NIOKA WORKMAN

Nioka Workman is an innovative multidisciplinary cellist who comes from a family of celebrated bassists (uncle Arthur Harper, J.J. Johnson; and father Reggie Workman, John Coltrane). She has developed a distinct sound and style on both acoustic and electric cello and has performed and recorded with numerous Grammy-award-winning artists including India Arie, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Joe, Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Common. Nioka has toured within the US and Europe, appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and performed with the New York Women's Ensemble, Opera Ebony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Trilogy Opera Company, the Avery Brooks/Craig Harris Project, Cassandra Wilson’s Traveling Miles Orchestra, David Murray’s ‘A Salute to Duke Ellington’ Orchestra, the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra, and the revival of Sweet Charity with Sutton Foster. She recorded on the soundtrack for Maid of Manhattan and has had her string arrangement recorded by Grammy-nominated artist Bettye LaVette; her TV and film credits include appearances on Oxygen, Good Morning America, and Saturday Night Live. Nioka has been commissioned by the Joffrey Experience, Alvin Ailey ll solos, the Errol Grimes Dance Company, and Marlies Yearby (Rent) and, in 2013, she received an American Composer’s Forum Award (Live Music for Dance). Her works have premiered at the Joyce Theater, Late Nite in Minneapolis, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, Rush Arts Gallery, Blue Heron Theater, Symphony Space, and Martha Graham Studios. www.niokakworkman.com

MARLENE RICE

Has traveled around the world from the month she visited and performed in Japan in the early 1980s to her performances in France, Italy, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Trinidad, and Central South America. One of her personal highlights took place at the Kennedy Center with her mentor jazz violinist John Blake during the performance of his “Celebration Of The Fiddle From Africa To America". Ms. Rice is currently a teaching artist in residence and string department director at the Cecily Tyson School of Music.

MALA WALDRON

A native of NYC whose first paid gig was at the Elk's club with a local R&B band at age 15. Later, enrolling at SUNY - Old Westbury she studied jazz piano, voice & composition with Makanda Ken McIntyre, Richard Harper, Warren Smith, and Amina Claudine Myers, earning a B.A. Degree. She currently balances local performances with regular tours in Europe and Asia. Career highlights include opening at the Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival (JALC) for Patrice Rushen, being guest arranger/vocalist with James “Jabbo” Ware's “Me, We & Them Orchestra,” and appearing in the documentary, “The Girls in the Band.” CDs featuring Mala's work are “ Lullabye,” (solo debut and tribute to godmother, Billie Holiday), “He's My Father,” (duo project with father, pianist/composer, Mal Waldron), and “ Always There,” named one of Jazz USA's Top 10 CDs of 2006. A new solo project entitled, “Deep Resonance,” is Mala's new 2016 CD release.

LUCIANA PADMORE

Bronx New York Native Drummer Lucianna Padmore has been praised by Modern Drummer magazine for the “Deep grooves and serious fusion chops.” She has been playing the drums since the age of nine. Her musical playing styles range from Jazz and Hip-Hop, to Funk and Rock Fusion. Lucianna is an alumnus of LaGuardia High School for Music and the Performing Arts as well as the New School University. While in school, she received awards from Jazz at Lincoln Center and BMI for outstanding soloing /jazz improvisation. An active drummer on stage and in the studio, Lucianna has been involved in many different projects in the New York scene. Lucianna also does Jazz outreach and education in elementary and high schools in the New York City Area. Performing highlights include performances with Jazz tuba player Bob Stewart, opening for performing with or on the same bill with such names as Chico Debarge, Amel Larrieux, Kelis, James Spaulding, Shirley Horn, Bertha Hope, Mimi Jones, Pat Tandy, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Sun Ra Arkestra, Josh Rosemen Quintet, Oscar Peterson Trio, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Lucianna has toured in Austria, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Morocco, Haiti, as well as in and around the United States.

DESTINY DIGGS

A New Jersey-native and a graduate from West Orange High School, Destiny was selected as one of the Young Arts Competition winners in 2019, selected from a field of more than 7,000 high school musicians nationally. Destiny Diggs has performed at the Montclair Jazz Festival, the 2018 New Jersey Central Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, NJPAC and the 50^th anniversary of the New Jersey Jazz Societies Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp. Destiny has also played professionally such artists as Christian McBride and John DeJohnette.