Elio Villafranca is at the forefront of the latest generation of Cuban pianists, composers and bandleaders making major contributions to the international development of modern jazz. The program will feature new arrangements exploring the richness and vitality of the Caribbean musical tradition.

Violinist Regina Carter has recorded with pop stars such as Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige and Lauryn Hill; performed with Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker and Billy Joel; and collaborated with dozens of top tier jazz artists, including Cassandra Wilson, Kenny Barron, Max Roach and Oliver Lake.

Guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque co-founded Garaj Mahal, a jam/world/progressive/jazz super group. Born in 1963 to a Pakistani father and Chilean mother, Haque traveled to Spain, France, Iran, Pakistan and Chile to study classical and jazz traditions, thus informing his musical vision.

Cyrus Chestnut delivers a solo piano performance in this bonus concert. The son of a church choir director and church organist, Chestnut combines deep-seated gospel roots, jazz artistry and fun-loving showmanship. The list of artists he has worked with includes Jon Hendricks, Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Kathleen Battle, Terence Blanchard and many others.

In 2005, Milwaukee-born Philip Dizack became the youngest winner of the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition. The critically acclaimed trumpeter will feature his original music and perform classics from the jazz trumpet pantheon.