late-wife's death, Greg began to work regularly again as a guitarist in Japan, playing clubs with his own group and as a sideman. He performed throughout Japan with his Collaboration Quartet & Quintet, featuring Hiroshi Tanaka on piano and Gene Jackson on the drums. He began recording again with a renewed passion in 2005, starting with a double-album featuring all-original compositions called, Where We Find Ourselves, and followed by Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd; Paint a Picture, Tell a Story; and Everybody’s Got a Name, on which Greg returned mostly to his trio roots. Backed by his regularly working band mates on these releases, reviewers were impressed by their good chemistry and tight, flawless backing, one commenting: "It's a muscular sound wrapped in gloves of velvet ... superb, exquisite, delicious!" placing Greg, in the minds of his reviewers at least, among the most elite of jazz guitarists. Greg's albums spent time on the Jazzweek, CMJ and RMR Jazz Charts, included multiple Top Ten spots, and continue to enjoy consistent critical acclaim from the Jazz community.

Growing weary of being a foreigner after living for over 16 years in the Far East, and desiring to attain a college teaching position to "give back" in selfless service, Greg returned to the USA and became more selective of his performances. At age 50 he went back to college. He completed a Bachelors of Arts degree with multi-disciplinary focus in music and business; then a Masters of Music degree (MM) at William Paterson University in New Jersey, where he met and studied under: Mulgrew Miller, Harold Mabern, and Cecil Bridgewater, among others. After earning the MM in 2011 (with a 3.9 GPA), he was admitted to a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) program at The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Greg's DMA studies focused on big band arranging with Bill Dobbins, Ethnomusicology, and an independent study with Harold Danko in which Greg began to develop a pedagogy for guitarists and arrangers using his innovative solo-guitar arrangements which merged jazz and classical techniques. This

resulted in the release of his 10th ( and first solo guitar) album called My World on Six Strings, of which Gene Bertoncini said, ''A total orchestra, the complete package ... I love his arrangements!”

When Greg moved from New York back to his hometown of Cincinnati in 2017 to be closer to his elderly and ailing Mother, he began performing and teaching locally. Notable shows included the Jamey Aebersold/Lexington Public Library concert series with his Unity Quartet; Jazz at Memorial Hall with a show titled, “Jazz: The American Music of Freedom, a Tribute to MLK;” Festival showcases in Kentucky at Worldfest and The Harrodsburg Jazz Festival with The Brooks Giles Band; and many performances at clubs and for private events in the Greater Cincinnati and Tri-State area leading groups.

He perfected unique pedagogical methods and grew his teaching studio considerably, and composed prolifically too, writing material for ‘concept’ albums in varied formats such as Chamber-Jazz Duets of bass & guitar called, “A Place for Bass;” an Organ Trio called, “Groove Time;” and a 2-guitar led quartet called, “Swingin’ Axes!” In 2022, he signed with Mint400 Records and Raining Music, their jazz oriented sub label. He has released 6 brand new albums recorded in Cincinnati since 2022, featuring primarily Cincinnati-based players: Friends, Old & New, A Place for Bass - Chamber Jazz Duets, Life After 40, Standard Roots, plus two albums featuring students of his and on which he plays and served as Executive Producer, The Stylings of Al West Jr. and David & the HeartStrings. He teaches weekly ensemble workshops and private lessons in his Cincinnati home studio and continues to work on new recording projects.

Greg's life journey has been at once triumphant and tragic. His personal and professional experiences have unquestionably combined to enhance and mature his music, and his world-view of unity and openness is also manifested in his creative efforts. Greg says that more than anything, he hopes to “move people,’ and anyone who takes the time to listen cannot help but feel the powerful and honest emotions clearly expressed through his music. At age 66, in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, Greg is poised to write a brand new chapter in a life of which one reviewer said, “From World Music to Bossa Nova to Jazz, this remarkable guy is the epitome of eclectic. The life story of this extremely gifted guitarist has all the required ingredients to make for a super screen play . . . Listen, and discover his jazz poetry in the making!”
 

For well over 50 seasons, CARMON DELEONE has served as Music Director of The Cincinnati Ballet.  He is Conductor Laureate of The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and The Middletown (OH) Symphony Orchestra and possesses an impressive list of accomplishments. At New York's Carnegie Hall, he has served as Conductor and Host of the "Family Concert" Series with the Orchestra of St. Lukes, and he has lead orchestras in England, Luxembourg, Germany, Canada, Tasmania, and Puerto Rico.  Maestro DeLeone has been named the Illinois "Music Director of the Year,” and under his leadership, The Illinois Philharmonic was twice named the “Illinois Orchestra of the Year.”

Maestro DeLeone is a talented composer, having written such works as “Fanfare, Funk & Fandango” (An American Dance Set) along with many original scores for the ballet.  His newest ballet composition, “Dancing To OZ!” was recently premiered by Cincinnati Ballet, and his best-known work, the full-length ballet in two acts, “Peter Pan,” is enjoying continued praise in major cities from coast to coast, as well as overseas.  Maestro DeLeone conducted the debut of “Peter Pan” in London during a 28-performance run with the Atlanta Ballet at the prestigious Royal Festival Hall.  His list of ballet score creations also includes “The Princess and the Pea,” “Frevo,” “Guernica,” “With Timbrel and Dance,” and Ruth Page’s “Billy Sunday,” which was nationally televised on PBS.

During his 12-year tenure as Assistant, and later Resident Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Maestro DeLeone served on its staff with Music Directors Max Rudolf, Thomas Schippers, Walter Susskind, and Erich Kunzel. He was also selected personally by Maestro Erich Leinsdorf to participate in an intensive master conducting seminar at Lincoln Center.

His diverse talents are demonstrated by the wide range of his musical interests. He is experienced in both the classics and jazz, whether leading his own “Studio Big Band” from the drum set, or playing French horn in both idioms. 

Maestro DeLeone earned B.M., B.S., and M.M. degrees from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.  He served at CCM as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Opera and Music Theatre. During this tenure, he conducted productions of Prince Igor, La Cenerentola, Gianni Schicchi, The Crucible, La Callisto (American Premiere), and The Secret Marriage. He has been presented with the Conservatory's "Distinguished Alumni Award." At Indiana University, he conducted the world premiere and nationally televised production of John Eaton's children's opera, The Lion and Androcles. 

Maestro DeLeone made his New York conducting debut with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at City Center. Most recently, he was awarded the esteemed MacDowell Medal by the Cincinnati MacDowell Society. His very popular eclectic weekly radio show, Sunday Morning Music Hall, can be heard locally or online internationally at WDJO-AM & FM. 

DAVID MATTHEWS, the son of a Methodist minister, was born in Sonora, Kentucky on March 4, l942. He was educated at the University of Cincinnati where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from its' Conservatory of Music. 

From l966-1968, Dave led a jazz dance band on tour in Germany and Italy. During the next two years he played in jazz clubs in and around Cincinnati. 

From l970 to 1974 he was the arranger and bandleader for James Brown Productions. 

In l971, Dave moved to New York where he worked steadily as a free-lance arranger and writer. He worked on albums, singles, radio and TV commercials and film scores. He arranged or composed albums or tracks for Buddy Rich, Mark Murphy, Bonnie Raitt, T Bone Walker, Blue Mitchell, the J.B.'s, Starland Vocal Band, Stephanie Mills, Earl Klugh, Phoebe Snow, Donald Bird, Crystal Gayle, David Sanborn and Paul Simon. 

From l975-78 Dave was the staff arranger for CTI Records writing, arranging and producing records for stars such as Nina Simone, Hank Crawford, Art Farmer, Joe Farrell, Ron Carter, Idris Muhammad, Jim Hall, and George Benson. 

Dave has arranged and composed radio and TV commercials for Sunoco, Texaco, Magna Vox, Champale, Welches, Mary Quant, Ford, NBC "Proud as a Peacock" , " Reach Out" for A T & T, Sheraton, 7UP, Avon, McDonald's, Oldsmobile, Burger King, Nabisco, Clearisil, and Life Savers. His commercial for 3m Tape won a Clio Award in l975. 

Matthews composed the scores for William Greaves great film " The Fight" featuring Mohammad Ali and Joe Frazier, " Stony Island" produced and directed by Andrew Davis and "Bedtime Eyes" a Japanese film in which he not only wrote the music, but performed with his group, Manhattan Jazz Quintet. He orchestrated film scores for "Parallax View", "The Stepford Wives"," Night Moves", and "Washington D.C., A City Out of Wilderness". 

In 1994, David wrote the film score for the" Space Battlecruiser Yamato", a series of 7 animated videos. 

In 2002 David composed the score for the Japanese horror film “Isola”. 

From l979 to 1989 Dave had been an artist, producer and writer for King Record of Japan. He is the leader of what since l984 has been Japan's number one jazz group," Manhattan Jazz Quintet" . In Japan, the group (popularly known as the "new MJQ") has won "Swing Journal’s Golden Hit Award an unheard of 4 times 

In February 1990, Dave signed an exclusive for Japan contract as an artist, producer and arranger with Sweet Basil Inc. an independent production company located in Tokyo. 

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Dave was the musical director for the original Simon and Garfunkel Reunion Concert in Central Park.  He also arranged the Radio City Memorial Concert for John Lennon by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Julian Lennon's debut Album "Valotte", Robert Plant's " The Honeydrippers, Volume I" , Paul McCartny's " Angry" , Frank Sinatra, "L.A. is my Lady" , and Billy Joel's "An Innocent Man" followed by Billy's hit singles "Easy Money" and "Second Wind". He was also happy to arrange "Why Should I Worry" for Walt Disney Studio's animated film "Oliver". 

In Swing Journal's 1989 Reader's Poll, Dave was voted the #1 Arranger of the Year in Japan 

In 1995, David and his co producer Shigeyuki Kawashima received the Swing Journal Critic's Award for producing the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra CD "Get It On". 

MJO and MJQ have continued to tour Japan and Asia in fact twice they have performed at events associated with the Olympics. 

In 1998 and ’99 David was featured in a TV series, “Meikyoku Monogatari”, that was broadcast in Japan on a weekly basis. 

Those shows have been released in a series of DVD’s which is called “Panasonic Sound Essays”. 

Since 1986 David has toured Japan and other Asian countries yearly with either Manhattan Jazz Quintet or Manhattan Jazz Orchestra or both. 

In 2001 The Milestone Label part of the Fantasy Group began releasing Manhattan Jazz Orchestra recordings in America to excellent reviews.

David continues to perform in Japan and produce, arrange and compose a variety of projects. 

In 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 Swing Journal’s Readers Poll has voted Manhattan Jazz Orchestra the number one big band. 

In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in David’s music both from his James Brown period and the music he’s written in the 1970’s. In fact he’s been sampled by many hip hop artists such as The Notorious B.I.G, Nas, Methodman and Redman and The Large Professor. In fact his album “Dune” is in the Hip Hop Hall of Fame. 
 

PATSY MEYER is an Emmy-nominated singer, songwriter, and percussionist. Meyer’s unique style blends soulful vocals, jazz, spicy Latin/world percussion, and a vibrant stage persona. Patsy grew up in N. Ky and was well-known in the Cincy music scene during the 90’s before moving to LA in 2001. The Cincinnati Post’s review of her show opener for Kenny Rankin, proclaimed her “the finest female voice in the territory.”

During her 17 years in Los Angeles, Patsy divided her time between writing songs for TV and film, appearing in clubs throughout Southern California with her own band, and touring as a backup vocalist/percussionist. Her credits include performing worldwide with major recording artists including the legendary Patti Austin, Peabo Bryson, Norman Brown, Jeff Lorber, Marion Meadows, Alex Bugnon, Chante Moore, Roger Smith and Paul Taylor in major venues around the country including LA’s own Hollywood Bowl. Her “killer chops” were cited by The L.A. Music Scene, whichranked her among “the hot new breed of vocalist/percussionist/songwriters.”

As an artist, Meyer has also been the opening act for Spyro Gyra, Chuck Mangione, Lisa Loeb, Ambrosia, War, Ken Navarro, Hal Galper Trio, Warren Hill and The Rippingtons. In Norfolk, a radio station called her “the most impressive vocalist and percussionist to emerge since Sheila E. hit the charts." Harvey Coleman, director of Detroit’s Jazz on the River concert, after catching Meyer’s performance: “I was overwhelmed. She engaged the entire audience. We felt like we were all on stage together.”

Patsy also carved out time to release three CDs, including “Don’t Stop Now”featuring Tom Scott and Russ Freeman,  “Don’t Get No Better”, a collaboration with Diane Shure’s sax man, Patrick Lamb, and the 2017 “Retro Archives”. As a songwriter, Meyer has been nominated for an Emmy three times in the Best Original Song category, and more than 80 of her songs have been used in film and TV. Her voice has been featured on commercials for Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, McDonald’s and Walmart. 

Meyer is a trained Remo drum circle facilitator and former teaching artist for the Pacific Arts Center in Los Angeles. She is currently a music teaching artist for the Cincinnati Arts Association with their“Artists on Tour" education programs. 

Patsy is currently performing in both the US and Mexico and working on another release, which she describes as “more soulful vocals and spicy percussion housed in a more traditional jazz format”.

JOSEPH ROGERS, fondly known as Joe, has enjoyed a career in music, mostly in the Cincinnati area, and is one of the finest relatively unknown pianists in the Tri-State area. Rogers was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Purcell High School, Class of ’59. He resides with his loving wife Lois, in Ft. Thomas, KY, along with their band of kittens and treasured hand-made canoe.

Rogers, a graduate of College Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance with a minor in Organ Performance. He followed that up with a Master’s Degree in Music Education, and subsequently taught music education in two school districts in Ohio.

In addition to his musical education and budding resume, he also took interest in and acquired the skills of being a master piano technician and tuner. Throughout his career, Joe helped many other musicians and aficionados with keeping their instruments in top playable condition.

During his studies at CCM he played accompaniment for many other musical artists, but his real musical foundation had to be a result of his family upbringing and early development. Rogers was raised in Oakley, a small community in Cincinnati. Although Joe’s mother, Marcella Rogers, passed away when he was about 8 years old, she had already passed on her interest in music. A friend had given her a piano and, as she was practicing her lessons, Joe began
imitating her music on the keyboard. The family began providing lessons for their son, first from a member of his Catholic school and then with Betty Korb, a piano teacher in their
neighborhood. Joe would ride his bicycle to Mrs. Korb’s home with his music in the bike basket. Mrs. Korb gave Joe a good foundation not only in reading music, but in truly understanding the structure and how to use chord symbols to create more interesting and lush
music from simple sheet music. These skills helped him develop his ability to improvise and play different genres of music. His talents were recognized at Purcell High School and soon he was playing all the talent shows and accompanying the school choir. In high school, he began playing in bands, earning enough for pocket money and the Frisch’s Mainliner after gigs.

As he grew more serious about making music a career, Joe realized he needed to work with someone who could help him learn some classical pieces to audition for the Conservatory of Music. He studied with Dave Brinkmoeller before that audition. The Conservatory teachers would attend those auditions and decide which students they would work with. Joe was selected by Madame Conus, whom he later found was one of the most revered instructors at the Conservatory. He credits Mrs. Conus with honing his technique, posture, hand position and encouraging his great love for classical music.

His father, Daniel Rogers, continued to support Joe’s piano lessons as a child and as a teen. Joe remained living at home during his college years, taking the bus to the Conservatory. He earned his college tuition and lunch money, etc…through gigs he played, joining the Musicians Union during those days.

Joe played in the house band at Beverly Hills Supper Club for four years, accompanying such artists as Nancy Wilson and Mel Torme. Mr. Torme was impressed that when Joe did not know a tune that Mel wanted to sing, he went home and spent the night researching the tune and was ready to play it for the next performance. Joe was performing the night of the infamous fire. Rogers had played in the Palm Court of the Netherland Hilton in Cincinnati for ten years.
He was “instrumental” in finding the piano that was an institution at the De Felice Café, which had been enjoyed by countless “ivory” professionals and audiences for many years. Rogers has worked with several bands, and is especially proud of his decades with the Pete Wagner Orchestra in the Cincinnati area, originally headed up by Pete Wagner himself, and then continuing under the direction of Pete’s son, Paul. Rogers has played with the Cincinnati Pops
Orchestra, and at Playhouse in the Park, where he has performed with his accordion. He currently does freelance solo and small group work. His “fortes” include being highly skilled at sight-reading, transposing, improvisation, and playing a large variety of music genres including classical, jazz, pop, liturgical, gospel, country, etc…a veritable jukebox of musical history.

Here are some quotes about Rogers from fellow musicians:

• “He has ears like vacuum cleaners”

• “…the man who knows a million tunes”.

• “Give Joe a call, if you’ve got the time”,

• and as Paul Wagner would always say, “He’s the best piano hammer in town.”

TBD