Dr. Damani Philips is a native of Pontiac, MI, and currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of African-American Studies at the University of Iowa. Phillips has earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from DePaul University and The University of Kentucky in classical saxophone, a second Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Wayne State University and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder. An active performer, pedagogue and lecturer, Phillips has taught and performed throughout the world. He has previously served on the faculty of Grinnell College and Oakland University, and is actively sought as a guest artist, clinician, adjudicator and presenter throughout the country. He has performed with artists/groups such as Lewis Nash, Christian McBride, Wycliffe Gordon, Bobby McFerrin, Marcus Belgrave, Terrell Stafford, Hank Jones, Red Holloway and Pat Bianchi among many others. He has released 5 albums as a leader, and published his first book “What Is This Thing Called Soul: Conversations on Black Culture and Jazz Education” in 2017.
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Whether he was swinging hard with Stanley Turrentine, Clark Terry or Buster Williams, burning on some fusion with Larry Coryell, Al DiMeola or Anthony Jackson, laying down seriously funky, solid, pocket with Ramsey Lewis, Nick Colionne or DJ Shon Dervis as Furious Styles, playing a mambo with Paquito D'Rivera, Arturo Sandoval or The Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble, covering the click track on pop, rock and radio/TV/movie score music, Ernie Adams proves why he is a world-class drummer’s drummer. Now, add to all of that his professionalism, focus, hard work and great attitude and one can see why he is an in demand musician worldwide.
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Mitch Towne is a keyboardist and touring musician, and is widely considered as the "go-to" Hammond organist in the Midwest. His ability to move seamlessly between diverse styles has made him a sought-after side-man with artists as varied as jazz/R&B artist and Grammy-winning producer Terrace Martin, jazz heavyweights Ryan Kisor, Dave Stryker and Adam Larson, blues artists Eric Gales and Ben Poole, and multi-platinum artist Aloe Blacc. In 2015, Towne played organ on the track "Push" for the album "Velvet Portraits" by Terrace Martin, which was nominated for a 2016 Grammy for "Best R&B" album. Towne is an endorsing artist for Crumar Instruments, Motion Sound Amplifiers and Lounsberry Pedals.
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