New York Voices
Now celebrating their 37th year, New York Voices is the internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble renowned for their extraordinary scope of music and the art of group singing. Since they first burst onto the NYC jazz scene in 1988, New York Voices has established themselves as THE cutting-edge vocal group, breathing new life into a genre pioneered in the late 50’s by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. Tight arrangements, intimate voicings, and dare-devil scatting are all New York Voices trademarks.
The New York Voices are: Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Kim Nazarian and Lauren Kinhan. The Voices have performed in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the North Sea, Montreal, and Cape Town Jazz Festivals. They have performed with a variety of artists including Paquito D’Rivera, Ivan Lins, Ray Brown, Patti Austin, the Metropole Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the WDR Big Band, and the Count Basie Orchestra.
In addition to their own CDs, NYV has made many guest appearances on recordings that have earned them critical acclaim in a variety of musical settings. You can find their performances on such CDs as the Grammy Award winning, Count Basie Orchestra with New York Voices, Live at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild (MCG Jazz), the Latin Grammy Award winning, Brazilian Dreams (MCG Jazz) with Paquito D’Rivera, the contemporary classical, Visions Within (Robert Lepley – MSR Records), Heirs to Jobim (BMG Records), A Love Affair – the Music of Ivan Lins (TELARC), and many more.
Their most recent project, Reminiscing in Tempo (Five Cent Records/Origin) was released in 2019. Working with revered producer and longtime friend Elliot Scheiner, NYV took a deep dive into the jazz canon, tackling standards by Cole Porter and Al Jolson and gems from the catalogues of Chick Corea, Fred Hersch, and Duke Ellington, along with an Al Jarreau-penned lyrical treatment of a Brubeck classic. As always, the band also looked beyond the jazz repertoire, rendering two inventive originals, classics by the Beatles and Ivan Lins, and a pair of settings for the Cuban classical composer Ignacio Cervantes.
In 2018, their collaboration with Bob Mintzer, Meeting of Minds (MCG Jazz) was released to critical acclaim. This project features updated treatments of American Songbook classics. In 2026, a studio project with Ivan Lins and the Danish Radio Big Band will be released. This studio project features Ivan’s music framed by beautiful Ralf Schmid orchestrations and lush NYV vocals.
On an individual level, all four of the Voices have developed solo projects that demonstrate each of their exceptional musical gifts. With enthusiastic audiences around the world, rave reviews, and exciting new music on the horizon, the New York Voices have established themselves as the premier vocal ensemble — the heirs to a rich vocal legacy that they continue to explore and refine.
For more info, visit the NYV website – www.newyorkvoices.com.
Greta Matassa
8 times voted Earshot’s best jazz vocalist in the Northwest and inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2014, Greta Matassa’s
40 year career has been a whirlwind of exciting opportunities and experiences. Over the last 20 years she has become established as one of the greatest jazz singers of her time. Working with top jazz musicians in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. In 2016 She was featured with bassist John Clayton’s group in a centennial tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.
Her decision to start teaching was probably her greatest contribution to the future of the genre she loves so much. For the last 20 years Greta has become one of the most unique and respected educators in the field today. Offering individual lessons and mentorships as well as establishing loyal student bases from Seattle to Japan, From Alaska to Kauai, from Chicago to New York.
She has recorded 11 CD’s. Her latest release “Portrait” on Origin Records is receiving rave reviews.
The Jazz Punishments
The Jazz Punishments Big Band is a powerhouse ensemble rooted in the rich jazz scene of the Pacific Northwest. Comprised primarily of alumni from the prestigious Edmonds-Woodway High School Jazz program under the direction of trumpeter/vocalist Jake Bergevin. The band serves as a living testament to the enduring legacy of jazz education in the region.
What began as a group of high school friends has evolved into a sophisticated collective of professionals and dedicated artists. Their performances are characterized by swinging ensemble style, soaring improvisations, and a deep reverence for the big band tradition—all delivered with a signature wit that reflects their camaraderie.
The Jazz Punishments are honored to share the stage with the legendary New York Voices at this milestone 50th Annual DeMiero Jazz Festival, celebrating five decades of vocal jazz, community, and the “punishingly” good swing that keeps the tradition alive.
The Combo
Chris Brown
Drummer, bandleader, and educator Christopher Brown has a 30-year career. As an educator he holds two music degrees (BM & MM) from Rutgers University, eight years of college teaching experience between Rutgers University and Portland State University, and has been instructing at various Jazz workshops between Portland and the Czech Republic over the past 20 years. His current obligations entail serving as the Jazz drums instructor at Portland State University, leading the Jazz division of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony in Portland, and partnering with Montavilla Jazz to host a monthly workshop called “Behind the Scene” at the famed 1905 Jazz club in Portland.
As a musician, he has had the pleasure of recording and/or performing with artists such as Beyonce, Esperanza Spalding, Branford Marsalis, Delfeyao Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, Benny Golson, John Patitucci, Randy Brecker, Don Alias, James Genus, Geoff Keezer, David Liebman, Chuck Israels, Paquito D’ Rivera, David Sanborn, Sean Jones, Cyrus Chestnut, Ben Wolfe, Steve Turre, Vincent Herring, Don Braden, Aaron Goldberg, Chad LB, Benny Benack III, Kamasi Washington, Orrin Evans, Benito Gonzalez, Gerald Clayton, Kim Nazarian, Sara Gazarek, Carmen Lundy, Vanessa Rubin, Carla Cook, Roseanna Vitro, Janis Siegel, and many more. In 2025 his biggest accomplishments included a performance at the TEDx conference in Portland and the release of his debut recording “Sole City” which received 3.5 stars in the February 2026 edition of Downbeat Magazine.
Michael Glynn
Born in Seattle, bassist Michael Glynn began performing professionally at the age of 16. While living in the Pacific Northwest, New Mexico, and the Bay Area he has performed with such jazz luminaries as Eric Alexander, Peter Bernstein, Seamus Blake, Conte Candoli, Eddie Daniels, Dave Grusin, Louis Hayes, Geoffrey Keezer, Don Lanphere, Mark Levine, Harold Mabern, Lewis Nash, William Parker, Aaron Parks, Bud Shank, Bobby Shew, Gary Smulyan, and Terell Stafford. In addition to his jazz work, Michael has performed in a variety of other genres, including classical concerts with the New Mexico Philharmonic, the New Mexico Symphony, Opera Southwest, and Canticum Novum Santa Fe, calypso with Trinidadian steel drum legend Ray Holman, and Arab/European music with Iraqi-American oud virtuoso Rahim Al Haj.
Chris McCarthy
Known for his “high skill and sensitivity,” (NYTimes) Chris McCarthy is one of the most
in demand pianists in New York City. McCarthy has developed a reputation as “one of the most
imaginative and impressive voices on the New York jazz scene” (Hot House Jazz Magazine)
McCarthy has released four records as a bandleader: Still Time To Quit (2020), Priorities (2022),
Life’s a Gig (duo with Vanisha Gould) (2024), and Add a Zero (2025). His latest project of all
originals Too Late To Quit arrives September 18th 2026 on La Reserve Records, featuring
Takuya Kuroda on trumpet, Vanisha Gould on vocals, Eden Bareket on bari sax, Sam Minaie on
bass and Steven Crammer on drums.
McCarthy is known for his work with vocalists, and has recently appeared as a sideman
on Vanisha Gould’s She’s Not Shiny She’s Not Smooth (2024), What An Interesting Girl (2026),
and Aubrey Johnson’s The Lively Air (2026). McCarthy has also toured and recorded with
Broadway stars Joshua Henry and Renee Elise Goldsberry. He is also active in the dance
world, touring regularly with the Mark Morris Dance Group in productions such as Pepperland,
The Look of Love and Dances to American Music. In 2023 he performed in legendary tap
dancer Dormeshia’s latest production Rhythm is Life, a New York Times critic’s pick. In 2025,
he documented tap dancer and choreographer Brenda Bufalino’s work for the Lincoln Center
library archive.
