Chris Whiteman

New Jersey-born but Richmond, Virginia-bred, Chris Whiteman has been described many times as an old soul, a devotee of classic jazz who finds new depth and delight in the Great American Songbook, the standards that have defined jazz for generations. A performer and educator, soloist and sought-after sideman, Whiteman has played venues across the U.S. including New York’s famed Blue Note, Birdland, the Hollywood Bowl, Monterey Jazz Festival and more. ____________________________________________________ Chris Whiteman, a native of Montclair, New Jersey, began his music journey with the trumpet at age 10. At age 13 he was introduced to the guitar and it quickly became his main focus. Initially inspired by blues and rock guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy & B.B. King, Chris began to study classical guitar in high school. After graduation, he enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University as classical guitar major, but quickly shifted his interest to jazz. Chris transferred to the University of Miami where he completed a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in jazz studies. As an educator Chris has held faculty positions at the University of Miami and The College of William & Mary. He has also established himself as a top tier online educator, with a thriving YouTube channel and hundreds of online students. Chris also maintains an active performance schedule with his own group and is sideman to a variety of artists. For 2 years he toured with Jazz vocal sensation Veronica Swift and currently works with jazz trumpeter Rick Braun, as well as serving as musical director for vocalist Wyatt Michael (The Voice - Season 21). He has performed at renowned venues across the US and Europe, including the Blue Note NYC, Birdland, Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to being a performer and educator, Chris is one of the preeminent arrangers for solo jazz guitar and is a signature artist arranger for Musicnotes.com, the world’s largest online music retailer. Justin Kauflin is an award-winning “jazz pianist who favors a clarity of touch and ideas...his writing is balanced tempering post-bop intricacies with the assurances of the gospel church” - New York Times. After losing his sight at the age of 11, Kauflin gravitated towards playing jazz piano, despite having a background in classical violin & piano. As leader, player, composer and producer, Justin Kauflin has released 10 recordings to date and has collaborated on 30+ albums as sideman. In 2015, Justin had the incredible honor of performing on Oscar Peterson's personal Bosendorfer for "Oscar with Love," along with 16 world class pianists for Kelly Peterson and Mack Avenue Records. March 2023 marked Justin's debut live-recorded vinyl, "Justin Kauflin Trio Live at Sam First" by Sam First Records. Justin Kauflin scored, and is featured in, the Oscar shortlisted documentary "Keep On Keepin' On," directed by fellow musician, friend and award-winning director Al Hicks and Oscar and Grammy winning composer, Dave Grusin. During the 5-year process, Justin was picked up for management by Quincy Jones and performed as a solo artist on his World Tours. The Justin Kauflin Trio went on to perform worldwide, as well as conduct jazz workshops, from 2015-2020. Justin Kauflin is dedicated to creating and sharing music that excites, energizes and nourishes the soul in multiple genres & media. He is signed for management by impresario and music icon Quincy Jones, and is a Yamaha Artist. This remarkable and rare quartet also includes Jimmy Masters on bass, and Aaron Binder on drums.