Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis At 100

Pianist, composer, and arranger, John Beasley’s career brims with accomplishments that bridge musical and visual media. An uncommonly versatile pianist, he backed jazz icons Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard in his 20s. Since then, he has performed with Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Chaka Khan, Kenny Garrett, Stanley Clarke. He even performed one concert with James Brown reviving Brown’s Soul on Top big band music. Beasley’s extensive work as a composer and arranger extends far beyond jazz, with numerous credits in television and film, including blockbuster movies scored by 15x Oscar nominee Thomas Newman. His 20+ recordings have earned him 2 GRAMMY® Awards, 12 nominations, and 2 Latin Grammy nominations.

From his beginnings as one of Chicago’s most thrilling young trumpeters, to his current status as an internationally renowned musician, composer and bandleader, Marquis Hill has worked tirelessly to break down the barriers that divide musical genres. Contemporary and classic jazz, hip-hop, R&B, Chicago house, neo-soul—to Hill, they’re all essential elements of the profound African-American creative heritage he’s a part of. Well before Hill won the 2014 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Competition, his reputation for brilliance was firmly established in the Midwest, as a member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, an in-demand sideman and a bandleader. Today, Hill maintains a nonstop touring schedule with the Blacktet, and the intensely interactive, utterly unique band has become a kind of graduate school for next-level talent—Hill included.

In a career that spans two decades and encompasses a broad array of musical ventures, saxophonist Mark Turner has emerged as a towering presence in the jazz community. With a distinctive, personal tone, singular improvisational skills, and an innovative, challenging compositional approach, he’s earned a far-reaching reputation as one of jazz’s most original and influential musical forces. He has released more than a dozen albums as leader and is also prolific as a sideman. He has recorded and toured with musicians as diverse as Jakob Bro, Tom Harrell, Billy Hart, Ed Simon, Enrico Rava, Kurt Rosenwinkel, David Virelles, Ethan Iverson, Baptiste Trotignon, and the SFJAZZ Collective.

Kurt Rosenwinkel is a highly acclaimed and influential jazz guitarist, composer, and bandleader. Hailed as one of the most important jazz musicians of his generation, Rosenwinkel has spent decades pushing the boundaries of the jazz genre and developing a signature sound that has captivated audiences worldwide. With a career spanning over 30 years, Kurt Rosenwinkel has released a series of groundbreaking albums, collaborated with jazz legends, and continues to inspire the next generation of jazz musicians. His innovative approach to composition and improvisation has made him a household name among jazz enthusiasts.

For more than a decade, Ben Williams has steadily become one of the most acclaimed and versatile bassists in modern jazz. Williams’ rise to prominence began after he won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in the double bass category back in 2009. Three years later, he nabbed a Grammy® for Best Jazz Instrumental Album as a member of guitarist Pat Metheny’s Unity Band. He has performed/recorded with such giants as Pat Metheny, George Benson, Stefon Harris, David Sanborn, Lauryn Hill, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, Maxwell, and Nicholas Payton. In 2013 and 2015 Williams received the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll Rising Star Award for Bass.

Grammy Award-winning musician Terreon Gully is one of the most influential artists of his generation. When not busy with The Christian McBride Band, Stefon Harris, David Sanborn or Yerba Buena, Terreon finds time to squeeze in working with artists including Burning Spear, Lauren Hill and Roy Ayers. Known for his authenticity and versatility, Terreon performs in a variety of genres and musical settings, working with the best.  From reggae pioneers, hip hop icons, to jazz legends, Terreon has performed, toured, and recorded with many artists, among them: the Benny Green Trio, Charlie Hunter, Real Live Band, Diane Reeves, Abbey Lincoln, Marc Cary, Russell Gunn, Lizz Wright, Jackie Terrason, and Common as well as a host of other artists.  In addition to live performances, Terreon is known for his exceptional work in the studio, recording for albums, films, and commercials.