February 11-12, 2006

TOPSY CHAPMAN, vocals
New Orleans, LA

Topsy grew up in Kenwood, Louisiana, where she became partial to music at any early age due to the fact that her father was a local vocal music instructor.  After high school she moved to New Orleans where she developed a gospel group, The Chapman, which performed at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, for many clubs and organizations in the area and also for German radio in Cologne and Bohn, Germany.   She gained national and international recognition as one of the original cast members of the Broadway hit "One Mo' Time" that played New York's Village Gate, London's West End and toured most of Europe.  The cast album was nominated for a Grammy.  Topsy constructed the vocal harmony arrangements for the show and was also cast as Elenora in the production of "Staggerlee" which played at the New Orleans' Toulouse Street Theatre.

Topsy has toured all of Europe, Asia, Australia, the Americas and Canada performing gospel and traditional jazz.  She has performed for the Democratic Party, the Queen of England and the Duke of Edinburgh and appeared on Australia's "Midday" show.  She has also appeared several times on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Riverwalk - Live from the Landing".   She has performed with Butch Thompson, Dick Hyman, Herb Ellis and Bob Haggart and recorded with The Jim Cullum Jazz Band, Nicholas Payton, New Orleans Rascals from Japan and many others.  Topsy has been featured in publications such as Time, Ebony and Jet magazines and has received rave reviews in the New York Times, New York Post, Variety, Times Picayune and Lagniappe publications.

DUKE HEITGER, trumpet
New Orleans, LA

Duke came to the Crescent City in 1991 and since that time he has become one of the most sought after players on the international scene, performing and recording around the world with a diverse roster of musicians.  Hailing from Toledo OH, Duke carries on a family tradition in the music business having become fascinated with the sounds embedded in the grooves of his Dad's record collection, discs by Louis Armstrong, Bunny Berrigan, Roy Eldridge, Red Allen, Bobby Hackett, and Bix Beiderbecke.  Rather than rebel against that music, he would sit in with his father's Cake Walkin' Jass Band, a Toledo institution.  Duke started playing professional jobs at age twelve and was touring while still in his teens.  Since arriving in New Orleans, he has received international exposure leading to work with bands led by such classic jazz stalwarts as Dick Hyman, James Dapogny, Butch Thompson, John Gill and Banu Gibson.  He has made numerous guest appearances on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" with Butch Thompson and has been featured numerous times on public radio broadcasts by The Jim Cullum Jazz Band's "Riverwalk - Live from the Landing."

While not on the road, Duke maintains a busy schedule in New Orleans, leading his own Steamboat Stompers aboard the Natchez Paddlewheeler daily, a weekly appearance at the Palm Court Jazz Café, as well as a heavy dose of spot work.  As a sideman, he has recorded widely.  While well known among jazz enthusiasts through those many recordings, he also made his mark on popular music with his trumpet work on the Squirrel Nut Zippers million selling disc Hot, earning him a platinum record.  He has also recorded four compact discs as a leader.   When not playing, Duke has managed to squeeze in a Bachelor's Degree in Geology and is finishing his Masters at the University of New Orleans.

Evan is a refreshingly bright new light on the national and international jazz scene.  He combines virtuosity, immaculate taste and enthusiasm with a deep commitment to exploring the full range of musical possibilities that come from having strong roots in the Creole clarinet style and the polyphonic tradition of New Orleans jazz.  Evan was born in Long Beach, CA and began his musical training on clarinet at the age of 11.  In high school, he was the recipient of the Louis Armstrong National Jazz Award and was one of the first graduates of the prestigious Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts.  He continued his studies at the University of Southern California on music scholarships and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in music from California State University at Long Beach.  After working, touring and recording with various bands and artists in California, he moved to New Orleans where he rapidly made a name for himself and in 1996, he joined The Jim Cullum Jazz Band.  In 2000, he returned to New Orleans and has since made frequent tours as a soloist and guest artist in the U.S., Europe and Japan.

John began his musical training at 7 years of age and his life was forever changed when at age 8 his father brought home a recording of the Benny Goodman 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. He realized then that he wanted a career in music. He was immediately taken with the piano playing of Jess Stacy and Teddy Wilson who remain two of his primary influences to this day. John received his Bachelor of Music from Capital University (Ohio) and his Master of Music from the University of North Texas. He was offered the piano position with The Jim Cullum Jazz Band of San Antonio in 1979 that he still holds. During this period he has served as principal arranger for the band and has written over 1,000 arrangements for the ensemble. Additionally, he has written numerous arrangements for various guests who have appeared on the syndicated radio show, "Riverwalk, Live From The Landing", i.e., Dick Hyman, Bob Wilber, Benny Carter, Ken Peplowski, Dan Barrett, Bob Haggart plus many others. John has recently been selected as a Baldwin artist that will open many additional doors for this multi-talented artist.

DOUG BELOTE, drums
New Orleans, LA

Doug is a native of south Louisiana and attended U.S.L. in Lafayette and Drummer's Collective in New York City.  He has toured throughout the world and recorded with many different New Orleans artists including George Porter Jr. (of the Meters), acclaimed songwriter Anders Osborne and Mike Gordon (of Phish).  Doug is an accomplished studio musician who has done many different sessions using his knowledge of New Orleans Grooves.  He was in the CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie "The Old Man" with Arliss Howard (Full Metal Jacket) and Jeanne Tripplehorn (Basic Instinct) and recorded on the soundtrack.  He was also affiliated with the movie "Stalled" - was on soundtrack and as the personal drum coach for the actor).  He can be heard on many recordings as well as a television commercial for Zatarain's Jambalaya.