Godwin Louis, alto saxophonist, was born in Harlem, New York and began playing saxophone at age nine. Godwin grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut and Port au Prince, Haiti. Godwin was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Saxophone Competition. He has performed around the globe including: Mali, Senegal, Togo, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Azerbaijan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Venezuela, Colombia, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia.

 

Godwin is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute for Jazz Performance.

 

Godwin has studied and performed with Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Roger Dickerson, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Jack Dejohnette, Jimmy Heath, Billy Preston, Patti Labelle, Toni Braxton, Babyface, Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Barry Harris, Howard Shore, David Baker, Mulatu Astakte, Mahmoud Ahmed, Wynton Marsalis, and Terence Blanchard just to name a few.

 

In addition, Godwin has performed as a sideman, guest soloist and has conducted clinics and master classes worldwide. As a composer, Godwin has received the Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Grant, and the Jazz Gallery's "New Works Commission". As an educator, humanitarian and ambassador, Godwin has traveled from Ghana to China to help promote cross-cultural understanding and introduce thousands to America’s indigenous art form, through public concerts, master classes, and jam sessions. Godwin is the founder of Experience Ayiti, a nonprofit educational, multidisciplinary arts organization.

 

 

 

Haitian-American performing artist and humanitarian, PAULINE JEAN, is a captivating vocalist whose distinctive contralto and rousing melodies have caught the attention of audiences both young and old. Jean brings a refreshing sound to today's music; creating an erudite blend of worldly jazz that draws from her Creole roots and integrates modern and traditional inflections. She has received considerable press globally from leading media publications such as DownBeat, Jazzwise, All About Jazz, World Music Report, JazzTimes, Kreol Magazine and many more.

Jean has been featured as a performer and bandleader at numerous prestigious festivals around the globe and has appeared in Barbados, The Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Haiti, Israel, Lebanon, Nevis Island, Russia, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the US Virgin Islands. She has also collaborated with esteemed literary artist, Edwidge Danticat, and distinguished performers Denis Matsuev, Emeline Michel, Godwin Louis, Dan Zanes and Wyclef Jean, among others. Her latest CD, NWAYO, was praised as "an amalgam of pure jazz vocalization steeped in Caribbean rhythm and soul" by All About Jazz and "extraordinary musicianship" by the World Music Report.

Jean shares her perspectives on music and life as a musician through teaching private students and workshops for singers on all levels in the US and abroad. She travels to Haiti annually with a group of musicians, as part of the Experience Ayiti mission, to provide aid, master classes, free concerts, and instrument distribution throughout different regions of the island. Jean is a graduate from Berklee College of Music and an Artist-In-Residence with the Conservatory Lab Charter School's, El Sistema music program in Boston.

 

 

 

 

Cuban born Axel Tosca Laugart is one of the most dynamic young pianists on the scene.

 

Laugart's family influenced his musical interests at an early age. Both his father and stepfather were musicians and his father's guitar playing sparked an early interest in the instrument. He began playing guitar around the age of four and piano at the age of seven, accompanying his parents. Laugart's mother, Xiomara Laugart, is a world-famous singer, whom he still performs with today.

 

Laugart benefitted from a wide range of musical experiences growing up in Cuba. Dennis & Swing was a group that Laugart credits for "giving me the real timba groove." Laugart also played with the Afro Cuban All Stars, Teresa Garcia Caturla, Sexteto Sendito, Jose Miguel Crego (known as “El Greco”), and a Latin Jazz group called the Bobby Carcases Group, where Laugart says "I learned a lot about the language of music."

 

Laugart was also part of the Hip-Hop scene in Cuba and had the opportunity to play with The Roots while they were in Cuba. He has also worked in the studio with Cuban conductor Miguel Ceruto.

 

Amadito Valdez, the great timbalero with the Buena Vista Social Club, was a musical mentor and an important part of Laugart's decision to come to the United States in July of 2005. His arrival came with the opportunity to perform with “Havana Night” in Las Vegas for two years.

 

Now based in New York, Laugart continues to grow musically. Of his future, he says "my goal is to just keep upgrading my talent and my soul. I love the world."

 

 

 

Rising star Harvel Nakundi was born in Miami. He was introduced to the drums at the age of 4 through local churches in southern Florida. Since then, Harvel has been able to study, perform, record and tour with world renowned artists including but not limited to: Jennifer Lopez, Emeline Michel, Nicole Henry, Kirk Whalum, Myron Butler, Lewis Nash, Terence Blanchard, Frankie J, James Moody, just to name a few. Harvel has performed at some of the top venues and festivals worldwide including: Russia, Haiti, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France, Martinique, and Australia. In addition, Harvel is a member of the award winning gospel band Born2serve. The band has released two albums and is on demand nationally and internationally. As an educator and humanitarian, Harvel teaches K-12 at schools statewide, assisting in instructional college music courses and has been devoted to help bringing awareness to the arts in the Caribbean. Harvel is truly a gem far unmatched, exceeding many expectations and in constant reformation. His style of music is passionate, pure and provocative.

 

 

 

Born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut Jonathan Michel is a bassist, composer and arranger of Haitian descent. Based in New York City, Michel is an eclectic artist known for his work as a producer and arranger, as well as performances all over the world. Some associated acts include Billy Paul, Laurin Talese, Soul Science Lab, ELEW, Orrin Evans and Etienne Charles.