Jeff Tain Watts with John Coltrane - Tribute, Nduduzo Makhathini, and more

Nduduzo Makhathini, from Pietermaritzburg, is a multi-award-winning jazz artist with 11 albums. A Blue Note Records signee, he has played global festivals and collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and Black Coffee.

Melissa Aldana, born in Santiago, Chile, is a renowned jazz tenor saxophonist influenced by Sonny Rollins. She graduated from Berklee and moved to NYC to learn from George Coleman. At 24, Aldana made history by becoming the first female and South American to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, gaining a $25,000 scholarship and a Concord Jazz contract. The Washington Post hailed her as a new direction in jazz.

Jeff "Tain" Watts, born in Easton, Pennsylvania, is a Grammy-winning jazz drummer and composer. Known for his explosive, polyrhythmic style and gritty street funk, Watts has revolutionized modern jazz drumming. He earned seven Grammy Awards, including a 2024 Best Opera Recording, and a 2017 Guggenheim Fellowship. Watts is celebrated for collaborations with Wynton and Branford Marsalis, McCoy Tyner, and Michael Brecker. His albums include "Blue, Vol. 1" and "WAW! WAW!". He also appeared in Spike Lee's "Mo' Better Blues".

Joe Lovano, born in Cleveland, is a renowned saxophonist known for his expressive improvisation and blending of bop, modal, and free jazz. Celebrated for albums like *52nd Street Themes* and *Celebrating Sinatra*, he's collaborated with icons like Hank Jones and Paul Motian. Lovano has won a Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album and is known for his work with the Trio Tapestry and Sound Prints ensembles. His acclaimed releases include John Coltrane and Charlie Parker tributes, and he has recorded with notable artists like Dave Douglas and Marilyn Crispell.